Driving over the ford in Sand Run Metro Park was always a highlight of our family trips to Akron to visit my grandparents.

As I got older, I’d come to Akron on my own, stopping at Szalay’s for corn, Angel Falls Coffee Co. for a Volcan Negro or by Vegiterranean (RIP) for a butternut squash pizza I still dream about.

I’ve been reporting for 20 years in Cleveland, Atlanta and Detroit, and it’s been an honor to join Signal Akron, where I write about the workings of Akron’s education system in our community-focused newsroom. 

As I cover the Akron Public Schools, the University of Akron and other educational institutions, I aim to serve as a community watchdog, highlight innovative work in the schools, and tell stories that help inform residents’ understanding of the critical work educators are doing — and what roadblocks they face in doing it.

You deserve to know the facts because education in Akron affects all residents. Your tax dollars go to paying for Akron Public Schools, your future employees are graduates of the district and your children are learning in its classrooms. If the school district works better, the city works better.

The money we raise during our spring campaign will allow us to tell more stories and set us up for success for the remainder of 2024 and beyond. So far, we’ve raised $2,440 of our $5,000 goal. A monthly donation will count x12 toward that goal! You can also make a one-time gift. 

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Support education reporting that makes our community a better place to live.

We’re building something great here at Signal Akron, and we’re just getting started. I hope you’ll join me in this opportunity to make a real difference in our community. 

Your support will allow us to keep telling stories that will help us to become a go-to news source in Akron.

I promise we’ll make you proud of your investment.

Arielle

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.