Master of Arts, University of Akron, 2017, Theatre Arts-Arts Administration

In Youngstown, Ohio and the Mahoning Valley region, the arts community and local economic leaders of the city wanted to jumpstart innovative change that would improve the quality of life for residents, and develop solutions to attract new businesses and organizations to be a part of the community. Discussion among artists and economic leaders were made to inspire the arts and economic development sectors to work together. However, there was an equal number of doubts expressed about the possibilities of coordinated plans to improve the state of Youngstown's community by implementing art throughout the public spaces. The purpose of this research was to study perceptions about the arts in Youngstown, Ohio in order to learn more about the feasibility of public art in the community and to better understand how to implement an arts-focused plan to strengthen the economy of Youngstown, Ohio. This study was conducted to investigate arts practitioners' and consumers' perceptions about the arts community's potential economic impact on Youngstown. Also, the study considered these perceptions when analyzing the importance of incorporating public art to encourage economic growth and development.

Committee: Elisa Gargarella Dr. (Advisor); Dominic Marchionda (Committee Member); Raymond Cox, III Dr. (Other) Subjects: Arts Management; Business Administration; Business Community; Economic Theory; Entrepreneurship; Fine Arts; Public Administration; Urban Planning

Doctor of Education , University of Dayton, 2022, Educational Leadership

This dissertation in practice examines the absence of an advocacy framework for Black placemakers in southwest Springfield neighborhoods seeking to transform vacant spaces into vibrant pocket parks, green spaces, and community gardens. This critical community-based participatory research addresses inadequate public policies, resources, and technical assistance to create and sustain neighborhood sites for endurance, belonging, and resistance. Thematic findings indicated that systemic issues, street-level organizing, and sustainability are primary barriers and opportunities. An action intervention and change process was developed to establish the Springfield Park and Green Space Ecosystem (SPGE). The action plan focuses on a community coalition of power building, a community benefits agreement, zoning revisions, and public-private partnerships with results-based accountability.

Committee: James Olive (Committee Chair); Castel Sweet (Committee Member); Pamela Cross Young (Committee Member) Subjects: African American Studies; Agricultural Education; Area Planning and Development; Behaviorial Sciences; Climate Change; Conservation; Cultural Anthropology; Environmental Education; Environmental Health; Environmental Justice; Land Use Planning; Landscape Architecture; Landscaping; Public Administration; Public Health; Public Health Education; Public Policy; Sustainability; Urban Forestry; Urban Planning

Master of Arts, University of Toledo, 2014, Geography

For over 100 years neighborhood-based initiatives have been enacted as a means to alleviate conditions associated with spatially concentrated poverty. And yet, these sociospatial strategies have shown limited success. The scope of this research attends to the range of initiatives encompassing schools and neighborhood centers and correlations to the contemporary community school reform movement. This point of reference is utilized to weigh the means to which community schools may stimulate broader neighborhood-based improvements. School-centered community revitalization rests upon a participatory development approach funded by an asset-based and capacity building framework for community development that utilizes resident-led initiatives and decision making that is context-based and affected from within. This research travels the recent academic reform of an inner-city public school in Toledo, Ohio. This course of inquiry draws from current literature and case study findings as a means of charting corridors to advance neighborhood-based revitalization efforts. This research also furthers the understanding of the broader issue of neighborhood-based initiatives.

Committee: Sujata Shetty Dr. (Committee Chair); Mary Beth Schlemper Dr. (Committee Member); David J. Nemeth Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Curriculum Development; Education Philosophy; Education Policy; Geography; Pedagogy

BUP/MCP, University of Cincinnati, 2008, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning : Community Planning

Asset Mapping utilizes the concepts of physical capital, human capital, and social capital, as a holistic way of evaluation for revitalization and economic development. Challenges exist within most communities and focusing on only one aspect of development and/or revitalization separate from the others is not beneficial in the long run for sustainable planning and more often than not causes a disconnection between residents, organizations, and local/regional institutions. Asset Mapping encourages cooperation between the components of a community that make it work, or not, and examines the structures of process. A capacity building initiative, Asset Mapping focuses on positive resources instead of needs and problems, encouraging momentum towards networking that can build a strong foundation connecting social and institutional dichotomy. Asset Mapping makes it easier to deal with community negatives by identifying and accentuating the positive resources which can be utilized efficiently and directly to resolve challenges and issues.

Committee: Mahyar Arefi Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Rainer Vom Hofe Ph.D. (Committee Co-Chair); Jan Hillard Ph.D. (Committee Member); Joyce Malek Ph.D. (Committee Member); David Kennedy (Advisor) Subjects: Area planning & Business Community; Social Research; Urban Planning; development

Master of Arts, Miami University, 2010, Geography

An ongoing challenge for planning and design professions is integrating place perceptions with future development plans to promote sensitivity to local contexts. This sensitivity is particularly important for planners initiating downtown revitalization in the face of deindustrialization and shrinking urban populations. Using the case study of downtown Middletown, a post-industrial city in southwest Ohio, this study explores methods of gauging and articulating local sense of place by gathering community stories, conducting semi-structured interviews, and engaging participants in public forums. It relies on an understanding of place as changing through space and time amidst complex social interactions, and it investigates community participation in the planning process as a way to assess relationships to the downtown and the community. The study reveals that planners and designers may need to tap into these place perceptions prior to establishing a meaningful framework for community participation.

Committee: David Prytherch PhD (Advisor); Robert Benson PhD (Committee Member); Bruce D'Arcus PhD (Committee Member); Marcia England PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Geography; Urban Planning

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Ohio University, 2024, Business Administration

Small towns play a critical role in shaping the economic and social fabric of many regions worldwide. Small-town entrepreneurial activity can drive innovation, economic growth, and job creation, but it also faces unique challenges and opportunities (Malecki, 2018). This thesis investigates the unique challenges and opportunities entrepreneurs face in small-town entrepreneurial ecosystems (STEEs), focusing on two case studies in Ironton and Athens, Ohio. The thesis examines the critical role of anchor institutions, community support and social capital, policy and resource provision, and innovation and diversification in shaping these ecosystems (Feld, 2012; Roundy, 2017; Stam, 2015). Through a comparative analysis, the study finds that strong community bonds, success stories, and community-building activities contribute to a supportive environment for entrepreneurship. Limited customer bases, lack of local job opportunities, and limited community support hinder growth. The presence of anchor institutions, such as universities, is a vital factor in fostering innovation and higher-paying jobs (Etzkowitz, 2008; Stangler & Bell-Masterson, 2015). The findings have implications for policymakers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders seeking to promote entrepreneurial activity in small towns and other non-urban contexts.

Committee: Luke Pittaway (Advisor) Subjects: Entrepreneurship

MARCH, University of Cincinnati, 2021, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning: Architecture

Mound Bayou, Mississippi is a small community founded by newly freed African-Americans in 1887. Historically known as an agricultural town, it thrived economically, educationally, and spiritually into the first decades of the 20th century while becoming a physical example of the desire of African-Americans to self-determine. By the time of the Great Depression, Mound Bayou began a slow and painful decline with the economic downturn and the introduction and influence of mechanization on agriculture, costing people their livelihoods. Mound Bayou today stands as memory of a proud historic past worthy of revitalization and reinvestment in its people and their community for continued existence in the 21st century. As a contemporary representation of the concept of a “Just City”, the purpose of this thesis shall be to inquire and examine the current conditions of Mound Bayou. In addition, this will be an exploration of how architecture can serve as a catalyst in conceptualizing a future on how this community can take its first steps to revitalization. The main focus of the design will be a new Community Center and Vocational school serving as way to influence the economic and communal reinvestment into this Mississippi Delta town.

Committee: Michael McInturf M.Arch. (Committee Chair); Elizabeth Riorden M.Arch. (Committee Member) Subjects: Architecture

MS, Kent State University, 2018, College of Architecture and Environmental Design

This research examines to what extent place attachment influences community involvement in historic downtown revitalization, specifically in the case of Canton, Ohio. Place attachment, defined as the bond between person and place, can be incredibly insightful as to the community desires, especially when dealing with deeply rooted historic sites. Commonly believed to be composed of three major elements - person, place, and process - this breakdown will provide three separate lenses for which to analyze place attachment. The first perspective will look at the socio-cultural influences (person), examining views presented by Sharon Zukin and Jane Jacobs. The second perspective, or lens, is the architectural or built component of the downtown (place), implementing theories of Kevin Lynch and Aldo Rossi. The final perspective is the role of political-economic impacts (process), looking at theories presented by David Harvey and Richard Florida. These perspectives are used to measure the levels of influence of place attachment and its effect on the various aspects at play. The interviews and mapping exercises focus on investigating the bond of place attachment and community involvement, are viewed in three unique ways to assess their importance and influence on historic revitalization.

Committee: Bill Willoughby (Advisor); Adil Sharag-Eldin (Committee Member); Richard Adams (Committee Member); Jennifer Mapes (Committee Member) Subjects: Architectural; Architecture; Political Science; Sociology

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2015, Leadership and Change

Many authors point to expanding disparities related to wealth and social benefits brought by globalization and the creative city movement while culture and creativity emerge as growing forces in urban placemaking and economic development. The phenomenon of cultural district formation in cities around the globe presents challenges and opportunities for leaders, planners, and managers. Emerging theory related to cultural districts suggests culture can serve to build horizontal relationships that bridge people and networks from different sectors and professions as well as across ethnicities, class, and interests. Research for this dissertation examined the formation of three urban cultural districts social and their respective organizational networks in different contexts. I employed a multiple case study approach to ask: How do horizontal networks form in the process of planning, organizing and/or ongoing management of cultural districts, and what kinds of benefits do those networks generate within their communities? Field research focused on districts in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and Miami. This dissertation is positioned within ongoing discourse around the tension between form and function in the production of space (Lefebvre, 1974/1991) and within the dialectic of centralization and decentralization in urban planning and governance (Friedmann, 1971) characterized by the push for broad social equity and the pull of local control. Research found that strong horizontal networks characterized by dense and active grassroots leadership were present at the same time as relative community stability and higher levels of social and economic equity. Where horizontal networks were weak, social and economic tensions were higher. The research did not examine other potential factors and thus cannot ascertain whether strong networks resulted in greater stability and equity or whether stability and more equitable conditions brought on by other factors fostered the formation of stro (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Jon Wergin Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Laurien Alexandre Ph.D. (Committee Member); Mark J. Stern Ph.D. (Committee Member); Emily Talen Ph.D. (Other) Subjects: Area Planning and Development; Arts Management; Cultural Resources Management; Urban Planning

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2012, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning: Regional Development Planning

First-suburbs in the U.S. currently face a host of problems conventionally associated with urban areas. Over the last several decades first-suburbs have exhibited characteristics of “suburban decline” characterized by shrinking business districts, declining deteriorating residential neighborhoods, population loss, and the emergence of crime. However, unlike their urban counterparts, which often receive federal, state, and county level support, first-suburbs often lack the support mechanisms necessary to alleviate decline and encourage community reinvestment. More recently, the problems facing first-suburbs have been exacerbated with the current foreclosure crisis and economic recession. With elected officials and administrators of first-suburban communities facing budget constraints and increased threats to neighborhood stability, it is important to revisit the idea of social capital as a tool for community development. The use of social capital as a mechanism of community development has been explored for over the last two decades. However, much of the research on this topic focused on its role and function in the revitalization of low-income communities across the United States and beyond; and to a lesser extent on low to middle-income first-suburban communities within the US. In addition, as the problems that were formally associated with the inner-city are now visible in first- suburb neighborhoods, new prospects arise for CDCs to play an active role in the redevelopment of inner-ring suburban communities. This research provides a descriptive analysis of how social capital is mobilized and acts as a catalyst for addressing problems of neighborhood blight, aging housing stock, foreclosure prevention, fighting crime, declining homeownership opportunities, and overall community image within first-suburbs. Using a case study methodology, this research investigated the present role and future potential of: 1) community social capital as a community development tool (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Mahyar Arefi PhD (Committee Chair); Christopher Auffrey PhD (Committee Member); Clement Jeffrey Jacobson PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Urban Planning

MCP, University of Cincinnati, 2010, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning : Community Planning

Community Development Corporations (CDCs) function in a highly competitive environment in which they constantly strive for resources and funding. In order to position itself for success, a CDC must possess knowledge of the various characteristics and traits that tend to lead to success. I propose that a strong support network and competent staff are necessary to accomplish this. This thesis employs a qualitative case study which explores the factors that influence the success of a local CDC, Price Hill Will (PHW). The methodology includes an analysis of open-ended interviews and report documents used to gauge which factors were most prevalent. The research uncovered five basic factors that appear to influence the success of PHW: effective and strong leadership; competent staff; political back and support; adequate and diverse funding; and an extensive network and reliable, strategic partnerships. CDC Board members and funders should consider recruiting top leaders and an experienced staff in order to increase the potential for neighborhood revitalization. An effective leader and staff are necessary to garner the political and financial support that is necessary to carry out a CDCs mission.

Committee: Charles Ellison PhD (Committee Chair); David Varady PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Urban Planning

MARCH, University of Cincinnati, 2006, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning : Architecture (Master of)

The small towns America was built upon have begun to deteriorate allowing for a loss of identity and a community without a sense of belonging. The center of the city has lost its importance with the loss of specialty stores and locally owned venues, along with the creation of new businesses and workplaces being established outside its boundaries. The integration of identity, local pride, and social organization were key elements implemented within the structure of the community. In order to reestablish identity and encourage civic presence once again, the city center must be revitalized. By exploring the history of the small town, researching examples of strong city center principles, investigating the essentials of civic space and the public realm, and examining the necessary elements that promote active citizens, this thesis proposes a solution to the decay of the American small town.

Committee: Jay Chatterjee (Advisor) Subjects: Architecture

MARCH, University of Cincinnati, 2004, Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning: Architecture (Master of)

American cities have become increasingly complex. Within the last century alone, cities have seen the explosion of interstate highways, the growth of suburban development, and the social implications that result from the diversification and disorganization of our nation's cities and communities. These shifts have fostered the growth of specialized nodes of activity surrounding the traditional city center and have created networks of unique enclaves of activity. For much of the past century, sociologists, architects, urban planners and business leaders have searched for tools to appropriately model these changes in order to better understand their affect on the current culture. A progression can be seen in the models of urban land use, retailing forms, and community structure that lead to the same end. These nodes of specialization are becoming ever more powerful, as consumers and community residents look to appropriate a certain amount of the experiential qualities they offer. No longer do Americans merely purchase a product off the shelf. Instead, consumers are looking to buy into the experience, environment, and lifestyle promised by the ownership of a certain commodity. This need also applies to residential communities. By following the implications found in the progression of the presented models, an examination of the historic Milford downtown will show the potential of a new model. Through the exploration of Milford's long history and the application of appropriate limiters to downtown scale and use, the area will provide the experiential retail and community centered environments that consumers and residents have been lacking. The end project will support the growth of a strong community consciousness.

Committee: Barry Stedman (Advisor) Subjects: Architecture

Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, 2011, Geography (Arts and Sciences)

Since the 1980s environmental service delivery funding at both the state and city government level has been in decline, limiting urban community forestry programs. This research used governance theory to explore how Casey Trees in Washington, DC and the Parks and People Foundation in Baltimore, Maryland work with municipal resource agencies to promote urban community forestry. This in-depth analysis advances our understanding of governance theory at the citywide and neighborhood scale by examining how these local nonprofits have entered the playing field of environmental service delivery. Two neighborhoods, Petworth in Washington, DC and Franklin Square in Baltimore, were selected to address how nonprofits operate on the ground to promote change at a local scale through neighborhood revitalization. Exploring the role of nonprofits sheds light on the complexity of urban community forestry partnerships.

Committee: Geoffrey Buckley PhD (Advisor); Harold Perkins PhD (Committee Member); Risa Whitson PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Natural Resource Management; Urban Forestry; Urban Planning

Master of Urban Planning, Design and Development, Cleveland State University, 2011, Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs

This paper examines the effect of poor school quality on neighborhood revitalization efforts in four Cleveland neighborhoods: Ohio City, Detroit Shoreway, Tremont and Downtown. The report employs survey research and real estate data analysis to examine the extent to which failing public schools encourage residents to leave the city for the suburbs, undermining efforts at revitalization. The research was particularly concerned with examining the effect on middle-class residents, or “residents of choice,” who chose to live in Cleveland although other options are available to them financially. Original research bore out common assumptions about the impact of poorly performing local schools on middle-class tenure in the city. A survey of 271 Near West and Downtown Cleveland residents revealed an overwhelmingly negative perception of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Prospective parents almost universally reported they do not perceive the urban school district to be a viable option for their future children. Only 9 percent reported they would remain in the city and send their children to a public school, given the opportunity. This attitude was reflected as well in the neighborhood's parents, a clear majority of which (65 percent) reported their children are enrolled in private schools. It is easy to see how this negative perception of the public school system could hinder residential and neighborhood stability. About 72 percent of those surveyed said they either “had not reached the stage in their life for children,” or had children that have not reached school age. A total of 62 percent of this population said they would move to a suburban district when the time came, or that they “weren't sure” whether they would move or stay. A supporting real estate analysis, although limited in scope, showed that 66 percent of neighborhood residents who sold homes valued at $100,000 or more relocated to a suburban municipality. These results have important implications (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Brian Mikelbank PhD (Advisor); Edward Hill PhD (Committee Member); Dennis Keating PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Urban Planning