As Rachel Ward takes over the reins as president of Omega Community Corporation (Omega CDC) this year, she aims to deepen the work in Northwest Dayton. Under her helm, Omega CDC provides crucial cradle to career support in 17 neighborhoods in the Hope Zone and continues efforts to break down systemic barriers in what they refer to as the four primary pillars: education, economic stability, […]
The Neighborhood as Systems Toolkit, created after years of research by teams at Cincinnati Children’s and Design Impact, empowers residents to catalyze solutions for a thriving community. And it’s Free!
For the individual, research shows that the arts can boost memory, decrease depression and foster creativity. For a community, it can improve the quality of life and benefit the economy. Despite finances drying up both nationally and locally, cities and counties are figuring out how to ramp up the arts because they see the benefits are increasingly worth it. Arts for All The sold-out Montgomery County “Arts for All” inaugural arts forum on April 13, “brought together a diverse group of attendees to explore how […]
Just across the river in the heart of West Dayton, Chris Voltz and his wife Grace live in the historical neighborhood of Wright-Dunbar Village. They own a blue two–story home with a large yard for their four children to play in, and Voltz says it’s a great place for their family. Their surroundings are steeped in history. Their neighborhood aptly named after historical giants who […]
Brick by Brick’s first in-person community conversation and Q&A event focused on Dayton neighborhood solutions, but the issues and lessons resonate for cities across the region. We turned it into a special podcast so that we can all learn from each other.
A group of neighbors and business owners in the South Park area of Dayton are concerned about a half mile stretch of Wayne Avenue, which they say is extremely dangerous for pedestrians. Numerous traffic accidents, including the tragic death of 44-year-old resident Jennifer Johnson, who was struck and killed by a speeding vehicle in 2022 while waiting for a bus, prompted the coalition to come […]
It was the spring of 2024 when Brick by Brick began reporting on solutions that could potentially increase the housing supply and make it more affordable. 32 episodes later we look back at how well some of those ideas are working, and what’s in store for season two.
Leading a bold new plan to address the need for stable, affordable housing for the homeless, Debbie Watts Robinson, CEO of the Miami Valley Housing Opportunities (MVHO), is working to build a tiny home community called Beacon Place Village in northeast Dayton. Robinson sees this as a cost-effective way to be able to provide housing, not just for the homeless but for others too. […]
For many, owning a home gives a sense of accomplishment, stability and rootedness in a neighborhood but it also comes with a lot of responsibility for upkeep and maintenance. Inflation coupled with high demand for contractors has driven up construction costs and for those with low to moderate incomes, home repairs can seem unattainable. And yet if left unaddressed, it can lead to larger and […]
“Children are 20 percent of our population, but 100 percent of our future,” says Dayton Mayor Jeffrey Mims. Brick by Brick sat down with several Dayton teens to hear their thoughts on their neighborhoods and communities. A few consistent desires were cleaner neighborhoods, better maintained parks, and more activities to help youth learn and grow. What Teens Want for Their Neighborhoods Rick Kuhbander, […]
