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On the Set – Film in the Making at the Mustard Seed Home

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Written by CultureMASH Staff:  Shana Douglas, Natasha Baker, Valerie Beerbower

CultureMASH, an organization launched late last year is a group of young professionals in the Dayton region who have united to use their professional talents and expertise to give something back to the community. They set out on this mission after seeing the astounding impact social media can have in creating awareness and building community. Though technical aspects apply when building a campaign driven for results, the basic fundamentals of branding still apply. The success of any mission relies on awareness and the key factor in enhancing that awareness is reaching your audience through all mediums as well as connecting people emotionally to the cause.  

In only a few months, the vision of Shana Douglas and Carla Weis Hale has rapidly unfolded through a multitude of projects including The Mustard Seed Home, the groups first official pro bono marketing campaign.  Earlier this year, the CultureMASH team uncovered some alarming and disheartening statistics about teenage pregnancy, generational cycles and economic distress directly related to young mothers both regionally and nationwide. In working with The Mustard Seed Home and seeing the impact this home could have, the team decided the only way, the best way to capture the remarkable work being done to empower young women and stop the cycle was to film a mini documentary.  Filming of this production is made possible thanks to the talents of CultureMASH staff members, Sean Coffman, Cindy DeVelvis, Melissa Cales, Valerie Beerbower and Executive Producers Shana Douglas and Carla Weis Hale.

The Mustard Seed Home

Every day, social services help thousands of Dayton-area individuals seeking assistance to feed their families, make ends meet, or shelter themselves from the cold. But not everyone gets the help they need.

While thousands of people are getting assistance, teenage mothers are falling through societal cracks. Too young to be adults, too old to be children, these young women have been stranded by social workers whose hands have been bound by bureaucracy. Their options are grim–homelessness, hunger, a life of uncertainly for themselves and their babies. Often, these unskilled, high-school drop-outs turn to unseemly sources of income–crime, drugs, prostitution.

For children raised in such an environment, this lifestyle is the norm. Those children then grow up to become participants in this terrible cycle, another generation of youth quitting school too early, becoming parents too early, and losing hope too early. But there is a way out of this cycle.

The Facts

The Mustard Seed Foundation, Inc. (TMSF), a nonprofit organization founded in 2007, is on a mission to fill those societal gaps through which these young women fall. The organization, created by Shondale Atkinson, empowers teen mothers and their children to achieve their highest potential. “The main goal of TMSF is to provide young women ages 13-21 with transitional housing and supportive services,” Atkinson explains.

Shondale Atkinson - Founder, The Mustard Seed Home -Photo Taken By Melissa Cales

TMSF accepts teen mothers who are in state or county custody or have been referred by other service agencies, and the need in this county is critical. In Montgomery County, teen pregnancy and child abuse and neglect among teens living below the poverty level continues to be an unchanging issue.

The area needs programs that offer teen mothers an opportunity to rebuild their lives. “We are the only residential parent facility in the state of Ohio,” Atkinson says. “Right after we became licensed, we had 33 referrals come through our doors. My goal is to empower young parents to take control over their lives and the lives of their child.”

A Personal Connection

Atkinson knows what it’s like to feel as if the rest of the world has turned its back on you. A child to a young mother and product of social services, she eventually became a teen mom herself.

“I was born into foster care. My mother had four other children removed by social services already. My siblings and I were constantly shuffled around between foster homes and the care of my mother, who would get clean from time to time and petition to reunite with her children. Even if we were in a good foster home that was stable, we had to leave when our mother wanted to have us home.”

Eventually, Atkinson’s mother would relapse, and she and her siblings would be put back into foster care. “The social worker was more of an advocate for my mother than for us kids. I didn’t have an advocate. I didn’t have someone to show me what my options were and help me make the best choice for me, and that’s got to change,” Atkinson says. She later became pregnant when she was 17 and, without a stable home or alternative housing options, she was separated from her child in the foster care system.

Meeting the Need

Atkinson knew that in order to make a positive change in the lives of these young urban women, she needed to take action. “Children who grow up in the system do the best they can; you just grow up,” she says. “My siblings and I were eligible for a lot of services that we simply didn’t know about. That’s one of the main reasons why I founded TMSF. I never realized I had a say in what kind of home my child could be placed. We want to educate these young parents on their options.”

Services offered through TMSF are necessary to supplement the social services gaps for these young mothers. “If young lady is homeless and a mother at age 13, she cannot go to St. Vincent, she cannot go to the YWCA because she will be separated from her baby.” Atkinson explains. “These girls are too young to access adult services, but too old to take advantage of children’s services.”

TMSF fills that gap by preventing homelessness among teenage mothers, preventing repeat pregnancies and completing education goals, whether that’s obtaining a high school diploma or going on to post-secondary education.

Often, young mothers who want to keep their children and raise them in a safe and loving home are thwarted by barriers and obstacles. The cost of childcare makes it virtually impossible for uneducated mother with no family support to complete her education or hold down a job. “Our main goal is to break the cycle of poverty for this generation. Everything that teenage mother needs is right under TMSF roof,” Atkinson says.

Residents of TMSF receive opportunities they might not have had through social services–and definitely wouldn’t enjoy living on the streets.

  • Parenting classes
  • Life skills coaching
  • Educational advancement
  • Food and baby supplies
  • Mentoring

TMSF also strives to bring a sense of community and support among its residents.  “They bond and gain a sense of family that they’re never experienced,” Atkinson says. “The girls have to shop for their food as a family and we sit down at a table to eat together.”

Preventative Measures

An equally important function of TMSF is the pregnancy prevention outreach program Atkinson has designed. “It’s like a real-life ‘Teen Mom’ in-service. We want to measure our success in terms of fewer teen pregnancies, eventually breaking that cycle of poverty,” she says.

Currently, TMSF partners with the Boy Scouts, touring schools twice weekly. Focused on abstinence, the program is supplemented with self esteem-building dialogue.  “We want these girls to know that they’re worth waiting for love, and they don’t need to give away their bodies to feel appreciated and accepted.”

The Bigger Picture

The plight of these young women might be easy to ignore, but Atkinson can quickly remind those who turn a blind eye that cyclical, generational poverty isn’t just an “urban” problem–it’s everyone’s problem. “Teenage pregnancy carries a high cost in social and economic health for the mother and children,” she says.

Tax dollars provide financial care for the mother and twice over for her baby. With two or three kids in the system, the costs can rise to as much as $8,000 a month.

Because teen moms aren’t ready to give birth, special prenatal care is required. In addition, their babies are more likely to be born premature, have low birth weight and have developmental delays. Teen moms are less likely to complete their education, can’t find or hold down a good job, and that many are required to go on welfare and tax payers continue to shell out more to support them and their babies in the system.”

Nationally, it costs an average of $9 billion annually to care for these families. Education, prevention and support for current teen moms are the best ways keep families strong and keep kids out of the system.

Get Involved

You can be a part of this positive change. TMSF is always in need of baby care items, such as diapers, clothing and food and monetary donations are always appreciated and put to good use.  Just a single $2,500 annual family sponsorship covers everything from bus passes to field trips, diversity training, financial literacy, child care items and more – everything the mothers need for an entire year.

TMSF survives thanks to the incredible work done by its volunteers. “Teenage moms need positive role models; they really need positive women in their lives,” Atkinson says. “
The Mustard Seed Foundation employees have experience working with the teen mother population. Staff members have training and certifications in the areas of: emergency housing, social work, family advocacy, teen conflict resolution, child abuse prevention, crisis counseling, victim advocacy, community health, parenting and teaching.

Shondale Atkinson’s lead-by-example attitude demonstrates what it truly means that all it takes to make a difference in your world is to have faith just the size of a mustard seed and cultivate that into something bigger than yourself.

The Film

Production of the film by CultureMASH is well under way. Both Shondale Atkinson and CultureMASH hope that through this film the home can continue it’s mission by creating more awareness about both the need for TMSF and the positive results in our community such services provide.

Special thanks to Editors: Leah Moon and Elizabeth Willis

CROWNS Hat Show Celebrates 11th Anniversary

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Back by popular demand, the 11th anniversary edition of the “CROWNS Hat Fashion Show” is returning to Books & Company Saturday, February 26, 2011 at The Greene in Beavercreek.  Sharon D. Howard, event founder and producer will emcee this program, a tribute to the African American women’s tradition of wearing extraordinary hats to church services.

Serving as our models will be women from African-American churches from all over the Miami Valley, who will model their own hats.  Be prepared to see gorgeous creations!  You won’t find prettier hats anywhere.  Also participating will be celebrity models from throughout the Dayton area, including Beavercreek Council Member Vicki Giambrone, Trotwood Mayor Joyce Cameron and Montgomery County Commissioners Debbie Lieberman and Judy Dodge.  Guest escorts will be Kettering Mayor Don Patterson and WDTN’s Jim Bucher.

The “CROWNS Hat Fashion Show” will begin promptly at 3:00pm; it is FREE and open to the public.  Arrive early to get the best seats because this is typically a “standing room only” event!  Books & Company at The Greene is located at 4453 Walnut Street.

For more information about the CROWNS Hat Show, call (937) 572-8001 or (937) 429-6302.

Fairy Godmothers wanted!

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Going to the Senior Prom is the highlight of mostly every student’s high school experience, especially for girls.  There is nothing more fun for girlfriends to do then to going shopping for dresses made of chiffon, sequins and rhinestone jewels and then go looking all around town or out of town for the perfect shoes and matching clutch purse.

It is a magical time in every high school girl’s life and one of her most memorable. For one night, she is Cinderella. It is a night that every girl should experience but may not due to financial constraints. Like Cinderella, some girls need a fairy godmother to make this dream come true.

Fairy Godmother Project

Therefore, Clothes That Work, in partnership with the Dayton Chapter of The Links, Inc, is hosting the Fairy Godmother Project.  This project allows women to be a fairy godmother to underprivileged local high school girls by donating new and gently used prom gowns, shoes and accessories for the girls to wear. The goal is to make the girls feel like princesses for this very special occasion!

Be a part of the Fairy Godmother Project! Clothes That Work is accepting donations of dresses, shoes and accessories until March 11, 2011 at the following locations: Clothes That Work (1133 S Edwin C Moses Blvd, Suite 392,  Monday – Friday 9am -3pm), The Oakwood Florist (2313 Far Hills Ave, Dayton, Ohio 45419) and Lutheran Church of Our Savior (155 E Thruston Blvd., Dayton, Ohio 45409).

Clothes That Work

The girls will be fitted for their dresses and shoes while eating cake and drinking punch on March 12, 2011 at the Clothes That Work offices.

Last year’s highlight was hearing from the father of one of the beautiful young girls. As the daughter was packing up her dress the father came over and said:

“Thank you for doing this. I had been going crazy trying to figure out how I was going to afford to send her to the prom and thanks to you I don’t have to worry anymore. Today you have not only made my daughter feel like a princess, but you’ve made me feel like Prince Charming.”

For more information contact: Lacie Sims, Marketing & Events Manager, 937-222-3778 x150, [email protected]

Kelly-Fields is New Updayton Executive Director

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Kelly-Fields Joins Updayton Team

Last week, the advocacy organization dedicated to the attraction and retention of young talent, Updayton, announced the hiring Yvette Kelly-Fields as Executive Director.  This is a big step for the (previously) all-volunteer initiative that grew out of DaytonCREATE and hosts the annual Young Creatives Summit.  (Yvette is also a contributing writer here on DaytonMostMetro.com)

Updayton is grateful for support from numerous businesses and organizations that place high value on young talent retention.  This new position of an Executive Director was made possible by the Southwest Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE).

I used this opportunity to speak to Scott Murphy (one of the original DaytonCREATE catalysts who formed Updayton) and Kelly-Fields.  These Q&As give us a little insight to the group as well as some fun facts from the woman who will be stepping in to help lead the charge.

First – a little background from Scott Murphy:

Murphy Works as Steering Committee Chair

What inspired the creation of Updayton?

There was a model that was presented to us during the DaytonCREATE launch that highlighted a group in Syracuse that had worked to get young people engaged in their city and give them a greater voice in things that were happening in the Syracuse area.  Over the past several years they’ve hosted an annual Summit to do that.  We liked their model, but we really liked the attitude they took with the community: “young people are important, we care about our community too, so you better listen to us.”  But more so, we saw the talent potential here, the economic opportunity that local universities offer, and we saw that too many folks were leaving the region coming out of college.  We were missing an opportunity to grow economically.  That more than anything spurred the development of updayton.

Are the needs of these young creatives really different than the needs of anyone else?

First of all, we focus on a younger demographic because looking at census data from communities across the country, it’s young people that are making the decisions about moving.  In their 20s people are more likely to make a major move than any other time in their life – they don’t have roots yet; so we have to be working harder to keep them here.  However, to answer your question, to a certain extent, of course needs change with age.  Someone who already has a graduate degree isn’t as likely to be looking for opportunities to continue their education.  Similarly, a good school system is probably going to be much more important to someone who has a child.  That said, certain things are going to be important to everyone regardless of age: a vibrant city, strong communities, good job opportunities and a city that is welcoming of diversity.

How are you different from the other young professional organizations in the region?

Well, we’re not a young professional organization.  We don’t have membership.  Additionally, what we do is very project based.  We look for ways to get young people engaged in the region through implementing initiatives that will help address their needs.  We also continuously solicit feedback – through surveys, through focus groups, through the annual Summit – to make sure that we understand what things are really important to this young, talented demographic and then advocate for those things to local leadership.

What activities have you done to foster that connection between young people and the region?

A few different ways.  Through our periodic email blasts, through our various social media outlets, we try to make our demographic aware of the many things that are going on in the region.  It can be a little difficult to find stuff at times, even for folks who know a lot about the region… but it’s there and you just have to look a little harder – so we try to make it easier.  Second, just through the action plan process – through implementing initiatives based around topics that young people care about, you’re going to learn more about assets and amenities in the region.  Personally, I know that’s been the case with me – getting involved with updayton, I’m much more aware of things that are here than I was when I started a few years ago.  Finally, if young, creative people see their input is being heard and valued by local leaders, then young people are going to appreciate the Dayton region that much more.

What do you hope to achieve by hiring an Executive Director?

We want to grow the organization – that’s why we hired an Executive Director, and we think Yvette is going to do a great job.  We want to get involved in more things and have an impact in more areas of the region.  There are decisions that are being made every day here in the community that impact issues that young people care about, and we want to play a greater role in influencing those decisions.  We want to do more in implementing the recommendations we’ve made for the community over the past couple years – specifically, promoting acceptance of diversity, connecting job seekers to employers, growing urban vibrancy, and strengthening our neighborhoods.  We think having an Executive Director is going to enable us to do that.

Kelly-Fields to Work with Steering Committee in 2011 Summit Planning

And now to learn a little more about the vision of Kelly-Fields as the new Executive Director:

Why did you want to a part of Updayton?

For the last few years, I have had serious concerns about where the next generation of leaders was going to come from for the Dayton area. …  (Updayton) already provides the platform and opportunity for young professionals to become meaningfully involved in solving problems in the community. (Young people) are learning how take an idea from concept to realization. They are gaining invaluable skills that they can build upon to tackle many of the problems facing this city. I believe those are the individuals who will be running this region in the near future and I wanted to be a part of that dynamic.

What do you think you can offer as an Executive Director?

Over the last twelve years, I have had the good fortune of working for a number of stellar nonprofits and with some great nonprofit leaders. As a result, I have a gained a great deal of experience in fund raising, project and volunteer management, community and public relations and relationship building.

My goal is to bring all of those skill sets to the table to move Updayton towards the vision the steering committee has established. This includes increasing community partnerships, raising the visibility of the organization in the community and securing cash and noncash resources to support Updayton projects.

What do you see as the biggest obstacle for the region in attracting and retaining young talent?

The biggest obstacle is being able to show and demonstrate to young talent that they can build a full and satisfying life for themselves and their future families in Dayton. When they look at Dayton, do they see access to employment with upward mobility or the viable option of entrepreneurism? Do they see sufficient, affordable choices to live? What about opportunities to socialize in diverse settings in varied parts of the community? Is there ample opportunity for civic and community engagement?

I have found that in this community, and I believe that the key for young talent finding it is through exposure to what Dayton has to offer through work by initiatives and organizations like Updayton.

What do you look forward to most as you start this new position?

The thing that immediately impressed me about Updayton is the tremendous community support it has. Everyone I talk to thinks is a great organization. I look forward to expanding its visibility and reach into the community.

And now for a little insight on Kelly-Fields as a Daytonian.

What’s your favorite place to go or thing to do in Dayton?

My family and I love going to the festivals. Last year we went to the Greek Festival, the City Folk Festival, the Black Cultural Festival, Oktoberfest and to the Chocolate Festival. We also enjoy Urban Nights. We always go to Wright Dunbar for ribs by Smokin Joe.  These events are always so much fun for my family.

What’s the best advice your parents gave you?

The best advice I got was to treat everybody right. You never know who you are going to need for help. It is important to maintain good relations with as many people as possible so when I need assistance with something I do not have to pause when I pick up the phone to call them or stop short of saying hello when out in public.  Conversely, if someone who has not treated me so well, I still maintain friendly relations.  I have found this advice has served me well.

Favorite restaurant or hidden gem?

I have several but my true favorite is Evan’s Café on North Main Street. I am addicted to the Baked Potato Soup, the Mandarin Orange Salad and the Jamaican Chicken Salad. When I cannot go there, I make a beeline to Coco’s. I love the grilled cheese sandwich with Tomato Bisque topped off with the Crème Brule.

Who inspires you?

It may sound corny, but my mom and dad inspire me. They told me that whatever I set my mind to I could achieve it. So far, it has worked.

What phrase do you hear coming out of your mouth too often?

I once went to an event, where after a very unusual performance, the emcee said, “That’s something different.”  Whenever I come across a person or a situation that I cannot describe, I say, “Well, that was something different.”

Learn more and get involved with UpDayton:
Web site: http://updayton.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/updayton?ref=ts
Take the Updayton Survey: http://updayton.com/survey/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/updayton
Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/updayton/

Disclaimer: I am involved on the updayton steering committee as the communication chair.  Also, the current version of DaytonMostMetro.com was created in part by a volunteer group formed from the first Updayton Young Creatives Summit in April 2009.

Salsa Saturdays At Therapy Cafe [PHOTOS]

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A couple competes in the Bacahata Dance Contest during Salsa Saturdays on Feb.12 at Therapy Cafe.

Salsa Saturdays with DJ Danny D isn’t a spectator sport.  It requires full participatory ass-shakin’ and hip-swayin’.

Every weekend, DJ Danny D (Danny Diaz) brings a little Miami to the Miami Valley with his Latin-laden dance mixes that keep mamis’ and papis’ hearts racing and pulses pounding.  Last Saturday’s edition featured a Valentine’s Day Bachata dance contest that transformed downtown Dayton’s Therapy Cafe into a Cuban-style dance hall.

Bodies slick with sweat dipped, rolled and spun across the floor.  There were no wallflowers in this urban oasis.  Even the lights danced – performing their own erratic routine against the backs and faces of the torrent of dancers in the darkened night club.

No palm trees.

No LeBron James.

But plenty of Miami heat!

[album: http://www.daytonmostmetro.com/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/salsa saturdays/]

Look for an upcoming profile on Danny Diaz (aka DJ Danny D) on DaytonMostMetro.Com soon!



A visit from a Lost Boy of Sudan and discussions about human trafficking and discrimination highlight Human Rights at UD

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“This year’s Human Rights Week theme is ‘Embracing Diversity to Discover Humanity.’ Events and speakers will address a wide variety of local, national and international discrimination issues related to age, race, religion, gender and sexual orientation,” said Patrick Boston, vice president of the Human Rights Week committee. “Our goal is to educate students, faculty and community members about these issues, as well as stimulate discussion about approaches to eradicating these injustices.”   All events are in Kennedy Union on the University of Dayton campus and are free and open to the public.

The week kicked off at noon Monday, Feb. 14, with University of Dayton anthropology lecturer Simanti Dasgupta discussing sex trafficking, AIDS and the politics of the red-light district in Calcutta, India.

On Tuesday, Feb. 15, Gabriel Bol Deng will discuss his life as a Lost Boy of Sudan who fled his village, earned two college degrees, and founded a nonprofit organization in Sudan to work with the development of his former village. Deng’s talk is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Earlier that day, communication lecturer Jason Combs and student Mat Cotton will discuss religious persecution and representatives from Catholic Social Services will discuss the organization’s efforts to address discrimination and refugees in the Dayton area. The events start at noon and 3 p.m., respectively.

Other events throughout the weekend include:

* Noon, Wednesday, Feb. 16: University of Dayton history professor Judith Huacuja will present her research on artists whose work involves Hispanic social issues.

* 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16: University of Dayton’s jazz ensemble will perform tunes by Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and others, followed by a narration of these jazz performers’ struggles against racism.

* 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16: The Dayton Human Relations Council will discuss civil rights enforcement in Dayton. A workshop about how one can advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality follows. Space is limited for the workshop. Register by e-mailing [email protected].

* 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16: Caryl Nuñez, a senior political science major, will present “Women’s Empowerment in the Warm Heart of Africa,” a discussion about the work national and international

Candace Gingrich-Jonees, Human Rights Campaign

non-governmental organizations that work for women’s empowerment in Malawi. Nuñez interviewed with NGO leaders to understand how these organizations define empowerment.

* 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16: Candace Gingrich-Jones, Human Rights Campaign associate director of the youth and campus outreach program, will discuss discrimination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in the U.S. in her speech “What Part of ‘Human’ Don’t You Understand?: LGBT Equality in America.”

* Noon, Thursday, Feb. 17: University of Dayton assistant music professor Heather MacLachlan will discuss Burmese refugees in the U.S. Her presentation will center on tensions in Ft. Wayne, Ind., now home to the largest Burmese population in the U.S.

* 5:00 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17: The New Abolitionist Movement, a University of Dayton student organization devoted to combating modern-day slavery, will discuss the turmoil and struggles of victims of trafficking.

* 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18 (Sears Recital Hall): Discrimination for Everybody, a one-act play originally aired by CBS Radio as Created Equal in 1948. The play, adapted and performed throughout the years, presents the “dollars and cents argument against racial and religious intolerance, showing how we pay for discrimination in increased taxes, in a lower standard of living, in wasted skills and in the loss of international good will.”

The University of Dayton is a pioneer in human rights education. In 1998, the University launched the country’s first undergraduate human rights program. In 2007, the University of Dayton began offering a bachelor’s degree in human rights studies.

Students have been instrumental in helping encourage Ohio legislators to pass Senate Bill 235, making human trafficking a felony. University of Dayton representatives attended the ceremony when former Gov. Ted Strickland signed the bill into law in December.

They’ve also been heavily involved in the creation of Under Our Noses: Modern Day Slavery and What You Can Do About It at the Dayton International Peace Museum, 208 W. Monument Ave. The free multimedia exhibit, which runs through the end of February, examines human trafficking in the region and the nation. Visitors also will learn how they can help combat human trafficking on the local, state and national levels. The museum’s hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

For more information on the University of Dayton’s Human Rights Week, e-mail [email protected].

Looking forward: Opportunities in the Dayton real estate market for 2011

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“Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open.” -Alexander Graham Bell

By now we are all aware that the foreclosure crisis is many layers deep, touches every person in America, and the impact will be felt for at least a few generations. The stories of those most affected by foreclosure are frequently discussed in any news medium you care to look. But there’s another story out there and it’s just as important to tell. There are new and beneficial real estate opportunities that have suddenly presented themselves to those people who have decided to move beyond fear and look at Dayton Ohio real estate with new eyes. I’d like to share a few of those stories.

Did you ever see the video of the baby elephant who gets stuck in the watering hole? The baby needs help, the mama needs help, the extended family works together to get this baby unstuck. Most mothers will tell you that once you become a mother, all children are your children. Your kid’s friends are extended family, and that was the situation with recent buyers.

Brick ranch home in Enon OhioTheir daughter’s friend had become family and needed a place to live. The buyers- middle class folks who lived in a modest 3 bdrm, 1 bath brick ranch home in Clark County- were in a position to help. It was good timing for them. They saw a need, saw the opportunity, figured out a way to make it work. They looked at several homes, made a few low ball offers, and we found a seller who was willing to negotiate. They purchased an outdated property for cash, fixed it up, and are now renting it to the friend. A simple business transaction? On paper, yes. But emotionally, this was an extremely satisfying transaction for everyone involved, including the seller. The property was an estate sale, so there was a lot of emotion involved from the seller’s side as well, and they were very happy to know how the property was going to be cared for.

I’m seeing more parents purchasing homes for their kids. Lower home prices mean that the parents, who often have more cash, have better credit, and have the skills and ability to take a distressed property and renovate it, can do that for their extended families, and that’s good, but there’s more to this story because the other thing that’s happening is that it’s creating some continuity in the Dayton area. Young families are putting down roots.

This is happening across economic lines. Cash buyers are looking in neighborhoods that were once neglected. You HUD owned home in Daytoncan buy a big home in the Dayton area for under $15,000 and absentee owners are getting some competition from Dayton area families who want to own a home but can only pay cash.

I have a client who lost a good job. He has access to cash, and has become an attentive landlord, using real estate to provide income for his family. One of his purchases was located around the corner from his home, it’s a short sale that he is now renting back to the previous owners. In this transaction, everyone made the most of a difficult situation. Local people are becoming conscientious landlords; renting to their own children, or are purchasing property in their own communities. This can create a vested interest in making sure that rental property is maintained and cared for. Not only does the landlord benefit, but neighborhoods and communities can benefit from this as well.

First time home buyers are another buyer niche that can create wealth through real estate even in this market. This is not the same wealth that the market sustained prior to 2007, this is slow, steady and purposeful planning by using low interest rates to purchase very specific investment properties in just the right locations, in order to create another stream of income for these younger home buyers.

I don’t know what the long term effect of the upheaval and resulting change in attitudes and opportunities will be, but in the short term it means that there are families moving into neighborhoods that need the stabilization families often bring. It means Dayton can have communities in which there are renters and landlords who have ties to each other and to the neighborhoods in which they live. Each of my clients has taken a crisis and found the positive opportunities available. There is no denying that doors have closed to many people, and I’m not here to proclaim the old Realtor’s saw about “This is a great time to buy!” because obviously that’s not the case for many people, but, every change and challenge bring an opportunity for someone, and right now there are plenty of doors that have just been thrown wide open for a whole new group of people; doors could have only opened in a real estate market like Dayton, circa 2011.

Oregon District’s “Rule of 17” is History

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As a follow-up to my previous article (please read first) detailing my take on the situation in the Oregon District, I’ll begin by telling you that at last night’s Oregon Historic District Society (OHDS) general membership meeting that I attended, the board of trustees ultimately voted to sign a letter of agreement with the City of Dayton and the Oregon District Business Association that abolishes the “Rule of 17” – an informal resolution passed by city commission stating that at the neighborhood’s request, the city commission would formally object to the State of Ohio Division of Liquor Control any liquor license applications within the OD above and beyond 17.  The funny thing is, after having sat through this sometimes-contentious two-hour meeting with the board and a couple dozen or so neighborhood residents, I get the feeling that this was about much more than liquor licenses.  The following is my personal account of the meeting, and my personal view of the situation.

OHDS vs ODBA

After other less controversial neighborhood business, the discussion turned to the “Rule of 17” and I quickly understood just how deep the divide is between the neighborhood OHDS and the Oregon District Business Association (ODBA).  It is possible that the Israeli–Palestinian conflict might be an easier nut to crack than the OD Divide, with the City of Dayton playing a similar role to the U.S. in that never-ending struggle.  As the conversation moved between trustees and neighborhood residents in the audience (no ODBA or City of Dayton reps were present – correction, one trustee and at least one audience member were ODBA members but not officially representing the ODBA at this meeting), I quickly noticed that many people looked at the situation in terms of a negotiation – one in which they insisted on “getting something” in return for their “concessions” with the perceived enemy.  Emotions ran high with some, and at one point an audience member even started cursing before storming out.  Dissension among the trustees was also obvious despite their genuine attempt to maintain a level of professional decorum.

The specific issue at hand was an agreement drafted by the City of Dayton and signed by the president of the ODBA that outlined a series of steps involving the drawing of new precinct boundaries between the neighborhood and business district, the creation of a ballot measure in which neighborhood residents would have the opportunity to vote their neighborhood precinct “dry” (meaning no liquor license applications could be granted to any business within the residential neighborhood), and finally the abolishment of the “Rule of 17”.  (DaytonMostMetro.com obtained a copy of this letter that can be downloaded here)  As it is worded, the abolishment of the “Rule of 17” would take effect once the letter was signed – language that was the center of debate at the OHDS meeting.

Some trustees and residents voiced concern that if the letter was signed as was currently worded, neither the ODBA nor the city would be required to actually work with the OHDS on the new precinct boundaries or ballot measure and there was the potential for the neighborhood to “get nothing in return” for abolishing the “Rule of 17”.  One trustee insisted that getting rid of the “Rule of 17” would not necessarily mean that desirable businesses would suddenly begin to fill the vacant spaces that exist on Fifth Street.  An audience member dismissed the usefulness of voting the neighborhood precinct dry since any new bar or restaurant would most likely be looking to locate in the business district anyway.  Various audience members voiced concern about parking issues and potential for more problems in the neighborhood should more businesses open along Fifth Street.  It was hard to tell but it seemed like half of those opposed simply wanted to maintain the status quo, and the other half were willing to move forward but wanted stricter language in the agreement that ensured that the ballot measure to vote the neighborhood precinct dry was implemented before getting rid of the “Rule of 17”.

Some in favor of moving forward believed the city commission and others viewed the OHDS as an unreasonable body not willing to compromise on anything, and that by simply signing the agreement and trusting the other parties to continue to work in good faith would help the OHDS’s image and help finally bring the neighborhood and business district together.  One trustee made the point that the “Rule of 17” had little meaning as an informal resolution that neither the city commission nor the state liquor board were bound to abide to.  Another trustee made a motion to draft an alternative letter that would abolish the “Rule of 17” once new precinct lines were drawn and the city commission passed an informal resolution stating that they would work with the neighborhood to get the ballot measure implemented by 2012.  After a lot of back and forth between trustees and audience members, that motion was removed and another trustee moved (in an almost “let’s just do it and go home” gesture) that the board simply sign the letter as is and be done with it.  By then it had been almost two hours since the meeting started, and the feeling that this whole thing would likely be drawn out for eternity was suddenly replaced with a climatically abrupt and suspenseful vote by the board of trustees.

The vote started with one trustee who went on to explain her no vote until shockingly being yelled at by another trustee who insisted that everybody had their chance to speak and nothing more needed to be said.  The next three trustees voted yes, the next three voted no.  4-3 no, with two more to go… the next trustee voted yes and the deciding vote came down to the board president.  I think everybody expected the board president to vote no which at best would draw this process out until God knows when; at worst it would simply stop all progress and further the divide between neighborhood and business district.  But in a dramatic climax that had the feel of a “Law and Order” court scene, the board president gave his one-word response… “Yes”.  The motion passed 5-4 and the thick suspense that had been hanging in the room was quickly replaced by gasps – some of victory, some of defeat.  The meeting was quickly adjourned and I left minutes later.  I have no idea if blood was spilled after that.

Now understand – while I personally know many of the players involved on both sides and plenty of residents in the OD, my perspective is that of somebody who does not live there.  I’ve never been to an OHDS meeting before last night.  But in the two hours I spent at that meeting and with a better-than-average knowledge of the issues, I can comfortably offer my perspective.  This is a complicated issue that goes way beyond the “Rule of 17”, and while I still believe the decision to abolish it was good, I doubt doing so will do much to solve the real problems of the neighborhood, nor will it magically bring all of the Meadowlarks and Rue Dumaines of the world to Fifth Street.  The residents against getting rid of the “Rule of 17” have very valid concerns, and the more I heard those concerns last night the more I get the feeling that many held onto the “Rule of 17” because they felt it was the only thing they had to maintain their quality of life.  Granted, it is still my belief that if you want peace and quiet then go live in Oakwood – but even somebody looking for the urban living experience shouldn’t have to be woken up in the middle of the night on a regular basis by drunk assholes smashing beer bottles and pissing on a few houses on the way to their parked cars that they probably shouldn’t be driving anyway.  I really believe that if the city granted the neighborhood permit parking then the liquor license debate would end for most people in the neighborhood.  It is time for the city to step up and seriously work with the neighborhood to get something to that effect passed.  Fix the atrocious intersection at Fifth and Patterson and make it pedestrian friendly.  Finish by making the massive Transportation Garage (that is literally steps away but barely used by OD patrons) more inviting with nice lighting and signage.  Parking problem solved… you’re welcome.

As for the feud between the OHDS and ODBA, I think it comes down to a few personalities on both sides that have long ago given up on working together.  I have no idea who is right and who is wrong.  Perhaps just because of the nature of things (bars and homes rarely mix well), there will always be friction.  But without a true cooperative spirit, the OD will never reach its full potential.  Perhaps it is time for those who refuse to let go of the past to become part of the past and step aside so that those with fresh ideas and optimism untainted by past failures can step forward and lead the OD into a brighter future.

Now excuse me while I go have a drink with a side of irony at my neighborhood bar, which happens to be… the Southern Belle.

Impress your significant other AND help a great cause…

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While the event isn’t until next month, here is a great gift idea for Valentine’s Day – a dinner made by a top local chef at a private home and after-party, all to support a great cause.  Introducing the Doors of Compassion – a unique fundraising event for Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Miami Valley Region!  On March 19, over 20 private homes in Oakwood and Kettering will be hosting dinner parties, with some of the area’s elite chefs preparing a different culinary experience.  Afterward, all dinner guests will be invited to the After Party Twenty One One at a beautiful Oakwood home to enjoy a decadent dessert buffet, coffee bar and after-dinner drinks.  The after party will feature Kim Faris of Lite 99.9 as emcee and “Rodney The Band” for live entertainment, as well as a live auction for guests to bid on gift packages and raise funds for Ronald McDonald House families in need.  There will also be raffle prizes, including Marco Bicego jewelry provided by James Free Jewelers.

The chefs come from the region’s finest restaurants and catering companies, including a couple we’ve featured here on DaytonMostMetro.com in our Dayton Dining 10 ?’s series.  Here is the lineup:

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Miami Valley Region is a fantastic organization that provides a temporary home-away-from-home for families of critically ill, hospitalized children and supports efforts that improve children’s health within our region.  Their beautiful facility is located across from Dayton Children’s Medical Center, and it helps families who come to the hospital (or any local hospital serving pediatric patients) from outside of the Dayton Region – 468 families in 2010.  Families have access to private guest bedrooms, four kitchens, a playroom, library and more.  When you think of sick children receiving hospital care, you don’t usually think about the burden placed on the families of those children, but RMHC does and goes above and beyond to make sure their extended stays in Dayton are as comfortable as possible – with no cost to them.

DaytonMostMetro.com is proud to be a Dinner Party Sponsor for this event, and we hope that our readers will consider making reservations today, as there are only so many seats available; with the popularity of the participating chefs, seats are going quickly.  This is a great fund raising event, a great opportunity to network with other influential people in a private dinner setting, and a chance to experience some delicious culinary magic by a top local chef… not to mention a great way to impress your significant other this Valentine’s Day.

More information on the Doors of Compassion Event can be found here, along with package prices and other sponsorship opportunities.

Will the Oregon District Finally Solve Liquor Permit Dilemma?

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Dayton’s Oregon District is an interesting combination of entertainment district and upscale historic residential neighborhood.  It didn’t always have the upscale side though, until the 1970’s and ’80s when some very dedicated citizens began to move into the very rough hood and started bringing back historic homes to their original glory.  In addition to the enormous task of rehabbing old homes, these urban pioneers had to contend with some of the roughest bars in the city.  Not just Fifth Street establishments that helped the district earn the nickname “Filth and Wine”, but especially places like the old Southern Belle and Fred & Sylvia’s situated in the residential neighborhood’s interior.  It was their persistence and never-say-die attitude that helped transform the district into what it is today.  While many of those original pioneers have since moved on, there are still some left and to many of them the fight to keep the riffraff out has never ended.

Before I detail the current situation, here is a brief history of the OD’s liquor permit saga as I understand it based on conversations with several people in the OD:

In 1997, the neighborhood association called the Oregon Historic District Society (OHDS) approved the first liquor permit policy for the district, limiting the total number of allowable permits to 17.  A few years later they reduced it to 16, but in 2004 the City of Dayton approved an additional permit for Coco’s Bistro, with the OHDS deferring to the city.  Soon afterward, the city commission adopted an informal resolution that ensured the commission would not approve liquor permits for the OD above the 17 threshold, and the “Rule of 17” was born.  It should be noted that the State of Ohio Division of Liquor Control ultimately approves or denies liquor permits in Ohio, and while it does consider the City of Dayton Commission recommendations, it does not have to follow them.

In 2007, Thai 9 owner Rob Strong opened the 5th Street Wine & Deli and requested a beer & wine permit.  Since there were already 17 liquor permits, the OHDS objected and the city formally objected to the state.  The state overruled the city and granted the 5th Street Deli its permit, and since the Dayton Gym Club building was sold to the Dayton Theatre Guild without transferring its liquor permit, the total number came back down to 17 and the city did not appeal the 5th Street Deli case.  However, this situation worsened the already contentious relationship between the OHDS and the Oregon District Business Association (ODBA) – a group focused on the OD’s business district.

In 2009, an established bed & breakfast called Inn Port D’Vino applied for its own liquor permit, and the OHDS and subsequently the City of Dayton objected – again based on the Rule of 17.  Like with the 5th Street Wine & Deli, the state liquor board overruled the city and granted the permit, but this time the city appealed at the request of the OHDS board and in 2010 the state board overturned their original decision to grant the permit.  Jeff and Leslie Gonya (owners of Inn Port D’Vino) are appealing that decision and it is currently pending.  They gathered 172 signed petitions from OD residents in an effort to abolish the “Rule of 17”, which they presented to both OHDS and the city commission.  Soon the discussion on whether or not the current “Rule of 17” is still necessary or in fact a detriment to positive growth in the OD was at the forefront.  The debate is not simple and has many sides, including those who want to simply abolish the “Rule of 17” in favor of more business growth, those who do not want any additional alcohol-serving businesses no matter what – and those who fall in the middle.  The later group wants to see 5th Street thriving with more classy establishments like Side Bar and Thai 9 (and less vacant spaces) but are concerned with the possibility that undesirable bars might open shop – and some may even try to open in the interior of the residential neighborhood and jeopardize the quality of life that now exists.

New S.I.D. map including OD Business District (click to enlarge) - Courtesy of Downtown Dayton Partnership

In November 2010, Dayton Commissioners Joey Williams and Nan Whaley met with the OHDS board and suggested a possible solution that all parties might approve.  This involves the ability for the city to divide the OD into two separate voting precincts – the residential neighborhood and the 5th Street business district (based on new SID boundaries that includes existing businesses off of 5th such as Thai 9, Jay’s Seafood and Inn Port D’Vino).  The residential precinct could then vote itself dry, meaning that no liquor permits could be granted to any business within the residential precinct – a binding law that unlike the informal “Rule of 17” resolution, could not be overruled by the city commission or the state liquor board.  With this in place, it is believed that an overwhelming majority of neighborhood residents would then approve getting rid of the “Rule of 17” in favor of more growth in the business district.  As it stands, a letter of agreement between the OHDS and ODBA for the purposes of establishing a new voting precinct in the OD has been signed by the ODBA president Mike Martin, and the ball is now in the OHDS’s court.  There is a monthly general membership OHDS meeting tomorrow (Tuesday February 8 at 7pm), and while the OHDS board doesn’t necessarily have to vote on anything it is believed that this will be the main topic of discussion.  Proponents of the agreement are urging fellow residents to attend this meeting and have their voices heard.

In my many discussions with various players in this saga, I believe there are still neighborhood influencers and OHDS board members who will likely continue to push to keep things as they are, with the “Rule of 17” kept intact.  Sources tell me that the board is evenly split on this latest proposal, and it is unlikely the board will vote in favor of the proposed agreement because of a concern about a lack of specific language that would require the precinct lines be drawn and the dry-neighborhood proposition be placed on a ballot before removing the “Rule of 17” (a feeling that the ODBA refuses to cooperate because of a few conflicting personalities on both sides also exists among various residents).  Ironically, the neighborhood risks losing all protection including the “Rule of 17” regardless of whether or not the OHDS votes to move forward with the agreement, since the “Rule of 17” is an informal resolution that the city commission could eventually dismiss anyway – a distinct possibility given that the most recent commission vote to appeal the state’s granting of a liquor licence to the B&B barely passed 3-2 (with Nan Whaley and Matt Joseph opposing the appeal).  Not to mention that the state can grant liquor licenses regardless of the “Rule of 17”.  Only by voting the residential precinct dry can the OD residents guarantee that no bars can open in the residential neighborhood.

Photo Credit: sbluerock on Flickr

As objectively as I’ve tried to present this complicated situation, I should disclose my own personal bias.  I don’t live in the OD but I have lived downtown for the past 7 years, and while I understand the residents’ concerns about the impacts that businesses on Fifth Street have on their quality of life, I also think that the “Rule of 17” is a draconian tool that has negatively impacted the vibrancy of Fifth Street.  The OD is not just a historic neighborhood with a business district, but it is THE entertainment district for the city and the only authentically local entertainment district in the region; its vibrancy or lack thereof affects all of us, not just the OD neighborhood.  This latest proposal makes sense, and I applaud the leadership that Nan Whaley and Joey Williams have shown in bringing it to the OHDS.  I also applaud the efforts of people like Lt. Larry Faulkner, who has been working closely with bar owners to make sure that incidents are reduced.  It is time for the OHDS to recognize that the status quo is not acceptable, and it is time to adapt to changing times.  It is also time for the ODBA to get over past differences between various individuals and understand that there are in fact many residents and OHDS board members that want the same thing as they do – a vibrant business district.  If language has to be adjusted to make more people comfortable, then make it happen so that we can finally get rid of the “Rule of 17” and move closer toward a united and thriving Oregon District that the rest of the city and region can be proud of.

I attended the public OHDS membership meeting following this article on Tuesday 2/8 – here is the follow-up.

Miami Valley Home World

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I watch way too many home improvement shows.  I’m a big fan of both HGTV and the DIY network.  I sing along with the theme songs, and let me tell you – a lot of those shows don’t have “songs” to speak of (*Who wants a clean house?*). I even went so far as to apply to let viewers “Run My Renovation” to get a free home makeover.  Alas – competing with thousands of other viewers for one free makeover and sitting on my couch isn’t getting my basement any closer to being remodeled.  So, I figured it’s time to call in the big guns.  I headed to the Miami Vally Home World show at the Airport Expo Center for the experts.

Friday nights people get in for only $5 with a donation of a canned good, so I decided to save some cash.  (Note: If you like their Facebook page and print out the coupon, you can get in for $5 on Sundays, so you only have to pay full price ($7) if you go Saturdays.)  Here’s another hint – although it’s sponsored by a credit union – they don’t accept credit cards, so bring cash or plan to use the ATM outside the doors

I went with a couple pretty specific needs, so I didn’t stop at every booth; it took about an hour to walk by everything.  In the back corner, they have a pretty nice set-up for presentations and demonstrations.  As I expected, there’s a normal mix of HVAC, decks, window replacements, and kitchen/bath remodels, but there were also booths featuring cleaning systems, cooking, and bedding.

The negative of going to a home show is you’ve got to actually care about going.  I admit – it’s not really a *fun* place if you don’t plan on some sort of home remodel or purchase in the future (even though there’s a food court with beer).  But – if you are planning to work on your house, it’s a great way to talk to a few different contractors/businesses and get a few hundred bucks off (lots of companies offer discounts, coupons, and free estimates if you sign up at the home show).

So – if you’re planning on doing some work on your house in the near future, check out the Miami Valley Home Show to get to know a few different contractors, business, and see who might be the right fit.  And register to win $10,000 toward your home remodel before you leave.  The show runs weekends through February 13.

The Ice Of Wrath

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Dear You...Wish You Were Here!

Premise of column…the abridged version: The theory behind this column is that, unlike most advice columns, I will not be dispensing advice. I have more issues than a magazine stand, so I feel that it would be rather disingenuous (as well as mildly dangerous) for me to offer anyone advice. So what I am doing is offering up my problems to you, the constant reader, so that you may share with me, and the world at large, your sage advice and wisdom. Who knows? You may even actually help me with one of my problems or even become the next Dr. Phil, which would entail an outpatient surgical procedure to have you welded to the megalomaniacal monster that is Oprah Winfrey’s ego.

Well, my debut column kind of went astray rather quickly. I began it with all good intentions, but that damned dog was just preying on my mind, so there wasn’t too much in the way of advice that anyone could offer beside “train it,” “give it away” or “play fetch with it on the roof of Kettering Tower.” This column, I assure you, will give you an opportunity to not so much give advice, but lecture me about what kind of horrible person I am.

There is nothing like a good ice storm to bring things into perspective. As evening draws night and I see the steel grey daylight fade from the vines hanging off my office’s window (the vines I meant to remove this past summer before they manage to pull the window out of it’s frame). I ponder the imponderables, such as what color does a Smurf turn if you choke him, how does the guy that runs the snow plow get to work and, while watching back to back reruns of Full House, how did two bug eyed girls, who resembled my vision of what trolls must look like, turn into two skanky globe trotting trollops in such a short time? I never seek the answers to these questions as then they would cease being imponderable and I would have nothing to do while sitting in my house, snowed in.

From Innocent Gremlins To International Slut-Butts

Another thought flits through my head as I sit here with three kids annoying the living crap out of me, the youngest talking while I am trying to write, the middle one going through all the drawers in my office, borrowing whatever his little adolescent fingers fall on…without asking, of course. The third kid isn’t even mine, but one of my older son’s friends. He just stands there laughing like a mook, knowing that his mere presence makes me yearn for a time when adults were allowed to clout a kid upside the head for irritating them. The thought that careens through my cranium is, “How many people who espouse the wonders and sanctity of family have actually been forced into close quarters with them?” I don’t think they ever have. They are too busy making speeches across the country, dictating their familial beliefs to others, then going back to a Holiday Inn, getting room service and then settling down for an evening of in-room porn.

Careful With That Axe Eugene

I believe that most people who are trapped with their family all day turn into Jack Nicolson’s character from the Shining before Oprah even airs in the afternoon. There are only so many times that your better half can pop awake from their almost continuous catnap to berate you for not spending enough time with them (and then dropping back into a blessed catatonia) before your thoughts cast themselves towards the garage, wondering where you put the axe this past fall and was it sharp enough?

I love my family. My kids are the absolute beginning and end for me and I would do anything for them…except watch four hours of mind melting Japanimation cartoons while my eleven year old does color commentary. It’s not that I don’t like spending time with them…but dear God, small doses please! My kids and I have a great time when we are out and about, but that is when I am safe in the knowledge that sometime soon, they will go back to school, allowing me to sit in my office, lulled by the sounds of silence as I look up at pictures of them…pictures that don’t ask questions like, “Can a Jedi lightsaber cut through Superman?”

Do you have a spouse that begs you to stop working and sit down with her to watch some television…and then proceeds to flip back and forth between RuPaul’s Drag Race and Bizarre Foods until you get confused and start wondering which thing fluttering by on the screen would be worse to have in your mouth? She single handedly will turn your television into a RGB colored strobe light if you give her the controller. Either that or you’ll be locked onto the TLC or the Oxygen network watching some graphic retelling of some “based on a true story” made for TV movie that makes you consider how lucky Hellen Keller was.

Perhaps the problem lies with me. I have always been somewhat of a loner and not really able to relate to people, so maybe I should be able to open myself up to the experience of domesticated living. I should embrace the Snuggie and kick back in the Laz-E-Boy, quaffing down a six pack of beer while watching and laughing through the American Idol audition shows…

Who Could Be A Meaner To A Face Like That?

…see? I can’t write more than a sentence on certain subjects without seeming to be a mean spirited, smarmy a-hole. It’s not that I dislike my family. It’s just that I believe there should be a separation, like there is between Creationism and logic. For example, in the short time that I have been writing this, my kids have interrupted me innumerable times and my wife has been in here three times. Once to use my lighter, even though her lighter was concealed in her other hand. The second time was to…I’m not making this up…talk to me about our relationship because she feels that I need to spend more time with her. The third time was so she could have me look up how to make hand made soap which, while an admirable aspiration and hobby, she only seems interested in because I am on the computer. This has been interspersed with random yelling matches between the kids and her and her and the kids, peppered with random observations yelled out to no one in particular.

Now that the ice is melting away, everyone is breathing easier, knowing that, if worse comes to worse, they can run screaming from the house if the youngest child wants to play charades for the millionth time (a game which, after having the instructions told to him a billion times, he still cannot truly grasp) or if their mom wants to go into one of her long winded stories about her youth, stories which a.) have no end or meaning and b.) grow in breadth and depth exponentially with each telling. As I sit here at the computer as my wife begins a tirade about missing hair ties, I wonder if it’s the forced confinement that creates these feelings or if society has played up the importance of “family time” so much so that you feel guilty if all you want to do is have a moment of silence and eschew yet another discussion with your children about how is it possible for a squirrel to live in Bikini Bottom with Spongebob…a discussion that invariably ends with me screaming, “Because it’s f#$%ing cartoon!” and my son throwing something at me and calling me a meaner.

So, I guess what the question is, buried within this convoluted rant, is how do you balance family time and personal time? What is the basis for time spent with the family/children/spouses? Is it based on the factor of quality or quantity?

Bizually Stimulating and YP Friendly. Dayton. That. Is.

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This is the first in a series of articles geared towards promoting that young people start thinking out of the “help me” box.  Help yourself by believing in your ideas and moving forward with your venture.  I’m not flipping the bird on your desire to keep existing businesses here in Dayton as well as young professionals in the area, but waiting on some big government push is not the answer. Take a realistic approach and social responsibility for what’s happening in YOUR region. Be the force that drives attention our way and a catalyst for growth our innovative city.

In the midst of being involved with several organizations that are trying to either keep or bring businesses (or both) to the Dayton region, it dawned on me that with all this talent in this region how about a young professional push to START more businesses in Dayton?  Event after event, committee meeting after committee meeting a common gripe I hear is often related to what the government is doing to help rebuild Dayton. My point is, why are we waiting on big gov to save the day and is there a slight possibility that with a little belief in our own ideas and concepts along with a little entrepreneurial spirit, resources and creative funding, can we (we the people) make Dayton even more bizually stimulating to the eyes, mind and wallet. Organizations are working aggressively to bring and keep, who’s starting?

Before I continue with the reason on why starting a business in Dayton is great idea, I will first address some of the reservations a younger generation of entrepreneurial minds may have.  What are some of the most difficult challenges faced in entrepreneurship? Let’s go with the obvious.

“How in the world will I fund this?” It’s a valid question, guess what? Funds are available.

If you want to ask the government for anything; How about taking advantage of some of what they’re already offering to help with? Funding programs for business startup are becoming more readily available in an effort by the government to boost job creation. Grants aside, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has a variety of loan programs designed for different tiers of entrepreneurship. In Dayton specifically there are several programs available to assist new business ventures. Our region is on the brink of becoming one of the nation’s leaders in technology and if your idea or concept is “techlike” right here in Dayton, The Entrepreneur Center or TEC Dayton has been helping technology based concepts at all levels of development. In fact, 38 out of 51 businesses fostered by this  initiative are still in existence today. That’s positive news, eh?  Also here in Dayton, The Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC) helping people start, sustain and grow their businesses right here in our region. The SBDC, with more than 40 partnerships that contribute over $10 million in cash to small business initiatives obviously has your financial back.

Questionable Concept. Why does Dayton need your idea?

One of the most common things people face is lack of confidence in their concept, product or service. There is no guarantee that anything we create will be a huge success, but does that mean we shouldn’t give it a shot? I would never suggest going in blind. Believe in your idea but also do the research required prior to unveiling. What do I mean when I say research? Well, ask the important questions:

Is there a need for what I’m cooking up? Always remember that your strategy should be market driven. Do your homework and don’t be unrealistic. You’ll have a better chance at success if your idea provides a solution or serves some need.

What’s my differentiator? You should identify early on “who you are” in the marketplace and focus on the key differentiators especially when your idea or concept is not overly unique. Don’t let the fact that you are doing something that has been done stop you however, there are no new ideas only ideas done better…can you do it better?

So you have a great idea and money, now what? Listen, nothing in life happens over night and while I am encouraging that you take a chance and do something remarkable, you have to be ready to put your all in. Taking advantage of all the groups and associations that will allow you to network and grow your business is imperative. There is no neutral in entrepreneurship, only drive.


Get Involved.

Young professional groups  like Generation Dayton are a great place to start. Not only will you have a chance to meet new people but you also open the door to what every YP needs on occasion needs and that is support. I know there are great companies in the region but when faced with a lack of new job opportunities within them, sometimes taking the road less traveled proves to be more fruitful…why wait for an opportunity when you can create one? Within YP groups you will meet others who have started their own businesses and have been successful in doing so.

If you still want to search for that dream job, more power to you, because I fully support such ambitions. This article is merely to point out that there are other options, there are people doing it, successfully; and if you wanted to, you could do it to.  As young professionals in the region, I believe that part of the region’s initiative to keep business alive in Dayton relies on us. Those looking afar will find us more bizually stimulating with a growth in startups, and successful ones at that. With affordable living and a slew of other key factors, this city is prime for attaining that “American Dream”. Redesign your thinking and take control of your future. Hey and if you’re looking for a location for your venture, start with downtown.

AIDS Resource Center Ohio Looking for Young Adults with A Passion To Be An Ambassador For Their Mission

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Why be a part of the ARC Ohio Associate Board?

Young adults are disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that as many as half of all new HIV infections in the U.S. occur among those aged 25 years and younger. As a result, AIDS Resource Center Ohio (ARC Ohio) has formed an Associate Board as a method of engaging young adults in the fight against the epidemic.

What kind of members are we looking for?

Young adults between the ages of 21 and 40 who have—or are willing to gain—an extraordinary commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS transmission.   In addition to this commitment, we  are looking for members who complete a matrix of characteristics including skill areas, employment and demographics.     The information gained from completing the next two pages will help us best fill the ranks with people who are not only committed to the cause, but fill the gaps we are looking for to achieve a well-rounded Associate Board.

What is the Value to me as a Joiner?

●   Enhances résumé-building with important community service while gaining a sense of philanthropy.
●   Increases knowledge about ARC Ohio’s vital work including advocacy and the art of fundraising
●  Develops leadership skills and the potential to join the ARC Ohio’s Board of   Trustees in the future.
●  Be part of a group of people that has fun and does interesting activities together.

Interested?

Please take a moment to read the Associate Board Responsibilities and the Time Commitment.  Then, if you still think this is a fit for you, fill out the application in full.  Someone will be in touch with you as soon as possible.  If you have questions or would like more information about the Associate Board or AIDS Resource Center Ohio, please contact Nora Vondrell or 937.461.2437 ext. 2027.

New Organization CultureMASH Already Seeing Vision Come Alive

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A new revolution towards social good..and social change. Where volunteerism meets creativity. CultureMASH is a unified force in the marketing community using their talents and voices to amplify the regions causes, enhance outreach initiatives and transform our younger generation into future leaders.

CultureMASH set out on this mission after seeing the astounding impact social media can have in creating awareness and building community. Though technical aspects apply when building a campaign driven for results, the basic fundamentals of branding still apply. The success of any mission relies on awareness and the key factor in enhancing that awareness is reaching your audience through all mediums.

Frequently, the CultureMASH team shares links, Facebook/ Twitter pages and various articles and videos for non-profits doing great work in and around our region. It is important to all of us that we have a solid understanding of the incredible work being done to improve the lives of thousands of people in Dayton.

Last week, their team was encouraged to follow 30DaysHomeless on Facebook.  Like a good team player Natasha Baker,  immediately went to the page to see what it was all about.

It didn’t take long for her to be deeply moved. If you haven’t heard about this amazing project, Pastor Ryan Riddell of the Shelter Church of Dayton has taken his mission of raising awareness of the homeless in Dayton to the streets-literally. He is living in a van on the streets of Dayton for 30 days.

Through a vlog and Facebook, Ryan is telling the stories of the people he meets and the treatment he receives as an assumed homeless man. And he has gotten the attention of media around the country.

Natasha was inspired by the story of Eddie, a young man who became homeless after aging out of the foster care system at just 18. Ryan helped him get to an interview that resulted in a job for Eddie. And Eddie’s first response to this new opportunity was that it would afford him the chance to go to Sinclair.

Natasha got on the phone and arranged for Eddie to meet with the admissions counselors at Sinclair Community College, secured potential scholarship dollars and funding for supplies and books. “It is the Sinclair way to jump in and help potential students” says, Baker. Eddie is on his way to a college degree and chance at getting life back on track.

Congratulations to Eddie and to thank you to Ryan for the sacrifice and determination to do what you are doing. It is for these kinds of opportunities to help that I joined this team. Natasha stated that she is  “proud to be a part of CultureMASH”..but the organization is just as proud to have her and excited that having only launched in late December of 2010, they are already seeing happen what they knew would.

Jane’s Best Bets (2/2 – 2/6)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Hello February…and hello icky weather!  If you’re reading this, that means you still have power, which is a great thing!  I hope you also have the power to get up off the couch and enjoy some of these events!

On Groundhog Day (a.k.a. Wednesday), eat lunch at Smokey Bones for their $5 Lunch Special.  Over at the Schuster Center, check out the Visual Voices Art Exhibit:  Dayton Skyscrapers 2011, which celebrates “women and men who stand tall as role models in the Dayton African-American community.”  There will be a sea of food at Dorothy Lane Market as part of their Oyster Bar Happy Hour, as well as at Bonefish Grill for their Bang Bang Shrimp Wednesday.  If you are a fan of environmental causes and would like to know more about the lives affected by the water industry as well as public water rights, then you will want to attend the Environmental Film Series: Tapped at Cox Arboretum.  Enjoy an adult beverage at The Wine Loft for their Happy Hour, The Wine Gallery for their Weekly Wine Tasting, or Bruning’s Wine Cellar for their Taste the Wines of Frog’s Leap event.  If you’re downtown, head to the Schuster Center to see 9 to 5: The Musical (I’m looking forward to it after my 9 to 5 job!) or to The Loft Theatre to see Twelfth Night.  Over at Clark State Performing Arts Center, watch Fiddler On The Roof…I’m hoping he doesn’t fall down with it being icy!  And finally, support the UD Flyers as they play St. Bonaventure at UD Arena…and hopefully get a victory!

On Thursday, celebrate the Chinese New Year with dinner specials at both The Nanking Inn and Kabuki.  Have you always wanted to dance, but keep putting it off?  If so, boogie your way to Michael Solomon Pavillion for International Folk Dance Lessons.  Over at the Dayton Racquet Club, attend the Go Red for Women/American Heart Month Kickoff.  At The Neon, check out Pecha Kucha Night Dayton, Volume 6, in which there will be several short presentations by noteworthy people around the city about their creative endeavors.  The presentations will be followed by a screening of the documentary DIVE, which is based on the topic of food waste at L.A. supermarkets.  For more information about Pecha Kucha, click here.  If you like meeting new people, head to Cedarville University to meet Dolly… be sure to tell her Hello, Dolly! Also, at the Schuster Center, you will be able to see 9 TO 5: The Musical, and at The Loft Theatre, you can catch Twelfth Night.

On Friday, after you get out of the shower, be sure to put on your red for the National Wear Red Day, in honor of the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” Movement.  If you wish, you can continue to celebrate the Chinese New Year at China Dynasty, The Nanking Inn, or Kabuki.  Get out your dancing shoes and head to the Michael Solomon Pavilion for the Contra Dance Party – Cityfolk.  If you love a good fish fry, head to either the Ascension or the St. Mary Fish Fry.  All you art lovers will want to participate in First Friday, the fabulous art hop which happens the first Friday of each month downtown.  There will also be many wonderful shows going on in our great region, including 9 to 5: The Musical (Schuster Center), The Octette Bridge Club (Beavercreek Community Theatre), The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee (Dayton Playhouse), Twelfth Night (Loft Theatre), The Berenstain Bears Onstage; A Bear Country Musical! (Town Hall Theatre), and True West (University of Dayton-Kennedy Union Boll Theatre).  And finally, listen to The Rocket Man, The Eagles, Diana Ross, and The Beatles as you skate at RiverScape for their event, Peace, Love, and Skate: 60s and 70s.

On Saturday, bring your Valentine and go to the wonderful El Meson for their Cooking Class for Lovers.  For all you techies, head to the Dayton Diode Open House which has been called a “YMCA for nerds”…perhaps I should go then!  When tragedy strikes, it is important for a community to join together.  Over at St. John’s Lutheran Church, bring your friends and participate in the Dodgeball Tournamnet to benefit the Suzanne Waughtel Hopper fund.  In the evening, there are opportunities to support other great causes.  You can attend the 21st Annual Artemis Center Gala ‘Be a Star, a Purple Carpet Event’ at Sinclair or Sing your Heart Out For A Good Cause (the American Heart Association) at The Wine Loft.  All you “pasghetti” lovers (as many kids call it!) will want to go to the American Legion Post 598 for Franco’s FAMOUS Spaghetti.  Over at RiverScape, participate in the Star-Late Skate.  Also on Saturday, there will be a plethora of theatre options, including 9 to 5: The Musical, The Berenstain Bears Onstage; A Bear Country Musical, The Octette Bridge Club, The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee, Twelfth Night, and True West.

On Sunday, consider going to Alex’s for their Jazz Brunch.  Or you can Savor Your Sunday & Support Stivers at Coco’s Bistro.  If it’s not too cold, perhaps you’ll want to learn the Fundamentals of Skating at RiverScape.  Sundays are a great day for the arts, so consider checking out the Wright State University 2011 Faculty Exhibition, Visual Voices Art Exhibit; Dayton Skyscrapers 2011 at the Schuster Center, Folk Art from the Collection of Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP at The Dayton Art Institute, or A Student of People Exhibit at Troy-Hayner Cultural Center.  Or check out one of the many theatre productions going on around town.  If you still haven’t done so, be sure to check out DMM’s onStageDayton, where Shane, Katherine, and Russell keep you up to date on the Dayton theatre scene!

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

How many pessimists does it take to change a lightbulb?

Nevermind.  Nobody would get the joke anyway.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!  And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!