South of Penn Community Lot
On a Friday in September 2021, a 110-pound turtle was walking along a patch of grass while children learned about reptiles and insects. The reptile show was part of a series of programs such as movie nights, cleanups, porch concerts, and art workshops that have been taking place at the South of Penn Community Lot.…
Read MoreThe Exchange House and Backyard
The Exchange House is located in North Akron, an international neighborhood home to people from Nepal, Bhutan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Congo, and more. Beyond providing a gathering space and lodging, the Exchange House is also working to build a coalition of multicultural leaders in North Akron. The organization that initiated the effort was Better Block Foundation,…
Read MorePegasus Garden
After the city demolished a home, the resulting vacant lot attracted illegal drug activity to the area. Jennifer Grau, a Prospect PLACE neighborhood resident, said “Neighbors wanted to create a colorful space for gathering and gardening that would signal to those who live here and those passing by that we live in a connected, vibrant,…
Read MoreTired-A-Lot Studio
In 2017, Bridge of Grace Compassionate Ministries Center (BGCMC) launched Tired-a-Lot Studios to address neighbors’ desires for beautification and social offerings, creative outlets for a growing student population, and remediation of a large number of overgrown green vacant parcels. Tired-a-Lot Studies was a series of summer and spring break camps that convened 16 campers and…
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