Partner Spotlight

HCP-MV Partner Spotlight: Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Urban Forestry Planting Seeds, Growing a Culture of Conservation in the Mahoning Valley Celebrating Minority Health Month & National Poetry Month with an excerpt from Langston Hughes' "April Rain Song" As the sayings go, “April’s showers bring May’s flowers,” and “when it rains, it pours.” April has been a busy, fruitful month for HCP and many of our partners, but our spotlight is looking up to the trees. Throughout April, HCP recognized National Minority Health Month and celebrated significant contributions that Black Indigenous and People of [...]

HCP-MV Partner Spotlight: Mahoning & Trumbull County Land Banks A Decade of Demolitions to Grow a Greener Mahoning Valley A lot has changed over the last 10 years. Common sights in 2011 are artifacts by 2021 standards. Technology is always a reliable place to look for what’s new, different, updated, and upgraded—iPods are no more; much of our data and entertainment floats in a cloud or through a stream rather than burned onto DVDs or flashdrives; and everything is “smarter”—including toothbrushes, hairbrushes, and other “things.” Steel Mill along Mahoning River 1962—Photo donated by Joseph E. Cole to [...]

HCP-MV Partner Spotlight: The D5 Group  Celebrating One Year Working with the D5 Group to Share Our Stories World renowned author and Ohio-native Maya Angelou warns us that, “there is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." An important part of the work of the Healthy Community Partnership is to remember that that while we pool and pull together data, we don't forget about our stories—individual and collective—and making sure they are treasured and told. D5 Group Founder DeShawn Scott in the Studio Seven years ago, DeShawn Scott founded the D5 Group, which is [...]

Partner Spotlight: Mahoning Valley Community Health Heroes The Healthy Community Partnership Says Thank You! to Our Community Health Heroes for Their Service During the COVID-19 Pandemic For our final Partner Spotlight of 2020, it seemed not only appropriate but essential to recognize our partners who have been standing in the spotlight this entire year: our Community Health Heroes. Powerful image of a healthcare worker keeping a patient above water from Iranian artist Bozorghmehr Hosseinpour. Our partners in public health and healthcare have been working tirelessly since the COVID-19 pandemic crashed into our communities nine long months [...]

Partner Spotlight: Lake to River Food Cooperative It’s November, which signals the shifting from fall’s golden hours to the silvery shades of winter. And, for many, November is also the beginning of the holiday season. Though our holiday celebrations will look very different this year, one of the essential elements at the center of many holiday traditions will stay the same: food.  At HCP, we always have food on our minds. But, this year especially, it’s been top of mind of many. As we approach the 9 month mark of living through a pandemic, we’ve all heard or read [...]

Partner Spotlight: Bill McMahon & Francine McBride Community Outreach and Education at Akron Children's Mahoning Valley October is National Children’s Health Month, and the week of October 19-23 is Health Education Week. So, for the October Partner Spotlight, HCP would like to recognize two members of our team whose work focuses on providing outreach and educational opportunities that highlight the importance of protecting and promoting our children’s health: William McMahon, Jr. and Francine McBride from Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley. National Children’s Health Month is recognized by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention as a time [...]

Partner Spotlight: Robin Perry, HCP-MV Network Coordinator The Healthy Community Partnership-Mahoning Valley is very excited to welcome a new member to our team. Robin Perry will be joining the Partnership as a full-year AmeriCorps VISTA beginning her term on August 31, 2020 and concluding the following year. She will be serving in a role titled the HCP-MV Network Coordinator, where she will enhance HCP-MV’s ability to effectively manage collaborative projects. Some of the activities she will be engaged in will include improving internal and external communications and developing a story bank to capture and share success stories. Through saving [...]

HCP Partner Spotlight: Mahoning Valley Farmers Market Managers This week, August 2-8, is National Farmers Market Week. Farmers Markets have become an anticipated summer staple across the Mahoning Valley. These spaces offer farmers, gardeners, bakers, and creators of all kinds a place to come together to connect with the community and to share good food and stories. 2020 National Farmers Market Week Infographic The National Farmers Market Coalition has a harvested a bounty of resources that demonstrate the multiple significant ways farmers markets benefit communities: Farmers Markets Stimulate Local Economies The USDA estimates that local food sales [...]

HCP Partner Spotlight: From Green to Great—Three Resident Leaders Improving Their Neighborhoods One Green Space at a Time Mary Danus, Boulevard Park Neighborhood Association Marguerite Douglas, Lincoln Knolls Community Watch Bobby Reynolds, Northeast Homeowners and Concerned Citizens Over the past 5 years, neighborhoods throughout the Mahoning Valley have seen hundreds of images of ugly abandoned, blighted houses disappear to be replaced by green space. Though these green spaces are more appealing than the structures that once stood on them, they still can leave a lot to be desired. However, if given the chance, these empty green spaces can [...]

HCP Partner Spotlight: Christian Bennett As Trumbull County’s Food Access Coordinator, I hope to accomplish finding sustainable solutions to alleviate the food gaps within the community. Every day I wake up determine to think outside of the box for new opportunities that will make our communities healthier. So far, I have built relationships with 7 independent-locally owned convenience stores within Warren, Oh that is passionate of selling healthier options, such as fresh produce within their stores. It has been a pleasure of getting to know the store owners, not only on a professional level but on a personal level. [...]