Stories

  • Growing Together: the story of ballfields converted for agriculture

    By Alexandra Golden When you drive into Akron Cooperative Farms, an old concession stand converted into a storage facility for seeds and supplies greets you. “Growing Together” can be read on the facility in big green letters. To the left and right are old t-ball fields turned into plots of land for farming and hoop…

    Growing Together: the story of ballfields converted for agriculture

  • The Himalayan Arts, Language and Cultural Academy puts the fun in fundraiser

    By Brianna Phillips The Himalayan Arts, Language and Culture Academy officially opened in 2016. Its founder, Puspa Gajmer, a refugee from Bhutan, has been in the United States for roughly 13 years. Due to the Bhutan government targeting Lhotshampas, Nepali-speaking Hindus, they were forced out of their homes and country. Many were either homeless or…


  • The greatest climb: from Nepal to Akron 

    By Nathalia Teixeira Sagarmatha means Mount Everest in Nepali. Mez Baniya, a refugee from Nepal and the owner of Sagarmatha Grocery and Clothing Store, gave his store this name so it would grow as large as the tallest mountain on Earth.  His passion while selling food from different cultures and Nepali dresses makes the store…


  • Immigrants, refugees are part of North Hill’s past, present

    By Kaitlyn Finchler As a city established in 1825, Akron’s earliest residents were Irish and German immigrants. Fast forward to the 1860s reconstruction era, immigrants made up 14% of Ohio’s population. Twenty years later, immigrants came from countries such as Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Italy. Akron was a hot commodity for immigrants because the city…

    Immigrants, refugees are part of North Hill’s past, present

  • How four grocery stores serve their communities

    By Kaitlyn Murray Sagarmatha Grocery and Clothing, 787 North Main Street  Walking down Main Street in North Hill, you will pass at least four grocery stores. They sell different foods from all over the world, giving the many refugees that relocated there a little taste of home. As I walked into Sagarmatha Grocery and Clothing…


  • “Royal Palace” origins and the story of entrepreneurs who opened doors for their community

    By Mason Jones Within North Hill, there are several grocery stores and restaurants owned and operated by immigrants and refugees, such as the Royal Palace located on East Tallmadge Avenue in Akron. Before it was the Royal Palace, it was called the Italian Center, until the building was bought out by Nepali immigrants Janga Baraily…


  • North Hill library acts as hub of services for those new to U.S.

    By Jenna Bal When Maurice moved from Mexico to the North Hill area of Akron about one year ago, he felt like he was starting a new life.  “It’s all different,” Maurice said, “country, language. It’s another life completely.”  Maurice, referred to only by his first name for privacy, moved to North Hill when his…

    North Hill library acts as hub of services for those new to U.S.

  • Girls’ Studio uplifts and inspires young women in Akron community.

    By Cassidy Gladieux Once a week, girls from the Jennings Community Learning Center school in Akron race to Gum Dip Theatre in North Hill to participate in Girls’ Studio, an after-school theater program.  The Girls’ Studio, for ages 11-14, originally began in 2017 when Katie Beck worked with South Street Ministries, who had their own…

    Girls’ Studio uplifts and inspires young women in Akron community.

  • A history of immigration in Akron


  • Addressing mental health challenges refugee children face

    By Brianna Canada Refugee children not only help to shape their community by helping their parents adapt to American culture, but they also educate non-refugee children and teens about refugee cultures and countries.  School, friends, and being social can be stressful on any child. Refugee children experience a unique set of circumstances that add to…