Students at Innes Community Learning Center saw themselves as changemakers, putting forth an idea that would restore Prentiss Park and allow it to once again serve as a community gathering space. Then on Thursday, they won $4,000 toward that goal, taking the top award at a district-wide summit held as part of the inaugural Changemaker Challenge program. 

“We did it for our community,” said Gage White, an eighth grader who helped present the group’s idea. “I’m just happy.”

The funds, provided by the Akron Community Foundation, will help students return the neglected park, located in Kenmore, to its full potential. The students plan to partner with Keep Akron Beautiful to clean up graffiti and plant wildflowers, replacing prickly bushes. They also want to resurface and repaint the park’s basketball court, add an air pump, backboards and a water fountain and build benches and an accessible swing set.

Students from nine schools participated in the Changemaker Challenge, which was intended to help eighth graders develop agency in identifying and solving problems in their community. Each of the groups received at least $500, distributed after teams made presentations regarding their ideas and what the money would fund.

The money was distributed not by who had the best presentation, but by which projects most needed the dollars to have an impact.

The students were lauded by members of the Akron Community Foundation for their empathy and leadership. Rob Lansdale, an adventure curator with TomTod Ideas, told students that each of them were winners, bringing strong ideas to the community.

“When you work with amazing kids,” Innes Academy Coach Justin Plas said, “you get amazing product.”

“We did it,” said eighth grader Stephawn Bradley-Muhammad, putting his arms over Plas’ shoulders.

Student in Akron Public Schools.
Annica Humphrey from East CLC answers questions about her team’s project, “Beautification Club,” at the Changemaker Challenge Summit Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Akron Public Schools’ administration building in downtown Akron. (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)

Transforming Prentiss Park in Akron

Ariana Wilin, a program manager with the Akron Parks Collaborative, said she was “so excited” by the decision of a voting panel to fully fund the Prentiss Park project. The park is also being considered for the Akron Parks Challenge, where $150,000 is on the line.

Lavynder Richardson, who participated in the park project, said she was proud and relieved that the group’s idea was well received. She told Signal Akron previously that working on the proposal made her feel like a leader.

Her classmate, Makayla Bittner, said she felt great about the group’s success. Her mother told her stories about the experiences she had had at Prentiss Park and how much of a community hub it had once been.

“I’m very happy that we won,” Makayla said. “We’re going to be able to have festivals again.”

Plas said participating in the program helped students feel more connected to their community and showed them Akron through a different lens. Marcie Ebright, Akron Public Schools’ director of College and Career Academies, praised students for their thoughtful ideas on important issues.

“It is the action that makes change,” Ebright said.

Akron Public Schools student presents project.
Neveah Garrett from Buchtel CLC discusses the pieces to her team’s “Defense Against the Elements” project at the Changemaker Challenge Summit Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Akron Public Schools’ administration building in downtown Akron. (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)

Student champions of change in APS

Here are the Changemaker Challenge projects and how much funding they will receive.

Winning $4,000:

  • Innes CLC — Revive Prentiss Park, cleaning up the park and making it more useful: Stephawn Bradley-Muhammad, Kar’lya Delaney, Brice Bronner, Jayd Foxworth, Ahnyis Billingsley, Giovonni Bolden, Khyre’anna Louie, Lavynder Richardson, Gage White, Makayla Bittner
NIHF STEM Middle School students in Akron.
Marcie Ebright, the director of college and career academies for Akron Public Schools, visits the table of NIHF STEM Middle School to learn more about its project, “Clean to Win,” at the Changemaker Challenge Summit Thursday, May, 16, 2024. (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)

Winning $1,000:

  • Hyre CLC — From the Eyes of the Bullied, book project: Rebecca Barker, Dezaraee Inman, Carmen Huston, Joseph Golden, Mar’rihanna Stewart, Antonique Wilson
  • I Promise School — Cops on the Court, building better relationships with police officers: Francine Bwija, Aaron Hershey, Raegan Johnson, Scout McConnell, Christan Nurse, Eyric Odom, King Rollin, Amaris Scott, D’Amore Scott
  • East CLC — Beautification Club, encouraging cleaning and beautifying the school: Annica Humphrey, Bianca Shields, Kae’Mijah Rackley, Kayci Combs, Emily Bell, Anastasiya Bentley
  • Litchfield CLC — Fresh Era, making toiletry bags available for students: Jonathon Ketchens, Kayla Henderson, Peyton White, Evan Brown, Vivian Rangel-Rojas, Jada Rodgers
Jonathan Ketchens from the Litchfield Community Learning Center in Akron.
Jonathan Ketchens from Litchfield CLC holds a hygiene bag of products his team plans to create as part of its “Fresh Era” project at the Changemaker Challenge Summit Thursday, May 16, 2024. The competition was held at the Akron Public Schools’ administration building in downtown Akron. (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)

Winning $500:

  • STEM Middle School — Clean to Win, app promoting cleanup at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Thoimon Rajmon, Leah Robitaille, Anthony Cucuzza, Kenneth Sidoti, Seth Volkert
  • Buchtel CLC — Defense Against the Elements, loaning tents to the homeless: Michael Bell, Carter Wilson, Nevaeh Garrett
  • Miller South School — Grandparent Friends, matching young volunteers with residents of senior care facilities who share their interests: Chloe’ Sommerville, Estella Flynn, Bella Smith, Brooklyn Jones
  • Jennings CLC — We Care, providing support to people aging out of foster care: Alex McKee

Correction: Kae’Mijah Rackley’s name was spelled incorrectly in an earlier version of this story.

Economics of Akron Reporter (she/her)
Arielle is a Northeast Ohio native with more than 20 years of reporting experience in Cleveland, Atlanta and Detroit. She joined Signal Akron as its founding education reporter, where she covered Akron Public Schools and the University of Akron.
As the economics of Akron reporter, Arielle will cover topics including housing, economic development and job availability. Through her reporting, she aims to help Akron residents understand the economic issues that are affecting their ability to live full lives in the city, and highlight information that can help residents make decisions. Arielle values diverse voices in her reporting and seeks to write about under-covered issues and groups.