“It’s easy to live in what we call the ‘bubble of camp,’” says Carl “Rocky” Wargo, executive director of YMCA Camp Y-Noah in Green.
It’s also easy to live in the bubble of your circle of friends. Even if Green is a longtime home, it can be difficult to recognize the various ways you can get involved, give back and immerse yourself in meaningful experiences in your own backyard.
So when Wargo learned about the Green Community Leadership Initiative six-session program, which essentially is a backstage and frontlines tour of the city and its inner workings, he was all in. He joined the second class, following the program’s debut in 2018. “It’s an excellent way to get to better know the community and what it’s all about and, hands down, I got exactly what I was looking for out of that,” he says.
Wargo is now a facilitator, as is longtime resident Greg Myer, who says the program opened his eyes to possibilities and encouraged a stronger level of engagement.
“As much as I know about Green, there is always something new to learn,” says Myer, who has watched the community evolve throughout the decades from a rural outpost to a fast-growing and desirable destination for families and businesses. The relationships built during his class have sustained and grown. “The program gives you an opportunity to get to know new people and interact,’’ he says, “and we put our heads together to spearhead community projects.”
What’s the Scoop?
The Community Leadership Initiative addresses topics related to the social, economic policy and environmental issues impacting the community. Modeled after Leadership Akron, it’s a hyper-local version designed to spur community engagement. It’s centered on the areas of economic and workforce development; quality of life; health and safety; education; and what makes Green a great place to live and work.
At least 30% of the program’s alumni now serve on a board or volunteer in some capacity. One former participant, who is an engineer focused on sustainability, now helps with the Living Green Task Force. “It’s a way to give back locally in a way that interests them,” says Valerie Wolford, communications manager for the city. “They gain a deeper sense of place and how community is formed.”
The program kicks off with an opening retreat and closes with a capstone class project that the city supports with a $1,000 grant. The first class connected with Green Good Neighbors and helped the organization purchase a new commercial freezer. The second class partnered with Blessings in a Backpack and helped update shelving and bins. The group volunteers quarterly, packing bags of food for the organization. “They are continuing to give back,” Wolford says.
The most recent class sought to incorporate mental health and art into a project. Members teamed up with the city’s Drug Task Force Mental Health Committee to organize a community event scheduled for May 2024. “Their vision is to bring together our mental health agencies in the community to share information with residents,” Wolford says, noting that the event will include yoga classes, lectures, art-therapy vendors and other outlets for creative expression.
Wargo says: “It’s a behind-the-curtain understanding of your community and shows you different ways to buy in. We visit the YMCA and Akron General LifeStyles, meet our firemedics, talk to local government officials and visit Portage Lakes Career Center.”
“It’s a great way to learn how the city is growing and to introduce participants to people involved in local affairs,“ Myer adds. We also pull in Summit County so they can see how Green interacts with the county.”
Here’s a snapshot of what participants have gained from the initiative:
City Works
Green’s history, community organizations, and the discovery of the mayor’s passion for opening up opportunities to participate are a few class takeaways for Shawn McDaniel, a registered nurse. “[The mayor] cares so much that he wants to invite the people to learn how to be a part of the city and make it better,” McDaniel says.
“The mayor and city council want to hear everyone’s voice,” he adds. “We might not always agree on everything, but this class allows people to come in and see how the city works and how you get things done, and the subcommittees influenced me to be more involved.”
Lay of the Land
Sherry Swisher joined the first class in 2018. As manager of the Green Branch Library, “there were so many questions I didn’t know how to answer,” she says. “They were ‘where-do-I-find’ questions, sometimes, like, ‘where’s the closest meat market?’ You might not know that Green has one.”
A visit to the Green Historical Society and a bus tour of the city to check out points of interest included highlighting the five original hamlets that made up the town of Green, before it was developed into what we know today. “I had a library visitor come to us and want a historical marker put in front of the library for John Buchtel, who was born in the area and important to the library community, so I understood that local tie,” she says.
Grassroots Engagement
Madison Radke, as president of the Green Area Chamber of Commerce, heard the buzz about the Community Leadership Initiative. As a marketing professional at the Village of St. Edward, connecting is her No. 1 job. “It was so engaging and personal, and we learned so much from the class and others involved,” she says.
Radke participated in the 2023 class that is staging the mental health and arts expo. “We are still engaged after the class is over, and we presented to city council for the event we are planning,” she says.
From touring the parks on a bus with the mayor as guide to spending time at city hall and dining at local restaurants, her experience broadened her perspective and knowledge of Green. “It’s great to meet people who are passionate about the City of Green and looking for opportunities to be engaged,” she says.
