Michael Wilson wears so many hats, he should consider wearing a cape.  

Wilson is, after all, a self-appointed Superman, helping youth in his North Hill neighborhood prepare for success.

He had to. They needed him. 

Wilson first witnessed unruly student behavior as a substitute teacher at a Cleveland charter school. Meanwhile, he was saddened by violence in his own neighborhood.

So he launched Operation Sign Language in his neighborhood in May 2021. Signs attest to arts integration with passionate messages delivered with few words:

“LOVE” 

“Self Love”

“Kindness”

They’re found on boards painted in a variety of colors decorating areas from Suddieth Park to neighboring streets.

“Kids need to hear positive messages,” Wilson, 53, said. “It sounds basic, but I think they’re not getting it anywhere else.”

Akron in 330

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.

Wilson also created events and activities to prepare young people for job readiness by addressing etiquette, work ethic and punctuality, skills that are vital  for the workplace. For example, local youth can earn $10 an hour picking up street litter. They also help elders with small acts of kindness: taking trash to curbsides, shoveling snow, mowing lawns.

“It’s nice to be important,” Wilson said, “but it’s more important to be nice.” 

Why is he doing it? Wilson wants neighborhood youngsters to understand what it means to be respectful and responsible citizens.

Wilson, who graduated from the University of Akron with a degree in English, credits his North Hill commitment to his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi (Beta Beta chapter). The organization’s code and creed is to value and uplift their communities.

Michael Wilson is responsible for signs like this one around Akron's North Hill neighborhood.
Michael Wilson is responsible for signs like this one around Akron’s North Hill neighborhood. Why? He says the area needed more positive messages for youth. (Patricia Sheehan / Signal Akron)
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Even Superman practices what he preaches, so this hero plans to earn a master’s degree in special education so he can broaden his teaching, reaching and preaching.

He sees so much potential in North Hill and its people. And he wants others to see it too. 

“I wish we had stores over there,” Wilson said. “We need economic activity. Need a community center, capital investment in our community. Diverse businesses, more recreational stuff.”

Patricia Sheahan is a professor, student teacher supervisor, installation artist, educational consultant for the integration of the arts across all disciplines and a freelance writer. Sheahan enjoys more than four decades of education experience at K-12 schools in New York and Pennsylvania and higher education at Seton Hill University, the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, Penn State and most recently the University of Akron. Her favorite courses to teach are Social Justice Through the Arts, Ethics, Introduction to Critical Education, Classroom Management and Integrating the Arts K-12. Interests include visiting the Akron Art Museum, Akron Library, Civic Theatre, walking downtown to view murals and window light installations plus the stunning flower and plant arrangements, antiquing, especially from her own vendor space at The Brothers North Antiques in Medina. She also frequents Akron restaurants and local boutiques, travels and spends time with her family; a daughter and her newly blended family in North Canton, a son and his family in San Diego and a son in Dallas.