Inside the revival of Akron’s Middlebury neighborhood, led by The Well CDC

Another food entrepreneur is Liz Stannard, with her Waxed Crescent Grazing Company catering business, which has used Akron Food Works for four years, and plans to move into its own space next spring. “Akron Food Works has been an incredible support, helping me build my business, secure a space and now move toward a full production kitchen,” she said. “I honestly couldn’t have done it without their resources, their expertise and their constant support.”

The Well also tackled Middlebury’s most urgent challenge: housing. Since 2018, the organization has acquired and rehabilitated 115 homes, bringing stability to blocks long dominated by disinvestment and absentee landlords. This work has helped residents feel rooted again; families are choosing to stay and millions of dollars of investment have begun flowing into a place that for decades saw none.

Knight Foundation, as part of its commitment to Akron as a Knight community, has invested over $10 million in recent years to support The Well CDC’s work to acquire and rehabilitate homes, strengthen community and provide affordable, quality housing.

As The Well CDC’s Associate Executive Director Jen Meade put it, The Well’s work has finally started to show the “fruits of our labor” after years of steady effort. “We’re seeing more neighbors knowing each other, houses getting new siding, more places where people are connecting,” she said. “We’re seeing millions of dollars come into this neighborhood, and 10 years ago that just wasn’t happening.”

Meade noted that she is a resident of Middlebury, and 13 of The Well CDC’s staff and board live and/or work in the neighborhood.

Kohl notes that The Well’s work has helped residents feel more connected to their place. “They feel like they’re a part of something bigger than themselves,” he said. “Whether it’s housing, workforce development, or boosting the economy, we want people to know that they’re a part of a neighborhood and that they’re not fighting alone. All of our programming and work on the built environment and our real estate development work points to this idea that ‘you’re not alone.’”

The Well’s impact in Middlebury is most visible in the physical transformation of the neighborhood. Since 2018, the organization has acquired and rehabilitated 115 homes, providing long-term stability for families who had often lived with poor conditions and absentee landlords. What was once a patchwork of deteriorating houses is now a series of revitalized blocks, strengthened by more than $25 million in reinvestment flowing into a community that had previously been overlooked. The Well’s “60 for 60” campaign, which launched in 2018 with $2 million in support from Knight, aimed to rehabilitate 60 homes in 60 months, but was completed in just two years.

One story of impact exemplifies just how much The Well can change lives. Tiffany Williams, a nursing assistant, found herself homeless while caring for her children. Through a community partner of The Well CDC, she was able to live rent free in a home for six months, giving her stability and support she desperately needed. Eventually she was offered a home to rent that she fell in love with. For Tiffany, The Well CDC wasn’t just about housing — it was about community and dignity.

“They have a great community, great people and are very understanding,” she said. “I am blessed to be part of the village. They are like an angel from above.” She learned that even in her darkest times, leaning on a supportive network could make all the difference. Inspired by the care and guidance she received, Tiffany hopes to advocate for homeless women and support others navigating challenges she knows all too well.

The Well’s elementary school programs, neighborhood gatherings and public spaces have helped spark a newfound sense of belonging in Middlebury. Their capacity-building, persistent engagement and community-led planning have earned trust from residents and funders alike. The result is a neighborhood that not only looks different, but feels different: more stable, more connected and more hopeful than it has been in decades.

“They have a great community, great people and are very understanding,” she said. “I am blessed to be part of the village. They are like an angel from above.” She learned that even in her darkest times, leaning on a supportive network could make all the difference. Inspired by the care and guidance she received, Tiffany hopes to advocate for homeless women and support others navigating challenges she knows all too well.

The Well’s elementary school programs, neighborhood gatherings and public spaces have helped spark a newfound sense of belonging in Middlebury. Their capacity-building, persistent engagement and community-led planning have earned trust from residents and funders alike. The result is a neighborhood that not only looks different, but feels different: more stable, more connected and more hopeful than it has been in decades.

Mark Glaser is a communications consultant for Knight Foundation, Press Forward, Tiny News Collective and The Lenfest Institute, and was the founder and executive editor of MediaShift.org. He was formerly the director of business and program development for the New Mexico Local News Fund. He runs the Wind Power Media consultancy out of Santa Fe.