LAKEWOODALIVE PRESENTS TWO-PART SPEAKER SERIES:
MAKING "CENTS" OF LAKEWOOD'S FINANCES

LAKEWOOD, February 12, 2008 - LakewoodAlive, a citizens' community development and advocacy group committed to helping create informed and engaged residents, has announced a two-part informational series, Making "Cents" of Lakewood's Finances.

The first forum will be held Tuesday, February 26 at 7:00 p.m. at Harrison Elementary School, 2080 Quail Ave., Lakewood. A panel of experts will discuss details and current challenges of municipal finance. Speakers will also directly address Lakewood's current financial position, challenges and opportunities.

The follow up forum, to be held on Tuesday, April 3 at 7:00 p.m. at Hayes Elementary School
, 16401 Delaware Ave., Lakewood, will focus specifically on Lakewood's 2008 city budget.

"The forum series will provide a opportunity for all of us to learn more about the intricacies of municipal finance and connect the dots to Lakewood's finances," said Jay Foran, President of LakewoodAlive.

Expert panelists for the February 26 forum include:

• Mayor Edward FitzGerald, City of Lakewood
• Yvette Ittu, Chief Financial Officer and VP Cleveland Development Advisors, Greater Cleveland Partnership
• Kevin O'Brien, Executive Director, The Center for Public Management and the Great Lakes Environmental Finance Center, The Maxine-Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University
• Jennifer Pae, Finance Director, City of Lakewood
• Mike Summers, Lakewood City Council and Leader of the Structural Taskforce Citizens Committee
  
  Joe Gibbons, a LakewoodAlive founding member, will moderate the forum. The forum is free and advanced registration is not necessary.

Check out the Main Page of our site for more Details!