A unifying vision for Akron’s future

Akron is facing some huge challenges, in public safety, our schools, and a population that’s been shrinking for at least the last 30 years. We need a new direction and a new style of leadership that’s empowering to our residents and speaks to their needs and the things they want to see for their community.

Together for Akron includes four key tenets — safety, economic development, health and housing, and education — that together, can build the future we all want for our city.

More than a platform

We’re inviting Akron residents to share their ideas, experiences, and dreams for our city’s future, through four community dialogue events called Akron Speaks. These sessions will help inform the final detailed plans the campaign will release in March.

All are welcome to attend. Watch our events page for details as they’re released.

Values for campaigning and governing

• Everyone deserves to be treated with honesty, dignity, and respect – especially when we disagree. Disagreements over policy or politics are inevitable and important. Personal disagreements or attacks are not.

• Author David Giffels writes that in Akron, we take the hard way on purpose. We embrace that identity by leaning into complexity and nuance. We must listen more than we speak, and seek to understand where each person is coming from. We must understand our history and respect the hard work of those who came before us, while being honest about what needs to change.

• Akron is full of all kinds of people, with all kinds of perspectives and experiences. A collective vision for Akron’s future requires as many voices at the table as possible. Our campaign and our city government should look like Akron in race, ethnicity, gender, age, geography, socioeconomic background, ability, sexual orientation and gender identity, language, background, life experience, and more.

• We will engage folks intentionally, with a process by which feedback can be heard and reflected in our platform and policies. We may not adopt every idea, but we will engage people in a positive and respectful way that empowers them to keep participating.