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Committee backs Youth Success Summit contract to expand out‑of‑school programming
Summary
Akron's Parks & Recreation Committee recommended consent approval of Ordinance 30 to authorize a no‑bid contract with Youth Success Summit to coordinate afterschool and summer programs, expand summer work opportunities and pilot a Wallace Foundation project in the east cluster.
The Parks & Recreation Committee on July 1 recommended consent approval of Ordinance 30, authorizing the mayor or his designate to contract with Youth Success Summit (YSS) to expand out‑of‑school programs and technical assistance for Akron youth.
Deno Buckley of the mayor’s office introduced the request and framed it as part of the city’s VIP strategic plan, a 2023 initiative aiming to reduce youth violence by 2028. YSS Executive Director Rachel Tekka told the committee YSS plays three roles: training and technical assistance for afterschool providers, connecting families to programs, and systems building to coordinate the network. Tekka said the YSS network now includes roughly 130 providers and highlighted the Summer‑for‑All effort, which recorded about 6,800 youth in 2024 and 8,400 in 2025 and is projected to grow again.
Tekka described program priorities—mentorship, recreation, workforce development and mental‑health supports—and explained a stipend model that pays providers for submitting participation data and completing program‑quality measures. The presentation also noted a Wallace Foundation selection: Akron is one of seven cities receiving multi‑year support to pilot a program targeting 6th–9th graders in an east‑cluster zone, with planning and pilot activity slated for 2027 and multi‑year rollout thereafter.
Two youth summer interns who spoke at the meeting described paid work experiences and civic engagement opportunities available through city programs. Council members praised the program and interns, asked about wait lists and placement strategies, and were told YSS works to redirect kids into high‑interest alternatives to avoid long waits.
Madam Chair put the ordinance on the consent calendar; the committee voted in favor by voice vote.
The ordinance authorizes the mayor to enter contracts (without formal advertising) to support YSS’s operations and programming coordination. Next steps: the item is on the council consent agenda for final approval and the administration said it will return with updates on the Wallace Foundation pilot and summer participation statistics as the city moves from planning to implementation.
