Akron's capacity to thrive
By Eric Anthony Johnson
Published in the Akron Beacon Journal: June 9, 2011
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To paraphrase Charles Darwin, it’s not the strongest of our nation’s communities or the smartest that will flourish. Rather, it’s the most adaptable and flexible that will prosper. These communities will create new vitality by making the choice to evolve, to build on their strengths, foster new industries and parlay new technologies into growing businesses.
Does this sound like Akron?
It does to me.
New polymer products, medical devices and clean energy technologies are under development right now, in Akron. Researchers, doctors and scientists affiliated with our strong foundation of anchor institutions are collaborating on technologies that hold great promise. The University of Akron leads the state’s public universities in revenue raised from the licensing of new products. The university’s research foundation has helped create nearly 50 companies.
The mission of the University Park Alliance is to create the sense of place required to build on this progress. As a local nonprofit, we will develop property and facilitate private investment that elevates Akron’s core, stabilizes the community for current residents and attracts young professionals as well as retiring baby boomers.
Speaking in Akron last week, Henry Cisneros, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, reiterated the importance of the University Park Alliance and other initiatives dedicated to improving America’s cities. His speech, “Interwoven Destinies: America’s Cities and the Nation’s Future,” linked the vitality of our nation with the ability of cities such as Akron to evolve, to invest and to recreate themselves.
Akron’s history is one of collaboration, perseverance and pride. Those qualities served us well and our city prospered, riding the crest of a growing industry and the visionaries who governed it.
Today, Akron enjoys an enviable capacity, leadership and drive to create a New Century City led by creativity. Our leaders in government, philanthropy, education and private enterprise act as catalysts for growth within the collaborative culture we have maintained.
Many of our city’s anchor institutions and their executives, led by the University of Akron, Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Summa Health System, Akron General Medical Center Hospital and Akron Public Schools are leading the transformation.
Already, these institutions pour more than $2.5 billion into the local area and $3.5 billion into the state’s economy. They employ 15,500 people in the fields of health care and higher education.
The University Park Alliance will build upon those sectors, revitalizing a 50-block area around the University of Akron that includes or impacts our three Akron hospitals, four new public schools, the Austen BioInnovation Institute, as well as attractions such as the new YMCA and Akron Art Museum.
Neighborhoods will evolve into new communities where young professionals and college professors live together, drawn by new or renovated affordable housing. We will encourage development, transforming Akron’s core into a place where new retail establishments sprout and new biomedical firms find affordable office space.
To see our vision, review our master plan on our web site: http://www.upakron.com/ Or view our video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNsihB9--L8
This is a time when federal, state and local resources will be strained, threatening to restrict the evolution necessary for the “interwoven destinies” of America’s cities to thrive.
Yet University Park will move forward with confidence, with the energy of Akron’s visionaries and the philanthropic support of the Knight Foundation, the GAR Foundation, the Akron Community Foundation and others.
The growing cities of the future will boast collaborative dynamic leaders, an engaged community and an evolving economy.
Does this sound like Akron?
You know what I think.
Eric Anthony Johnson has been executive director of University Park Alliance since July 2
