Akron in Action

In this episode of Akron in Action, host Alexis King sits down with Casey Shevlin, the City of Akron’s Director of Sustainability and Resiliency, to explore how sustainability connects directly to residents’ everyday lives. Casey shares how she defines sustainability, why the newly created Office of Sustainability and Resiliency matters, and what it’s like to run the entire operation as a one‑person team.Together, they discuss the hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant funding Casey has brought into Akron, the ambitious Climate Action Plan she’s working to develop, and the initiatives already underway—from expanding Akron’s tree canopy to building a more resilient future for every neighborhood.If you’re curious about how sustainability shapes the quality of life in Akron, this episode offers an inside look at the work happening every day to make our city healthier, stronger, and ready for the future.Sustainability is part of the Living Together Pillar of Mayor Malik's Together for Akron plan. You can read the full plan at AkronOhio.Gov/TogetherForAkron.Follow us on Facebook (@AkronOhio) or Instagram (@AkronMayorMalik) to see updates on what else we're working on!

How can we make it easier for Akronites to live, build, and stay here in our city? Hear from Director of Planning Kyle Julien and Director of Opportunity and Engagement Esther Thomas about the work of the Planning Department and our new Right to Counsel pilot program. Plus, Kyle, Esther, and Alexis dig into what it means to be a good neighbor and the power of vibrant neighborhoods. Learn more about the Planning and Urban Development Department here: https://bit.ly/3PlezAxLearn more about the Right to Counsel Pilot Program here: https://bit.ly/3HQMpJVLearn more about the "Made in Akron" Housing Plans: https://bit.ly/4cHcdFX and https://bit.ly/4a9WfkxHousing is part of our Living Together pillar for the Together for Akron plan. You can read the full plan at AkronOhio.Gov/TogetherForAkron. Follow us on Facebook (@AkronOhio) or Instagram (@AkronMayorMalik) to see updates on what else we're working on!

One of our administration's bold goals is to strengthen our community's Early Childhood Systems by working with early childhood experts and civic leaders to develop a Unified Early Learning System. We kicked off Phase 1 is September, and we're excited to move into Phase 2! Hear from Mayor Malik and Education and Health Strategist Richelle Wardell as they break down what the Unified Early Learning System is, it's ultimate goals, and how we're keeping this a provider-led process. Learn more about Phase One here: https://bit.ly/4aI6YD6 and the U.S. Conference of Mayors DollarWise Innovation Grant here: https://bit.ly/471Caw2The Unified Early Learning System is part of Mayor Malik's Together for Akron Plan, which you can read in its entirety at AkronOhio.Gov/TogetherForAkron. Follow us on Facebook (@AkronOhio) or Instagram (@AkronMayorMalik) to see updates on what else we're working on!

How does the Akron Police Department engage with our community? What's a "Community Engagement and Crime Prevention Plan?" Get the answer to these questions and more in this month's episode of Akron in Action. Alexis King discusses APD's robust Community Engagement plan, how APD is intentionally interacting with our community, and why this work matters with Deputy Chief Michael Miller and Sergeant Damber Subba.You can read the full Community Engagement and Crime Prevention Plan here: https://bit.ly/4akRx4NTo contact our Community Relations Unit, please call (330) 375-2390. To reach our Community Engagement Team, please call (330) 375-2568. You can also email Sgt. Subba directly at [email protected]. Interested in joining the next round of recruits for the Akron Police Academy? Learn more at JoinAkronPolice.Com, or reach out to Sgt. Subba for more information. The Community Engagement and Crime Prevention Plan is part of the Safer Together pillar of Mayor Malik's Together for Akron Plan. You can read the plan in its entirety at AkronOhio.Gov/TogetherForAkron. Follow us on Facebook (@AkronOhio) or Instagram (@AkronMayorMalik) to see updates on what we're working on!

As we hit the halfway point of his first term as the mayor of Akron, Mayor Shammas Malik and host Alexis King look back on the accomplishments of our administration in 2025. Many of these accomplishments were part of Mayor Malik's Together for Akron plan, which you can read in full at akronohio.gov/togtherforakron. Follow us on Facebook (@AkronOhio) or Instagram (@AkronMayorMalik)

As we approach the one-year anniversary of the reopening of Lock 3 after a $17M renovation, Alexis King sits down with Downtown Operations Manager Chris Griffith and President of Downtown Akron Partnership Kimberly Beckett to talk about the improvements to the park, recent development Downtown, and more. To learn more about the events at Lock 3, visit www.lock3live.com. For the full Winterblast schedule, including information for the 2025 Welcome Santa Parade, click here:https://cms2.revize.com/revize/akronoh/news_detail_T17_R372.php To learn more about Downtown Akron Partnership, visit www.downtownakron.com. To read Mayor Malik's full Together for Akron plan, visit www.akronohio.gov/togetherforakron. 

The Akron Fire Department fights fires--it's in the name! But what else does the department do when they aren't out answering a fire-related call? Host Alexis King chatted with the Akron Fire Department's Chief Leon Henderson and Captain Dan Garrett to learn more. Some of their answers might surprise you! To contact the Akron Fire Department for CPR training, Stop the Bleed Training, or other fire prevention education, please call (330) 375-2481. To contact AFD for business site safety inspections or to get free smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, please email [email protected] or call (330) 375-2211. To contact AFD for the REACH program's services, email [email protected] or call (330) 812-7590. You can also learn more about the REACH program here:https://www.akronohio.gov/departments/fire/reach.phpInterested in becoming a firefighter/paramedic? Join the AFD team! Learn more here:https://www.akronohio.gov/departments/fire/become_a_firefighter.phpRead Mayor Malik's full Together for Akron plan here: www.akronohio.gov/togetherforakron 

This month, the City's Digital Media Manager Alexis King sits down with our Environmental Services Manager Emily Collins and Service Director Chris Ludle to talk about the Akron Waterways Renewed program and the recent announcement from the city about a proposed modest, phased increase of sewer rates for Akron sewer customers. Read the full Together for Akron plan here: https://www.akronohio.gov/togetherforakronLearn more about the proposed sewer rate increases here: https://www.akronohio.gov/news_detail_T17_R343.phpSee if you're eligible or apply for our Water and Sewer Bill Assistance Program: https://www.akronohio.gov/sewerassistFollow us on Facebook (@AkronOhio) or Instagram (@AkronMayorMalik)

Join the City's Digital Media Manager Alexis King as she chats with Akron Mayor Shammas Malik and City of Akron's Youth Opportunity Strategist Denico Buckley-Knight about student success and youth opportunity in Akron, which is one of the objectives under Mayor Malik's "Growing Together" pillar for the Together for Akron plan.Read the full Together for Akron plan here: Together for AkronLearn more about Akron City Festival here: 3rd Annual Akron City Festival on Sunday, August 31stFollow us on Facebook (@AkronOhio) or Instagram (@AkronMayorMalik)Contact Denico Buckley-Knight at (330) 217-9647 or [email protected]. Contact Mayor Malik at (330) 375-2345 or [email protected].