About Us

Want to learn more about what we do and why we do it?

Scroll down below and get to know us better or download, print and share our Neighborhood Network brochure HERE!

Neighborhood Network/Habitat for Humanity Partnership
Our Mission
We Do This By…
Core Team and Staff
Community Partners & Funders
Get Involved

Neighborhood Network meeting trolley tour

Becoming a Habitat for Humanity Program

In June of 2016, Neighborhood Network partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Summit County, fourteen other organizations and approximately 150 volunteers for the first “Neighborhood Reborn” project where we completing eleven exterior home repairs, four “artistic board-ups” and multiple vacant lot clean ups on Roselawn and Excelsior Avenues in the Middlebury neighborhood of Akron. Due to the project’s success, two additional Neighborhood Reborn projects were completed in October 2016 and May 2017, expanding the impact to the remaining portion of the Roselawn/Excelsior neighborhood and moving to the Bettie Street neighborhood in Middlebury. Because of these proven partnerships and mission/programmatic alignment, Neighborhood Network officially because a Habitat for Humanity of Summit County program in May 2017.

Our Mission

To build a unified voice to renew our community.

With focus on the Middlebury and University Park neighborhoods in Akron.

We do this by:

- Engaging neighborhood organizations, block clubs, faith communities, social service agencies, and businesses
- Building relationships and community
- Identifying, strengthening and connecting our assets
- Cultivating leaders and
- Advocating for action that attracts investment and ensures a safe, economically vibrant place to live, work and raise a family

Neighborhood Network has defined statements that we often use during our meetings, at outreach events, or with our Core Team. These phrases and their definitions give us, the network, a shared language that we can use when we work together in the community.

Get Involved:

Interested in getting involved with Neighborhood Network? We appreciate the help from any Community Champions! We are always door knocking, planning events, or helping neighbors with issues that might need a few more hands! Please email Megan at [email protected] to to let us know your ideas or to learn what we have going on. Also, check out our Instagram and Facebook @NeighborhoodNetworkAkron for the most up to date information on the Network! Below you can learn more about our Core Team, a volunteer advisory board consisting of stakeholders and neighbors in Middlebury or University Park. If you’re interested in a leadership role on the Core Team, please contact Megan to get started!

Meet the Neighborhood Network Core Team Members


Dr. Carolyn Behrman Professor of Anthropology and Co-Director of the EXL Center, The University of Akron Carolyn Behrman became involved with Mason Elementary School and the Bettie Street Block Watch in the early 2000s when she and her students sought partnerships for community-based research. Read More... These partnerships helped university students learn research methods while working with partner organizations on real-world concerns. Over the years, she has been fortunate to find colleagues and makes friends in the Middlebury community. She joined the Neighborhood Network Core Team in 2015.		Lisa Ennis Executive Director, Kohl Family YMCA at University Park Lisa lives and works in Akron, Ohio. She joined the Y movement in 2007 and works to strengthen community through life-changing Y programs and services. Read More... Lisa believes it is a privilege to work for an entity dedicated to removing barriers, so that everyone has the ability to learn, grow and thrive. She joined the Neighborhood Network Core Team in 2017.

Roberta Rogers Recreation Supervisor PPT, Mason CLC Roberta G. Rogers is a Recreation Supervisor PPT at Mason CLC on E. Exchange Street. She has a great husband and two successful young adults to be proud of. Read More... She was a devoted to teaching teachers for Akron Public Schools. She has strong beliefs in her church. She is a active achiever in community groups and works hard as a positive group leader. Roberta joined the Neighborhood Network Core Team in 2015.		Eric Green Director of Environmental & Occupational Health and Safety, The University of Akron Eric Green has worked at the University of Akron since 2005. While at UA Green has worked closely with community development corporations, city and county departments/agencies, neighborhood watch groups, community gardens, and UA student/staff community engagement actives. Read More... Green completed the Leadership Akron UniverCity Leadership Class in 2015 and has served as a university representative on safety committees, regional transportation projects, special improvement districts, community arts programs, and other planning and development projects. Green also volunteers as a facilitator for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and as a youth soccer coach. Eric was a founding member of the Neighborhood Network Core Team in 2010.

Sue Hazelet Manager of Senior’s Institute Research, Summa Health Sue is a former resident of the Middlebury neighborhood and currently works and attends church in Middlebury. Read More... She joined the Neighborhood Network Core Team in 2016 through her work with church activities focused on inner city missions.		Pastor Ron Shultz Pastor, Family of Faith United Methodist Church In addition to being the pastor of Family of Faith United Methodist Church since 2009, Pastor Shultz is a founding member of the Neighborhood Network. Read More... His church, which is located at 800 E. Market Street, hosts the monthly Neighborhood Network meetings. A native-born Akronite, Pastor Shultz has a deep passion for urban ministry which led him to become an active leader in the early development of the Neighborhood Network and continues to be the foundation for his work on the Core Team today.

Marissa Little Vice President of Programming, Habitat for Humanity of Summit County A graduate from the University of Akron, with a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration. Read More... Marissa has organized community residents to improve and advocate for the Middlebury and University Park communities since May 2015. Marissa, her husband, their son, two cats and two dogs live in Akron. In her spare time she enjoys gardening and bar-tending at the local winery.		Megan Delong Neighborhood Network Manager Megan Delong loves her neighborhood and the people in it. The Akron native graduated from the University of Akron with a degree in Sociology in 2018, and has lived with her significant other Sam in Middlebury since 2019. Read More... Megan became more involved with Neighborhood Network once she started to coordinate the Middlebury and University Park Walk Audits. In her role now, she hopes to learn more about community organizing and planning events that encourage community pride among neighbors. In her off time, Megan can often be found painting, volunteering on local committees, or enjoying the tacos from Azteca.