In Summit County, ideas don’t stay in classrooms, they come to life in our neighborhoods, our public spaces, and the way we shape community together. That’s exactly what’s happening through The University of Akron’s [Un]class program, an experience rooted in real-world learning and local impact.

And this story, in many ways, starts with a room full of people at the Creative Placemaking Conference, hosted by ArtsNow and the Summit County Land Bank.

By bringing together artists, civic leaders, educators, and community builders, the conference created space for new ideas to take hold, ideas that didn’t end when the event did, but instead carried forward into classrooms, partnerships, and projects across Akron. 

Photo Credit: Tim Fitzwater

What followed is a powerful example of what can happen when we invest in connection, creativity, and place—and trust that the people closest to a community are the ones best equipped to shape it.