KATIE BECK Executive Director
North Hill Community Development Corp.
Katie Beck is a creative community builder, director, writer, facilitator, speaker, and artist who works to build spaces that highlight and prioritize underrepresented voices. Since establishing Gum-Dip Theatre in 2016, Katie has produced or directed nearly 80 performances that celebrate, challenge, and reinvent community identity through neighborhood story circles and pay-what-you-can performances.
GDT creates theatre as a vehicle for practicing different factual and imaginary versions of oneself, for representing the narratives that are often ignored, and for elevating voices and identities that are not included in the mainstream. Recent directing and devising credits include Denied Admission, My North Hill, Imprisoned, Namaste-WHAT?, In Search of Alternative Dreams, and Into the Mold. Some of her playwriting highlights include Obnoxiously Unconstitutional (upcoming), Rebranding the City: a Humanizing Tour of Akron, Into the Mold, and A Town For Us. In 2017, she helped to open the Exchange House with the Better Block Foundation, which is a cultural hub and international hostel that celebrates cultures and cultivates community capacity through partnerships, programming, and built environment.
At the beginning of 2020, she stepped into the role of Executive Director for North Akron Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit building upon physical infrastructure, cultural heart, creative spirit, history, and entrepreneurial drive of artists and local small business owners in North Hill.
NACDC focuses on entrepreneurship and economic development, creative placemaking, and building social cohesion through 5 public spaces that include the Exchange House, the Backyard (outdoor pocket park), NoHi Pop-up (rotating restaurant), NoTique (mixed-use retail), and the upcoming Market House (women-focused microbusiness incubator). Katie serves as a Commissioner for the City of Akron's founding Public Art Commission, co-chair for Firestone CLC's Performing Arts Academy, a board member for Akron Interfaith Immigration Advocates, and a member of Torchbearers Akron class of 2020.
She is a recipient of Twin Masks Performing Arts Center’s 2021 Douglas Lillibridge Artist-in-Residency, Greater Akron Chamber’s ’30 for the Future’ Award in 2019, Arts Alive! Outstanding Artist in Theatre Award in 2018, Akron Fellowship for League of Creative Interventionists in 2017, and two Knight Foundation Arts Challenge Awards in 2016 and 2019.
Katie holds a Bachelor’s of Art in Theatre, Writing, and Community and Justice Studies from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA.
Stew Buchanan put together another successful End Polio Now Night at Progressive Field. (photo left with Dr. McGregor)
Everyone had a great time!
Dr. McGregor brought a guest and potential new Akron Rotarian, Ryan Palmer - they were still smiling in this photo (right) during the 7th inning stretch - unfortunately in extra innings the Cleveland Indians (soon to be known as The Guardians) lost the game.
The evening raised much need funds to continue our Polio eradication efforts worldwide.
Aimee Wade was inducted into the Rotary Club of Akron on July 20, 2021. She was sponsored by Julie Brandle who said "Aimee has a heart to do good for others."
She is married to Ryan and is a life-long resident of Summit County.
She has worked with the ADM Board for more than a decade where she was recently appointed as the new Executive Director.
Wade is the first woman and the first person of color to serve as the Executive Director of the ADM Board. “I recognize the significance of this role in our community, and I am committed to working with our partners and stakeholders to ensure that quality, effective and equitable behavioral healthcare services are available for all Summit County residents,” she said. “Moving forward, I am concentrating on providing HOPE for the community: Health and Wellness, Outcomes, Potential and Equity. I firmly believe that together our collective impact has infinite potential.”
Wade holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Criminology from The Ohio State University and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Akron. She is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) and an Ohio and Internationally Certified Prevention Consultant (OCPC).
She is also a member of the Summit County Opiate Abatement Advisory Committee and the Summa Community Engagement Committee. She is a past Board Member for Child Guidance and Family Solutions and a graduate of Leadership Akron Signature Class 35.
Please join us in welcoming Aimee to the Rotary family!
Our Rotary District 6630 Awards night was held July 14th honoring Clubs and individuals for their successes in the 2020-2021 Rotary year and recognition of several of the Akron Club members that served on various District committees.
We congratulate each and every member who received recognition and thank all of our members for their dedication to Rotary and Service Above Self.
Under the direction of 2020-2021 President McGregor, the Club received the A.Z. Baker Service Award.
The A.Z. Baker Service Award is to encourage a reaching out in total service and the "development of resources" on the part of all clubs in District 6630, the A. Z. Baker Service Awards were established in 1978 at the recommendation of then District Governor James P. Banks, and by action of the District Board of Trustees. This award honors our own "Mr. Rotary," A.Z. Baker, from the Rotary Club of Cleveland who served as Rotary International President in 1955-1956. His dedication and commitment to Rotary truly exemplified SERVICE ABOVE SELF and this award was designed to honor his memory by encouraging all clubs in the district to participate in each of the Avenues of Service which are the foundation of club activity.
McGregor also received the Training and Educational Club Leadership Award. This award is given to any club that has shown a commitment to the ideals and spirit of being a Rotarian during the 2020-2021 Rotary Year. Thank you, this was a culmination of the efforts of all of our members and your overwhelming commitment to our Club.
The following Club members earned the Training and Educational Individual Award given to any District Rotarian who has shown a commitment to the ideals and spirit of being a Rotarian during the 2020-2021 Rotary Year:
Julie Brandle
Stew Buchanan
Rob McGregor
Cheryl Warren
Akron Club members who were recognized for their service and dedication by serving on District committees were:
Outstanding Leadership:
John Reyes
Certificate of Special Recognition:
Julie Brandle
Stew Buchanan
John Reyes
Cheryl Warren
Appreciation Award for serving as Assistant Governor:
Congratulations to our newest Akron Crown recipients
Wanda Whipkey passed the Tiara to Sandy Naragon
and
Terry Dalton passed the Crown to David Hall (no photo available of David at this writing but one will be posted soon)
Sandy was crowned as Queen for being an integral part of our Club grants, working on the strategic plan for both the Club and the District, organizing PowerPoints behind the scenes for various needs and so much more!
David received the Kings crown for his tireless efforts in organizing greeters, invocators and serving in many other ways that help support the Club President and our members. We will get a photo of David wearing his crown soon!!
ABOUT THE AKRON ROTARY CROWN
When our Club began meeting remotely, Katy was so impressed with Cheryl Warren's handling of our Zooms that she spontaneously sent her a Tiara and crowned her the Queen of Zoom!
Cheryl approached Katy to ask if they could "pass it forward", so they decided to keep it moving every other month or so, crowning a Queen or King or Both for their efforts to benefit our club! Katy secured a Kings crown to have in addition to the Tiara.
The member(s) who receives the crown(s) must wear them for a month to our weekly meetings – either virtually or when we go live.
We will do it every other month to allow time in between to transition the “Akron Rotary Crown”
The member(s) who last received the crown(s) then helps Cheryl and Katy identify the next worthy member(s) then he/she drops off the committee and the next recipient joins us – so it rotates.
Now, Terry and Wanda will be part of the committee to help pick the next recipient(s) and will then drop off and the new recipients come on...so it rotates.
It's important to point out that this is not a popularity contest - some month's there may be no one and other month's there may be more than one person. We are looking for members who are often doing things quietly behind the scene or big things too.
We encourage the committee chairs and all members to submit ideas to Katy and Cheryl - just email us. We want to continue recognizing members for all their good deeds!
Holt formed Akron Urban Agriculture to promote gardens and urban farms like Akron Urban Farms in Ohio. The organization has a clear and concise plan for helping cities like Akron and Cleveland through gardening and farming.
The main goal of Akron Urban Agriculture, is to spread awareness of local quality gardening, farming, food production, mass extinctions and sustainability in the city of Akron. As a part of this goal, they hope to raise the standard of quality of food options in Akron public schools as well as the University of Akron. For that reason their Community Supported Agriculture program will activate and motivate local food web networks and neighboring schools. To achieve these goals, they have already started a community garden at the University of Akron main campus and are raising funds with the goal of implementing a seasonal extension of food cultivation through methods such as a solar greenhouse or high tunnel (hoop house).
Holt said they see the local production of quality healthy food as a means to address current issues ranging from air pollution, food shortages, homelessness, non nutritious foods, waste management and unemployment.
He shared that having an urban farm like AUA will increase pollinators and unity in Akron. They are also constructing green building structures monthly with local urban farmers and gardeners in Ohio.
Currently he is working on a congressional project called the Akron/Cleveland High Tunnel Seasonal initiative that started in 2012. Representative Marcia Fudge (District) 11 has consistently supported the vision of this initiative in district 11. Her offices in Ohio and Washington, DC have been essential for the success of this project. He has also been working with the USDA for the past four years on agriculture, construction, conservation, education, safety, and sustainability in Akron.
He said "the main things in my specialty to offer Akron Urban Farms are agriculture, conservation, construction, education, design, farming, marketing, photography, project management and safety." Awareness and advocacy is part of our primary pillars for building a better community that focuses more on farming, gardening, supply chains and sustainable practices in rural or urban environments.
Rotary 2022 International Convention to be held in HoustonThe event will bring more than 20,000 participants from around the world and deliver $30 million in local economic
Rotary has a remarkable record when it comes to health initiatives. Now the global pandemic has brought attention to another aspect of health that is often overlooked: mental health.
Julie Dockrill, recipient of Rotary’s People of Action: Champions of Health, led a team of midwives in training health care professionals as part of a comprehensive well-being program that’s saving mothers and babies.
Aimee Wade was inducted into the Rotary Club of Akron on July 20, 2021. She was sponsored by Julie Brandle who said "Aimee has a heart to do good for others."
