The Akron Youth Symphony will open its performance season with a special concert that will combine traditional classical with a tribute to the armed forces Sunday, Nov. 11, at 3 p.m., at the MAPS Air Museum in Canton. Under the baton of Music Director Eric Benjamin, the Youth Symphony will perform two movements from Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 3”; Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln … [Read more...]
History of the African-American Church in Akron
Filmmaker Clyde McDaniel (Cleo Films) takes a look at Akron’s rich history of African-American churches and how these congregations connect with the community. … [Read more...]
International Institute moves offices to Summa St. Thomas campus
International Institute of Akron (IIA) will move its offices to the Summa - St. Thomas campus, at 20 Olive St., Suite 201, effective Oct. 1. Planning for the move has been under way for some time in response to the state of Ohio’s plan to reconfigure the intersection at the site of the Institute’s longstanding location on Tallmadge Avenue at Dayton Street. The nonprofit … [Read more...]
Live music, art, highlight Fifth Annual Big Love celebration Feb 24 at Summit Artspace
Theme this year is ‘Seven Generations: The Future of Love’ -- The Big Love Fest will celebrate its 5th year Saturday, Feb. 24 in a return to Summit Artspace. This year the theme is “Seven Generations: The Future of Love,” in which bridges of appreciation seek to honor the generations that came before us, celebrate those that live now, and support those who will come after … [Read more...]
Akron Community Foundation awards $3.3 million in grants
Competitive grants meet pressing health and human services needs Akron Community Foundation has announced $3.3 million in grants to support programs that enhance the quality of life of area residents. Nearly $500,000 of those grants will benefit local health and human services organizations, including those focused on addiction recovery and prevention, homelessness, and … [Read more...]
Residents learn to make rain collection barrels at Sustainable Saturday workshop
Using rain barrels to catch water that normally falls off your roof and funnels through rain gutters can save a house dweller a significant amount of money. The Akron Sustainer, in conjunction with Let's Grow Akron, recently offered a free class about making rain barrels as part of the Sustainable Saturday series. The two organizations have turned the second Saturday of the … [Read more...]
Kenmore battles negative community perceptions (Part IV in a series)
Let’s address some of the negative perceptions people have of Kenmore. I’ve heard the terms “hillbilly” and “white trash” thrown around. I’ve heard complaints about unkempt front yards debasing the neighborhood’s appearance. Some think the young kids have no Kenmore pride, that they just want to get the hell out. Some associate Kenmore with the current heroin epidemic, … [Read more...]
Immersive exhibit at University of Akron’s Emily Davis Gallery combines technology, architecture
Plexiglass, LED lights, projectors and other technology will merge for the interactive "Strataform" exhibit at the Emily Davis Gallery, at The University of Akron's Myers School of Art. Opening April 3, "Strataform" reacts to whoever's in the room, using sensors and projectors, casting dreamlike images onto the wall. This "living architecture" exhibit includes nearly 10,000 … [Read more...]
Big Love ‘Bounce Beyond’ festival offers live music, art, workshops, healing, storytelling April 1
All-day festival takes place 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at The Well CDC -- In person, Zach Freidhof is soft spoken and kind, but underneath this calm demeanor is an intensity, one that fuels his many community efforts: from panel discussions about religion to concerts and leading zero-waste efforts at neighborhood festivals. He’s also one of the catalysts behind the Big Love … [Read more...]
Path to citizenship can be rocky for refugees, immigrants
Naturalization offers sense of identity, purpose for residents -- As a detainee in a refugee camp, Hsathablay Moo had no sense of belonging, no notion of self. “It seems like you’re an alien,” she says. “As a refugee for 24 years, I’d been through a lot, so much struggle, so much trauma, so many hardships; the one thing that was missing from my life was my identity.” Once … [Read more...]