Neighborhoods

Monday, January 22, 2018

On Saturday, January 20, thirty-four volunteers helped rehabilitate the interior of 2906 Glenwood Avenue at the Idora Neighborhood Workday.

Volunteers from Believers Church, Freedom Church, Mahoning County Juvenile Court, Tabernacle Evangelical Presbyterian Church/Hope for Renewal, YSU, YSU Baseball, YSU Honors College, and YSUscape helped prime walls, remove screws, replace stair tread covers, patch walls, and install drywall. This historic 4-unit building is being rehabilitated by YNDC partner organization Hope for Renewal. Special thanks to Hope for Renewal for providing refreshments. 

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Steve Avery is the final recipient of a 2017 VIP Volunteer T-shirt!

Steve volunteered and signed in at six YNDC workdays in 2017 and received his T-shirt while volunteering at the first Idora Workday of 2018 on January 20^th. With the new year, volunteers can start fresh and earn a VIP Volunteer T-shirt for volunteering six times in 2018! Make sure to sign in at each workday. We would like to thank all our dedicated and hard-working volunteers. We are looking forward to revitalizing with you in 2018!

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

On Wednesday, January 24, the John and Denise York Foundation awarded YNDC with a $10,000 grant for Corridor Improvement Corps.

The Corridor Improvement Corps is a comprehensive revitalization strategy aimed at improving public health, safety, and quality of life for residents by leveraging AmeriCorps members and community volunteers to complete physical improvements to Youngstown’s highly distressed and neglected neighborhood corridors. The improvements will include 1) cleaning up and painting blighted walls and facades of vacant buildings, 2) cleaning up and clearing overgrowth from vacant lots littered with debris, 3) planting hearty urban trees, 4) installing split rail fencing along vacant lots, 5) replacing broken and unsafe sidewalks, 6) installing covered benches at public spaces and bus stops, and 7) improving corridor lighting and signage around public spaces and corridor businesses. When applied systematically, these improvements will restore a basic sense of order to Youngstown’s corridors and will result in sustainable improvements to the safety and quality of life for Youngstown’s residents. Many thanks to the John and Denise York Foundation for their support! 

POWER OF PUBLIC VOICE: The Raymond John Wean Foundation will host ”Speaking Out: The Power of Finding and Exercising Your Public Voice” 8:30 to 11:15 a.m. today at the foundation’s Western Reserve Room, 147 W. Market St., Warren.

Nonprofits have taken up the cry following a gunman in Las Vegas wounding and killing dozens of people in October. Topics included greater gun control laws and providing help for those with mental challenges. There has also been advocacy for the homeless, protection of the environment and standing up against racism. The workshop will outline strategies for effectively managing public relations challenges and seizing opportunities to enter public discussions. Moderator is Teleange’ Thomas, Foundation Center Midwest director. Panelists are Doug Oplinger, Your Voice Ohio, project manager and Akron Beacon Journal former managing editor; Cynthia Connolly, Policy Matters Ohio, resource development manager; attorney John Pogue, Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell Ltd.; and Ian Beniston, Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp., executive director. For information call 330-394-5600, Ext. 103. To read the full story from the Tribune Chronicle, click here.

What has become of the 25 Under 35 honorees recognized in previous years for the professional success and commitments to their communities?

Did the recognition change their lives?

Past honorees had their moment in the spotlight and then remained committed to giving back to their communities. Some stepped up their volunteerism and have become stronger leaders. 

Tiffany Sokol, 2016

Much of the volunteer work Tiffany Sokol does is the same as when she was nominated for the 25 Under 35 award for 2016, she says. She has stayed focused on the same activities she’s involved in, only she’s more involved today. “As young people, we find a lot of distractions and a lot of people pulling at us,” says Sokol, housing director for Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. “When people see someone young with great energy they may say, ‘Oh, you can do this and this other thing.’ But just stay focused on what your mission is and you’ll really succeed.” Sokol sits on the board of directors of the Economic Action Group, as well as Hope for Renewal, “a nonprofit organization that is establishing a community center on the south side of Youngstown,” she says. And she volunteers at the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley where she plays music for its Sunday morning services. To read the full story from The Business Journal, click here.

Friday, January 26, 2018

On Friday, January 26, the Fibus Family Foundation awarded YNDC with a $5,000 grant for Corridor Improvement Corps.

The Corridor Improvement Corps is a comprehensive revitalization strategy aimed at improving public health, safety, and quality of life for residents by leveraging AmeriCorps members and community volunteers to complete physical improvements to Youngstown’s highly distressed and neglected neighborhood corridors. The improvements will include 1) cleaning up and painting blighted walls and facades of vacant buildings, 2) cleaning up and clearing overgrowth from vacant lots littered with debris, 3) planting hearty urban trees, 4) installing split rail fencing along vacant lots, 5) replacing broken and unsafe sidewalks, 6) installing covered benches at public spaces and bus stops, and 7) improving corridor lighting and signage around public spaces and corridor businesses. When applied systematically, these improvements will restore a basic sense of order to Youngstown’s corridors and will result in sustainable improvements to the safety and quality of life for Youngstown’s residents. Many thanks to the Fibus Family Foundation for their support.

Ian Beniston, executive director of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation, avoids politics on Twitter, even on his personal account.

“If you’re a leader of an organization, you’re a public figure and what you’re saying still is reflective of you as a professional, even on your personal account,” he said as a panelist at “Speaking Out: The Power of Finding and Exercising Your Public Voice,” the first half of a two-part workshop offered by the Raymond John Wean Foundation.

“Whenever I’m out in public, even at the grocery store, I’m not going to say something to someone that I wouldn’t say in front of you all here. That does follow you and it reflects on who you are and what you represent in your job,” Beniston said.

John Pogue, a lawyer with Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell Ltd., said when his firm is interviewing potential associates, they always review their social media accounts.

“There are two we didn’t hire because of what we found on there,” Pogue said.

Panelists in the workshop said social media can be a valuable tool in helping an organization spread its message, but it has to be used correctly. To read the full story from the Tribune Chronicle, click here.

Youngstown is known for having limited food options within city borders.

So, Lake to River Food Co-op on the north side of Youngstown is working to give the community access to healthy, organic foods without breaking the bank.

The Produce Perks program is part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It gives extra produce to those who wouldn’t be able to afford it otherwise.

The Co-op says they’re thrilled to offer this program to their clients because it’s a much-needed service in the community.

“Here on the north side, we really don’t have a lot of places with access to really great, healthy, fresh produce. So the prospects of having that for people was like, ‘Yes, we’ll do that,'” said Susan Payton, manager of the Cultivate Cafe.

The Co-op has accepted Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards from customers for a while, and this month, they joined forces with the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation (YNDC) to launch the Produce Perks SNAP Double-Up program. To read the full story from WKBN. click here. 

TRIPS AND TOURS

ACTION and the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. are sponsoring a free bus trip to Columbia, S.C., to confront Vision Property Management about its housing practices in the city. The bus will depart at 4 a.m. March 3 from St. Edwards Church, 240 Tod Lane, Youngstown. Reservations can be made by calling 330-480-0423 or by filling out the form at http://ow.ly/ZHAO30hcqXO. To read the full story from The VIndicator, click here.

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

YNDC closed on the sales of two revitalized homes in the month of January. 

230 Upland Avenue on the North Side closed on January 16 for $66,000. 259 Wychwood in the Pleasant Grove Neighborhood also closed on January 16 for $70,000. Congratulations to the new homeowners, and thank you for your investment in Youngstown's neighborhoods!