CIty of Green Magazine - 2023-24

PROSPEROUS

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PROGRESSIVE

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PROMISING

2023-24

Painting the Town Find out what the new Comprehensive Plan means for the city

Sneak peek at the new Community Courts

Discover how local students are brightening up a city street.

See how students are making a difference in the community

SPONSORED BY THE CITY OF GREEN

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A DIGITAL EDITION OF 2023-24

PROSPEROUS | PROGRESSIVE | PROMISING

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IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT CITYOFGREEN.ORG

PROSPEROUS

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PROGRESSIVE

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6

PROMISING

2023-24

8 Painting the Town Find out what the new Comprehensive Plan means for the city

Sneak peek at the new Community Courts

10 12 14

Discover how local students are brightening up a city street.

See how students are making a difference in the community

SPONSORED BY THE CITY OF GREEN

MAKE A SPLASH IN YOUR COMMUNITY

| CONTENTS | MESSAGE FROM

THE MAYOR Learn how collaboration keeps Green thriving.

CITY NEWS

Find out how a new Comprehensive Plan will guide the city’s future.

PARKS & RECREATION

Community Courts, an indoor recreation facility, will give residents more places to play.

SCHOOLS

Get the scoop on the progress of the new buildings.

MAP & LOCATION INDEX

Learn more about Green, including city demographics.

GREEN SCENE See how a new public art initiative is brightening up the city.

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REACH CONSUMERS AND GET THE MOST IMPACT FOR YOUR MARKETING DOLLAR PROSPEROUS

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PROGRESSIVE

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PROMISING

2023-24 THE CITY OF

Independence MOMENTUM

COMMUNITY MAGAZINE 2023

Independence continues to grow and prosper thanks to its business-friendly governance, great schools and plentiful opportunities for recreation.

STREET Smart

Discover what makes Middleburg Heights the perfect place to put down roots and set up shop.

Inside:

Around Town: City Updates

TAKE A LOOK AT

MAGAZINE 2023

MAGAZINE 2023-24

FORWARD

Strongsville

Schools: Students Making a Difference

FUN

Painting the Town

Business: Local Company Spotlights

Inside: A look at the New Police Station | Why We Love Our Community Center | 10 Must-Try Spots | Work-From-Home Tips

Find out what the new Comprehensive Plan means for the city

Sneak peek at the new Community Courts

Public Service Director Paul Barnett shares a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to keep Brunswick’s streets, storm sewers and more in tip-top shape.

for

EVERYONE Discover how local students are brightening up a city street.

See how students are making a difference in the community

SPONSORED BY THE CITY OF GREEN

PLUS A New Playground for Everyone

No matter your age, Strongsville’s recreation department helps residents stay active and have fun.

Sneak Peek at Market 42 Students Making a Difference Local Business Spotlights

2023

PRESENTED BY THE CITY OF BRUNSWICK • BRUNSWICK.OH.US

PLUS • Meet the New Police Chief

• Students Explore Careers

• Thriving Businesses

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT The Community Leadership Initiative gives residents an indepth look at the city’s inner workings.

Let us help you reach your West Side market in new, exciting ways!

For information, call 216-377-3638.

4

A PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF GREEN. FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL 216-377-3693.

COVER PHOTO: L AURA WATILO BL AKE

Community magazines have a long history of helping local businesses by giving them direct access to readers who buy local to support where they live.

INSPIRING YOUTH Meet students who are making a difference in the community.

CITY OF GREEN ADMINISTRATION

330-896-5500

cityofgreen.org

CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

1755 Town Park Blvd., Green, OH 44685 GENERAL MAILING ADDRESS

P.O. Box 278, Green, OH 44232 INCOME TAX MAILING ADDRESS

P.O. Box 460, Green, OH 44232 @CityofGreen

GENERAL PHONE NUMBERS Mayor’s Office 330-896-6602 City Council 330-896-6604 Engineering Department 330-896-5510 Finance Department 330-896-6603 Highway/Stormwater Division 330-896-6607 Human Resources 330-896-4138 Income Tax Division 330-896-6622 Law Department 330-896-6615 Parks & Recreation Division 330-896-6621 Planning Department 330-896-6614 Public Service Department 330-896-4176 Zoning Division 330-896-6605 Emergency 911 Fire Division Non-Emergency 330-896-6610 Summit County Sheriff/ 330-643-2181 Non-Emergency

GREEN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS Cleveland Clinic Akron General Health 330-896-5011 & Wellness Center 1940 Town Park Blvd., Green, OH 44685 Summa Health Center 330-899-2400 Emergency Room 1825 Franks Pkwy., Green, OH 44685

GREEN LOCAL SCHOOLS greenlocalschools.org, 330-896-7500 Physical Address 1755 Town Park Blvd., Green, OH 44685

Mailing Address P.O. Box 218 Green, OH 44232

PORTAGE LAKES CAREER CENTER plcc.edu, 330-896-8200 4041 Shriver Road, Green, OH 44685

Message from the Mayor » IN SUMMER 2023, construction of the new Green Middle School and Community Courts on Steese Road — two much-needed facilities for our community — began. This collaboration between the City of Green and Green Local Schools will benefit our community by combining a new, modern middle school with indoor activity space desired by our community for youth sports, adult and senior leagues and programming, as well as school district athletics.

Working as a collaborative community is not new for Green. In fact, it’s what we have done well for years. Twenty years ago, the City of Green collaborated with Green Local Schools to designate $1 million annually of city income tax revenues to help fund the construction of the Green High and Green Primary Schools.

In 2009, the city completed construction of the Central Administration Building, bringing the school and city administration under one roof, resulting in cost savings for taxpayers, and continuing to foster strong working relationships. When COVID-19 reached our community in 2020, city and school administrators met daily and worked together to guide our community through the challenges of the pandemic.

This collaboration continues with the construction of our newest school buildings, set to open in Fall 2025. In our desire to keep our property tax rates low, the city proposed to extend the $1 million annual payment for the duration of the new construction bonds, and to fund the construction of the Community Courts. (See story on page 8). This allows the school district to focus construction dollars on educational space, including expanded band and choir rooms and additional classrooms for our growing school district.

Our collaboration has benefited our community by providing the best possible school buildings and recreational spaces while maintaining the lowest property tax rates in Summit County. By working together, we are building the best community.

- Mayor Gerard Neugebauer

Rendering of Green Elementary Campus

OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDERS Green Area Chamber of Commerce 330-552-5066 Akron-Summit County Library-Green Branch 330-896-9074 4046 Massillon Road, Green, OH 44685

SOL HARRIS DAY ARCHITECTURE

UTILITY PROVIDERS NATURAL GAS Dominion East Ohio 330-794-0790 ELECTRICITY FirstEnergy/Ohio Edison 800-633-4766 ELECTRICITY Report a Street Light Outage 800-646-0400 ELECTRICITY Report a Power Outage 888-544-4877 SANITARY SEWER Summit County 330-926-2400 Department of Sanitary Sewer Services ON-SITE WELL & SEPTIC Summit County 330-926-5600 General Health District CABLE TV Spectrum Cable 330-633-9203 TELEPHONE AT&T 800-660-1000 REFUSE COLLECTION Republic Services 800-247-3644 WATER Aqua Ohio 877-987-2782

Rendering of Green Middle School

ZIP CODES Green residents are served by six post offices.

Green 4735 Massillon Road, Green, OH 44232 North Canton 2201 E. Maple St., North Canton, OH 44720 Uniontown 11230 Cleveland Ave. NW, Uniontown, OH 44685 Ellet (Akron) 2390 Wedgewood Drive, Ellet, OH 44312 Firestone (Akron) 2001 Brown St., Akron, OH 44319 Clinton 2733 W. Comet Road, Clinton, OH 44216

CityofGreen.org ✦ 330-896-5500

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| CITY NEWS |

Game Plan Green’s Comprehensive Plan will guide future development in the city.

By Ruth Corradi Beach » GREEN REPRESENTATIVES AND RESIDENTS are creating a Comprehensive Plan to replace one adopted in 2014.

Wayne Wiethe, director of planning for the City of Green, says: “The purpose of the Comprehensive Plan is to guide future land use decisions for the City Wayne Wiethe of Green. Do [we] want to preserve the land? Build a cluster development? It helps to look at different uses and the way to get to it.” The plan will address issues such as transportation, housing, parks and open spaces.

The process is an expansive one, enlisting opinions and ideas from a number

NOT FOR PROFIT

FAITH BASED

LOCALLY OPERATED

of stakeholders, including citizens.

“The first thing we do is evaluate our existing plan so we have a baseline of where we are,” says Sarah Haring, Green’s community Sarah Haring development administrator. “The next steps are the steering committee and public visioning.”

The steering committee will consist of members of various committees such as planning and historical preservation, as well as Green residents. All steering committee meetings are open to the public, and residents can review the plan to find

THE PLAN WILL ADDRESS ISSUES SUCH AS TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, PARKS AND OPEN SPACES.

out what might be possible in regard to land use in the city.

Another benefit of the plan is that in some instances, it helps the city secure grants for funding. “If you implement recommendations at the end of this process — if we want a rain garden in every neighborhood, for example — that gives us leverage to apply for funding for programs like that,” Haring says.

Kevin White, city planner, notes that the Comprehensive Plan will serve as a guide, not a directive. “Nothing is binding in the plan,” he says. “It’s a visioning docuKevin White ment, looking at the physical, economic, social and environmental development of the community. For the everyday citizen, the biggest improvement is a chance to voice your opinion and reach consensus. No one is going to like everything in the plan, but it’s a chance to do a straw poll, to find out what we’re doing right, wrong, and what we can do better. This whole process makes that whole vision clear.”

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Prosperous | Progressive | Promising

Green, Ohio.Where Business is Growing.

Prosperous

• Great location — along I-77 • Equal distance between Akron and Canton • Home to Akron-Canton Airport

Progressive

• Business-savvy City leadership • Embraces development and industry diversity • High quality of life for those who live and work in Green • City has more than 2,000 acres of parkland

Promising

• Focused on business retention, expansion and attraction • Close proximity to universities • Local access to world-class healthcare • Available land for commercial/ industrial use in multiple business parks

Investment is happening every day in the City of Green.

Contact us to find out why.

330.896.6614 | PO Box 278 | Green, OH 44232 planning@cityofgreen.org | cityofgreen.org | facebook.com/cityofgreenohio

| PA R K S & R E C R E AT I O N |

Places to Play

Green’s new Community Courts recreation facility will give residents more places to play. By Ruth Corradi Beach

Pickleball Picks Up

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“We’re saving $3 million to $4 million by building the courts along with the middle school’s.”

– Mayor Gerard Neugebauer

middle school areas], unless those doors are opened,” she says. “The doors are alarmed, and there are camera systems on both sides as well.”

As with any good partnership, both entities benefit, and in this case, the taxpayers benefit the most. “The city is funding all the gym space,” Neugebauer says. “We’re saving $3 million to $4 million by building the Community Courts along with the middle school. It saves a water line, electricity and utilities — that’s money [the schools] can apply to education spaces.”

Lallathin is impressed by the plan’s inclusivity. “It’s exciting to see the partnership between the school district and the city to realize such a fun and active space that allows not only the furthering of education but also so many opportunities for community members to utilize the space and walking track,” he says. “The partnership has allowed a lot of resources to go back into education but also provides opportunities for the community as well.”

Construction of the Community Courts coincides with the Green Middle School construction, with a completion date of fall 2025.

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, and Green is no exception. In addition to the court space within the Community Courts, Green has 10 outdoor, lighted courts at Boettler Park that are open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. “They are very popular,” says Valerie Wax Carr, Green’s director of public service. “They have very sophisticated lights. When [players] walk onto the court, they come on.”

This summer, Green held its first pickleball tournament, the Rookie Round Robin, in partnership with the NorthEast Ohio Pickleball Players (NEOPP). “As a first tournament, we were thrilled with 50 participants,” says Zack Kaufman, Green’s recreation programmer.

The second tournament, in partnership with Pav’s Creamery, drew three categories of 16 teams and nearly 100 participants.

Kaufman says there’s much more to come. “Beginning in 2024, we are planning the City of Green Pickleball Series,’’ he says. “This will be a series of tournaments to provide opportunities for a wide range of players and to continue to showcase our facilities.”

RENDERING: SOL HARRIS DAY ARCHITECTURE / PICKLEBALL: COURTESY CIT Y OF GREEN

» GREEN’S RESIDENTS ARE ON THE VERGE of having many more options for recreation. Mayor Gerard Neugebauer explains the impetus: “We have 15 parks in Green — everything from our own City parks to Nimisila Reservoir, a Summit Metropark, which is 1,500 acres including a beautiful lake, and a municipal golf course (Raintree Golf & Event Center).

It’s a very robust park system. But we discovered through our [citizen] survey that we had a shortage of off-season rec space, specifically basketball.”

As the Green Local Schools started to plan for their new facilities, the city and schools began discussions on a collaboration that resulted in an innovative idea that benefits all. The city’s plan is to build a facility with two full-sized basketball court with bleachers (four full-sized courts when bleachers are retracted).

One of the courts will be utilized by the middle school during school hours and the other — including one that’s striped for six pickleball courts — are for public use. In addition, the city will construct an indoor turf practice field with an elevated walking track, as well as studio space for fitness classes.

The recreational facility is designed by Andrew Lallathin and Melinda Scalfaro, partners at SoL Harris/Day Architecture.

Lallathin says the new courts have two entries. “The Community Courts have a separate entry from the school entry,” he says. “The school doors are locked during the school day, so there’s no public access to the school courts while school is in session.”

The safety plan goes a few steps further, according to Scalfaro. “It’s designed so that the public has no visual access [to the

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SCHOOLS

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SUCCESS

Big changes are underway for Green’s schools.

By Kristen Hampshire

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Sunday services at 9am & 10:40am Learn more about us at tcig.org!

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SOL HARRIS DAY ARCHITECTURE

1 8 0 0 R A B E R R OA D

» GROUNDBREAKING CHANGE is underway for Green Local Schools as the design phase of the master facilities plan nears an end and the land is prepared for new buildings.

“The community supported this endeavor,’’ Superintendent Jeff Miller says, “and the new facilities will provide an enhanced learning environment, state-of-the-art classrooms and labs, and collaborative spaces that allow us to prepare and empower our students for the ever-changing world we live in today.”

The plan consolidates the district from five buildings to four. Second to fifth grades will be in one building; sixth to eighth in another. A renovation to the Green Primary School will help accommodate preschool through first grade. The middle school will connect to Green Community Courts, a city project. This allowed the schools to redirect funds from building a gymnasium to adding two classrooms per grade level, along with more special classrooms and an expanded band room.

The plan also reduces the number of building transitions for Green students in their careers, lowers operational costs and makes better use of transportation. It was preceded by a visioning session with stakeholders that identified priorities for the new buildings, including safety and wellness, technology integration and adaptability/flexibility.

Assistant Superintendent Alana Niemiec adds, “Now we are seeing this project come to life, and we are at the point of work-in-progress.”

The goal is to welcome students into the buildings for the 2025-2026 school year. However, it is important to note that demolition of the existing buildings as well as completion of the renovations will be taking place during the 2025-2026 school year.

AT A GLANCE

Green Local Schools

Enrollment: Number of GLSD Employees:

4,046* 520

This number includes all ESC employees, SROs, nursing staff, trainers and social workers.

Class of 2023:

24 We’re

communities working together to keep Green’s utility rates affordable.

Put NOPEC’s bulk buying power to work for you.

30 Wall of Fame Inductees of Biliteracy 31 Seal This year, students took

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We make it easy, with no tricky contracts and the flexibility to move between products without penalties or fees. Plus, with our 24/7 Customer Care Center, we’re always just a phone call away. For more than 20 years, NOPEC has had your back. And you can be sure we will continue to for years to come.

For more information, visit NOPEC.org or call 855-667-3201.

tests in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Croatian and Chinese. Since 2017, Green has awarded 165 Seals of Biliteracy in seven languages.

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16 Student-athletes continuing to play in

8/17/23 1:15 PM

Stay for the History

college

scholar athletes who 63% ofaverage over a 3.0 GPA

Portage Lakes Career Center

15 graduates

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entered apprenticeships

126 graduates

enrolled in post-secondary education

Please check our Website or Facebook page for current hours.

10 graduates

joined the military

237 students are employed, with 123

employed in a field related to their program

WALK-THROUGH TOURS: (No Reservation Required) Adults - $15 • Children (Ages 6-12) - $8 • Children under 6 - Free

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330.896.6332 • www.mapsairmuseum.org Gift Shop • Free Parking • Handicapped Accessible • Over 50 Aircraft on site • 2 Museum Galleries with over 130 displays

CityofGreen.org ✦ 330-896-5500

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M A P & L O C AT I O N I N D E X

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CIT Y OFFICES 5F

City of Green Central Administration Building 8G City of Green Highway Division 8G City of Green Recycling Center

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FIRE/POLICE 5F 2C 3I 2C

Fire Station No. 1 Fire Station No. 2 Fire Station No. 3 Sheriff’s Office

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SCHOOLS 4F 5F 5F

Green High School Green Intermediate School Green Local Schools Board of Education 5F Green Middle School 4H Green Primary School 4H Greenwood Elementary School 4H Mayfair Christian School 5F Portage Lakes Career Center

PARKS 6H 8F 5F 2C 7G 5F 7E 1B 3J 2I 6B 9E 9F 2E 5F 8C

Ariss Park/Dick Goddard Dog Park Boettler Park Central Park East Liberty Park Greensburg Park John Torok Community Center Kleckner Park Knapp Recreation Area Kreighbaum Park Myersville Fen Nimisila Reservoir Metro Park Singer Lake Preserve Southgate Park Spring Hill Sports Complex Veterans Memorial Park YMCA Camp Y-Noah

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GOLF COURSES 1E 2H 3H 5H 2A

Chenoweth Golf Course Mayfair Golf & Country Club Ohio Prestwick Country Club Raintree Golf and Event Center Turkeyfoot Lake Golf Links

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CEMETERIES 2D 7E 6D

East Liberty Cemetery Greensburg Cemetery Klinefelter Cemetery

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OTHER 5F

Akron-Summit Public Library Green Branch 5G Cleveland Clinic Akron General Emergency Department/Health & Wellness Center 6G Post Office 4G Summa Emergency Department 4F YMCA

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CITY OF GREEN

BY THE NUMBERS

LOCATION Southern Summit County with three interchanges along I-77.

AKRON ➤ 11.4 mi CANTON ➤ 14.6 mi CLEVELAND ➤ 47.1 mi COLUMBUS ➤ 130 mi PITTSBURGH, PA ➤ 116 mi WHEELING, WV ➤ 99.4 mi YOUNGSTOWN ➤ 56.4 mi

POPULATION

27,475 50.1% Male 49.9% Female

24.8% Families with

Children Under 18 Years Old

Residents with a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher

41.3%

17.9% Persons 65+

INCOME 85,255

$

Median Household Income

PROPERTY Median Value Owner-Occupied = $ Units

216,700

Average Household Size = Owner-Occupied = Housing Unit Rate

2.53 75.3%

FORM OF GOVERNMENT STRONG MAYOR/COUNCIL SOURCES: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, 2020 U.S. CENSUS; AND AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY 2016-2020

CityofGreen.org ✦ 330-896-5500

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GREEN SCENE

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A Creative Canvas

pouring of support and appreciation.

Each student’s artwork was blown up to approximately 4 feet by 5 feet. “The joy that is behind the artwork comes through and makes it even more pleasant,” says Shannon Bowman, Green Local Schools department chair of visual art for kindergarten through 12th grades. “It’s really playful and special to bring that excitement from the kids to the community.”

The project is a partnership between the City of Green and schools, with coopera-

tion from XPO Logistics, which owns the chain-link fence that became a platform for the art. Valerie Wolford, Green’s communications manager, says XPO’s team members are equally appreciative. “Their drivers love seeing it, and it elevates their spirits as they pull onto CVS Drive,” she says.

Bowman hopes this initiative spurs more public art projects in town. “Maybe we can continue this trend and find some new places to add art for people to enjoy,” she says.

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» A CONSTRUCTION STAGING AREA filled with concrete conduits to support the building of two new roundabouts got a creative makeover with Canvas Along the Corridor, a public art project featuring 40 Green Local Schools students’ works. Vibrant portraits, colorful collages and whimsical paintings showcased in museum-like gilded frames dress a 400foot canvas along CVS Drive — a spirited spruce-up amid the dirt and dust.

The project has prompted an out-

A student public art project beautifies CVS Drive amid construction. By Kristen Hampshire

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F E AT U R E

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2022-2023 Student Municipal Representatives

Inspiring Youth

The Student Municipal Representative Program helps teens gain a better understanding of local government.

COURTESY CIT Y OF GREEN

By Ruth Corradi Beach » GREEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, grades 10-12, have a unique opportunity to gain exposure to the people and processes of local government, thanks to the Student Municipal Representative Program (SMRP). The program’s goal is to inspire young people to become involved in their communities as adults.

Sarah Haring, community development administrator for the city, started the program in 2017 with help from Clerk of Council Nichole Messner, under Mayor Gerard Neugebauer’s leadership.

“There were quite a few motivations,” Haring says. “The biggest one was the realization that many people’s involvement with their government starts in adult years. But by the time you’re an adult, you pretty much have an idea of how you feel about government, one way

or another. A lot of what students learn in school is state, national and world government, with very little talk about how your local government works. This was a great opportunity to expose our high school students to local government officials and processes and embed them in our local boards and committees. That way they could get an idea of how their local government works.”

The program takes place during the school year, with students attending meetings from September to May. The application for the upcoming year goes online the winter of the previous year. Applicants are offered a list of 10 boards, commissions and task forces and asked to rank them by interest. The list includes the Parks and Recreation Board, Design Review Board and Board of Zoning Appeals.

Students need to provide a letter of recommendation, write an essay and interview with Haring, Messner and Mayor Gerard Neugebauer. Approximately 30 students can participate in the program each year.

CityofGreen.org ✦ 330-896-5500

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w

MEET THE STUDENT REPS

RACHEL PRITCHARD Rachel Pritchard, a sophomore at Miami University, took part in SMRP during her junior and senior years in high school. She was a summer intern for Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro.

Q: What was your project as a member of Mayor’s Junior Council?

16

“This was a great opportunity to expose our high school students to local government officials and processes and embed them in our local boards and committees.”

– Sarah Haring

to talk about, asking her, ‘Are you telling me if the mayor saw you on the street, he’d know your name?’’’ Haring says. “‘Of course he would,’ the student answered.’’

Haring notes that the advantage works both ways. “We created this program with the thought that we would be helping the students, but we didn’t anticipate how beneficial it is for us,’’ she says. “Having those students sit on our boards and committees, getting their input about our projects, infuses a whole new life into what we do.”

Q: How has your experience with SMRP influenced your future path?

A: I loved the program. The experience of working with a municipality was super interesting and great exposure to engaging with my community.

I interned with the county over the summer, in the executive’s office for Ilene Shapiro. I worked with the budget and finance department, helping with the transition of their online system. I also visited different areas of the county like the jail, medical examiner’s office and Akron Community Foundation.

Having SMRP on my resume was great for putting me in position for the internship. I knew very little about the county before this internship, but my experience with the city drew my attention to it.

I’m a political science major now.

SMRP influenced my life. It was a great program that set me up for where I’m going.

COURTESY CIT Y OF GREEN

“If a student applies at the beginning of sophomore year, they could potentially be in the program all three years,” Haring says. “By the second or third year, we really know the student and have an idea of what they’re hoping to do after high school. We try to pair students with their area of interest.”

An example: Two students with an interest in the construction business were placed on the Planning and Zoning Commission, which approves new construction in Green. “We wanted [the students] to experience what it’s like on that side of the table,’’ Haring says, “because some day they’ll be on the other side.”

In the last three years, seniors in the SMRP program have been eligible for the Mayor’s Junior Council. “These students sit on City Council,’’ Haring says. “They listen to legislation and discussion, and then a week or so later, they sit with the mayor for a debrief.” Students in the Junior Council also complete a project; examples have included creating an Instagram account for the city and launching an informational podcast.

The program is proving to be very popular, in no small part because it makes students stand out when they’re applying to college, Haring says. “One student who graduated the year before last told me that’s all her college interviewer wanted

A: We held a Girls Engineering Day for about 40 girls from Green Middle School. We had different women engineers come in, and they talked about their experiences and led different activities.

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Recreation Board, then City Council. We also wrote and submitted a grant application to the ADM Board for a Suicide Prevention minigrant, which we were awarded.

Aaryan Qureshi was involved in SMRP during his sophomore, junior and senior years at Green High School. He is a freshman at the University of Akron, studying biomedical engineering.

Q: What was your experience like?

A: I was placed on the diversity, equity and inclusion committee my first year.

At first I didn’t talk much. I didn’t think I had much to contribute. But I realized through my own experience that racial disparities and racial issues exist in school. My experiences [as the son of Pakistani-born parents] were something I could contribute to the DEI committee.

Junior year I also joined the Drug Task Force. [The four students] broke off to form a mental health committee. We created a mindfulness walk in Southgate Park. We designed boards with mental health activities. [Inhale for 20 seconds, then exhale; what’s the most appealing color you can see?]

Before beginning the project, we presented our idea to the Parks and

Q: What was the most impactful experience you had in SMRP? A: Senior year, I joined the Mayor’s Junior Council as well as City Council.

For our Junior Council self-led project, we decided to do a podcast concerning things happening around Green, like new construction. We had an episode every two to three weeks. It was pretty successful. When I went around to shop or in the community, people would be like, ‘Hey! You were on that podcast!’”

Q: You were on quite a few committees. Does one stand out?

A: City Council is one of the top committees. All the laws go through them, so that was the committee I was most nervous to be on. I thought if I tried to contribute anything I might get glares because I don’t know what I’m talking about. Turns out they were very nice

people. Political leaders can come off as really hard, but they have another side.

Seeing that in-person made me feel comfortable. Tensions could get very high in meetings, which allowed public opinions.

It was great to see the interactions between the public and direct democracy in action. These people elected these leaders to pass laws for them, make the city safer. That dynamic right there — between public and elected leaders — that’s what’s really great to see.

Q: What was your most important takeaway from your years on SMRP? A: I didn’t really know coming into this program how to communicate with people, especially adults. This teaches you vital skills. Communication skills.

It taught me to really listen to what people say. This year I’m commuting to [University of Akron] and I’ll be a representative on the Comprehensive Plan steering committee, designed to look toward the future of Green, how to make it more ethnically diverse, improve infrastructure, keep parks clean.

I’ve got ideas to increase infrastructure designed toward minorities, like places to worship, places to eat. We’ve got a lot of work to do.

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Shareef Awadallah is a junior at the University of Akron, studying international business. He was involved in SMRP during his sophomore, junior and senior years at Green High School.

Sophia Miller, a student at Miami University, will be graduating in June with a double major in public administration and strategic communication. She took part in SMRP during her sophomore, junior and senior years.

Q: What did you do in the SMRP?

A: My first year I was on the Sister City Committee (Green’s Sister City is Beius, Romania), junior year I was on the Living Green Task Force, and senior year I was one of four student representatives on City Council. During my first two years, I had the opportunity to provide feedback. While on City Council, we were observing and listening more than contributing. It was really good to see some of the bigger issues facing our city and causing controversy in our area.

A: I was on the Drug Task Force for two years, then the Mayor’s Junior Council during senior year. We started the City of Green Instagram account. Our goal was to reach out to younger constituents, to be their voice.

[After we graduated], the communications department took over the account, with our input on our goals for it. (@cityofgreenoh)

Q: What did you do in the SMRP?

Q: How has your experience influenced your future?

Q: How did the experience influence what you’re doing today?

Also, there’s one way I’ve gotten involved [at University of Akron] that I hold highly. I’m vice president of our student ambassadors, who interact with alumni, government leaders and prospective students coming to campus. We really need to make a good first impression. I use the networking and communication skills I learned in SMRP, speaking with people I’ve never met before.

A: The program had a big impact on what I decided to do in the future. Since middle school I had been interested in government and politics, and this was an opportunity to get first-hand experience. In college, I knew I wanted to go to law school, and public administration stood out to me. I’m basically majoring in what these people [in Green city government] do. I went into [my majors] having an idea of what city government looks like and how it runs.

A: I had good grades in high school, but I found that [college] interviewers consistently asked me about the program — what I did, what the program is all about.

They’re always impressed with how well the program is run and how much of an impact it offers students.

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

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Lead and Learn

The most recent class sought to incorporate mental health and art into a project. Members Applications teamed up with the city’s Drug for the Fall 2024 Task Force Mental Health class open in What’s the Scoop?

Committee to organize a Spring 2024.

The Community community event scheduled Learn more at Leadership Initiative for May 2024. “Their vision cityofgreen.org/ addresses topics related is to bring together our mental leadership to the social, economic health agencies in the communipolicy and environmental ty to share information with resiissues impacting the comdents,” Wolford says, noting that the munity. Modeled after Leadership event will include yoga classes, lectures, Akron, it’s a hyper-local version designed art-therapy vendors and other outlets for to spur community engagement. It’s cen- creative expression. tered on the areas of economic and workWargo says: “It’s a behind-the-curforce development; quality of life; health tain understanding of your community and safety; education; and what makes and shows you different ways to buy in.

Green a great place to live and work.

We visit the YMCA and Akron General At least 30% of the program’s alum- LifeStyles, meet our firemedics, talk to loni now serve on a board or volunteer in cal government officials and visit Portage some capacity. One former participant, Lakes Career Center.” who is an engineer focused on sustain“It’s a great way to learn how the city ability, now helps with the Living Green is growing and to introduce participants Task Force. “It’s a way to give back locally to people involved in local affairs,“ Myer in a way that interests them,” says Valerie adds. We also pull in Summit County so Wolford, communications manager for they can see how Green interacts with the city. “They gain a deeper sense of place the county.” and how community is formed.”

The program kicks off with an open- Here’s a snapshot of what participants ing retreat and closes with a capstone have gained from the initiative: class project that the city supports with a $1,000 grant. The first class connected City Works with Green Good Neighbors and helped Green’s history, the organization purchase a new commer- community organicial freezer. The second class partnered zations, and the diswith Blessings in a Backpack and helped covery of the mayor’s update shelving and bins. The group vol- passion for opening unteers quarterly, packing bags of food for up opportunities to the organization. “They are continuing to participate are a few give back,” Wolford says. class takeaways for Shawn McDaniel

Green’s Community Leadership Initiative offers participants a close look at the city’s inner workings.

COURTESY CIT Y OF GREEN

By Kristen Hampshire » “IT’S EASY TO LIVE in what we call the ‘bubble of camp,’” says Carl “Rocky” Wargo, executive director of YMCA Camp Y-Noah in Green.

It’s also easy to live in the bubble of your circle of friends. Even if Green is a longtime home, it can be difficult to recognize the various ways you can get involved, give back and immerse yourself in meaningful experiences in your own backyard.

So when Wargo learned about the Green Community Leadership Initiative six-session program, which essentially is a backstage and frontlines tour of the city and its inner workings, he was all in. He joined the second class, following the program’s debut in 2018. “It’s an excellent way to get to better know the community and what it’s all about and, hands down, I got exactly what I was looking for out of that,” he says.

Wargo is now a facilitator, as is longtime resident Greg Myer, who says the program opened his eyes to possibilities and encouraged a stronger level of engagement.

“As much as I know about Green, there is always something new to learn,” says Myer, who has watched the community evolve throughout the decades from a rural outpost to a fast-growing and desirable destination for families and businesses.

The relationships built during his class have sustained and grown. “The program gives you an opportunity to get to know new people and interact,’’ he says, “and we put our heads together to spearhead community projects.”

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Shawn McDaniel, a registered nurse. “[The mayor] cares so much that he wants to invite the people to learn how to be a part of the city and make it better,” McDaniel says.

“The mayor and city council want to hear everyone’s voice,” he adds. “We might not always agree on everything, but this class allows people to come in and see how the city works and how you get things done, and the subcommittees influenced me to be more involved.”

Lay of the Land Sherry Swisher joined the first class in 2018. As manager of the Green Branch Library, “there were so many questions I didn’t know how to answer,” she Sherry Swisher says. “They were ‘where-do-I-find’ questions, sometimes, like, ‘where’s the closest meat market?’ You might not know that Green has one.”

A visit to the Green Historical Society and a bus tour of the city to check out points of interest included highlighting the five original hamlets that made up the town of Green, before it was developed into what we know today. “I had a library visitor come to us and want a historical marker put in front of the library for John Buchtel, who was born in the area and important to the library community, so I understood that local tie,” she says.

Grassroots Engagement Madison Radke, as president of the Green Area Chamber of Commerce, heard the buzz about the Community Leadership Initiative. As a marketing professional Madison Radke at the Village of St. Edward, connecting is her No. 1 job. “It was so engaging and personal, and we learned so much from the class and others involved,” she says.

Radke participated in the 2023 class that is staging the mental health and arts expo. “We are still engaged after the class is over, and we presented to city council for the event we are planning,” she says.

From touring the parks on a bus with the mayor as guide to spending time at city hall and dining at local restaurants, her experience broadened her perspective and knowledge of Green. “It’s great to meet people who are passionate about the City of Green and looking for opportunities to be engaged,” she says.

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