Youngstown's Ray Of Hope

[AllanY2525]

The city's image is improving, albeit much slower than we all would like to see it happen,
but it is happening nonetheless.  The younger generations these days tend to check things
out for themselves, often and they are indeed the hope for tomorrow.  They will be running
this city some day, after all.

If you read all of the positive news articles online for the past couple years or so,
the word is already out that Youngstown is changing for the better, coming back to
life.

I have a lot of hope for the city and faith in the younger "movers and shakers" that
are effecting change in the city, all of the neighborhood groups, the volunteers that
are getting things done WITHOUT the intervention of local government monies, etc.

The recent installation of the new playground at Wick Park is a prime example of
what can be accomplished by everyday folks, without government help.

[Towntalk]

 Many people living in the suburbs are terrified of Youngstown, and would rather chop off their right are than come downtown, and will not under any circumstance travel down South Avenue; Market Street; Glenwood Avenue; Mahoning Avenue; or Wilson Avenue, and sadly this means that they do not attend any of the events at Covelli; DeYor; Stambaugh, or any of the festivals, and nothing any of us say will change their minds.

Sadly, for many of these people it is silent unspoken racism, but for most it's the same fear that prompted them to move out of the city selling their homes at a loss, and these are the families that Youngstown could least afford to lose.

The recent favorable comments on the part of a group of Canfield High School students give us hope that as they leave the nest they will be the catalyst for a more positive view of the city, but it will take generations before the folks living in the suburbs will not be afraid to venture downtown.

Then there are those who hate Youngstown purely for the sake of hatred, and nothing will ever change their minds, and our only sensible course is to write them off, and not even try to argue with them.

The bottom line is the fact that we are going to have to work on an image change for our city, because it's not going to  come from City Hall any time soon.

[AllanY2525]

Great article - nice to see that downtown Youngstown is continuing to develop a
new reputation amongst the younger crowd.

[Towntalk]

Sometimes it takes outsiders to shine the light of hope on our city, and in this case it was students from Canfield, and we thank them.

http://www.vindy.com/news/2014/sep/10/downtown-youngstown-canfield-students-ta/