Signs of Transformation
in University Park
$350,ooo Knight Grant to
Akron Community Foundation Will Train Citizen Journalists in University Park and Other Akron Neighborhoods
With
support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Akron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com and The
University
of Akron, Akron Community Foundation has announced the launch of
a
new digital media academy, which
will train community members to become citizen
journalists. The project will
be piloted with the residents of
University
Park and other Akron neighborhoods, with the ultimate goal of connecting
residents at the neighborhood level while promoting digital literacy.
Light-UP Lantern Festival Was Illuminating!
Watch the Video!
Presented by University Park Business
Association (UPBA), the Light-Up Lantern Festival in University Park fulfilled its
promise of delivering a whimsical night of family fun and adventure. With over
500
in attendance, including over 200 children, University Park came to life on October 24 with a magical display of
lantern lights, music, dance and performance art.
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Our Partners
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With Major Funding By:
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Vibrant Urban Places Key to
Economic Development, Says
Talent Attraction Expert 
Joe Cortright, President of
Impresa Economics in Portland, Oregon kicked-off UPA's Urban Innovators
Speaker Series on January 12 with his presentation "Attracting Talent Through the Development of Vibrant Urban Centers." Addressing a sold-out crowd, Cortright encouraged local and regional leadership to embrace the
reality that a dynamic urban core is essential to attracting and keeping young and creative
talent, key drivers of today's knowledge economy. Cities need to focus on building communities where young people want to stay. Current research shows that young people choose first the place they want to live, then pursue their careers there.
Cortright
has written extensively on the migration of
talented young workers among metropolitan areas in a series of studies titled, The
Young and Restless. His presentation focused on the critical ingredients of the recipe for cities to be successful in a global, knowledge-based economy: Knowledge, Talent, Innovation, Connections, Distinctiveness, and Urban Vitality.
UPA's Urban Innovators
Speaker Series is organized in cooperation with support from the Greater Akron
Chamber and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and in conjunction with
promotional partners Western Reserve Public Media through its new show "Neotropolis," Green City Blue Lake Institute, Torchbearers, and GAR Foundation. Two speaker presentations remain in the series.
Both are currently sold out, however a waiting list is available. Contact Julie Roberts at julie2@uakron.edu or 330.972.8859 to be included on the waiting list.
Or watch them on TV! The February 9 and March 9 presentation will be broadcast on Western Reserve Public Media's Fusion channel on
Friday, February 12, and Friday, March 12, both at 8:00 pm. Fusion can be found on these channels:
Time Warner Cable: 368
Armstrong Cable (Youngstown): 416
Clear Picture: 84
Massillon Cable: 84
Over the air: 45.2 (WNEO) or 49.2 (WEAO)
February 9 SOLD OUT!
 Chuck Bohl, Director of the Knight Program in Community Building at the
University of Miami
"Place Making: Developing Town Centers, Main Streets and
Urban Villages"
March 9
 SOLD OUT!
"Mode
Shift: Moving From Driving To
Biking and Walking"
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Save the Date! University Park Alliance Awards Luncheon Set for May 10th
Nominations Due March 15th
The seventh annual University Park Alliance Awards Luncheon, sponsored by Dominion Foundation, will be held on
Monday, May 10, at 11:30 am in the Student Union Ballroom at The
University of Akron. For the past three years, over 500 people have attended this sold-out event. Students and
student organizations, faculty, businesses, community members and
groups, alumni, and others will be honored for their
contributions to the revitalization of the University Park neighborhood. Proceeds will benefit UPA's Scholarship Fund for
long-term residents of University Park.
Nominations Due March 15thUPA is
accepting nominations for its 2010 Awards, which will recognize
outstanding community engagement, revitalization and promotional
efforts in the University Park neighborhood. As many as seven $1,000
Neighborhood Nexus Awards for community engagement will be presented at
the UPA Awards Luncheon on May 10. Non-monetary awards will also be
presented for outstanding neighborhood business investment and for
individuals and organizations that have worked to advance the
reputation of University Park as a unique and distinct "place"-- a neighborhood of enduring vibrancy,
sustainability and value. The deadline to submit nominations is Monday, March 15. For more information, or to obtain a nomination
form, call 330-972-8859. Nominations also may be submitted online at http://www.uakron.edu/upa.
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University Park Alliance Scholarships
Senior level Akron Public School students who are long-term residents of the University Park neighborhood have a special opportunity to compete for a scholarship to The University of Akron. Selected recipients will receive up to $4,000 per year for four years. UPA will present up to two scholarships at its annual awards luncheon on May 10. UPA scholarships provide recipients with an opportunity to participate in the transformation of their neighborhood and their future! Students interested in receiving scholarship application materials should contact Lois Smith at lois1@uakron.edu or 330.972.8859. Sponsor a Scholarship
Individuals, corporations or community organizations interested in sponsoring additional scholarships for University Park residents should contact Beth Houseman at bh37@uakron.edu or 330.972.8859.
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About University Park Alliance
The
mission of University Park Alliance (UPA) is to revitalize and
transform the diverse University Park neighborhood, a 50-block area immediately
surrounding The University of Akron, through engaging the community and
leveraging real estate & business investment. UPA was established
through a major grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
and is comprised of partners including The University of Akron, City of
Akron, Summa Health System, Akron Beacon Journal, Akron Children's Hospital, Akron General
Health System, Akron Metropolitan Housing
Authority, Greater Akron Chamber, Akron Public Schools, and
University Park Development Corporation.
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