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Ladies and gentlemen, let's get ready to have a City Club forum.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon and welcome to the City Club of Cleveland.

We are devoted to conversations of consequence that help democracy thrive.

It's Thursday, May 30th.

And I'm Noel Salwan one and honored to introduce today's forum, which is the Robert de Gries Forum on Inspiration, a part of the City Club's local hero series.

A local hero series spotlights champions here in Northeast Ohio whose hard work changes the way we view ourselves and our community.

And we have a literal champion and national hero with us today.

Morelle McCane Yes.

Glenville, native champion, boxer and Olympic athlete heading to Paris to represent Team USA in the 2024 Olympic Games.

Also joining us on stage is Russ Mitchell, lead anchor and managing editor at WKYC.

He will serve as moderator for today's conversation.

A quick taps to the Olympic spirit is strong in Cleveland, Ohio.

This is home to Jesse Owens.

He went into Hitler's Germany in 1936, showed up, showed out for vets for gold medals.

Fastest man in the world.

Welcome home.

Parade was right here in downtown Cleveland.

He's in the convertible waving to the joyful crowd.

A 13 year old sees Jesse Owens and in that moment put it in his mind that he, too, will be the fastest man in the world.

He grew up.

Here's the thing, though.

He wouldn't get his chance for a long time because of the war that Hitler started.

World War Two broke out and there were no Olympics in 1940.

There were no Olympics in 1944.

But that 13 year old grew up.

He went to East Tech.

He went to ball the walls.

And then he was called to serve his nation in World War Two in the still segregated U.S. Army, in the famed 92nd Infantry Division, the African-American division called the Buffalo Soldiers.

They won the war.

He returned home.

He kept training, kept studying, and made it to the 1948 Olympics, the 100 meter dash to determine the fastest man in the world.

It was the it was the first ever photo finish.

And the winner was Cleveland's own Harrison Dillard.

Yes.

Back to back.

Back to back.

Fastest men in the world, both from our Dear City and both east grads.

You cannot make this stuff up.

You can't because and there are so many amazing stories through the decades.

The Olympic spirit is strong in Cleveland, Ohio, and the torch has been passed through the generations, and now it is being passed to Morelle McCane.

Morelle graduated from Global High School.

She graduated from Tri-C. She got medical certifications.

She's worked in a variety of fields along the way, mostly what she loves, which is patient care, adult day care.

She missed the Olympics by one spot in 2021 spot.

And like Coach Push Davis says he says staff the distractions and fear the focus.

And that's exactly what she did because in the very first opportunity to qualify for these here coming up Olympics in Paris was in October of 2023 in Santiago, Chile at the Pan American Games.

And Morelle got the job done She got the job done.

And we're here today.

We're here today to support Morelle to get the job done in Paris.

So members and friends of the City Club, please join me in welcoming Russ Mitchell and Morrell.

McCain.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

Everybody.

And thank you for coming out today.

Well, it is great to see you.

Nice to see you, too.

I'm going to say what everybody in the room is saying right now, based on our traditional assumptions, you are way too pretty to be a boxer.

Thank you.

I take it as a compliment.

Let me ask you about the nickname Million Dollar Mo.

Where'd that come from?

Oh, it just came from, you know, it was funny because he was just like, you just need to stick to a name.

Like, because I was like, everybody calls me Mo.

They put Mo in front of something or after something, I Hey, Mo better hey mode and mode.

I'm like, I'm just mo everywhere.

But, but million dollars mo just come from that million dollar dream that I have like.

And yeah, just reminded me, like, stick to that name.

I love it.

Let me remind people that Yak is our sports producer at Channel three.

He's here today.

But he told me I cannot point him out because he would beat me up.

I see you, man.

But you can beat him up.

So would you put him out for.

I see you.

Yay!

All right.

That is fantastic.

All right.

So let's talk about what got you here.

Let's talk about 17.

Well, yeah, when they ask you about that as well, I know you're religious and you have a lot of spiritual things you want to talk about.

Let's talk about when you were 17 years old and you started boxing.

If someone had told you when you were 17 starting boxing in 12 years, you will go to the Olympics.

What would you have said to them?

What would you have thought?

Who told you that you see in the dream?

How did that come about?

Because I don't know how I'm going to get there.

So, yeah, that wasn't that wasn't the goal at first.

Like it was just a workout.

And I was like, I like this.

I'm just going to keep going back to work out.

But God had other plans for me.

Yeah.

Is that what started?

Just a workout.

It just started as a workout.

I was just like my niece was doing it and I was like, I'll go to practice with you.

She left.

Never came back for a minute and I was like, I'm going back to the gym.

Okay.

And he boxing heroes, vaccine heroes.

I loved I love them all.

I love the greats like Muhammad Ali.

The the the the fierceness of Mike Tyson.

Yeah.

The way maker Laila Ali.

So I love them all at least.

And I think a little bit from everybody and I just take it so my game like how I'm feeling today.

How I'm feeling today.

Oh yeah.

Sallie Mae, Mike Tyson.

Now, I know when you started boxing, your mom wasn't real happy about it.

What did what did she say to you?

What did she think about that?

She was like, you sure?

That's what you want to do?

All right.

All the stuff you want to do you want.

All right, all right.

Yeah.

So, see, she just was like, I don't really like it for you, but if that's what you want to do, I'll support it.

She's here today, and she's nodding your head.

Lazy, funny.

So I'm gonna say a quick, funny story.

Okay.

She was in my like.

It was like a local fight.

I was just kind of like starting out.

She's really not allowed to any of my fights.

She.

She's in the bathroom praying with somebody, and whole time is my opponent.

I'm like, oh, so you go and pray.

She didn't know, though.

She didn't know.

She just was like, Come on, we got to pray that my daughter we call time you praying with the enemy for me.

So and I won.

So the prayer work could never work.

Do you remember what you said to your mom to convince her, hey, this is going to be okay?

Oh, I see.

Because she's like, What are you going to do?

I'm like, What if she hit me?

I'm gonna hit her back.

So I hit her harder.

So, yeah, that was just.

That was just to go.

I'm just going to go out there and do my best and God don't do the rest.

The mom, you're okay with it now, right?

I know.

There you go.

There you go.

Across.

I want to talk about again the road that got you here and some of the obstacles that you've been, you know, very open about talking about.

But I want to go back to a couple of things that you have said and get your thoughts on it.

You say, quote, When people see me fight, I don't want them to say I fight like a dude.

I want them to say, oh, my God, that girl can fight.

Tell me about that.

Because, you know, like, if you fight like a girl, that's not a negative statement and that's a statement of empowerment to me.

And I'm here to prove it.

So it's just like if I fight, like, if I fight like a dude, but I'm a girl.

So to say that I'm a a really good girl fighter, like know I'm here to change the narrative on that because I reiterate that all the time you don't fight like a girl.

Thank you.

Because it's such a negative stigma behind that.

So I'm here to be like, no, I like what you said.

I appreciate that.

But just say I'm a really good girl fighter.

So you also said we're strong, we're mighty, and we're cute to a man I know.

We were talking a second ago about your training regiment.

Right now you're in Colorado Springs.

Colorado Springs.

Take me through a typical day of training right now.

Okay.

So for those of you who've never been to Colorado Springs, we're in a mountain.

That altitude is crazy.

When I when I made that transition from City Boxer to Team USA Boxer they like you have to come out here and train.

I'm like, oh, I've got this.

I'm running ten miles here, like Rocky, like I get out there, the altitude feels like somebody is literally like pushing you back while you're trying to run.

I'm like, Lord, you sure it is for me?

And then when they gave me my schedule, I was like, oh 6 a.m.

Okay, I've, I expected to get up early.

6 a.m. 8 a.m.

I'm like, wait, is that not the same practice?

Okay, so one practice at 6 a.m., one practice at 8 a.m. and I, oh, you got a little break and then you're right back to it at 2 p.m. and God forbid beers.

I try to eat a burger that week and I'm back right back in the gym trying to cut weight and maintain your weight for this sport.

And we do this six days a week.

So when they say you're lucky, I look at them and be like, baby, no, look in this is no look.

That's an eight, nine hour day.

That's it.

Yes.

Yeah.

You're welterweight.

Yes.

Right.

You know, I've seen these spot we've seen boxing movies.

Obviously, this is just one movie.

I can't think of Muhammad Ali.

I think it's called The Greatest.

He plays himself and he's running and he says, you do this until you think you want to die.

He's running in Pennsylvania, the mountains.

He's got bricks or something on his back.

Is that what it feels like?

I feel like it's worse because I'm and I say that because it's like being a girl.

You got so many other outside obstacles.

So it's like exactly.

You have outside obstacles and we just go out there and save face.

And I hear the boys complaining about paper cups and I just be like, paper cut, you watch.

Let me show you how to feel.

But yeah, I just feel like it's worth.

But he represented well because it's yeah it's similar I.

Think any boxing movies that inspire you, do you do you watch boxing movies or anything?

And if you were to recommend a boxing movie to this this audience, something that you think is accurate and we will learn a lot from anything you could you can think of.

Oh, I would have to say accuracy.

The work ethic of Rocky was really a really nice representation of you.

You have to get it by any means.

You have to go out there inches, get it.

You saw the moments where he cried, where he wanted to give up.

I can relate to that.

Right.

You're not in the freezer pounding meat or anything like that.

No, no, no, no.

You have also said when I get in the ring, it's my time to shine.

When I get in there, I give it my all and all of me includes my personality.

And it's more fun that way.

But I'm having fun.

I'm at my best because the intensity is there, the focus is there, but the relaxation you need is there as well.

Okay.

Give us an idea of what it's like to be in the ring.

I think anybody in here would would say if they were being honest, if somebody punched somebody to get angry or scared, how do you control your emotions in the ring?

Okay.

So you can get angry, but it has to be like controlled anger.

You can't be like, come here.

Because I was that type of fighter at first.

And then like as you level up, you have to realize like, no, stay focused, I'm going to get you back.

Just know that, okay?

You got me with that one.

Okay.

But you would about five of them.

You now let's see this one.

Come in.

Okay.

But yeah, like you have to like just remain centered and just be like, okay, I'm here to do a job.

I'm focusing on that job.

And like I said, I like to have fun in there, so I may tell them to look down at your shoe about it all.

Do they really look down?

Yeah.

Really?

Yeah.

Oh, they'd be.

Like, what?

Oh, gotcha.

What are the emotions like?

We're in the green room.

And you were talking.

You were saying you were nervous before you.

Oh, my God.

Wow.

And you are not.

And, like, she's not nervous at all.

This is a woman who gets in the ring and you're nervous coming in here.

They said, I know how to do that all day.

Okay.

What do you do to get yourself up for a fight?

What's what's what's the routine?

The routine.

I kind of have, like, different routines.

I'm not really one of those people who have the I have to wear my green socks or I'm going to like I don't like to get caught up in that because, as you know, life can come in any dirt like the storm can come, the rain can come.

We Cleveland we back in the fall but.

It's know this you could stay this.

Afternoon exactly so life is unpredictable so me I like to just go with the flow of things really.

Like they may tell you like two people got knocked out and you may have to get in there early.

So it's just like I'm just ready to go.

Like I just always remember to bring my slingshot.

Okay?

And when I say that I'm David, baby, I'm going against Goliath.

So you never know.

But I know, like, I'm.

I'm ready to win.

Yeah, I just have to bring that confidence in there with me, because a lot of people would be like, did you see, like, when I first was starting out, even now, they like, do you know what you're about to fight?

She is the she is the victim.

Okay.

I don't know.

Okay.

I don't mean.

No disrespect to any of my opponents, but I'm here to win.

So.

Yeah, we got to make those early mornings and those late nights power.

Yeah.

Any butterflies at all?

Yeah.

I like to, like, dance them away or say I be in the back.

I like music savvy in the back.

Like it's a Broadway show.

Like, my teammates be like, shut up.

I know some of your coaches are here.

Yeah.

So I want to give them a shout out.

Shout out to Coach Terrence Montgomery.

He's over there.

That's we got started in the backyard, St Clair Avenue.

And then my.

Coach puts that is like we he got my my game started at the Glenville coach.

Right.

Hey, how are you doing?

That was my basketball coach.

I just knew I was going to.

Be a basketball.

As far as he looked at me as a baby, you got a lot of determination.

Give me the ball.

A lot of determination.

Translation that you're trying really hard.

I'm trying really hard.

Yeah, I was.

But basketball was that was.

I think you found something.

So it's all good boxing in the back yard bys early.

In fact you tell me a little bit about that.

Yeah, we started off on injuries.

That was everything clear smack dab in the backyard on oh my gosh.

It was the hardest training and I ever I think I went home and slept for two days after that first official practice.

My coach, he was like, Have you ever been in a ring before?

I was like, Nah, but I know how to fight.

I'm number seven out of eight, so I could throw some punches.

I got in there, that was the longest 3 minutes of my life, and I was sparring a guy for the first time and he like, Yeah, go easy on her.

And I had to find it like, no, go easy on me because baby, no, I hit him with a good shot and he hit me with a better shot and that was that just got the ball rolling.

Oh.

Okay.

What happened to him?

Do we now.

They say he left the gym and pursued at other.

Things.

He's not going to the Olympics is what.

You're trying to.

Tell me what that is like to get ahead?

I mean, you're you're in this.

Let me show you.

I get.

In fact, when you hit that bell earlier, she kind of tensed up a little bit.

I was going to hey, no, no, no.

We're not.

We're not.

You're not in the ring.

Oh, no.

I do not want you to show me.

But I mean, what is that like?

I try not to find out.

I try to move my head, get out of the way.

But I've had a hit.

It's a shocker.

Of course, it's it's a motivational factor.

It's like, okay, now I'm motivated to beat you up even better because you got me.

I know it's the part of the game, but the goal is not to be hate.

So, yeah, it's, it's not for everybody because some people, I've taken some people to the gym to try it out.

They like I want to do it, then they get hit with a soft shot and be like, No, I don't know how you do this.

Yeah.

What's the phrase is Mike Tyson.

Everybody has a plan until they're punched in the mouth.

Yeah.

Is that true?

Exactly.

I heard one of your coaches say and I forget which coach it was that there are there's there fighters and there are boxers.

Yes.

And typically a boxer will win against a fighter any day of the week.

Explain that to me.

What does that mean exactly?

The difference boxer in a fighter.

That goes back to the previous statement of having that control in there.

A fighter is just somebody that's going to be like, I got to get you.

I got to get you.

And then I see you come in.

So I'm just get out the way.

So they're just, like, predictable.

Being a boxer is very calculated.

So when they say is the sweet, science is definitely a science behind a.

Five golden gloves.

Four, four.

Okay.

All right.

And you go the Olympics.

So it's all good.

That's like seven.

That's that's great.

Let's go back to that first time in the ring at 17 years old.

Do you remember what you were thinking of that day and what was going through your head?

Okay, Lucy, I tripped getting into the ring, all right?

My opponent looking dead at me like this at the fight.

And it was just so embarrassing.

And I was just like, why did I have to trip?

Like, I litter it.

I've got to have like, oh, ready?

So she just that's feeling like she was just about to beat me up.

But the transition, I was just I was nervous.

I was I was excited.

It was just a bunch of different emotions.

I don't even remember throwing punches.

I just remember when it was over, I won.

So I was right.

And I went back and looked at the footage like, Oh, shoot.

I was like, I was in there throwing punches.

So it was just a lot going.

I didn't hear my coach now he like, Why didn't you do that?

I'm like, I didn't hear you.

Not one time.

Yeah.

So it was, it was it was it was a joy.

Well, for those 3 minutes either that day are ever feel like an eternity in the morning in.

Practice it's only like, oh my God.

I was like, is it almost over?

But when we transition to that, that competition stage, I'm just excited, like, girl, I got to try this out there.

My coaches be like, Don't, you should have tried it in practice.

I'm like, Now I'm a go out there look good.

I'm going to go out there and try to, you know, just stick to the plan, okay?

I'm like, okay.

And then I don't.

But obviously that discipline comes in as you're learning to get to get you through.

I know you were very close to your little brother, Gregory.

Yes.

He saw your first fight.

He did.

He passed away after that.

What did he mean to you?

What did his passing due to your spirit and your determination?

Oh, Gabby, get it together.

Oh, man.

My little brother, he was just such a sweet person like you can.

Emotional was.

He was just such a sweet person.

And just to have him there at my first amateur fight and this is like potentially my last amateur fight and I'm he's not there in physical, but I have his picture with me and he's going to be on that plane to Paris.

Oh, what do you think he would think about his little sister going to the Olympics?

I'm his big sister.

Big sister.

But as he was growing, he became taller than me.

And he's like, you still can't beat me a So this would be like a proven fact.

Like, I would have to beat you up.

Like I would like I can't sit here and say, like, Oh, I'm going to the Olympics and my little brother could beat me like I would have you.

Yeah, I would just have to.

So I just think he would be, like, so proud because he would walk around with my belt on and I feel like, why do you have that on?

But I look back at those moments and I appreciate that he did that.

Yeah, I know you're also very spiritual as well as there is scripture in your head or something that you you think about as you're going through your training or going through your fights.

Is several scriptures that I take with me, one of them being my guys, they just come in and they're coming in a hole still and they got fight for you.

Let's.

Is that due to work?

Lord, I will do my best and you go do the rest.

But most importantly, I think my ultimate scripture is this Faith without words is dead.

You can't have that faith and you can't pray for things.

And not putting in that effort or put in no work on your behalf so you can pray all day.

But if you're not getting out that bad and and you're not putting those those to God, give them the pavement.

Hold it.

Just shout the prayers.

Because this is just a sad song that is never going to reach anywhere.

So that faith without the words is dead.

I'm a firm believer in that.

So when I pray you have to have you have to be active behind your prayers.

You can't say, God, please let me be stronger.

But you didn't do not one push it.

Okay, that's a really good one.

That's a really good point.

He's giving you to health.

He's giving you two resources.

He's already helping you.

He just needs you to go forward.

So he grew a life and things for you.

So, yeah.

Where does that come from?

In you.

Oh, my upbringing.

I just I've seen some things.

I've been through some things and God has always brought me through.

So having at faith is just is is a key point I.

Want to talk about.

When you qualified for the Olympics last year, you're okay with it, right?

I'm okay.

With it.

All right.

Just making sure you earlier you front.

You after I got some things to finish.

You qualify for the Olympics or the Pan Am games by defeating Canadian Charlie CAVANAUGH, right?

Yes.

To earn a spot and a unanimous decision.

You had a broken thumb.

I did.

Like oh, I went in a cast immediately after and it was the worst, best pain of my life because I forgot I was up.

I got to go to ticket.

I was like, why?

Right.

And then I remember like, oh, oh.

And then it was like, Oh, you got to fight again.

I was like, I got to take it.

But I'm so passionate.

The ticket wasn't just the gold.

I wanted to win gold, and that girl was Go watch the fight, go watch the fight because she got blessed.

Okay.

Right.

But that goes back to what you were talking about.

You've got this broken thumb, but you're powering through that.

Yeah, you had these there.

I knew it was the first time and I wanted to be able to give my best in Paris.

I'm just like.

I'm just going to suck it up.

And I will go out there and I'm going get it done now.

So then I can rest later so I can get the goal later, but I still want to go now, so give me strength.

Lauren So yeah, well, you.

Talk about the title fight that was against Barbara Dos Santos, right, of Brazil.

And you lost that one.

Yes.

In the goal of questionable.

Questionable.

All right.

Okay.

We'll go with that.

Questionable.

That's cool.

There is a possibility you could have a rematch with her.

Oh, she better run.

She better run and hide.

Okay.

Yeah, if that's a possibility, I'm just going to do what I do.

There is a live stream of this going on right now.

So maybe Barbara's watching from Brazil.

So, Barbara.

Hey, Barbara, go ahead.

She's listening.

What do you say to Barbara right now?

Go ahead, Barbara.

This is for you.

Go ahead.

Barbara.

How are you doing?

It's me, Mo, again.

You had that one.

Never again.

Okay.

Never again.

Be prepared to lose.

Okay.

Line them up and knock them down.

Yeah.

Something else you said after listening to you today.

I can totally see how you're saying that.

And Barbara and others better listen before we get too far here.

I know there does a fundraiser for your family and coaches, too, to make it to Paris as well.

Do you want to give information about that?

Anything you want people to know here or whether listening that how they can donate to that.

You can go to my website Mauro McCain dot com.

Um thank you guys the black professionals t sat program I love.

Oh my god I love y'all.

This is like my new family.

Uncle C I see, connie.

I love a lot.

They have been like just really know well where you go.

Oh, there you go.

No, we're like they have been just like on a like now we need to talk to these people.

I'm over here like this.

But then I've been.

I've never like as I'm always away.

So now when I come back to Cleveland and I hear of these amazing programs, I'm like, what?

I, you know, we need to tell the people I'm out here with a bullhorn, like we need to tell the people the city club like, lives.

So I just appreciate you guys for having me like, I'm.

I'm honored to even just be here.

Wow, you are fantastic and doing a great job.

You're not done yet.

We got a few more minutes to talk.

Your audience is going to ask some questions as well.

And by the way, you can go to I know our website, WKYC dot com and get the information for the fundraiser as well.

Now, you are the fifth boxer overall, the first female boxer to qualify for the Olympics out of Cleveland.

Do you feel any more pressure because of that?

Not really.

But they threatened me and told me if I didn't come back with the gold, I was just like, oh, okay, this is motivation.

But no, the guys had a chance to get it done and they pass the torch to me because they know like I'm really get it done.

So I'm just, I'm just honored that I actually personally know like the past Olympians and the advice that they're giving me moving forward to the games is just like, amazing.

They, like, just listen.

It's just another fight.

Yeah.

You've been on the stage before.

Calm down.

Look what you're doing at halftime.

Most importantly, like they told me, what they regretted, what they love most.

And I'm just I'm just honored to hear it from somebody who who's who's walked in those shoes.

So this honor.

Yeah.

You're pals with Jake Paul.

Right?

Yeah, for sure.

Is he going to be Mike Tyson?

Why would you ask me that?

I'm I'm.

Just asking.

I'm this asking this asking.

Okay.

I'm gonna pray for him because, you know, you never know when my he.

Oh, but he still cold.

Okay?

He's an oldie, but he's come.

Okay, um.

You guys got to watch it.

Okay?

He came down there briefly shout out to Jake Paul because he has been a driving force.

He's from Cleveland.

So he's he's been really supporting our Olympic team and giving us, like the coverage and just being for the ladies, honestly.

So I appreciate him.

He has a fight coming up and a woman is headlining.

So that's just the a stepping stone for for a little while me coming up.

He's old but he's cold something guys of a certain age in this room would certainly appreciate being said about them.

What I'm going to say, right, Cody, it is time now for the City Club Middle Forum announcement.

We're about to begin the audience Q&A for our live stream audience, those just joining.

And Russ Mitchell, anchor and managing editor at WKYC.

And today's moderator, we're joined by Michelle McCain, Glenville, native champion boxer and Olympic athlete heading to Paris represent Team USA in the 2024 Olympic Games.

We welcome questions from everyone.

City Club members, guests, students and those joining via our live stream at City Club dot org.

If you would like to text a question for Morelle where she can't hear you, please text it to 3305415794.

It's 3305415794.

City Club staff will try to work it into the program.

So come on up to the podium, come up to the microphones here and we'll take some questions.

Yes, we'll begin right here.

Yes.

So our first question is a text question.

Actually, there's two questions in this question.

So how do you feel in the Libyan steppes of Harrison Diller and Jesse Owens?

Second question is, what should we tell the Morelles and the elementary school now.

The first question I'm honored listed on our Olympic camp is, you see, they have a monument of Jesse Owens.

And I'm Mike from Cleveland.

I go past it like even on those days where I'd be like, I'm not doing nothing today, but my eyes go straight to that that monument.

Like, Okay, I'm doing something today.

Okay.

And to the little ones, the little Morelles today.

Oh, my guys.

Why would you.

Let me ask it this way?

Is there something that you wish someone had told you back then?

Oh, yes.

They tell you how serious life is.

And they they they said, I guess hard.

It gets hard, but they don't tell you like it gets hard.

But you can get through it if you just calm down, take it one day at a time.

It's okay to write to goes down, stick to your goals, but enjoy the process in between those goals.

Enjoy and celebrate those little moments.

Because me personally, when I was first starting out, they were like, Oh, you just won.

And I'm like, Okay, I got to get ready for my next fight.

But it was just like I never in the beginning I didn't celebrate.

I didn't give myself a pat on the back and it's okay to be proud of yourself.

So yeah.

Hi there.

I've got a question right here.

Hello.

My name is.

Eliza.

I'm from STEM.

My question is, would you ever train kids like when you like?

Only if you're a tough one.

Of course.

I'm like, then I'll say no shout out to my coaches.

But yeah, I would love to go back and train.

Train.

I would love it.

Like I I've been through the process so I know firsthand the things that need to be told to us.

Fighters is one thing to be a coach, but it's another thing to be an actual athlete that has done it.

So I would love to.

Girl sign up.

Girl.

You want to be a boxer?

Yeah.

Okay.

Yeah.

I love Mrs. USA.

A great and yes, I love I.

Have a question here on our left.

Yes, ma'am.

I'm curious, because American athletes don't get funded the way athletes in other countries do, how tough is it for you in terms of funding?

Does the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and USA Boxing stipends cover everything you need?

And if it doesn't, how do you manage training and providing for yourself?

Um, so they do give you like a small stipend when you be on the team, but they, I feel like they don't take into account that like you're coming from another place to go to another place and you still have dealings there.

So it was rough at first I was doing it, I was online doing jobs, I was doing Uber eats, I was doing DoorDash.

I was just trying to get it any means because at the end of the day, you still have you still have your dream, but you still have to maintain your life and you can't go homeless and still try to have that momentum to go and push forward to your dream.

So that's when it comes into play.

These like foundations shattered sort of foundations when they are able to donate to these athletes.

And I'm an advocate for that because it is.

It's hard out here.

Yeah, yeah, sure.

I saw the first boxers, other athletes, they get a lot more coverage then and I'm I'm glad that I had an opportunity to represent as boxers in New York at this last media summit because they were like, we didn't know your was so cool.

I was like, yes.

So just having this exposure and just bringing it to the light is just one step closer to getting those funds out there, getting out there.

And awareness brings money.

Okay.

And piggybacking on that, you were telling me when you go to Paris, you actually going to Germany?

Yes.

To train first.

Yes.

So, yeah, there's a lot of money that needs to come into play here.

Yeah, we have a great program.

You just take it one day at about five.

You come from nowhere.

Okay, so we're in the green.

I got a bone to pick with you, Councilman.

So.

So we're in the greenroom earlier and they tell me she's going to be late because she's getting a proclamation.

Yeah, that's.

She's late.

That's a great excuse you gave with their proclamation council.

We love to have her to come down to the city of Cleveland on Monday, 7 p.m. and your honor, mommy, one of the other council members.

But here's Yvonne and I'm my wife, county councilwoman.

We we are going to donate $1,000 toward towards that.

Apparently, they will be up there with my arms around you talking.

And I remember you as a little kid and we don't donate you some money, so we will donate it to you.

We'll get that done.

I didn't one favor.

Oh, the.

Children need to see success every single day.

So they know how to become their success.

You just said that at the graduation is right.

And I believe that as my dad.

Is speaking, I felt it so top letter.

You got to come over to Glenville High School and he.

Got me he got me to sign up for the house.

He they they was on.

The over there with Principal Cooper and everybody.

He was on it.

We need.

He didn't let me get out the door.

Nope.

That's important.

You are at the graduation, so I'll give my phone number to your mother.

I see you're out in the neighborhood all the time.

And one of the things they need to see.

I'm the councilman over there.

They got to see me supporting you, and then other people would donate.

So that's why Yvonne and I, we will drop $2,000.

Thank you.

I appreciate.

That.

And got fantastic.

Thank you.

So great.

You know her.

I know her Morlle Kyra, just a quick statement and then a question.

Having just met Morelle, what, a couple of months ago, three months ago, those of us with the soul of philanthropy, Cleveland in the Cleveland Black Equity and Humanity Fund, decided to wrap our arms around her.

And so that's we're doing this huge fundraiser to help her family with their expenses airfare, travel, housing, incidentals, because Morelle shared with us that the Olympics only pays for her, not her coach from here, nothing else.

And so that's why we've wrapped arms around her.

So I'm going to do a shameless plug here.

CBH F dot org, CBH F dot org.

And then I wanted us to remember and I'm going to ask Morrell this when it's all over and you bring the gold.

Home, hey, man.

What do you see yourself doing come August and September when you're back in Cleveland with your belt and your gold.

Like, I cannot go to sleep.

I'm a go.

Oh, I just want to celebrate with the city because I started in the community and I wouldn't be here without my community.

So I would love to celebrate.

I'm going to do anything.

I plan on turning professional and just we're going to take it one step at a time.

Sure, sure.

One step at a time.

But definitely going back into the community and and showing them like, listen, if you want it bad enough, you'll get it for sure.

Take a little hard work.

We've touched on some of your accomplishments.

Yes, we've done we've heard about a.

Number of your accomplishment.

It's, you know, outside of the ring.

You worked at Progressive Field.

I did one.

Time.

And you were throwing out the first pitch, I know, on Saturday.

All right.

What is more nerve racking going in the ring, being up here, throwing out the first pitch?

I'm going off here.

You're doing great.

You're amazing.

Inspiring a lot of people today.

Thank you.

And you being Barbara's scared.

Let me tell you something.

Sitting in Brazil.

Yes, sir.

One of the administrators at the Glenville High School shout out to Glenville High School administration team led by Principal Cooper.

So thanks for coming and visiting with us and being an honorary member of our academic village.

Harambee House.

Hey, Romy.

Romy, I got to teach you that trick that.

So if any other people that are interested in becoming an honorary member of a House in Glenfield and you see me.

But the question that I had is what would you say to the current top leaders really current young folks everywhere who may not see now a path to success?

What would you say?

I would say I would say life is is is it gets rough sometimes, especially coming from the inner city you're battling so many different, different things.

But everything counts.

Everything you do counts.

So in order to even if you don't see it, you have to do your best.

You have to you have to realize life is like being a butterfly.

We all start in a cocoon and we see that we have those dark moments and then, boom, you're a beautiful butterfly.

So let me sum it up.

I just want to tell them, like even for myself, I didn't see this have been my path.

I had dreams of going abroad and I just knew I was going to be on somebody's stage singing.

But everybody kept telling me to say, Oh, honey, I was just like, Why are you telling me that I'm practicing?

So yeah, like, sometimes.

Sometimes you don't know where you need to to end up, but you just have to stay on that road and take the road less traveled because everybody's over here.

You're doing all this crazy stuff, and they're going to look back and be like, I wish.

I wish I could've did this.

Don't be that person.

Be that person that's going to be like, listen, nah, I don't I can't go out tonight.

I got to study because guess what?

Your friends are still your real friends are going to be there and they're going to be doing the things that you're doing.

They're going to be successful.

You want to hang out with other successful people and those people.

That's why you should consider kick it are still going to be at the kick.

So you're not missing out on nothing.

Okay.

What our show.

Would you say are some of the most important lessons you learned in Glenville?

Um, one thing when I was going to the Glenville High School, they instilled that that pride in us like that, that black pride.

So they're like, Oh no, do you know who you are, where you've come from?

So I just appreciate having those history lessons.

Like, it was just like, what?

What?

I'm I'm a history buff, so I just love, like, history, philosophy and having those amazing group of teachers, like, they were like second family members.

Like, I don't know, I didn't eat breakfast today.

My teacher used to pull out her hot plate like, okay, so and that and we're going to make some pancakes while we.

So it was just like a family, like they wanted you to succeed.

You felt that energy.

So it was, I can't let them down even if you didn't have that person at all.

And they was like, Oh, no, baby, you getting out of here, you walk in stage.

So I just appreciate that they instill so much self-love in us and this world constantly just beat you down.

They like hold your head up high.

So, yeah.

You can still.

Connie was asking, you.

Know, what some of your plans were after you win the gold and come back, you said you're going to go professional.

You know, you could still be on Broadway.

Oh.

Oh, climbing it.

Okay, go.

Give me some.

That's.

Well, I want to wish you just tremendous safety and all of your travels and and tremendous success and and bring home the gold.

My question is this.

We've recently seen a surge in the popularity of women's sports and in particular in the WNBA.

I'm curious, is Team USA doing anything as far as is women's boxing?

And and other women's sports in terms of planning for future marketing and kind of riding the wave of of what we're seeing in women's basketball?

Yes.

I'm excited for the the future of us females.

I have an opportunity to to work with.

I can't disclose the information now, but you guys are going to see it in the future to work with a well known college, to try to get a female boxing program.

So that's just the that's just the get to get the ball rolling.

Like if us girls are winning in any area of athletics, it's just opening the door for more female empowerment because there's like, Oh, they're watching now.

They're watching.

Maybe we said, okay, they're watching it.

So it starts with that exposure.

So I shout out to the girls, okay, yeah.

And female boxing has only been an Olympic sport since, well, 2012.

Yes, not very long.

Yes, I was shocked.

Yeah.

Because I didn't know that myself.

Yeah, I'm surprised as well.

Yes.

Good afternoon.

Morelle It is.

I just want you to know that it's an honor to have you represent us.

I'm going to just make a statement and then I'll formulate a question.

So, first of all, as a as a proud Glenville High School alumni who lived right around the corner from where you trained.

Okay.

So I was on 115th Street and you 14.

Right, right, right.

It's just all the neighborhoods.

But at the end of the day, I want to first of all, congratulate your parent, your mom and your family, because the road that you've traveled, you didn't travel alone and they lifted you up.

And families critically important.

And I think sometimes family gets lost in the success that we have.

You certainly haven't done that.

You've you've lifted your family up from the moment we left, we met you.

And I want you to know that when we met, you act as the the soul of philanthropy.

Cleveland and our fund the Cleveland Black Equity in Humanity Fund.

And we said, look, this is no way in the world this young lady is going to Paris without her family and without those who she needs to support her, like every other Olympic athlete.

So, you know, you I want to make sure by asking you this question that we don't miss anything.

Okay.

What else do you need?

What else can we do to make sure that you're there, focused on the mission and not focused on anything else?

What else can we do to make sure you're the best moral you can be?

You know, we're going to love you regardless.

But what?

What else can we do?

Let us know.

Oh, yeah.

So on my website, you go to the website, we're going to provide updates on everything, updates on the fundraiser, updates on the fights where you can.

We're going to upload our Paris schedule so you can keep up because I mean, I need all that good energy to be there with me like.

Sure.

And I'll just put details on the website for that.

So I appreciate you.

A question right here.

Hi.

Yes, I'm sure you know, everybody in Cleveland is proud of you, especially the tower blunders.

I, I really became hooked on the Olympics in 86 when they were in Atlanta.

And for the fittest people in the world to compete, is this a challenge and a choice?

But I know when we went to China, whatever hotel you're at, there may be athletes from other countries and they will let you know if they have extra tickets to different events and being in Paris, make sure you, you know, got something for what works, you know?

Yeah, sure.

For you.

Thank you.

Have a question right over here.

Yes.

I'm biased with this.

I'm from Glenville.

And we're going to ask you questions related to how you do.

I'm a referee.

So what we want to know as you move on to boxing, especially female boxing, as we start having in 2012, not only do you have to get used to other boxers, you got to get used to other coaches, you got to get used to other referees in other countries.

But a lot of time referees do different things.

And you working with a sport where only you know teammate, only you can determine what you want to do hahaha has that been what all the recognition and stand focus before we get that gold medal that you can win?

Oh, it's been a challenge, but like I said, I'm number seven at eight, so I've been in a house with different personalities.

One day they like you, next day they don't.

So.

So I feel like I was literally prepared for this moment, like you just got to go with the flow in life.

And I just think that's, that's the main thing, not getting caught up in the moment because you can say, I'm having a bad day.

No, I'm having a bad moment.

And then we're moving to the next moment, which is going to be a better moment.

So to answer your question, it was very difficult.

It was out of my element.

I wanted to when I realized, like, I wasn't going to have my coaches there because I train with the Team USA, they have their selected coaches.

I was just like, I don't want to do this.

Then they was not talking to you guys.

They were like, No, do that.

Like, I don't know how to do that because they have a different style of coaching.

So it became it was, it was it was really rough in the beginning and making that transition.

But I was like, I, I came too far to give up now to leave it at these would just be like, I'm wasting my time.

So I just was like, Nah, just got to make that adjustment.

Staying to I was refereeing one at a time with Morelle I said, momentum.

It's like you hitting hard because you're a boxer.

She said.

You never felt one of my punches.

I said I had to shoot you.

Got a text question.

We're going to wrap it up out of time.

All right.

Thank you very much.

Thank you for having.

Thank you, BROWN Thank you, Russ, for moderating the conversation today.

I'm Dan Mouthlrop with the City Club.

We just want to remind all of you that if you do want to make a contribution in support of Morelle, see the e h f dot org.

That's it.

Got it all.

And if you're here in the room, go see our very good friend, Connie Hill Johnson.

Forums like this one and.

And like Lake Morelles trip are made possible thanks to generous contributions from people like you.

So you can learn more about what we do here at the City Club.

Of course, at City Club, Dawg.

And I do want to thank our sponsors today, month services and also Citizen Citizens sponsors, our local hero series Month sponsors a number of other things as well.

Please join me in thanking them.

Our forum today is also the annual Robert Degrees Forum on Inspiration, which recognizes inspiring leaders whose achievements reflect a level of accomplishment well beyond the ordinary individuals that, by virtue of their perseverance and leadership, have been catalyst for change and have enhanced the human condition of our community.

We thank the Greens family who's with us today for their support of City Club programing.

And we take a moment to remember Bob as well.

He was just a tremendous, tremendous leader and an inspiration to all of us.

Before our forum began, we didn't quite have time for all the community partners, and I want to give a shout out and lot of gratitude to the Cleveland Police Athletic League and Cleveland Golden Gloves.

Thank you both so much.

Both organizations especially.

I want to thank Ric Lozada of the Golden Gloves and Bob Carr magic of the of the People.

Thank you both so much.

I also want to thank all of the folks who've joined us today.

We have students from M.S.

Squared STEM High School, as well as guests at the table hosted by the Bob Davis Boxing Club, Citizens Bank, Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance, Cuyahoga Community College, Glenville High School Administration and Alumni Global Broadcasting Services.

That's nail salons, organization, and as well as Golden Gloves and the Cleveland People Services and the United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland.

You guys are all amazing, wonderful people.

Thank you for joining us today.

Lots more coming up at your city club, your home for Civic Dialog.

Please check it all out at City Club, dawg.

That brings us to the end of the forum.

Once more, a round of applause and support.

A admiral McCain Olympian.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Thank you so much, friends.

Our form is adjourned.

Have a wonderful day.

For information on upcoming speakers or for podcasts of the City Club, go to City Club, dawg.

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