“Everyone has value.”
Seeing the worth in people is how West Akron resident Leah Holden connects to her beliefs as a Quaker. The religious group’s principles — simplicity, integrity, equality, community and peace — are anchoring ideals for Holden.
Holden spent much of her adult life in Southeast Ohio working in advocacy and services for disabled people. So when the Akron native and 1964 Buchtel Community Learning Center graduate moved back to the city in 2013 as a newly retired person, she wanted to find more ways to contribute to her community.
Holden found herself drawn to volunteer work at Buchtel — she ran copies and helped tidy classrooms before she eventually helped develop projects for social studies courses and assisted with French classes. She volunteered at The Nightlight during its inception and campaigned door-to-door for Democratic candidates.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Holden did not feel safe going out, so she turned to virtual NAACP committee meetings and joined a movement to abolish the death penalty in Ohio, which she said is consistent with her Quaker roots.
While the law did not make it through the Ohio Legislature, Holden remains optimistic about advocacy, especially on a local level.
“Hope is really about doing things that are meaningful, doing things that are right for the time,” Holden said. “And so whether we succeed or not, it’s important to do these things.”
Whether she’s attending a neighborhood block club cook-off, participating in a weekly French language conversation group or speaking at a Citizens’ Police Oversight Board meeting, Holden finds strength in organizing people.
The jewel of Akron is its people. They’re vibrant and resilient. Flawed, yet thoughtful and nurturing. And all of them come with compelling stories. That’s why we launched “Akron in 330.” This series offers a glimpse into everyday folks’ journeys across our many neighborhoods — 330 words at a time. Know someone we should consider? Tell us here.
The work is not about her, she said – it’s about people doing amazing things together.
“It really changes, I think, how you feel about your own life, to see that it’s connected to other people around you,” Holden said.
Her advice: No matter what you’re interested in, there’s a way to connect and contribute. Even something very small makes a difference. Even if you only have a little bit of time.
