A scene from Sinclair's production of "Women of Lockerbie."

One of the greatest strengths of the Theatre program at Sinclair Community College is its focus on the individual student, according to Steven Skiles, chair of Sinclair’s Theatre and Dance Department.

“We want to get to know our students,” Skiles says. “We want to get to know what their goals are. Do you want to go on to a four-year institution? Do you want to go straight to New York? Is it your dream to be an American actor living in London?”

“We try to engage students in those conversations,” he continues, “so that when they’re going through the program here, they also have a larger goal in mind that keeps them moving forward.”

Students in Sinclair’s Theatre program have a choice between three major tracks: performance, technical theatre, and a double major incorporating both. Even students who choose a single emphasis are required to take some courses in the other discipline, however.

“We like to give our students the opportunity to learn about as many different aspects of the theatre as they can,” Skiles says, “so that when they go out into the workforce, they have many different capacities in which they can fill positions.”

Hands-on experience is another major component of the Theatre program, according to Skiles.

“We’re a very practically-oriented program,” he says. “We want our students doing things; we want them involved in productions. On the stage, behind the stage, designing for the stage; we want them to be a very large part of our production season.”

Before graduating, students in both programs must complete a capstone: a portfolio showcasing their work in the case of technical students, and an auditions class for performance majors, which covers such topics as putting together a resume, cultivating and maintaining contacts in the theatre industry, and the various skills needed to put together a good audition.

But the most important responsibility of the program, according to Skiles, is in shaping and educating the theatre professionals of tomorrow.

“We’re not a program that says ‘This is what you have to do’ or ‘This is the approach you have to have as an actor,’” Skiles says. “I don’t want ten million actors out there approaching a role the same way I would. These are the theatre practitioners of the future, man, and we want to create proactive, engaging students who will move the theatre forward in ways that we can’t even imagine.”

The Theatre Department won raves for its production of “Women of Lockerbie” last spring and “The Crucible” this past fall. Upcoming productions include “Almost, Maine,” a romantic comedy by Tony Award-winning actor and playwright John Cariani, and “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged),” currently the longest-running comedy on the London stage. Performances of “Almost, Maine” begin at Sinclair’s Blair Hall Theatre on February 24.

One of Terri Perkins' pieces, displayed in Building 13.

Art majors at Sinclair Community College have many opportunities to display their work before taking part in a public exhibition, according to Terri Perkins, 47, a Sinclair graduate and current art student from Fairborn.

“When you’re taking studio classes, you always have critiques,” says Perkins. “At the end of each term, everybody displays their work, and we all go around and evaluate it.”

Art majors also take a Pre-graduation Exhibition course before receiving their degree. At the end of the course, each student selects several pieces that follow a unifying theme, and their work, along with that of other graduates, eventually winds up as part of an exhibition.

“It was a great experience, because I really learned what it takes to put on an exhibit,” says Perkins. “How you display makes a big impression when people come to see your work, and the instructor, Pat McClelland, really helped everyone to learn that process.”

Brandy Driver, a Fine Art major from Greenville, also has experience setting up exhibits. Driver, 26, and three other students helped set up a display showcasing Sinclair’s Art Club in the Hypotenuse Gallery on the third floor of Building 13.

“We were highlighting the work that I and other members have done,” Driver says. “It was easy to do. I love organizing, so it was right up my alley.”

Students have the opportunity to try and profit from their work, as well.

“After the exhibition, you can choose to try and sell your work or keep it for your own,” says Perkins. “If you decide to sell, the school often times will buy it and put it on display.”

Artwork created by students is displayed on walls and in glass cases throughout the campus, often accompanied by a card or plaque identifying the artist. Perkins currently has several sculpted and ceramic pieces on display in Building 13, while Driver recently had ink drawings displayed in the hallway leading to Building 10.

One of Brandy Driver's pieces.

“The class critiques help when you have to take it out there in public,” Perkins says. “It gets you out of that fear factor when it comes to people seeing your work.”

Driver also enjoys having her work put on display.

“It’s always interesting to hear others analyze the ‘meaning’ of my work,” she says. “I love hearing what people think, both good and bad. That’s how you grow as an artist.”

Biscotti

Full-fledged perseverance has led Hilary Browning to her career as a baker, but truthfully, most of the credit for her success belongs to no one other than Hilary, herself. She is the most driven, inspiring person I have yet to meet, and it has been an honor to hear and write about her story. She is the owner and mastermind behind Thistle Confections, which supplies the baked goods for Ghostlight Coffee, but her newest addition to this one of a kind business is her booth at the Second Street Market, which will open February 11! She has finally made this “baking dream a reality,” as she puts it, and I was along to get the quite delicious dish on the details.

When looking up the term “self-starter” in the dictionary, one should find the name “Hilary Browning” listed. Just sitting down for this brief interview, I could sense her drive and determination, which no doubt has brought her this far in her baking career. The platform of her baking knowledge originated from her mother and grandmother, who were recent Italian immigrants. They supplied her with the basics, but from this jumping off point, Hilary is completely self-taught. She likes to deviate from traditional recipes, making them her own. As she explained to me, she finds “pride in the creative aspect of flavor.” And boy, oh boy! The Better Breakfast cookie I tried sure did pack a punch of flavor!

Hilary describes the line of events that led her to the present as a “natural progression,” all starting with her food blog in 2006, while she was studying at Ohio State for graduate school. This was her outlet for stress, a way to test recipes, and a chance to keep in contact with friends, as well as acquire new friendships. As Hilary explains,

Cinnamon Roll

“business grew from that.” After her transfer to and graduation from the University of Dayton, her husband was stationed at a military base, and she decided the timing was perfect to give her baking idea a try. Even her partnership with Ghostlight Coffee can be seen as part of this natural series of events, as her relationship with Shane as a neighbor and friend eventually evolved into this partnership. A partnership that has brought forth delicious, unique recipes and support for local producers, but not much sleep as she points out: “it’s a choice. You make choices, and you make sacrifices for those choices.” But she stands firmly behind her decisions, especially her commitments to quality and local producers, her two biggest concentrations when it comes to running Thistle Confections.

Whoppie Pie

“My goal is not profit.” This was one of the first things Hilary shared with me. Quality, as aforementioned, is one of her two greatest concerns when it comes to her creations. She has personally met and fed the chickens from the two farms from where she gets her organic eggs. “It’s a lot of work,” but it’s worth it for quality. Every baked good is made from whole grains, providing a healthy aspect. Hilary also doesn’t sell anything she has not tasted or include any ingredient from a box. Everything is made from scratch, using only organic ingredients from local producers who have gone through Hilary’s inspection. Another amazing aspect of Thistle Confections is that all goods are baked fresh daily. She specializes in nostalgic and savory pastries; reinventing old recipes are her specialty. Two such nostalgic baked goods are her “Whoopy Pie,” which actually came from Pennsylvania in the 19^th century, and her cinnamon rolls, which are prepared using a technique from when the recipe was first brought to America! But she also has a lot of pride in writing her own recipes (which are 100% original or tweaked slightly and tested), which are available for purchase on her blog.

By reaching for quality, Hilary cares for local producers, as well. It’s quite a bit of work to research and taste everything, but by marrying these two principles she supplies her customers with delicious products, while also providing the economy with a little pick-me-up. As she puts it, “the heart of her business is local producers.” The ingredients can be traced directly back to local whole salers, making the goods more health-conscious and you more responsible for eating such deliciousness!

So now, it’s your turn! Help support the local economy and a worthy business owner by grabbing a delicious baked good from Thistle Confections! Ghostlight Coffee will still be housing Hilary’s creations, but make sure to check out the new booth at Second Street Market when it opens February 11! Doesn’t a salted caramel brownie sound scrumptious? Or a cinnamon roll with really soft filling? What about a piece of olive oil cake filled with rosemary and orange accents? Yum!

Thistle Confections  2^nd Street Market 600 East 2^nd Street Dayton, OH 45402  (937) 228-2088
Thistle Confections Blog

Ghostlight Coffee  1201 Wayne Avenue Dayton, OH 45410    (937) 985-2633

All pictures are credited to Nicole Hodac of hodacphotography.com

Alivera (Photo by Rick Wait/waitphoto)

The holiday months were busy for the local scene, with a number of bands releasing new albums and EPs. Both bands old and new, more experienced and younger, were busy releasing their newest tracks to their audiences. One of the artists on the newer side, whom I’ve been following for the past couple months, is the band Alivera. With most members on the border of 20, and some of them fresh out of high school, Alivera is one of those bands bringing a refreshing sound to the local rock scene.

This post-hardcore outfit released their debut self-titled EP back in November and is preparing to begin touring around the area in February. With this EP, Alivera brings forth a sound that is a bit more mature than their previous demos, toning down the hardcore edge and bringing forth stronger melodies and harmonies.

Alivera’s new EP is a quick four tracks long, and opens with the track “Aurora’s Winds”. A fade-in guitar leads right into a full force, pop-ish post-hardcore sound, with chord-heavy guitars and echo-effects vocals. The track begins loosening up as it moves on, giving hints at vocalist Chris McGrath’s range as guitarists Tyler Smith and Trevor Johnson begin trading out chords for a more melodic focus.  Overall, this track provides samples of the band’s various ranges and strengths, which are further highlighted in later tracks.

The following track, “The Civic Pt. II”, fades in the drums this time around, before leading into a opening that feels similar to the track beforehand. McGrath uses his vocal shifts a bit more in this track, while drummer Aaron Queener becomes a bit more highlighted, pushing forth the various minor style shifts in the track.

Alivera performs live (Photo by Michael Smart Photography)

The band picks up to something a bit stronger in the next track, “Predecessors”. Guitar gains a stronger focus at the beginning of this track, providing melody right off the bad rather than starting with chords. The vocalist pushes his range higher in this track, and gains a bit of an angry edge at some points. This also marks the first time that the “hardcore” part of the band is really brought out, with a slight breakdown and some screamed vocals during the bridge.

The EP ends with what is, in my opinion, the strongest track: “Planetary Aspect”. This track is the strongest out of the gate, with emotional vocals at the outset, moving right into a strong drum-and-guitar lead to the chorus. The chorus is where McGrath breaks out the top of his range: a high-reaching voice that doesn’t sound forced. Smith, Johnson, and Queener all come together during the verses to provide their best instrumentals on the EP, moving to a breakdown-style bridge and a strong drive to a satisfying ending.

I have met a number of individuals in the area that outright dismiss younger bands, claiming that they don’t have “experience” or something like that. I will never understand why some people hold opinions such as this. I believe that it is the younger bands that are bringing the freshest sounds to the scene, whether with Alivera to the rock scene, or various other acts to the others. Keep an eye on the younger up-and-comers, as they are the ones that are taking the Dayton scene to new heights.

I spoke with Matt Halpin about his intriguing “comfort-food” truck and he explained,  “Comfort food means a lot of different things to different people… It’s about what you had growing up and what reminds you of that. We want people to experience new things and see that comfort food can mean more than what they think it does.”

But… comfort food, on wheels? Matt and Lisa explained that having a restaurant-truck instead of a stagnant, unmoving restaurant allows Fressa to “take that great tasting, gourmet food to the streets.” The mobility of Fressa also allows the restaurant to offer lunchtime deliveries to businesses, catering to all kinds of events and easier accessibility to more locations around Dayton. Matt elaborated, “There is a lot of potential for Dayton to be a real foodie town and since Dayton is looking to attract more people and businesses downtown, trends like food trucks are a great thing.”

Let’s talk about the food: Fressa stands out from the likes of greasy lunch-break options, instead housing a menu bursting with local ingredients, seasonal offerings and of course, hot-from-the-kitchen comfort food. The menu spotlights on the kind of food that reminds you of home, warms the soul, and just flat-out makes you feel happy. Matt explained, “The idea of modern, gourmet comfort food lets us have a lot of freedom when it comes to what we serve. But no matter what, it has to make people feel good.”

Where can you find the bright orange Fressa truck? Matt says, “We are at the Sugarcreek Farmer’s Market and we also do lunches for local businesses. Facebook and Twitter let our followers know that we’re there.” Fressa wants to be able to gain more parking locations to spread the Fressa-love throughout the city, but because the city of Dayton is still working out regulations for food trucks and parking rules, they’ve had a few set-backs. Hopefully by May, Fressa will be perfectly parked at the Courthouse Square for lunchtime.

Matt said, “At this point we are trying to be the best food truck that we can be. It’s hard to picture Fressa being a sit down restaurant but I will admit I would like to have a brick and mortar restaurant of my own some day… Who knows, we could always have both.”

Well, what should you order? Comfort food of course! Matt and Lisa recommend the Apple Bacon Grilled Cheese and Chocolate-Covered Homemade Potato Chips, topped off with a Pumpkin Crème Brule for dessert.

So keep an eye out for this bright orange restaurant-on-wheels, Fressa has pulled into Dayton!

Earth Fare’s claim to fame is their Food Philosophy, “the strictest in the world, as far as we know,” explained Emily. They have what they call the Boot List, which is a list of ingredients they don’t allow in any of their goods being sold. The first list on the item—no high fructose corn syrup. “It’s literally made by a chemist in a lab,” explained Emily, “and because it’s so cheap it’s used in a lot of products.” They do, however allow corn syrup because it isn’t as processed. They also don’t allow any antibiotics or hormones in their fresh meat or dairy. “Fifty, or even twenty, years ago, antibiotics weren’t used in meat or dairy, and now people are growing antibiotic resistant” since they are regularly ingesting antibiotics through the food they eat. Emily explained that it’s even been linked to young girls starting puberty years earlier. Another ingredient they have given the boot is any type of artificial sweeteners. Aspartame, in particular, is relatively new so they don’t know the long term effects, though it has been linked to ADD and ADHD, and actually was developed in a lab by accident as a substitute for bug spray. To think that we are ingesting chemicals and unnecessary antibiotics is beyond scary to me, and Earth Fare is focused on bringing us far from this risk to our health and back to nature. To see Earth Fare’s complete Boot List, click here.

Along with this Boot List comes the Boot Challenge. Every month, Earth Fare posts a new challenge on their website as a way to educate the public about what they are putting into their bodies. The website asks you to choose between two different products with their ingredients listed as to which one you would “give the boot.” This month, the challenge is focused on cough drops and lozenges. After taking the challenge online, you receive a coupon that allows you to “receive a free box of Jakemans Throat & Chest Lozenges when you trade in cough drops with artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners” FOR FREE. Earth Fare understands that shopping healthy is a little more expensive, but with their help, people become educated as well as healthier one product at a time. Emily even explained that you could bring in an empty box of these artificial cough drops and still receive a replacement, without costing you a penny. Now, that’s a commitment to education and healthy living.

The second major aspect that sets Earth Fare apart from any other grocery is the fact they primarily buy local (within 100 miles). This way, they support the community and local farmers, who, after all, “make food go ‘round.” Earth Fare always has a supply of fresh fruit and vegetables grown within the 100 mile radius. Shopping local not only helps the economy, but is also a way to educate shoppers about where their food is coming from. Speaking of local, what could be more local than cooking their own goods in house? Earth Fare makes all of their prepared food fresh every day, including pasta salad, pizza, and sandwiches to name a few. They even supply fresh sushi every day. Anything not sold is given away to food pantries, once more supporting locals.

Earth Fare does have some very unique supplies, some from areas around the world, which also adhere to their food and fair practice philosophy. One very unique meat they supply is bison, which is the only red meat approved for heart patients. They also have an olive bar, which is something I, personally, had never seen before. You know what goes great with olives? Cheese! Being one of my favorite foods, I was amazed at their selection from around the world; a “Cheese Key” is even available to find out which country supplied each specific cheese. Earth Fare also houses coffee from different parts of the world, but all of their coffee is fair trade, meaning they make sure their farmers are being supplied with good wages and no sweat shops are involved. As Emily explained, Earth Fare finds it important to “put support behind fair practices.” And this fair standard carries over to how they treat their customers: gluten-free products are carried throughout the store, distinguished by the wooden shelves they sit upon. As explained to me, the designers of this grocery store felt that people who needed to shop gluten-free shouldn’t feel singled out by having to go to their own secluded section. And as far as gluten-free products, Earth Fare carries a HUGE selection, with wooden shelves making up a part of almost every aisle down which we walked. A few other interesting products Earth Fare is proud to manufacture and supply to their customers include their own diapers, dog food, cleaning products, and makeup!

How spectacular is this place? They are concerned with the education and health of their customers, the support of local farmers and fair practices, and they supply items you would never see in any other big name grocery store. But do you really want to know one of the best aspects of Earth Fare? The customer comes first. Always. They genuinely care for their customers. As I walked through the store, every single employee smiled at me and was more than ready to help. Along with caring, they understand those that buy their supplies. Shopping healthy can be expensive. There’s no doubt about that. But that’s why Earth Fare offers something free every single week. This week I visited, they were giving away a free pound of grapes, no strings attached. The week before that for Thanksgiving, they were giving a dollar off every pound of turkey. They also have coupons posted throughout the store, so you don’t have to go shuffling through the newspaper in order to save. They give you the means to save money at your fingertips. And you can visit their website to sign up for deals, too! As Emily explained, “when you sign up, you get a free whole chicken or veggie burger.” PLUS, there are green tags located throughout the store, representing all the money you can save on those items, too. And don’t forget the Boot Challenge, aforementioned. Earth Fare understands it’s difficult to spend a lot of money to eat healthy, so they do all they can to help make it as affordable as possible.

One last thing I loved about Earth Fare? They are big on sampling. You can sample anything. Once again, it’s all about the customer. They want you to be happy with what you are buying, so why not make it easier and find out if you like the product in the store before you buy it?

So take a second to examine your own food philosophy. Do you really know where your eats are coming from? Most importantly, is your health paying the price because of hidden artificial ingredients? Earth Fare’s page, Be Inspired, is a space occupied with stories of lives forever changed with the help of Earth Fare and eating naturally. So maybe it’s time for all of us to be inspired. Make your next grocery trip to Earth Fare or join on Thursday nights between 4-8 PM for Family Dinner night, where up to six kids eat free with the purchase of one adult meal. Experience the difference. Observe that you can eat healthy without sacrificing taste or robbing your wallet. Realize that you deserve the very best—in service, in health, in life.

Earth Fare is open Monday through Saturday 8AM-9PM and Sunday 9AM-9PM.

You can also contact them via phone: 937.436.3556

            On a recent chilly Friday, I had the opportunity of sitting down (in front of their gorgeous bar) with Jasmine Brown, one of the co-owners of De’Lish along with Tawana Knight. “My fiancé and I had always wanted a lounge and bar,” described Jasmine, and when they came across the space downtown, they fell in love with it immediately. Jasmine explained that running your own restaurant is like everyone warns: “it is a very demanding business, but it’s worth it for the look on people’s face when they taste the food. And then you see your first repeat customers and eventually, you see regulars, and you just know you’re doing something good.” They started business last December, and this Saturday, December 3, marks their one year anniversary! Congratulations are in order.

This venue is known for their dining experience, in every sense of the word. While enjoying their wide selection of cuisine, De’Lish also provides the entertainment. They host poetry readings twice a month, from local poets. Local comedians even had a chance at the stage just a few Sundays ago for their second comedic night. They have even hosted a night full of Reggae musicians, where groups from Columbus traveled over to Dayton to share an evening with the guests at De’Lish. When discussing this, I could really feel Jasmine’s emphasis on supporting local people. Even all the art within the room was unveiled specifically for De’Lish by a local artist named Amanda Sue Allen. As much as possible, the wonderful staff at De’Lish tries to incorporate people within the surrounding community into their events. They feature a variety of local talents, as well as serving up their own variety within an average week. Below is a map to the endless celebration taking place within this relaxed, yet elegant setting:

Monday: Monday Night FootballTuesday: A very laid back evening
Wednesday: “Wind down” with 50 cent wings and wine specials
Thursday: Another relaxed evening
Friday-Saturday: When the party is happening!! Live entertainment begins at 9 PM
Sunday: Delicious brunch, where the chefs feature different food than usually on the menu
Bonus: Complementary Valet ParkingWednesday-Sunday

De’Lish is known for its dining atmosphere. It is fine dining, but by no means has that stuffy feeling some restaurants carry. The setting is close enough that you can get to know your neighbor and interact with those around you if you so choose, but is also private enough that it’s the perfect date night. Jasmine commented about how she has had the privilege to observe complete strangers build relationships over dinner or coordinate business transactions from the table across the way. It truly is a community, where every member is welcome and invited in with welcoming smiles. Numerous customers have commented on De’Lish’s “ambiance” and the live entertainment allows the guests to see a show while they enjoy their meal. So it’s pretty obvious that these folks like to have a good time, right? And now you must be wondering what’s “under the table” for their anniversary this Saturday.

A celebration for their guests. That’s what Jasmine and her lovely crew at De’Lish have decided to cater to for this celebration of the anniversary of their opening, one year ago on December 3^rd. The main purpose of this celebration is “to give back to the customers”. So what’s on tap? A radio station will be broadcasting at De’Lish from 5 PM to 7 PM. Hor’deurves will be passed throughout the celebration and a medley of local bands will also be performing, each having an hour set. “We have some really great bands coming in,” gleamed Jasmine, who should definitely be excited for the anniversary of a truly beautiful lounge and bar. Interviewing her, I could really see her passion for the success of this restaurant and for the relationships she holds with her customers. The guests represent all parts of Dayton—all ages, all demographics. “There is such a wide spectrum of guests from day to day, and I have been told by many of them, ‘I just feel so comfortable here.’” I definitely could feel that same level of comfort as I sat with Jasmine in the elegant lighting of De’Lish, conversation flowing as if we were old friends. I asked what knowledge this one year has bestowed upon her, and she responded, “I have learned to be patient, to wait for things. Also, I cannot please everyone.” These words of wisdom most definitely apply to our everyday lives, too.

 On to the eats? Now that we have been welcomed into such a dazzling venue, feel at home with the friendly faces around us, and a show is available for our entertainment, it’s time to discuss the real reason you came to De’Lish. It is a restaurant—so what about their menu? When I asked Jasmine her favorite item, she genuinely had a hard time picking just one, because she “absolutely love[s] so much on the menu.” She finally narrowed it down to three, still teetering among their delicious Lamb Chops, the best Turkey Burger, and the great seafood De’Lish offers (they have served Sea Bass three different ways, all of which have wowed taste buds of countless guests over this past year). And their roasted hummus, made in house and served with crispy pita bread is a must-try. Honestly, with De’Lish’s “pretty awesome team,” including celebrity Chef Mark Brown and “Chef of the Year” sous chef Anthony Head, it’s not surprising their wide selection is nothing but spectacular.

So why De’Lish? Think back to when TV dinners started taking the nation by storm. Dinner + a show = a pretty good time. The major negative thing about these TV dinners were that they took away important bonding time for American families during dinner. De’Lish offers even better entertainment than any television show would be able to cook up and thrives on the bonding and interaction between its guests over a most delicious meal. A sense of belonging ensues from such a dining experience, and the fact that there’s great cuisine is the kicker. Such a variety is embodied within the menu; no one will be disappointed. All in all—it’s great food, a chance to get involved in the Dayton community, and entertainment all comfortably placed within this bar and lounge on First and Main. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience waiting for you, especially ushering in De’Lish’s new year this Saturday, starting at 5 PM.

All that’s left to do is get your party hat on!

Address: 139 N. Main Street Downtown Dayton, Dayton, OH 45402

Hours: Tues: 11AM – 7PM

Wed-Thu: 11AM – 10PM

Fri: 11AM – 2AM

Sat: 5PM – 2 AM

Sun: 11AM – 4PM

Reservations and Catering: (937) 461- CAFE (2233)

]]> http://mostmetro.com/dayton-dining/a-simply-de%e2%80%99lish-experience.html/feed 0 http://mostmetro.com/featured-articles/hello-world-welcome-to-dayton.html http://mostmetro.com/featured-articles/hello-world-welcome-to-dayton.html#comments Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:56:04 +0000 Cara Spray http://mostmetro.com/?p=22031 (continue...)]]> When Dayton announced its Welcome Dayton Plan last month, it met with mixed reviews from the public. This was hardly surprising since the topic of immigration is currently a hot button issue in the United States. As the country is still struggling to regain its economic footing the subject of immigrant job seekers is and has been a particularly touchy one. Because of this strong stigma, the Welcome Dayton Plan may face its share of difficulty.

According to Mayor Gary Leitzell – who is himself an immigrant from England – the majority response to the Welcome Dayton Plan has been quite positive. “It’s so simple, it makes sense, all of the people that we’re trying to facilitate are already here anyway,” he said. The mayor added that those opposed to the plan seem to be those who are anti-Hispanic. The complaints he’s received regarding the plan have raised concerns over Dayton becoming a haven for illegal Hispanic immigrants.

However, Welcome Dayton is aimed at legal immigrants only. If an immigrant job seeker or business wants to find their place in Dayton, they have to go through all the verification processes. The word “immigrant” has become tied to the idea of Hispanic or Latino immigrants. However, Dayton has more than just one type of immigrant. A great example is our Ahiska Turk (or Meskhetian Turk) population that has been around for many years and continues to grow. Dayton also regularly receives refugee immigrants from many different countries.

“let’s come up with something to attract immigrants, and therefore attract entrepreneurs…” - Gary Leitzell

Mayor Gary Leitzell said that earlier this year as he and his staff began looking at immigrant statistics in Dayton, they realized the city’s immigrant population was incredibly diverse. In addition to Ahiska Turks, Hispanics and Latinos, the city is also home to people from Nigeria, Libya, Sudan, Iraq, Bosnia, Philippines, and Korea to name a few. “So we basically said let’s come up with something to attract immigrants, and therefore attract entrepreneurs, and come up with a plan that would facilitate their success in Dayton,” said Mayor Leitzell. The decision was influenced by the success the Ahiska Turk population has had as well as immigrant-related research and statistics. The committees were then formed to do just that and they drafted the Welcome Dayton Plan. Mayor Leitzell noted that the plan is a working one and is open and subject to change as new ideas or needs arise.

When it comes down to it, Dayton is on its way to becoming a very diverse population. The Welcome Dayton Plan seeks to make the most of this increasing population resource for all parties involved. But the question is, does Dayton really want to be recognized as an immigrant friendly city? The answer may very well be yes. With big businesses like GM and NCR leaving the state, Ohio has seen not only a revenue loss but also a population decrease as people migrate to other states looking for jobs.  Greaterohio.org has a good layout of this data and the immigrant population here. The Welcome Dayton Plan’s report notes that government studies – such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s report “Immigration Myths and Facts: Labor, Immigration & Employee Benefits Division” – have shown areas with similar economic issues have been rejuvenated with the influx of immigrant business and workers. They brought in jobs and money to these areas. Immigrant entrepreneurship could be a critical tool in the fight to stop the loss of business and profit in Dayton.

At its most basic level, the plan is designed to entice immigrant business and workers to Dayton by making itself immigrant friendly. This means Dayton will begin a two-way education campaign. One end will be aimed at immigrant entrepreneurs educating them on supportive resources to help reduce potential barriers to their integration. Specifically, access to and help understanding government services, laws, and health services. In example, there was a suggestion to put up a website regarding these services for the immigrants to easily access the information. Also recommended is a team of volunteers and public agency workers to help immigrants in their job searches and the process of opening a business. The other end will be aimed at current residents emphasizing the benefits of cultural diversity, immigrant business, and cross-cultural communication.

You might have noticed the mention of the word ‘volunteer.’ Some of this plan depends on community support in the form of volunteer services – the most important service being translation. For the Limited English Proficient (LEP), the plan suggests providing language services like ESL classes and translation support. Translation of both cultural mannerisms and linguistics are some of the largest barriers immigrants and non-immigrants face when it comes to integration.

Volunteering as an interpreter may simply require that you have a number at which you can be easily reached. If there’s an issue late in the night and an interpreter is needed, you may be able to fulfill your function from home through the telephone. Volunteerism could also keep more of the city’s budget in the black as it works to implement the plan, although some positions will be an expansion on current public jobs with a small stipend for the extra work. Now more than ever, being bilingual is an essential asset to any business and we can expect to see more job openings looking specifically for multi-lingual workers in banking, law enforcement, healthcare, and more. For college students wanting more real-world experience, or something nice to put on their resumes, volunteering as an interpreter could be for you.

The plan’s report also mentions the possibility of turning East Third Street in Dayton into an international marketplace. Mayor Gary Leitzell said that his vision is to open up space for a weekly open-air market. He believes selling in the proposed market could provide immigrants with the means to earn around $500 each month; which the mayor noted was typically the difference between owning and renting a house. So far, he’s received permission from Sandy Mendelson – who owns 70% of the large parking lot and the building behind the Webster Market – to set up the outdoor market at Third and Webster. The same rules that apply to Turtle Creek Market and Traders World would also apply to the International Market. This market could bring in more money from the suburbs and other areas as they seek out new flavors, decorations, and the like.

“Everyone needs to be open-minded and realize that when we talk about immigrants, we’re focused on a global aspect and if we can attract people from all cultures and all cultures, then we will increase the flavor that is Dayton,” said Mayor Leitzell. “Let’s realize that anyone who comes here from another country […] comes to America usually with a very open mind and the American dream in their head and they see America as the land of opportunity. And it turns out that a foreign born national is two times more likely to succeed as a small business than somebody that’s native born here.” He noted that not all immigrant workers will focus on small business. Many immigrants come over with specialized degrees that could benefit open positions in Dayton that lack qualified applicants. Perhaps the reason more of the qualified immigrant workers fail to obtain these jobs is due to a lack of understanding how to search for and apply to these jobs.

I’ve heard some people complain that it seems like Dayton will be bending over backwards for the immigrant businesses. I’d like to point out that cities and even states do more for big American businesses – typically including significant tax cuts – just to get them in their area. Big businesses don’t always invest as much in their locales as smaller businesses might because they aren’t terribly dependant on their locations. Especially with outsourcing being such a popular and cheap option.

For those of you still not convinced on the benefits of this plan, keep this in mind. New businesses pay rent, buy groceries, pay taxes, pay for utilities, buy furnishings, pay for construction work, and provide jobs directly and indirectly. New positions will be opening up in the coming years for workers with multiple language skills and to help set up or run services that provide support for immigrant businesses and workers. It’s important to remember the potential percentage of money that will be injected back into Dayton through any new local business. The more successful they are, the more they might spend to improve their business and expand.

There are still more facts, figures, and components included in the plan that I can’t cover here. I highly recommend that readers take a look at the easy to read plan for themselves here: http://www.daytonohio.gov/welcomedaytonreport.

“I have two novels that I have finished. One of them is more of a dystopian fiction novel. It’s set in Dayton in the future, during the years 2047-2048 during a war,” said Moody about one of her new projects, “I’ve been working on it since around 1998!”

Moody has a lot to look forward to with her two new novels going in for editing and her four sons pursuing their careers and educations, but she finds time for a program that takes students to Israel to learn more about the culture.

“I now volunteer in an Arab village and we teach English to children there in the summer. And last year six students went over and stayed with host families. It’s in the Galilee,” said Moody excitedly about the opportunities she’s experienced.

Martha Moody

Before dinner is over she points to a large packet that she has next to her and tells me that she has some editing on her other novel to do before the speaking event she’s attending that evening.

“My other novel is a multi-generation family saga about two families joined by marriages over 30 odd years,” said Moody about her work that is soon to hit the shelves.

Martha Moody is considered one of the most popular authors in Dayton, and there’s no wonder why with her insightful novels and beautifully written tales of friendship, family, and love. Make sure to check the shelves for more to come from this great author!

During the annual Dayton Jewish Cultural Arts and Books Festival, Greene came to speak at Books & Co., about her new novel. While being charismatic and charming Greene read excerpt from the novel and told her own person stories about raising four of her own children and adopting five more.

Greene’s novel is about her family’s experience of adoption with one child from Bulgaria and four more from Ethiopia. The rocky start of adopting their first child didn’t dissuade them from opening their family three more times as they adopted two more children separately and then two brothers at the same time.

While there are some hilarious moments in the book that make you laugh until you cry, the true story is the love and acceptance that was shown by all members of the Greene household. The Greene family, with all its lovable add-ins, is the true definition of a loving home.

Not only was Greene wonderful to listen to but the novel is a definite must read.

Read a book review on the novel No Biking in the House Without a Helmet at NPR.org