What does a 21st century city look like? High speed rail? City-wide broadband access? Economic innovation and job growth? And if those are the answers, then how do we get there after suffering through a global pandemic?

That is the topic at the heart of a two-day virtual symposium later this week called "Building the 21st Century City: The Future is Now." And we'll discuss it on today's Sound of Ideas.

The forum, hosted by the Urban Land Institute Cleveland, and the City of Cleveland, will feature national and local experts with ideas on how to upgrade our city in the areas of technology, mobility, and inclusive economic development.

Host Rick Jackson to kick off the event tomorrow at 3:00 pm, followed by opening remarks from city leaders including Mayor Frank Jackson.

If you're just hearing about it and would like to attend, we'll have details about the event below. There will be conversations on various topics moderated by the likes of Baiju Shah, recently tapped to lead the Greater Cleveland Partnership, as well as Homa Bash from Channel 5 and our own Mike McIntyre, executive editor of Ideastream.

To offer us a little preview of what Tuesday and Wednesday will be like, we have two of the participating national experts to start the show.

Later this hour, we'll talk to author Dave Hardin about his book Standpipe, chronicling his time as a Red Cross Volunteer at the height of the Flint water crisis.

And, a Cleveland Clinic doctor tells us why earlier colon cancer screenings could save lives.

Guests:
Ben Hammersley, futurist and strategic forecaster
Tawanna Black, founder and chief executive officer, Center for Economic Inclusion
Dave Hardin, author, "Standpipe: Delivering Water in Flint"
Dr. Michael Valente, D.O., colorectal surgeon, Cleveland Clinic