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Wright Dunbar Village Park Rejuvenation

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This city of Dayton park was established in 1998 as part of the development of the Wright Dunbar Village.  Located at 700 Anderson-Goodrich Court, neighborhood association president Jeff Jackson explained that “in the last year the neighborhood lead a $10,000 renovation that included refreshed landscaping and this new sign.”
Funded in part by a Make Montgomery County grant, donations from the area businesses and residents made up the rest.  The new cooper signage was installed just yesterday.

The park is named after Paul Laurence Dunbar’s first published book of poetry and the neighborhood residents have hosted several outdoor concerts featuring jazz, classic rock and R & B music, as well as spoken word poetry and even a neighborhood garage sale.

Dayton Made: Famous People From Our City: Charles Michael Davis

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If you’ve been watching mainly network television over the years, you’ve probably noticed this guy. Or, your wife or girlfriend has noticed him. This handsome actor/entertainer is Charles Michael Davis. And Davis was born right here in the Dayton area. 

Davis grew up in Riverside, and he comes from a mixed marriage. His African American father is from Kentucky, and his Filipino mother is from Manila, the capital city of the Philippines.  He graduated from Stebbins High School, and Miami (Ohio) University.  He got his start in the entertainment industry by modeling with Wings Model Management, which was based in Cincinnati. He later worked with the talent agency Actors, Models, and Talent for Christ (AMTC). Soon after, Davis did television commercials and print ads for Nike and FootLocker.

Here’s an interview from 2014:

Davis transitioned from modeling, to acting. Throughout the 2000’s and the 2010’s, he appeared on a number of television shows, including Grey’s Anatomy, Switched At Birth, The Game, and That’s So Raven. In 2013, Davis got the first of three lead roles in TV shows that he would come to have. He was made a lead character in the CW vampire show The Originals. In 2018, he was named a lead in the series Younger, in its fifth season. And, in 2020, he was cast in the role of Special Agent Quentin Carter in NCIS: New Orleans.

At the rate Davis is going, we shouldn’t be surprised if he were to end up a leading man on the big screen, movies, any day now. Davis shows us all that nothing is impossible with a little bit of Midwestern magic, and a lot of Ohio grit. 

New ADA-Compliant Entrance to be Constructed at City Hall

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The City of Dayton will improve access to City Hall (101 W. Third St.) with construction of a new ADA-compliant entrance on the building’s Ludlow Street side.
The two-phase project will get underway in early March, with completion expected by Oct. 1. It will create an exterior ramp and reconstructed steps at the Ludlow entrance and modifications to the entrance’s interior area, including a lift. The existing sidewalk/slab along Ludlow, which also serves as a roof for a portion of City Hall’s lower level offices, will be fully replaced.
During construction, the main public entrance to City Hall will be on West Third Street. Until the new Ludlow entrance is in use, ADA access will continue to be available on City Hall’s third floor, via the Municipal Parking Garage at 123 W. Third St.
Parking spaces and parking meters along the east (Ludlow) side of City Hall will not be in use during construction. Metered spaces will be available on West Third Street (north side, between Main and Ludlow, and south side, across from City Hall).
During construction, the 24-hour utility payment drop-box currently located at the northeast corner of City Hall will be relocated to the west side of the building, between City Hall and the Municipal Garage.
The total cost of the improvements is approximately $950,000, an expense approved by the City Commission in January.

Virtual Grand Opening Set For The Hub at Dayton Arcade

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The University of Dayton and the Entrepreneurs’ Center will host a public grand opening for The Hub Powered by PNC Bank at the Dayton Arcade. At 95,000 square feet, it is among the largest university-anchored innovation hubs in the country, including shared and private office spaces, meeting rooms, conference areas, pop-up retail opportunities, learning labs and classrooms. The virtual event will be at 5:30 pm on Thursday, March 4th.

 

“We could not be more excited for the Hub to become a reality,” said Eric F. Spina, president of the University of Dayton. “This is a ‘triple play’ for the University of Dayton in that it provides excellent learning opportunities for our students; facilitates greater collaboration and connection between our faculty, research staff and students and the greater Dayton entrepreneurial ecosystem; and will help reinvigorate a key part of our city’s downtown and the historic Arcade that was vacant for decades. This truly is a great day for UD and for Dayton.”

“The Hub is visible proof that Dayton’s long heritage of innovation remains vibrant, healthy and growing,” said Scott Koorndyk, president of the Entrepreneurs’ Center. “In one space, we’ve brought together the support, talent and energy that small businesses and entrepreneurs need to be successful. We are thrilled to join our partners at the University of Dayton and PNC Bank in making the Hub a catalyst for the future of our region’s innovation economy.”

“Our goal in supporting the Hub was to foster collaboration, which is the key to success,” said David Melin, PNC regional president for Dayton. “The Hub Powered by PNC Bank will serve as a catalyst that will merge creative ideas from students, entrepreneurs, businesses and the community to create a stronger future for the region.”

The virtual grand opening will include videos with entrepreneurs and UD faculty introducing Hub spaces, such as:

  • Innovation Hall, where the Entrepreneurs’ Center offers comprehensive business and commercialization support services, along with its Small Business Development Center; and the University has offices for the L. William Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, a satellite office of the Greater West Dayton Incubator to drive equitable access and inclusion, as well as others;
  • UD’s studios for painting, printmaking, photo and graphic design for students and faculty;
  • UD’s The GEM, a non-traditional learning space that connects the University and city with a focus on community-centered approaches to social innovation;
  • A representative workspace that showcases the environment that entrepreneurs and small businesses can find at the Hub; and
  • A café with a menu that will be intentionally curated by the Greater West Dayton Incubator to feature underrepresented entrepreneurs.

The event also will feature a panel discussion with Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, City Manager Shelley Dickstein, PNC’s Melin, developer Cross Street Partners CEO Bill Struever, University of Dayton’s Spina and the Entrepreneurs’ Center’s Koorndyk. The grand opening will conclude with a blessing and a ribbon-tying ceremony to symbolize the coming together of all the partners and stakeholders that have made the project possible and will be involved in the Hub going forward.

Vince Lewis, president of The Hub

Local entrepreneurs and startups are currently working in the Hub or making plans to move in during the coming weeks. Additionally, university classes will begin in the space as public health conditions allow beginning in fall 2021.

“The Hub Powered by PNC Bank could fundamentally shift how universities and community partners collaborate in support of startup ecosystems,” said Vince Lewis, president of The Hub Powered by PNC Bank and director of UD’s Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. “I think the thing that I am most excited about is the opportunity for University of Dayton students to be down here, connected into the startup ecosystem in a space where they’re working with students from all over campus, working with local entrepreneurs and other local businesses. All that connection and opportunity is really what we envisioned years ago when we first started down this down this path. You can’t understate the impact that this project has on the city, especially right now. Since UD signed our letter of intent with The Entrepreneurs Center back in 2017, the Arcade has been a project that people say is never going to happen. And that’s been driven into the psyche of the community. The Hub opening and getting off the ground really resonates the feeling that Look, things are happening, things are moving forward! This will have a huge impact on the psyche of the city and how we feel about downtown.”

Additionally, UD and the Entrepreneurs’ Center will host community programming. This will include the University’s Flyer Pitch competition, one of the largest business plan competitions at the collegiate level; small business acceleration programs; the Dayton Arcade Entrepreneur Academy; summer internships; and opportunities to participate in other competitions and programs.

To join the grand opening, visit Youtube.

We Care Arts Virtual Auction Now Open

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Since 1983 We Care Arts has served the Dayton region, though the healing power of creating and producing art, which transforms physical, developmental and emotional challenges.  They are currently serving more than 1300 individuals with their programming. Creating art compliments medical therapies, increases self-confidence, and ultimately improves existing quality of life.
To help support their programs they are hosting the We Care Arts Virtual Auction, which is now OPEN for bidding through noon on Friday, Feb. 26th ! Browse the artwork for sale and bid on themed baskets that include wine, dining out golfing and car care.
You can even purchase your $10 raffle ticket for a chance to win a $1,000 Amazon gift card.  Winner will be drawn on Facebook Live, (We Care Arts Facebook page @wecarearts) on Friday Feb 26th at noon. Winner will be notified by phone and email and may pick up the Amazon.com gift card at We Care Arts.
3035 Wilmington Pike
Kettering, OH 45429
937-252-3937
We Care Arts has grown to serve 1700 clients at more than forty off-site locations within the greater Dayton area. Alongside our executive director, our volunteer staff and board contribute more than 28,000 hours annually to our mission.

Registration Now Open For Train to Sew Program

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Dayton has always had the reputation for being a globally recognized hub for innovation! The Gem City Sewing Company’s goal to provide high-quality design, cut and sew training to build on local industry momentum connecting the existing collaborative community to workforce development, technology and manufacturing. This training will be taught by an employee who works for one of the local sewn goods employers that is currently hiring sewist at $13/hr.

A subsidiary of the Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI) LLC , the Gem City Sewing Company will offer free workforce development for train to sew programs in under-served communities and low-income households to pair skilled sewist with sewn goods employers including the Dayton Threads and the Dayton Garment & Textile District Resource Directory, as well as manufacturing small sewing projects for paid work, earning $12-17.50 an hour.  

Located at the Dayton Mall inside of the House of (DE-FI)ance: A Fashion & Design Coworking Experience, eligible participants must reside in the the following zip codes:

45417, 45404, 45403, 45410, 45405, 45406, 45426, 45416

If your zip code is not listed above and your measure of income  meets the federal poverty guidelines, you are also eligible to receive this training free of charge.

The Workforce Development program will work with area manufacturers and community organizations to develop our Industrial Sewing Training programs that prepare individuals for employment in the sewing industry.

We are here to make a difference and We do this in several ways:

  • Teach job skills for sewing type occupations for employment or entrepreneurship, focusing on our local core
  • Foster social capital across cultural relationships in ways to lift everyone up
  • Develop & sustain community interest & involvement in social justice through our activities
  • Provide learning opportunities that will create a legacy for new generations to the creative life
  • Collaborate & cooperate with other non-profits with similar objectives

Training will consist of the following areas:

  1. Module 1 Basic Skills
  2. Module 2 Garment Introductions
  3. Module 3 Commercial Track
  4. Module 4 Quilting

Training Programs will consist of 3-6 months of instruction with required homework. Mandatory testing will take place after each completed module.

If you have any unused sewing supplies or working equipment that you would like to donate for this training, please email us at [email protected],

Dayton Made: Famous People From Our City: Sherri Saum

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Born in Dayton on October 1, 1974,  this former model and long time actress actually  got her start in the entertainment industry in Kettering.  She attended Oakview Elementary School  and then was  involved in  drama club and was also a cheerleader while Fairmont High School.  She would actually take the RTA to the Dayton Mall almost every day.
She transferred from Ohio State University after one semester, to New York University where she got a major in psychology. While she studied in New York she did modeling work and worked as a waitress.
Sheri Saum was a regular on the soap opera Sunset Beach, and had roles in numerous television shows and films. Her most notable role, arguably, was on the TV show The Fosters. She played the role of Lena Adams for five seasons. The role was a trailblazing one , as Lena was a lesbian who was in a long term relationship, who also ran a household with several  children of diverse backgrounds. Sherri now has a recurring role on the cable television show Power Book II: Ghost. 

In 2020 she appeared in 9 episodes of Locke & Key, American supernatural horror drama streaming television series that premiered on Netflix on February 2020.

Sherri is indeed repping well for the DYT.

Keep up with he on Instagram @saumdays.

TEDxDayton 2020 Videos Now Available For Viewing

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The videos of TEDxDayton 2020’s first virtual event are now available to view on YouTube.com.

TEDxDayton 2020 streamed in one-hour segments the evenings of November 10, 12, 17, and 19. The event featured local speakers delivering talks covering topics such as labor trafficking, opioids, hazing, mentorship, and much more. Local performers prepared recorded segments and a new Q&A session was introduced to explore one topic further on each night of the event.

“We are so glad that despite the pandemic we were able to hold the Signature Event in 2020,” shared Ron Rollins, co-chair of the event. “Now with the videos being available to view on YouTube, attendees as well as anyone who missed any of the streamed event will be able to enjoy them.”

In what was a challenging year for the Dayton community, the organizers of TEDxDayton determined that an in-person event would not be prudent and elected to virtually host TEDxDayton 2020 for the first time in its seven-year history. Since 2013, the annual Signature Event has historically taken place in October of each year with a live audience of around 1,000 ticket holders.

Here’s who the 2020 speakers were:


Charlie Campbell
Retired College Professor
Sharing his personal story about downsizing and how to say “good-bye.”

 

Conor Crippen
TBI Survivor (Traumatic Brain Injury)
Speaking alongside his aunt, Conor will share his personal story of releasing the burden of trauma.

Anne Marie Romer
Writer, Aunt
Speaking alongside her nephew, Anne Marie will share her personal story of releasing the burden of trauma.

Daj’za Demmings
Hope Dealer
Sharing her thoughts on the power and importance of intergenerational mentorship.

Ronald L. Fletcher, MD
Former Ohio Health Commissioner
Sharing lessons from the HIV pandemic and thoughts on how those lessons can be used to inform our response to COVID-19.

Subhashini Ganapathy, PhD
Industrial Systems Engineer
Sharing her thoughts on how engineering can be fun.

Jodie Mader
Old School Techie
Sharing how she’s surviving the pandemic as a Luddite.

Joshua Montgomery
Computer Science Professor
Sharing his excitement about teaching with droids.

Elijah Muhammad
Labor Trafficking Survivor
Sharing his personal story of labor trafficking and how we can be more aware of this silent issue.

Timothy Nevius
College Athlete Advocate
Sharing his findings on the exploitation of college athletes.

Jacquelyn Wright Palmer
Educator, Genealogist
Sharing her journey of finding pride in her family’s history of enslavement.

Shomari Payne
Educator
Sharing his personal experience on the inheritance of poverty.

Ann Puckett
Lifelong DIY’er
Sharing her thoughts on why DIY isn’t really about doing it yourself.

Amy M. Riegel
Housing Advocate
Sharing her thoughts on why housing matters and how our zip code defines our life experiences.

Kathleen Wiant
Anti-Hazing Advocate
Sharing her personal experiences on the dangers of hazing.

Christopher Wyatt, PhD
Associate Professor of Neuroscience
Sharing his findings on the connection between opioids and breathing.

 

Videos are available on the TEDx YouTube channel playlist here.

 

Dragons/Reds Confirm Player Development Agreement

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The Dayton Dragons and Cincinnati Reds today jointly executed a new Major League Baseball Player Development License agreement, cementing their player development relationship for the next 10 years.  Additionally, the Reds and Dragons announced the Dragons coaching staff for the 2021 season.

On December 9, 2020, the Reds formally invited the Dragons to operate as a Minor League franchise within the Cincinnati Reds organization as part of the new alignment constructed by Major League Baseball.  The Dragons will now operate as the Reds Class A-Advanced (“High A”) club.  The Dayton franchise previously played as the Class A (“Low A”) affiliate in its first 20 years of operations.

“The Dayton Dragons organization is thrilled to continue to partner with the Cincinnati Reds,” noted Dragons team president, Robert Murphy. “We are very proud of what has been a great relationship with Reds ownership and their Baseball Operations staff.  More than 100 Dragons players have played in the Major Leagues including Reds generational favorites like Joey Votto, Adam Dunn, Jay Bruce, Todd Frazier, and Johnny Cueto, and many of today’s Reds players like Jesse Winker, Nick Senzel, Amir Garrett, and Tucker Barnhart.  The opportunity to move up to the High A level will be an exciting change for our fans.”

“We couldn’t be happier to have the opportunity to continue our relationship with Dayton,” said Reds Vice President, General Manager Nick Krall. “It is well known within the game that the Dragons’ front office provides some of the best experiences in baseball for not only our players, but for visiting players and their Southwest Ohio fan base. For more than 20 years, they have been an important part in the development of Reds Major Leaguers, both on the field and in our communities.”

“We are excited to unveil this new model, which not only provides a pipeline to the Majors, but continues the Minor Leagues’ tradition of entertaining millions of families in hundreds of communities,” said MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred Jr.  “In modernizing our Minor League system, we prioritized the qualities that make the Minor Leagues such an integral part of our game while strengthening how we develop professional athletes on and off the field.    

How to Find Girl Scout Cookies Near You!

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Miami Valley Girl Scouts will begin selling cookies at booths in their neighborhoods this weekend. With the safety of girls and families the highest priority, you’ll see many precautions like masks, sanitizer, and contactless credit card payment options, as well as new formats like drive-through booths!

The pandemic has limited the number of places Girl Scouts can be in public this year, so Girl Scouts of Western Ohio is making it easy for the public to find and share the joy of Girl Scout Cookies.

Visit gswo.org/findcookies to find a cookie booth near you, or to select a local troop to deliver cookies to your door. If you want to share the joy, there also are options for shipping or donating cookies.

Beginning Friday, February 19, you can even order Girl Scout Cookies for pickup or delivery on Grubhub.com or the Grubhub app! This option will be available for customers within a limited range of the council’s Dayton service center, during select hours.

Girl Scouts will sell cookies only through Sunday, March 14, so don’t delay in picking out your favorite treats!

When you buy Girl Scout Cookies, you support Girl Scouts and you power amazing experiences and life-changing opportunities for girls year-round—from awesome trips to community projects to outdoor adventures. You can read many of their plans on the council’s online Cookie Connection map.

Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls learn to think like entrepreneurs and learn to take the lead as they gain five essential skills throughout the program: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. In fact, many Girl Scout alums who are business leaders frequently credit the Girl Scout Cookie Program for giving them a head start in the corporate world!