catalysts

SUPERPOWER: organizing, connecting, building coalitions 

TOP OF MIND: building community, improving quality of life outcomes, manifesting power

SHOWING UP FOR: all of Akron, Summit County, young people, the disaffected

INVITING FOLKS TO: craft and build communities through impactful resources, cultivating a sense of power and responsibility

SUPERPOWER: understanding and explaining conflicting perspectives

TOP OF MIND: racial equity and the rule of law

SHOWING UP FOR: Asian Services in Action (ASIA)

INVITING FOLKS TO: join in building a community of people who care. And it'll be fun!

SUPERPOWER: opening & knocking down doors

TOP OF MIND: creating more 3rd/safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community, building the confidence of everyday Akronites to speak more openly and loudly within their own communities

SHOWING UP FOR: LGBTQ+ communities, nonprofit communities, TEDxAkron

INVITING FOLKS TO: take a first step into civic engagement— no pressure, just possibilities… and lots of snacks

SUPERPOWER: community programming

TOP OF MIND: equity & quality of life for all ages

SHOWING UP FOR: Akron Black Artist Guild

INVITING FOLKS TO: put "Words into Action" through Akron Black Artist Guild community events that utilize literacy and art to inform and promote good civic character within Akron's collective communities

SUPERPOWER: joyful, creative community building 

TOP OF MIND: neighborhood pride and development, arts as community building and healing 

SHOWING UP FOR: West Hill Neighborhood Organization 

INVITING FOLKS TO: celebrate community and imagine together; relax, recharge and grieve if needed, get grounded in nature

SUPERPOWER: evidence-based community health strategy & value communication

TOP OF MIND: equitable access to healthcare and medical innovation; bridging research, patient advocacy & community needs; cancer care, food security, & civic engagement in health policy

SHOWING UP FOR: The American Cancer Society, People Feeding People, Summit County Democratic Party, medical startups & innovators in healthcare access

INVITING FOLKS TO: collaborate to strengthen community health, expand access to care, and empower neighbors through evidence, advocacy, & shared resources

SUPERPOWER: engaging— in every sense of the word!

TOP OF MIND: Akron's ability to keep OURSELF alive, fed and sheltered; strength from a deep well of culture, history, and community

SHOWING UP FOR: young, black, queer communities! People Feeding People, Civic Saturday Akron, Freedom BLOC

INVITING FOLKS TO: come together & alight each other, ignite conversation and connection!

SUPERPOWER: organizing, inviting conversation, planning 

TOP OF MIND: food apartheid, housing, access to justice

SHOWING UP FOR: People Feeding People, Freedom BLOC 

INVITING FOLKS TO: activate and take responsibility

SUPERPOWER: distilling meaning and direction

TOP OF MIND: health equity, food systems, queer liberation

SHOWING UP FOR: Signal Akron Documenters, food access programs

INVITING FOLKS TO: connect with the power in their identities and skills

SUPERPOWER: curating creative connection

TOP OF MIND: arts advocacy, mental health, Asset Based Community Development

SHOWING UP FOR: Citizen University, Civic Saturday Akron, People Feeding People

INVITING FOLKS TO: celebrate community and shared civic power

SUPERPOWER: placemaking

TOP OF MIND: community building, neighborhood-led urban development, food security & urban farming 

SHOWING UP FOR: People Feeding People, Akron Cooperative Farms

INVITING FOLKS TO: transform our community through relationships and shared resources

SUPERPOWER: organizing down to the details 

TOP OF MIND: youth development, community-centered public safety, strengthening channels of mutual aid

SHOWING UP FOR: The Freedom BLOC, People Feeding People 

INVITING FOLKS TO: activate and take responsibility

SUPERPOWER: empowering others

TOP OF MIND: increasing community service education and opportunities to the youth, and contributing to the homeless population

SHOWING UP FOR: Akron Urban League Young Professionals & People International Inc

INVITING FOLKS TO: to cultivate emotionally safe spaces that foster and promote empowerment

SUPERPOWER: enthusiastic community building

TOP OF MIND: defending democracy and safe guarding the Vote

SHOWING UP FOR: The League of Women Voters Akron Area

INVITING FOLKS TO: be in community to support our democracy and inspire each other

SUPERPOWER: collaborative problem-solving

TOP OF MIND: democracy of, by, and for the people

SHOWING UP FOR: Unify America + Akron youth, arts, and community building orgs

INVITING FOLKS TO: Tackle problems together and flex our civic muscle

SUPERPOWER: motivating, uniting, implementing

TOP OF MIND: helping individuals to find their leadership traits and feel empowered

SHOWING UP FOR: West Hill Neighborhood Organization; Akron Inner City Soccer Club

INVITING FOLKS TO: equip neighbors with the tools to take ownership of their neighborhood and city

SUPERPOWER: creating inclusive spaces

TOP OF MIND: freedom of self-expression, environmentalism, and equality

SHOWING UP FOR: All things Pride, End Overdose, and Citizen University

INVITING FOLKS TO: create networks of support to encourage community engagment, diversity & inclusion

SUPERPOWER: curatorial creativity

TOP OF MIND: arts & culture/creative economy, urbanism

SHOWING UP FOR: Akron NAACP, Freedom BLOC, Akron Black Artist Guild, Faith Temple CLG

INVITING FOLKS TO: share knowledge, share the work, and share love