Elana Cohen grew up in a Warren, Ohio, a small town right outside of Cleveland. She moved to Cleveland after she graduated Goucher College in 2008.
Why Cleveland? What is/ was attractive to you about Cleveland?
“After being away from my family, I wanted to come back to where they lived to be with them. I have lived in Cleveland before for a short time, and I loved the city. I wanted to come back to a place where I was comfortable, and a place where I could be with my family.”
Where are your favorite places to go in Cleveland?
“I love Shaker Square. There is a sushi place called Sasa, it has great food and a cool bar! I really love B-Spot, Michael Symon’s new restaurant at Eaton Collection. Coventry is also an exciting place to go! My friends and I go to The Wine Cave ( La Cave Du Vin), it’s a lot of fun! Cedar Lee and Chagrin Falls are also great places to eat and walk around. There is a great café/ bistro in Chagrin Falls called The West End. Very good!”
Tell us more about where you work here in Cleveland.
“I work for the Cleveland Hillel as the “program assistant.” I helped coordinate programs and seminars for the Cleveland Hillel Summer Internship program, and I staffed the seminars that were each Friday. I helped staff the social programs that took place throughout the summer for the internship group as well. I also do a lot of volunteering and I am very involved in the Jewish community. I am on the steering committee for the “21/39 Club” which is a social networking group through Temple Teferith, and I volunteer at MedWish."
When people ask you about Cleveland, what do you tell them? What do you tell people who are considering moving to Cleveland?
"I tell people that Cleveland has so much to offer. Cleveland has tons of culture, great restaurants, and great people! I went to school on the East Coast, and there people thought I lived on a farm. I told them that Cleveland is a cool city, very different from the typical Mid-West perception. I also tell people that there are many great places in Cleveland, and you do need to make an effort to go out there to find them, but once you do, these places offer many great opportunities and options!"
What is a positive difference between Cleveland and the places you have previously lived?
"I used to live in Baltimore. Baltimore and Cleveland have their similarities, but what I like about Cleveland is that it is a smaller and less overwhelming city, but there are still plenty of things to do. There are many great neighborhoods, and it is very easy to navigate around Cleveland. It is slower pace and less hectic, which I really like."
What is one thing that can be done to make Cleveland a better community than it already is?
"I think that the city of Cleveland is really trying to show people that it is a place they should come back too, and a great place to live, but I think that Cleveland and the community need to greater showcase all the special things Cleveland has to offer so that more young people want to come back after college. If the Cleveland community did this, this amazing city would speak for itself. We need to do a better job of making sure that the people graduating from college know that Cleveland has many options, and a lot to offer."
Rayna Karoll is from Long Island, New York. She graduated from Case Western Reserve University in 2010. 
Why did you choose Case Western Reserve College?
"I chose Case because of the program that I am in, but I also loved the school. I am in a really good environment and there are a million and a half things to do on and off campus. There is always something going on, it is a great mix of being able to study while still having a good time.”
Where are you living in Cleveland, do you like it? What is the best part about where you live?
“I am living on Euclid, five minutes away from Coventry. I am a ten minute walk to Little Italy and I am close to the places I like to hang out at. I love the fact that I live near a lot of graduate students and young professionals, so my area is a little bit quieter, but there is always something to do!”
What is the best part of going to college in Cleveland?
“There is so much to do in Cleveland. I am from New York, and Cleveland is no New York, but I knew that coming in. I love the fact that there is always something to do, and Cleveland offers a lot to college students like free tickets to movies and concerts. A positive aspect about Cleveland is that culturally and socially there is always something going on, you just need to go out there and find it.”
Where are your favorite places to go to in Cleveland?
“Anywhere is fun when I am with my friends! We usually go to Coventry and West 6th. I go to the Velvet Dog and the Barely House on West 6th. In Coventry, I go to McNullty’s and Panini’s. B-Side is really fun on Thursdays because there is karaoke. East 4th street is a great place for happy hour! It is must chiller than West 6th.”
What would you say to an out- of- state student debating whether they should come to Cleveland or not?
“I would say that Cleveland is not New York, or not Chicago, but Cleveland is a great city with a lot of positives! The fact that Cleveland is not New York is why I love it! It is slower pace, quieter, and a great Mid-West city. It is a fun city and a fun place to go to college.”
What do you tell your friends back home about where you go to college?
“My friends always ask me “why do you go to school Cleveland?” I tell them that I love Cleveland and I would move here in a heartbeat! I could definitely see myself staying in Cleveland!”