Introduction

Hello and welcome back from the other side of winter! Now that the days are longer and warmer, it’s time to get our programming moving for 2026! In this quarter we will talk about our upcoming events, organizational updates, and recap the last quarter. For all things Big Love, make sure to check out the newsletter and stay up to date with the latest updates via our social media channels.

What’s Ahead

April 2026

April kicks off our programming with the return of Expression Lounge! This event is the culmination of community and artistry. On the 3rd Wednesday of each month, join us at the Big Love Cafe (1111 Carey Ave) for an open mic to express yourself however you’d like. Co-hosted with Angry Cow Poetry. April 15 doors 6:30, mic at 7 with food (vegan friendly), drinks, and local artists. The featured poet for April is Poetryfeen. Donations appreciated but not required.

We will also be tabling at Akron Zoo’s Party for the Planet, an Earth Week kickoff event connecting environmental and conservation groups. This family friendly event will take place from 10am-5pm within Akron Zoo (general admission required, members welcome free).

We are currently in a state of Emergency Mobilization to submit comments concerning Section 129 of the Clean Air Act and the Response Management Program which directly impacts citizens of East Akron. For more information on these active efforts, check out our newsletter here. We are also hosting a statewide virtual training April 22 at 6:30pm for those who want to learn more about pyrolysis or need help filing your comment. This event is partnered with Buckeye Environmental Network and People Over Polymers. The registration can be found at here, which will share a confirmation email with the information for the virtual meeting.

May 2026

Big Love is excited to announce our Build The Fence Party for our urban farm in collaboration with Wild Soil Farm. We will have free live music, food, drink, and trees! Help us build a pallet fence and plant trees. All are welcome to join us at 71 Ira Rd from 12pm-5pm on May 3, 2026.

Every other month, the week before Expression Lounge will host a workshop for storytelling. Our first workshop of 2026, on May 13 from 7-8:30pm, is hosted by Angry Cow Poetry’s Keith Allison on Erasure. Donations are encouraged for participation and sign ups are encouraged through this SignUpGenius.

The following week’s Expression Lounge (5/20 6:30pm doors, 7-9pm mic) featured artist is Xposyur. We may have a featured small business or caterer, which will be announced as an update through our social media channels.

We will also be beginning Kenmore Community Potlucks on the 3rd Saturday of each month. Join us at the cafe from 2-4pm for sharing in food and discussing community concerns.

We are also honored to take part in EANDC’s NeighborWorks Week, which is a two part event! The community impact celebration will be held at Minson Plaza (528 S. Arlington Akron) on May 29. There will be local food trucks, musicians, and connection. EANDC will be hosting the second part of NeighborWorks Week June 6th (for more information check out their website).

June 2026

We are loaded with exciting developments this June! For other organizations in NEO working on environmental justice, we will be hosting an EJ Happy Hour to connect and strengthen our relationships within our community. This event is private invite for organizations, or make inquiries through social media or email for more information.

Our next June event is Expression Lounge which has been set for June 17 with the featured artist of Samson the Poet. Doors open at 6:30pm with an open mic available at 7:00pm. Food, drink, and potential additional vendors to be announced through social media.

Our Kenmore Community Potluck will be held on June 20th at the Big Love Cafe from 2-4pm. We look forward to sharing in food, community, and conversation.

Organizational Updates & Quarter in Review

Our office has been reorganized through the winter with the help of some of our incredible staff and volunteers. Our director of programming (Beth Vild) is now a certified Permaculture Design instructor. This will be instrumental in supporting the work of our City Repair Project for reforestation of East Akron. Big Love has acquired a corner lot and are currently surveying residents to understand what would be most impactful in their immediately located community.

Beth Vild traveled to Louisiana to take part in The Descendant’s Project put on by Break Free From Plastic to learn and share with other frontline groups from across the country. Beth also traveled to participate in a series of 4 confidential tours of “advanced recycling’ plants to learn about the chemicals they use. A blog post from Beth will be upcoming with an overview and breakdown.

We have continued our advocacy work through calls to action and updates through our social media pages. Pay attention to upcoming calls to action for the state ballot initiative related to AI data centers.

Warm regards,

The Big Love Network

Bonus: Words from Zach

Every spring comes with hope. The energy of new growth, warmth, and the unmistakable touch of sunshine is palpable everywhere. It’s odd to speak of hope right now. I feel that. We’re planning Expression Lounge, wondering if nuclear apocalypse will be unleashed immanently. This level of surreality is something I’m not sure our species has really experienced.  

As with all things, Big Love looks to Nature for organizing, guidance, and inspiration. Spring is incredibly important in these times of rising fascism and systemic chaos. In many senses it feels like we are in an ever-darkening winter. Spring teaches us that if we do the work we can do, if we organize our energy and strengthen our networks of support, we can find a way into a new vibrancy. 

Organizing is sometimes symbolized with an iceberg. What we see of an iceberg is typically only a small percentage of what exists below the surface. Most community-building and organizing efforts are typically things that happen below the surface. Building community isn’t often the flashy, sexy work. 

Returning to the metaphor of Spring, we are learning that during Winter plants are not simply sleeping. They are focusing their energy on their roots, digging deeper, growing their stability. And those months of such work is what allows the new green buds and blossoms to emerge the moment there is a pocket of sunshine or warmth. 

If every connection made, in every door knocking conversation, in every pot luck and petition, in every coming together, we are fueling the emergence of a beautiful blossoming. Life, and humanity, are both resilient and infinitely creative. We’ve dreamed of seeing the stars, and we have created a reality that has sent humans to the moon. If we really dream of a compassionate, thriving, sustainable future, we can surely midwife that existence.

A few reminders as we do the work our future generations are looking through time calling for us do:

“Love has never been a popular movement. And no one’s ever wanted, really, to be free. The world is held together, really it is held together, by the love and passion of a very few people. Otherwise, of course, you can despair. Walk down the street of any city, any afternoon, and look around you. What you’ve got to remember is what you’re looking at is also you. You could be that person. You could be that monster, you could be that cop. And you have to decide, in yourself, not to be.” – James Baldwin 

“Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world.” – Dolores Huerta

Peace,

Zach