Neighborhoods

ATTORNEY GRADUATES FROM LEADERSHIP PROGRAM: Attorney ShaRay Lewis was among 27 Ohio attorneys to graduate from the Ohio State Bar Association’s 2023 Leadership Academy. The academy is designed to prepare lawyers for effective leadership in the association, the legal profession and their communities. The program takes place over a five-month period in six sessions, during which participants interact with a diverse group of seasoned attorneys and other professionals, learning about topics such as civility, ethics and professionalism. Lewis is an Ohio assistant public defender and the president and founder of Building Minority Leadership Inc., an organization that aims to address a wide range of challenges affecting minority populations by incorporating education, mentorship and leadership to reduce risk factors that lead to crime and recidivism. She works in the public defenders’ Trumbull County office.

BEAUTY IN BOARDMAN: St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital has secured the No. 6 spot in Soliant’s Top 20 Most Beautiful Hospitals contest. The annual contest aims to recognize hospitals across the country for their facility design, aesthetics, comforting staff and patient experience by asking the public to nominate and vote on the facilities where they have had great experiences. Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital opened its doors in 2007 and underwent a major expansion in 2012, adding a 165,000-square-foot, seven-story inpatient bed tower. Other updates and expansions include relocating labor and delivery to Boardman in 2014; opening medical oncology and infusion services in a medical office building in 2021; expanding the physician network by adding three residency programs to campus, including emergency medicine, family medicine and otolaryngology; and starting a robotics program for general and gynecological surgical procedures in 2017. Also, a specialized robot for total hip and total knee replacements was added in 2018. More than 506,195 votes were cast for 50 nominated hospitals.

YNDC RECEIVES DOMINION DONATION: Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation is among 11 nonprofits in Ohio that shared $110,000 from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation.

To read the full story from Tribune Chronicle, click here. 

Monday, August 21, 2023. 

On Saturday, August 19, 2023 at the Youngstown Playhouse, YNDC and the Glenwood Neighbors hosted the first Glenwood Festival. The free family friendly event was attended by more than 500 people.

The event included a Kids Zone with a bounce house, games, cookie decorating, face painting, snow cones, Youngstown Fire Department truck, Youngstown Police Department car, mobile library, and more. The food trucks and vendors included: TortaMo, ST’s, Karter’s Korner, Melina’s Sweet and Savory Treats, Tra’s Gourmet Sandwiches, Pie Oh My, and Astia’s Sweet Lemonade. Entertainment was provided by DJ Jocko and the Mercy Health Stepping Out Program featuring the Slay Steppas Line Dance Team. The event also had community resources available including the Mercy Health Dental Van and others.

Thank you to everyone who attended the event and made it a success!

PBS Western Reserve will present CITY CENTRIC, a new series that focuses on individuals who reflect the fabric of their community. The six-episode weekly series will premiere on Sept. 1, at 8:30 p.m. on PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1). Following its premiere, the series will also be available on demand via the PBS Western Reserve website, PBS app and YouTube.

Each episode offers a look at one city in our region, focusing on notable community members. Episodes air on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. as follows: 

Sept. 1: Learn about a city with a rich history and a bright future in “Akron” 

Sept. 8: Delight in a small town with a big heart in “Alliance” 

Sept. 15: See a growing city as it maximizes its potential in “Canton” 

Sept. 22: Visit a cozy college town with a storybook sensibility in “Kent” 

Sept. 29: Gain insight into a city that runs on elbow grease in “Youngstown” 

Oct. 6: Explore a close-knit community on the shores of the Shenango River in “Sharon” 

“CITY CENTRIC is more than a new series for PBS Western Reserve,” said Ryan Donchess, program and production manager. “It’s a passion project for us that highlights the many great people in our vast viewing area who enthusiastically strive to make their communities better.”

Individuals spotlighted include Canton humanitarian Faith Barbato, who is motivated to serve those in need in her city; Youngstown’s Derrick McDowell, who beams as he describes his city’s potential; and Margo Summerville, the first African American female president of Akron City Council, who has dedicated her life to improving her community. 

LIST OF THOSE BEING INTERVIEWED DURING THE YOUNGSTOWN SHOW ON SEPT. 29 Entertainer: Jackie Popovec, lead singer of the Vindys Politician: Samantha Turner, 3rd Ward city councilperson Humanitarian: Patricia Stokes, neighborhood steward for Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation.

To read the full story from Mahoning Matters, click here. 

“City Centric,” a new series focusing on people who reflect the fabric of Youngstown, Sharon, Pa., and four other cities in the region will premiere in September on PBS Western Reserve. The weekly series will air on Fridays, Sept. 1-Oct. 6, at 8:30 p.m. It also will be available on demand via the PBS Western Reserve website, PBS app and YouTube. The Youngstown episode will air Sept. 29, and the Sharon episode on Oct. 6.

The series begins with the Akron episode on Sept. 1. The Alliance episode will be Sept. 9; Canton, Sept. 15; and Kent, Sept. 22. Each half-hour episode offers a look at a particular community through the lens of six notable community members in six categories: entrepreneur, revitalizer, entertainer, humanitarian, politician and future/youth.

The Youngstown episode includes segments on:

Samantha Turner, Youngstown councilwoman.
Sharon Letson, Youngstown CityScape director.
Aspasia Lyras-Bernacki, co-owner of Penguin City Brewing Co.
Jackie Popovec, of The Vindys rock band.
Patricia Stokes, Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation.
Derrick McDowell, Youngstown Flea owner.

To read the full story from The Business Journal, click here. 

Thursday, August 31, 2023.

On August 30, 2023 the Youngstown Housing Task Force (Task Force) met to address housing quality and problem properties. The Task Force is currently focused on reviewing and supporting relevant local, state, and federal housing policy, and holding problem landlords accountable for the condition of their properties.

At the August meeting the Task Force policy discussion included: the recent co-sponsorship by Congressman Bill Johnson of the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act and possible efforts to seek support of Congressman David Joyce and Senator J.D. Vance for this important legislation. 

The Task Force's problem property discussion included a review of data about the top problem property owners. As a result of this data review and discussion, the Task Force voted to address the conditions of Youngstown Houses LLC. Currently Youngstown Houses LLC has 304 properties, 33 properties that are not registered with the City of Youngstown, 30 properties with open code enforcement cases, and at least 50 properties with significant exterior issues based on a recent property condition survey. The Task Force will attempt to execute a community agreement with Youngstown Houses LLC to address these conditions.

The Youngstown Housing Task Force will also meet with Mahoning County Treasurer Daniel Yemma to request action to address the large tax delinquency balances of a number of problem property owners.

The Youngstown Housing Task Force is a diverse group of Youngstown neighborhood leaders working together to ensure all people in Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley have safe, fair, and quality housing. If you are interested in learning more about the housing task force please contact Kayshia Washington at 234.228.9349.

Tuesday, September 5, 2023. 

On Thursday, August 31, YNDC, Habitat for Humanity of the Mahoning Valley, and several staff from the City of Youngstown's Community Development Division visited Pittsburgh to learn more about a recent housing infill project including vacant home rehabilitation and new construction in the East Liberty neighborhood developed using New Markets Tax Credits. We visited with staff from East Liberty Development Inc. and Rising Tide Partners to learn more about the project details and also toured several of the project sites.

Our group also visited Module Housing to learn more about developing housing using the modular construction process. Module Housing is a modular construction company in Pittsburgh that has received national attention for its innovative modular process.

Many thanks to East Liberty Development Inc., Rising Tide Partners, and Module Housing for hosting us!
 

Tuesday, September 5, 2023. 

YNDC Neighborhood Steward, Patricia Stokes, is highlighted in PBS Western Reserve's Series: City Centric. The series highlights individuals that showcase qualities of the city they live, work, and play in, but not in a stereotypical fashion.

Patricia is highlighted in the Youngstown episode as the Humanitarian.

Patricia works at YNDC's Glenwood Fresh Market and also serves as Neighborhood Steward, canvassing neighborhoods and directly engaging with residents.

A premier party will be held on Monday, September 18 at Penguin City Brewing beginning at 5pm with the episode premiering at 6:30pm.
 

A watch party for an episode of the PBS Western Reserve miniseries “City Centric” that focuses on Youngstown leaders will take place at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18, at Penguin City Brewing, downtown. The watch part will start with a happy hour from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

To reserve a spot, click HERE.

Each episode of “City Centric” focuses on six people who live in a city in the station’s viewership area: Akron, Canton, Alliance, Kent, Youngstown and Sharon, Pa. Those who were chosen “reflect the fabric of their community,” according to the station. They fall into these categories: entrepreneur, revitalizer, entertainer, humanitarian, politician and future leader.

The Youngstown episode focuses on Jackie Popovec, lead singer of The Vindys; Samantha Turner, 3rd Ward city councilwoman; Patricia Stokes, neighborhood steward for Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation; Sharon Letson, Youngstown CityScape executive director; Aspasia Lyras-Bernacki, co-owner of Penguin City Brewing Co.; and Derrick McDowell, founder of Youngstown Flea.

To read the full story from The Business Journal, click here. 

A year from now, renovation of the former Foster Theater on the South Side could be complete and the building ready for occupancy, Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation’s executive director said Thursday.

To read the full story from The Business Journal, click here. 

What started as a short week after the Labor Day holiday on Monday ended with a major development Friday: The landmark First National Bank building in downtown Youngstown has been sold for $1.37 million.

Don Thomas, managing partner of Platz Realty Group, couldn’t provide details, but he said the new owners have a “broad plan” and “there’s a lot of opportunity for renovation.”

On the subject of Youngstown renovation projects, the city’s Board of Control approved entering into a professional services agreement with the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation to provide an additional $100,000 for renovation of the former Foster Theater.

To read the full story from The Business Journal, click here.