May 15 Ward 5 meeting
Covered by Documenter Melanie Mohler(see her notes here)
Shontay Dawley and her husband are experiencing first-hand the challenges that come with raising grandchildren.
The West Akron couple have been the primary caregivers for their three youngest grandchildren — Dylante, 10, and twins Taylor and Taymere, 9 — since 2019. They quickly realized how isolating and overwhelming raising them could be.
“I was suddenly navigating school systems, mental health needs, financial strain and emotional stress … all while still working full-time,” Dawley said via email.
Dawley often says that she didn’t plan this chapter of her life, but she’s committed to making it count.
“I saw grandparents, especially grandmothers, quietly stepping in to raise the next generation. Many of us had already raised our own children, and now, out of love and responsibility, we were being called to do it all over again. But we weren’t being seen. We weren’t being supported. And in many cases, we weren’t even being asked how we were holding up,” Dawley said.
Dawley found very few programs or resources in Akron tailored specifically to grandparents raising their grandchildren. So she decided to do something about it.
New grandparents’ support group helps strengthen and support caregivers
Earlier this year, Dawley and her husband started By His Grace Grandparents Community, a faith-based support group for caregivers like Dawley. Group participants receive support as they navigate the ups and downs of raising children a second time around.
“I named it By His Grace because, truthfully, that’s the only way I’ve been able to do this — by the grace of God. His strength has carried me when mine ran out,” Dawley said.
Grandparents raising their grandkids is a form of kinship care, which is when relatives or adults with whom a child has a family-like relationship is the child’s full-time caregiver.
A third of grandparents live with grandkids
U.S. Census data from 2021 shows that nearly 33% of grandparents living with their grandchildren under the age of 18 were responsible for their care. In Ohio, the percentage was higher, at nearly 43%. Although the exact percentage is not disclosed in the report, Summit County is shown on a map on page eight of the U.S. Census report as having a higher percentage than the national rate.
Monthly meetings open to all
By His Grace held its first meeting in March at the Maple Valley Branch Library in West Akron.
Every meeting begins with a prayer and a recap of the topics covered during the previous meeting. Dawley explained that the monthly meetings do not have a set agenda; attendees can discuss whatever’s on their minds and seek insight into the various struggles that can arise when raising grandchildren.
By His Grace currently meets the last Thursday of the month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Maple Valley Branch Library, 1187 Copley Road. Beginning in July, the group will meet at Prince of Peace Baptist Church, 844 Garth Ave. in West Akron.
Those interested in joining a meeting or exploring an opportunity to partner with By His Grace Grandparents Community can contact Dawley at dawleymrs0123@gmail.com or 330-351-7949.
Attendees sign a nondisclosure agreement before the meeting starts since sensitive information may be shared during the meeting, Dawley said.
By His Grace is still a relatively new group, but Dawley said she’s grateful that several opportunities appeared after Council Member Johnnie Hannah invited her to share information about the support group at his Ward 5 meeting in May.
One of the connections Dawley made at the ward meeting will allow the support group to move its monthly meeting from the library to Prince of Peace Baptist Church in West Akron beginning in July.
Dawley said she is hoping to expand By His Grace and establish another support group on Akron’s east side. She is also working to develop a suite of other wraparound resources designed specifically with grandparents and their grandchildren in mind.
Other resources include tutoring services, respite care, an emergency food pantry, a dignity closet (where grandparents can choose gently used clothing and hygiene items), and at-home care kits.
Creating opportunities for joy for Akron grandparents
Dawley also wants to create opportunities for joy, such as Grandparents’ Night Out, which lets grandparent caregivers relax, have fun and enjoy time as a person, rather than just as a grandparent.
With all of these initiatives combined, Dawley said that she hopes her new group “will continue to build a network of resources — not in competition, but in the spirit of community. The need is too great for any of us to do this alone.”
By His Grace will soon have a website that will include a donation platform and public wish list to help support grandparents raising their grandchildren. The group is also looking for investors, strategic partners and community sponsorships.
Dawley knows that By His Grace can’t fix all of the challenges that can arise from kinship care, but she knows that the support group can offer something — even if it’s just a space for community and understanding.
“… Even a village needs a village,” she said.