Junior League of Akron

The current focus area for the Junior League of Akron is “Strengthening Families for a Better Tomorrow.”  The majority of League programs and funds will be spent on programs in the focus area. 

The key program within the focus area is a continuing collaboration with Mobile Meals.  Our program, Adopt-a-High-Rise, was developed at their suggestion as a way to provide programming and socialization opportunities for their clients that live in AMHA and other subsidized housing.  The Junior League began the program in 2006, with the selection of Saferstein Towers as our target.  During our first year, programs were developed and tested to see what worked best.  Many programs were held, with the most successful and best received being a Breakfast with Santa in December, an Italian Dinner night in May, and Board Game nights held each month.

Our second year of the program, 2007-2008, the League wanted to roll the program out to one additional high-rise as a test run.  Last fall the League approached Judy Brookhart, the Service Learning Coordinator at Old Trail School.  Old Trail was in the beginning stages of introducing a Service Learning program into the curriculum, and was interested in projects that focused on the giving of time and service and that was appropriate for students in grades pre-school through eighth grade.  Judy was very enthused by our program, and we began work with her to adopt a building.  Old Trail selected the Fowler apartment building in Highland Square as their target, as it offered them many options. 

Start-up was a bit slow at first, as Fowler no longer had a resident council and all planning had to go through channels at AMHA headquarters.  But finally in January, 2008 the fifth grade students at Old Trail planned, cooked, served, and enjoyed a Mexican Fiesta luncheon with the residents.  The students also performed some songs in Spanish to add to the festivities.  In February the fifth grade students worked with their kindergarten buddies to provide Valentine’s Day cards to the residents.  Currently the school is planning events on a quarterly basis.  The school is also hoping to re-open the small store that was once operational in the building, offering a middle-school elective class to students that want to learn about purchasing, inventory management, and other retail duties.  Judy reports that the experience has been very positive for both the students and the residents, and they are excited to do more.

During the same period of time, the League managed to double the number of events held at Saferstein Towers, to the delight of the residents.  Friendships are now being formed, and the residents and League members alike look forward to each activity.

Beginning in the fall of 2008, the League will be making an active push to find organizations, churches, schools, businesses or other groups that would be willing to adopt a building.  If you belong to a group that may be interested in learning more about the program please contact us. Our goal is to continue work to spread the program to at least 4-6 new high-rises.