Neighborhoods

Across Youngstown on Monday, several groups paused to reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King’s message. His famous “I Have a Dream” speech still echoes in the minds and hearts of many, making it even more prevalent today.

With that in mind, it was addressing the racial conflicts in society and cleaning up our neighborhoods that banded several groups together. “We have to use this time to look in the mirror and ask ourselves, ‘What are we doing, each of us, to address the racial divide?'” said Dr. Willie Jennings, with Yale University’s Divinity School. Jennings was at the First Presbyterian Church on Wick Avenue on Monday, addressing racial issues and how to create what he calls a “just and beloved” community. “Racial division is built upon geographic separation, segregation, and so we have to start to challenge that if we’re going to have a viable future,” he said. Jennings talked about how every aspect of a community has to come together with a common goal to foster education and entrepreneurship while addressing racial divides. “We have to think about how we live and where we live,” he said. To read the full story from WYTV, click here.

What prompted Anika Jacobs’ desire to busily improve the look of a home in the cold and get covered with burrs? 

“Today, we’re following the teachings of Martin Luther King to serve. Everyone can work together,” explained Davis, a neighborhood organizer with the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. Despite the 12-degree weather, Davis was undaunted and happy to join several dozen YNDC and other volunteers for today’s community-service work project in the city’s Cottage Grove neighborhood. In addition, the cleanup effort was part of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service to honor the civil-rights leader’s life and legacy. To read the full story from The Vindicator, click here.

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

On January 16, YNDC and Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning
Valley were joined by Mayor Jamael Tito Brown, 5th Ward Councilwoman Lauren
McNally, and Yvonne Smith of Pathways HUB to launch the Produce Perks SNAP
Double-Up program at the Cornersburg Sparkle Market.

The Produce Perks SNAP
Double-Up program allows SNAP/EBT recipients to receive up to $10 in matching
funds each day to be spent on fresh fruits and vegetables. The program is part
of the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive grant awarded by the USDA to YNDC
and Mercy Health in order to increase the health of residents in Mahoning and
Trumbull counties. The Double-Up program is currently available at Sparkle
Market in Cornersburg and at Cultivate: A Co-Op Café on the North Side.

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Casey and Brandon recently moved into their new home at 3726
Glenwood Avenue.

We sat down with them and asked them a few questions about
what drew them to the neighborhood. Casey was familiar with the area, having
grown up in Poland, and was looking for something near the park. “We love the
kitchen,” said Casey, “and the general character of the house. It provides a
lot of opportunity for entertaining.” They also love living so close to Mill
Creek Park. “It’s great having this in your backyard,” said Casey, referring to
the view of Lake Newport. Congratulations Casey and Brandon on your new home!

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

On Monday, January 15, fifty-three volunteers participated
in the 2018 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Workday in the Cottage Grove
Neighborhood.

Volunteers from Alpha Phi Delta, Evangel Baptist Church, Ohio
Math Corps, Ohio Reading Corps, Taft Promise Neighborhood, YSU Baseball, YSU
Hockey, YSU Honors College, YSU IFC, YSUscape, YSU Student Activities, and Zeta
Phi Beta Sorority removed 60 cubic yards of debris and 54 illegally dumped
tires. Additionally, 18 unsecured vacant properties were boarded and cleaned up.
Food, water, and supplies were provided by ServeOhio, the Mocha House and
Marco’s Pizza. We would like to thank all of the volunteers for their hard
work!

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation — in partnership with AmeriCorps VISTA and AmeriCorps State — led a “work day” in Youngstown’s Cottage Grove neighborhood. 

The revitalization effort is in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monday morning, volunteers met at E. Judson on Youngstown’s east side, where there are at least 14 blighted and abandoned homes. Volunteers cleaned up trash and boarded up windows. They say Monday’s work is sending an important message to the community. “It just improves the quality of life here,” said Jack Daugherty. “These houses, these vacant houses are a danger to our children, a danger to our neighborhoods. It’s our moral obligation as citizens of the Mahoning Valley to do something about it.” To read the full story from WYTV, click here. 

What prompted Anika Jacobs’ desire to busily improve the look of a home in the cold and get covered with burs?

“Today, we’re following the teachings of Martin Luther King to serve. Everyone can work together,” explained Davis, a neighborhood organizer with the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. Despite the 12-degree weather, Davis was undaunted and happy to join several dozen YNDC and other volunteers for Monday morning’s community-service work project in the city’s Cottage Grove neighborhood. In addition, the cleanup effort was part of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service to honor the civil-rights leader’s life and legacy. To read the full story from The Vindicator, click here. 

EBT or SNAP customers at the Sparkle Market in Cornersburg can now get extra groceries for free.

It’s called the Produce Perks SNAP Double Up Program. It’s being implemented by the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation and Mercy Health, with the help of a grant they received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The goal is to give people, who otherwise wouldn’t have the resources, access to healthy fruits and vegetables. For every dollar someone with SNAP or EBT spends at the Cornersburg Sparkle, they’ll get up to $10 dollars of “Produce Perks” per day. Anthony Florig, food access coordinator for YNDC, said those who would like to participate in the program just have to show their receipt and EBT card to the service counter. “… then they get up to $10 a day in these vouchers to buy fresh fruits and vegetables,” he said. To read the full story from WYTV, click here. 

To watch the video from the Business Journal, click here. 

EBT or SNAP customers at the Sparkle Market in Cornersburg can now get extra groceries for free.

It’s called the Produce Perks SNAP Double Up Program. It’s being implemented by the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation and Mercy Health, with the help of a grant they received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The goal is to give people, who otherwise wouldn’t have the resources, access to healthy fruits and vegetables. For every dollar someone with SNAP or EBT spends at the Cornersburg Sparkle, they’ll get up to $10 dollars of “Produce Perks” per day. Anthony Florig, food access coordinator for YNDC, said those who would like to participate in the program just have to show their receipt and EBT card to the service counter. “… then they get up to $10 a day in these vouchers to buy fresh fruits and vegetables,” he said. To read the full story from WKBN, click here.