Submissions accepted through May 17

Ohio’s neighbor to the northwest, Detroit, proved a catalyst for area professionals with the city’s Emerging Leaders to launch the My Akron initiative.

Kimberly Beckett, director of business relations for the Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP), says of My Akron, “It’s a way to engage the younger demographic to get involved in downtown.”

Still in its infancy and founded in March 2013, My Akron allows participants to weigh in with, “What would you like to see downtown?” by submitting small project proposals to enhance downtown, Beckett says.

Expressive Therapy Center promotes holistic healing through the arts, hosts open house May 22

The little girl slowly walks up to the table wearing a hospital gown and a princess tiara, her IV bag and pole close behind her. At the table, children are making colorful shapes with modeling clay and cookie cutters, and nearby, dollops of paint on paper plates stand vigil around tiny easels. The children are smiling, as if they’ve forgotten that they’re in the middle of a hospital, or at least pushed this fact to the back of their minds for now as they work with an art therapist.

The Emily Cooper Welty Expressive Therapy Center at Akron Children’s Hospital is a place of healing, where visual art and music converge as therapy for these young patients. The two-year-old center -- adorned with vibrant calming colors, mosaics depicting characters from nursery rhymes and skylights that fill the room with natural light -- is a relatively new concept in the patient experience but one that hospital staff, administration and patients can hang their hat on as an effective method of treatment.

“The connection between arts and biology is there,” says Dr. Sarah Friebert, director of pediatric palliative care at Akron Children’s Hospital, and the driving force behind establishment of the Expressive Therapy Center. “There are a number of studies out there that show there is actual connection with the immune system and how well we fight infection when we’re relaxed, when we’re engaged in something that’s tapping into our creativity. We see it in terms of reduced anxiety, reduced pain, increased ability to cope and increased feelings of self-efficacy for children and families. And that’s particularly important for children who have a chronic disease and who are very ill, who are out of control of what’s happening to them most of the time.”

With warmer weather having arrived — and hopefully with no further interruption of a cold flashback — folks young and old will be strapping on their helmets and biking down the area’s many bike paths.

And for those in the market for a ride, the Akron Police Department will provide an opportunity, as it has done for more than 30 years, to purchase one at its annual public bike auction.

The event is free, open to the public and will take place May 18 at 1085 Sweitzer Ave. (corner of East Miller and Sweitzer avenues).

Whether it's stilettos, kitten, sling back or wedges, strap 'em on and race to the finish the line for the third annual Kick Up Your Heels 5K, 1M walk and Stiletto Sprint on Saturday, May 11.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with the event starting and finishing at Lock 3 Park in downtown Akron. The race will benefit the ACCESS homeless shelter, providing funds for costs of maintaining the shelter and programs they offer to the women and children in need.

"What we are mostly about is our programs," said Eliza R. Williams, director of advancement at ACCESS. "The programming here is cutting edge and aims at ending homelessness. We address the issues of our clients."

The Tuesday Musical Association wrapped up its 125th anniversary season in Akron with a bravura performance by the renowned Canadian Brass ensemble at The University of Akron's EJ Thomas Hall.

Prior to the evening performance, the quintet gave a mini-performance and conducted a master class workshop with music students in the Guzzetta recital hall. The Canadian Brass played Brahms’s "Hungarian Dance #7" for the mix of grad-students and undergrad music majors, then invited the Grad Brass plus One to take the stage.

The graduate students played Ingolf Dahl’s "Music for Brass Instruments." After the number concluded, members of the Canadian Brass critiqued the performance and coached the students, helping them to refine their technique. The instruction ranged from the fine art of bowing and the importance of connecting with the audience -- explaining how it needs to be a two-way communication, “Convey the love to the audience” -- to learning how to listen to the music while they are playing.

Evergreen Cooperative in Cleveland has placed community wealth squarely into the hands of some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods, while operating businesses with minimal impact on the environment. Its employees own a stake in the companies they work for and have an active role in managing the businesses, which to date are a laundry service, a solar energy company and an urban greenhouse.

This model of employee ownership and community wealth-building could soon take shape in Akron as some of the minds behind this Cleveland cooperative look to launch similar models in local neighborhoods. The question is: Who will lead the charge?

“As a worker-owner (of the laundry co-op), you will have accrued after eight years, $65,000 as your share of the profits as an owner,” said Jim Anderson, a project manager with the Evergreen Cooperative Laundry, who shared the benefits of this business model with the Greater Akron Innovation Network for Sustainability’s (GAINS) recent monthly meeting. “That is community wealth-building. It isn’t just about a payroll or a job.”

Area artists are singing for the suppers of those in need as part of the Harvest for Hunger’s Virtual Idol competition. Through April 30, an online donation may be used to cast votes for your favorite local performer and provide meals for the hungry.

Submissions are collected via YouTube vidoes, and every dollar that is donated will count as one vote. The video with the most votes will be named the 2013 Harvest for Hunger Virtual Idol winner. Each $5 donation can provide 20 meals to hungry men, women and children in our community, according to the Virtual Idol website.

Harvest for Hunger is a partnership among four foodbanks, including the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, and serves 21 counties across the state.

The Silver Sneakers fitness program at the Akron Area YMCA is a way for residents age 65 and older to stay in shape and socialize. Visit www.akronymca.org for more information.