Portals of Discovery: January 2026

Unify Akron is not a finished product.

From the beginning, this initiative was designed as a learning lab, one that improves as people step into it, question it, and help shape it. 

Democracy isn't about following a perfect blueprint to the letter. Democracy works when people put their fingerprints on it and improve it over time, constantly, together.

Over the last month, many Akron residents, partners, and community members have helped improve the way Unify Akron is running the Civic Assembly by taking the time to ask hard questions and offer suggestions. This is what moves the work forward.

Unify Akron is dubbing these moments–when we find weaknesses or oversights in our thinking, and areas for improvement–“Portals of Discovery.”

This framing is about learning and not defensiveness. It’s a reminder that feedback isn’t a disruption to the process; it’s part of the process. When someone names a blind spot, they’re not pointing backward. They’re opening the next door.

Portals of Discovery acknowledge that wisdom doesn’t arrive all at once. It emerges through participation, trust, and honest exchange. And that’s exactly what Unify Akron is built to invite.

Portal #1: Including Unstable Housing on Lottery Form

People experiencing homelessness currently or in the past are intentionally included in this process through existing organizations, outreach, and idea generation conversations. But several people (in conversations, emails, and community meetings) pointed out something that should have been clear from the start: the Civic Lottery sign-up form didn’t make it easy for people without stable housing to see themselves in the process.

That feedback was spot on. People experiencing housing instability are among those most affected by the issue this Assembly is taking on. When community members flagged this gap, they weren’t just correcting a form. They were protecting the integrity of the process.

A question on the form that asks applicants about their current living arrangement (which initially included rent or own) has been updated to include not having a stable place.

Portal #2: Creating a Housing Resources Guide

As the Outreach Team has been out in the community sharing information and recruiting people to sign up for the lottery, many people don’t just share ideas. They share what they’re dealing with right now.

Impending evictions. Unsafe living conditions. Nowhere to turn.

Thank you to the individuals who, in the middle of difficult situations, still took the time to engage, and who gently but clearly named a need: If you’re going to ask people to share, you also need somewhere to point them for help.

While Unify Akron isn’t a direct service provider, its volunteers, staff, and contractors must be responsible listeners who can direct the help they may need. This new housing resources guide includes the Akron Street Card, thanks to Axess Family Services.

Portal #3: Considering the Reading Level of Materials

The Accountability Team pointed out that some Unify Akron materials were too hard to get through.

They recommended using an 8th-grade reading level as the new filter.

Choosing this reading level wasn’t about lowering standards. It was about respecting people’s time, energy, and right to fully understand what they’re being invited into.

Portal #4: Being Clear About Who’s at the Table

One of the most common — and fair — questions the Unify Akron Teams have heard is:

“Akron doesn’t need another initiative. Isn’t another group already doing this?”

Thank you for asking this out loud. Unify Akron needed to be more transparent about who’s involved, how this work connects to other efforts, and where the Civic Assembly fits in a much larger housing ecosystem.

By being more open about our partners and collaborators, we’re acknowledging something important: this work doesn’t belong to one organization. It’s part of a bigger puzzle that’s already being put together.

Unify Akron and its first Civic Assembly don’t replace or compete with existing efforts. They’re a way to honor and organize what’s already here—bringing experience, expertise, and decision-making power into the same room. The goal is not to invent something new, but to help Akron use its strengths more effectively and turn long-standing efforts into visible, community-shaped action.

In short: this isn’t another initiative. It’s a different way of working together, built on Akron’s strengths and designed to help the city do what it’s already capable of doing—just with better alignment, clarity, and follow-through.

The team is working on a new webpage to highlight the partners at the table that will be live later this month.

If you’ve shared feedback already, thank you.
If you’re considering it, please do.

This work gets better because people like you help it get better.