Press
Below are articles featuring the work I’ve done in the community. Send me an email, to learn more.
Articles by Year
2023
Students who wore ‘blackface’ at Stow-Munroe Falls High School highlight history of racism within the city, some say
Some students at Stow-Munroe Falls High School wore blackface to the school's home-opener football game on Sept. 1 — courtesy of cleveland.com.
by Olivia Mitchell
cleveland.com
September 11, 2023
STOW, Ohio – After a recent incident in which students from Stow-Munroe Falls High School were accused of wearing blackface, the community and school district are being called out for having a history of racial conflict.
On Sept. 1, the high school’s football team hosted a home game against Massillon Jackson High School during which students from Stow-Munroe wore blackface. Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools Superintendent Tom Bratten said three days later in a statement that students painted their faces black as part of their “spirit wear,” but at the same time said the school district “does not condone the use of blackface by anyone for any reason as it is patently offensive and reinforces historically racist stereotypes.”
Despite rough seas for LGBTQ rights, Akron-area organizations stay the course
Steve Arrington is Chief Administrator of the Bayard Rustin LGBTQ+ Resource Center, in Akron — courtesy of Phil Masturzo, Akron Beacon Journal.
by Derek Kreider
Akron Beacon Journal
June 25, 2023
Less than a decade ago, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled 5-4 in Obergefell v. Hodges that bans on gay marriage were unconstitutional. Recently, state legislatures across the county — including Ohio's — have passed or considered bills that would restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ people.
While the wave of recent attempts to roll back progress has often overshadowed June Pride Month celebrations, these groups say the tide of opposition that they are swimming against is nothing new.
Stow memorial dedication to honor teen who was part of 'fabric of the community'
Melissa Anderson and Aaron Yeager sit at the memorial they helped bring to fruition, to honor the memory of their late friend, George R. Garrison, Jr. The memorial will also acknowledge those who have felt marginalized, and let all Stow residents and visitors know that they are welcome, seen, and respected here — courtesy of Nicholas McLaughlin, Akron Beacon Journal.
by Derek Kreider
Akron Beacon Journal
May 18, 2023
After the heartbreak of losing their classmate, 14-year-old George Garrison Jr., to suicide in 2003, a group of Stow-Munroe Falls alumni lobbied years later for a permanent tribute in his memory.
On Saturday, classmates, family and others who've been touched by the teen's life will gather for a public ceremony to dedicate a memorial that was erected last year in Wetmore Park.
2022
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Election preview: Stow voters will decide term limits in dueling ballot questions
Stow City Hall — courtesy of Mark Baxter, The Spotlight.
by Mark Baxter
The Spotlight
October 21, 2022
Stow voters are facing a choice of two proposed amendments to the city charter concerning term limits for elected officials.
The ballot on Nov. 8 has two separate proposals – Issue 25 and Issue 26 – that seek to change city rules that prevent an official who is appointed to serve out someone else’s unexpired term from standing for a second term in their own right.
Stow-Munroe Falls Schools pass resolution recognizing LGBTQ+ Pride, History months
by Molly Walsh
Akron Beacon Journal
July 15, 2022
The Stow-Munroe Falls School Board passed a resolution officially recognizing LGBTQ+ Pride and History months throughout the district.
As part of the resolution that was unanimously passed late last month, each school within the district will have a designated liaison to provide support for LGBTQ+ student groups, including Gay-Straight Alliances or Gender and Sexuality Alliances.
Stow-Munroe Falls School Board voting on gender identity change to staff dress code
by Dave Nethers
Fox 8 News
May 23, 2022
STOW, Ohio (WJW) – Members of the Stow-Munroe Falls School Board on Monday evening are expected to vote on a new line in the district’s staff dress code, which would recognize the right of staff members to dress according to their gender identity.
Stow student's legacy as 'guardian angel' preserved with memorial, scholarship
Rachel Jamison, Miguel Carvallo, Melissa Anderson, and Aaron Yeager stop for a photo outside the Stow High School commons area. All are friends of George Garrison Jr., who committed suicide in January of 2003. The group attended the school board meeting afterwards to petition for a memorial garden in Garrison’s honor, on the school grounds, on Monday, August 16, 2021, in Stow, Ohio — courtesy of Phil Masturzo, Akron Beacon Journal.
by Molly Walsh
Akron Beacon Journal
May 18, 2022
Friends and community members alike have been fighting for greater recognition of George Garrison, Jr.'s life. Nearly two decades ago, George died by suicide at just 14 years old. Now, his legacy is set to be preserved in Stow with a memorial.
George Garrison Sr., the former Stow-Munroe Falls student's father, said he is grateful for the memorial and the handful of organizers who made it possible.
New LGBTQ center opens, creating safe space for Black, gay people
Steve Arrington, seated front, Chief Administrator of the Bayard Rustin LGBTQ+ Resource Center, during a discussion with staff members, outreach workers, and community members, at the Wednesday evening dinner, in Akron — courtesy of Karen Schiely, Akron Beacon Journal.
by Molly Walsh
Akron Beacon Journal
April 18, 2022
Portraits and biographies hang on the century-old walls; poet Audre Lorde, musician Johnny Mathis, author James Baldwin. All of them are Black. And all of them are LGBTQ+.
When 21-year-old Kenneth Holman walks into the new Bayard Rustin LGBTQ+ Resource Center, he says he feels like he’s home.
2021
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Stow-Munroe Falls board passes resolution honoring George Garrison Jr.
by Krista S. Kano
Akron Beacon Journal
December 10, 2021
Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools declared Dec. 6 as George Garrison Jr. Day, in honor of a former student who died by suicide nearly 19 years ago and his former classmates who have been fighting to preserve his memory.
"I'm glad we were finally able to do something for them," said board of education member Nancy Brown, who introduced the resolution. "It wasn't much, but at least it was something and I'm glad we could recognize their efforts, their pain and their trauma and hopefully give them a little bit of closure."
'Do better.' Speakers criticize SMFHS response to students' Instagram page on mental health
Current students, alumni, and parents line up to address the Stow-Munroe Falls Board of Education about the district’s response to the Concerned Students of Stow-Munroe Falls Instagram page — courtesy of Krista S. Kano, Akron Beacon Journal.
by Krista S. Kano
Akron Beacon Journal
November 23, 2021
A group of Stow-Munroe Falls citizens urged the board of education Monday to listen to — and believe — stories about bullying, racism, sexual harassment and mental health challenges published anonymously on Instagram.
They also implored administrators to "do better" when responding to such reports.
Stow-Munroe Falls board tables suicide awareness resolution acknowledging George Garrison
by Krista S. Kano
Akron Beacon Journal
October 20, 2021
The Stow-Munroe school board tabled a resolution about how the district addresses suicide after some board members said the language belittled current efforts and disagreed whether one tragedy should be singled out.
Board member Nancy Brown proposed the resolution two months after a group of alumni spoke at a board meeting about their friend and classmate, George Garrison Jr., who died by suicide in 2003 when he was a 14-year-old student at Stow-Munroe Falls High School.
Conservative challengers surge as a third of school board members in Summit County not running
by Doug Livingston
Akron Beacon Journal
October 15, 2021
Stow-Munroe Falls school board member Geraldine Bettio saw a “radical, racist symbol” of “Black power” in the raised fists.
Recovering from a broken femur, she walked with a cane across the high school's library media room, where she met administrators the morning after multiracial fists appeared in clip art during a school board meeting presentation.
'Leona Farris is my pioneer': Stow honors 104-year-old, one of city's first Black residents
Leona Farris, 104, poses for a photograph with her daughter Laura Farris-Daugherty, before the city of Stow's dedication ceremony on September 16, to rename Silver Springs Lodge as the Leona Farris Lodge. Farris is being honored for her groundbreaking work throughout Stow's history — courtesy of Karen Schiely, Akron Beacon Journal.
by Krista S. Kano
Akron Beacon Journal
September 21, 2021
In the late 1700s, Joshua Stow came to Northeast Ohio, found a plot of land he called "one of the prettiest and most romantic spots in the Western Reserve," and started developing a township that would eventually bear his name.
"He was a pioneer, but as an African American from Stow, Ms. Leona Farris is my pioneer," said Kani Hightower, an Akron Municipal Court magistrate and Stow native. "I say you are a pioneer for this community and for those of us who look like us in this community because you chose this land ... and started a legacy that would continue down to people like me."
Chip Away
Illustration courtesy of Zoe Neely, Akron Life Magazine.
by Alexandra Sobchak
Akron Life Magazine
August 25, 2021
Aaron Yeager became interested in finance when debt made it truly personal to him.
“I got into credit card debt, which kind of spanned most of my adult life up until a couple years ago,” says the former executive director of Know Personal Finance nonprofit, which is wrapping up services.
"We see you": Stow-Munroe Falls alumni seek to remember classmate 18 years after his death
Rachel Jamison, Miguel Carvallo, Melissa Anderson, and Aaron Yeager, next to a memorial garden at Stow-Munroe Falls High School — courtesy of Phil Masturzo, Akron Beacon Journal.
by Krista S. Kano
Akron Beacon Journal
August 19, 2021
In June 2020, Stow-Munroe Falls High School alumnus Miguel Carvallo was one of more than 40 people who wrote to his alma mater's board of education after the death of George Floyd to demand a more robust statement in support of racial justice.
He wrote about how he and other people of color felt alone in the high school, and he cited the tragic results of that isolation.
Summit County leaders, citizens celebrate renaming of John Lewis Memorial Bridge in Stow
Mayor John Pribonic pulls away a sheet to reveal a sign dedicating the Steels Corners bridge, as the John Lewis Memorial Bridge, on Saturday, in Stow — courtesy of Jeff Lange, Akron Beacon Journal.
by Krista S. Kano
Akron Beacon Journal
July 18, 2021
Saturday marked the first anniversary of Rep. John Lewis’ death, and across the nation, communities celebrated the life of the civil rights activist.
In San Diego, the U.S. Navy christened the new USNS John Lewis. In Nashville, Tennessee, a street where Lewis led sit-ins has been renamed Rep. John Lewis Way.
Does diversity, equity, inclusion work belong in schools? Stow-Munroe Falls community divided
Thirty-two community members addressed the Stow-Munroe Falls Board of Education about the district's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee's efforts — courtesy of Krista S. Kano, Akron Beacon Journal.
by Krista S. Kano
Akron Beacon Journal
June 23, 2021
The national debate over whether schools should teach kids about racism, equality and other social justice issues is dividing the Stow-Munroe Falls community.
More than 30 community members shared their opinions about the district's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts with the school board Monday night.
2020
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Stow-Munroe Falls school board member under fire for laughing during reading of letters about a Black student’s suicide
by Harry Boomer
Cleveland 19 News
July 1, 2020
STOW, Ohio (WOIO) - Lisa Johnson Bowers, vice president of the Stow-Munroe Falls Board of Education, feels she is being unfairly scrutinized after someone complained about her smiling and laughing during a Zoom board meeting as letters were being read about a Black student in the district who committed suicide.
Bowers explained that she was at home after celebrating her birthday with family.
Harlem tenants have suffered 10 months without cooking gas with no relief in sight
Aaron Yeager, outside of his former apartment building, on West 146th Street, in Harlem — courtesy of Danielle Hyams, New York Daily News.
by Kerry Burke and Michael Gartland
New York Daily News
March 7, 2020
It hardly seems possible, but people living in one Harlem building have been without working stoves for more than 10 months, frustrated residents told the Daily News.
“It’s been horrible,” said Aaron Yeager, head of the building residents association. “There’s a lot of people in the building who have families and need to cook.”