Discovering the Pulse at the Heart of Ohio

The following is a guest essay written by Siddharth Suratia, a rising high school senior in St. Louis, MO. Siddharth joined me for a week in Ohio, and documented his experiences in Mansfield, Athens, Yellow Springs and Dayton. Enjoy!

Driving along a rural road, an electronic music set kept us moving from town to town. Its melodic flow keeps our minds pulsing with reminders of the people we met, conversations we had, and stories we shared. This past week, Arjav and I crisscrossed the state of Ohio and explored large metropolitan areas such as Columbus and Cleveland, historical hubs such as Dayton, and smaller vibrant rural towns such as Mansfield, Yellow Springs, and Athens. I felt as if I traveled across all of the United States, seeing different ideas, communities, struggles, and landscapes. In this piece, I want to highlight 3 of those locations, and provide an insight into the Ohio I experienced, and what I learned from stepping out of my bubble. For each of the 3 cities, I will dive into the history behind, and future of, the economic situation and highlight a distinct social interaction/interview that reflected the story of the people behind the city. I witnessed the value of community, resilience, and the unique life hidden across rural America.

Mansfield, OH

My first taste of venturing out into rural areas to talk to small business owners and community leaders was in Mansfield. Located midway between Columbus and Cleveland, Mansfield was founded in 1808. The city eventually became a manufacturing hub due to its location with numerous railroad lines; locals even told us it was called “Little Chicago”. However, like many cities in the Rust Belt, Mansfield’s economy experienced a large decline due to the Steel Recession of the 1970s, the loss of jobs to overseas manufacturing, and prolonged labor disputes. The current economy has since diversified into a service-based economy, which is true noting that it seemed as if every other business we saw was a salon or barbershop. Conventional service-based economies have limited potential to export or achieve economies of scale and therefore can’t benefit from global trade. Consuming these services is more linked to varying local lifestyles, wants rather than needs, and does not rely on technology-driven price declines. However, introducing modern services that can benefit from the economies of scale, and cost-reducing technological advances can engage in greater trade. Potential services such as business processes, transport, logistics, and communication services, that can easily be scaled, could be strong additions to the Mansfield economy.

*North End Community Improvement Collaborative, Mansfield, OH*

Strolling into NECIC, the North End Community Improvement Collaborative, a non-profit, we had the opportunity to sit down with Tony Chinni, the Community Development Manager. NECIC was founded in 2006 by a group of concerned residents as a way to improve the North End (the Northern section of Mansfield) by focusing on the community’s assets, such as local properties, financial assets, and human assets. NECIC’s goal is to bring these assets together through “transformative convening and transformative organizing”. These initiatives include an Urban Farm which grows vegetables for restaurants, hospitals, and other institutional customers, and provides volunteer and learning opportunities for students. They serve as a resource hub for 20-30 community gardens, offering much-needed materials(and even grants) to get these gardens off the ground. Believing that the North End residents are the most important asset of all, they lead Entrepreneurial Development Classes, helping residents secure licenses/permits to launch ventures. NECIC showed me the value of community, and how small community projects, such as gardens/history projects, add value to the only assets that truly matter to the local community. The overwhelming interest in our journey and the friendliness from locals was outstanding. Stepping out of my bubble, I witnessed diverse community initiatives that keep a city alive, at its roots.

Dayton, OH

Once a beacon of manufacturing success, Dayton claimed more patents per capita than any other U.S city in the 1900s. From air-travel pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright to innovators such as Charles Kettering, the inventor of the automobile self-starter, it had a distinct entrepreneurial spirit. One of the largest and most iconic of these companies was the National Cash Register(NCR), founded by John H. Patterson. Not just a businessman, but a visionary, Patterson is widely credited with laying the foundation for the first modern factory system and redefining the relationship between labor and management. Even with this scale, Patterson retained core principles of civic involvement, and resilience in tough times. After a disastrous flood in 1913, Patterson applied scientific management to the local government and helped rebuild the city and create the Miami Conservancy District, one of the nation’s first flood control districts that still keeps downtown flood-free to this day. Patterson’s initiatives laid the foundation for both economic and social resilience, integral pieces of Dayton’s identity.

This once bright beacon began to flicker. Once again starting in the early 1970’s manufacturing jobs started disappearing, the economy tanked, and the city shrunk. Exploring the Carillon Historical Park, we saw hundreds of products that had once been developed and manufactured in Dayton. It was extremely disheartening, even frustrating to witness their disappearance. Yet this has simply been the status quo with increasing globalization, as we saw earlier in Mansfield. Dayton had a large dependence on traditional manufacturing, giving it a competitive disadvantage as factory work was dispersed globally. Yet there is still hope, the resilience is still in effect. First, the regional economy has diversified with growth in defense and services. The largest employer being the Wright-Patterson AFB, with over 30,000 employees in 2019. Wright-Patterson AFB provides a stable center for scientific research and employs a large civilian workforce. Two major healthcare providers, Premier Health Partners, and Kettering Medical Network also lead employment. Second, some of the large industrial companies of the past have evolved to meet the needs of an information economy. NCR, while its presence has diminished, is now a software company. Reynolds & Reynolds, a former printing company, now provides software in markets such as auto sales and supplies business forms. Finally, the region remains at a strategic logistical and demographic location in the Midwest and can tap into economic growth in nearby metropolitan areas such as Columbus, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis. Dayton’s economy may no longer provide the glimmer of 20th-century economic leadership, but the region has demonstrated a remarkable resilience that holds lessons for other cities striving to remain competitive in a global economy.

That resilience, in more of a social sense, is something we felt talking to local entrepreneurs in a lively neighborhood, called the Oregon District. There was a particular strength in this community, yet this strength was born through tough times. Strolling past bars and unique gift shops, we decided to stop into a bright yellow hat store, called BRIM. We met Emily, the sales manager, and our conversation took off. Locals periodically stopped in, referring to other business owners on a first-name basis, and narrating their lively experiences in Dayton. We learned about the Summer of 2019, “Dayton’s Darkest Summer”, as locals stated. On May 28th, 2019, 15 tornadoes ravaged through the Dayton region, then on August 4th, a gunman opened fire on a bar, killing 9 people. That very bar was right across the street from where we were standing. I peered out the window of the shop and saw a large metal heart, graffitied with the phrase “Dayton Strong”, hung on the front of the bar. Emily told us that the community rallied together following the events, from launching fundraisers, to supporting neighboring communities. She explained her feeling of all small businesses feeling like “almost 1 large business”, with their connections, and support for one another. That resilience is still rallying, even through the pandemic. For BRIM, in particular, they had to close for 2 months during 2020, but during that time they redesigned their online site/store. That decision has now allowed them to receive orders from across the country and even the world, with no advertising, their sales are purely driven by word of mouth, and customer loyalty, the wonders of small businesses. She said they are on track to break all sales records in 2021. Through stepping out of my bubble in Dayton and witnessing its notable spirit, I learned about the value of supporting locals, being open to trying new things, and staying resilient.

Yellow Springs & Athens, OH

unnamed (1).jpg — *Downtown Yellow Springs, OH*

Yellow Springs, a smaller village located in southwestern Ohio, is known for being the smallest municipality to pass an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation(and the home of comedian Dave Chapelle). Athens, located in southeastern Ohio in the Hocking Hills region, is a large university town, home to Ohio University. Yellow Springs and Athens are both nestled in rural areas, yet have strikingly similar feelings. Consistently, hearing about the growing divide in America, I was shocked at first that these areas existed in rural America, and coexisted with the neighboring areas. Under the assumption that areas like this only existed in large, urban metropolitan areas, I questioned why these communities existed where they did. Both cities retained a progressive cast in their politics, attracting new residents with similar ideas and establishing a unique sociopolitical demographic element in a primarily conservative region of the state. These pockets of liberalism represented somewhat of a remote island in an ocean or an oasis in a desert. In both cities, pride flags hung from most businesses, young people frolicked through vintage stores, and unique stores ranging from import shops to bustling bars and restaurants dotted the street. Yellow Springs primarily attracts tourists and being a primarily tourism-based economy, they were hit hard during the pandemic. However, they were gratefully supported by comedian Dave Chapelle. He hosted numerous intimate, socially distanced comedy shows, attracting celebrities, and in turn supporting local businesses during the pandemic. Athens, on the other hand, rests on the seasonal presence of college students, and still attracts tourists due to its urban feel. Once a large manufacturing hub, Athens also felt the impacts of the loss of manufacturing. These unique pockets of ideas still exist all across America, casting a light on the power of coexistence in this nation.

In Yellow Springs we strolled into Bonadies Glass Studio and talked to an employee about the city. Yellow Springs is home to a small liberal arts college, Antioch College, which has dramatically led the politically liberal and reformist viewpoints in the city, from its inception. In Athens, we met Joe, an employee working at Athens Underground, a vintage clothing store. Joe told us about how many people grow up in Athens, or attend school here, and eventually “flock back”. He stated that many people feel as if “big-city” life isn’t for them, and are more satisfied with the smaller city-life that Athens offers, along with other benefits such as cheaper housing. There is something special, unexpected, and unique about these cities, which I wouldn’t have discovered had I not stepped outside my bubble. Rural America is dynamic, the viewpoints are dynamic, and the people are dynamic.

This week was an adventure, to say the least. There are so many unheard stories, struggles, and perspectives that we all need to bring to our attention. From economic issues to sociopolitical ones, there is common ground. We need to find it, set foot on it, and build on it. There is so much potential in this nation of 330 million people. As a high school senior, I’ve been exploring possibilities for my life ahead, and this week reassured me that with the right mindset, opportunities, and people around, you can literally do anything in this nation. Through exploring local initiatives, a sense of resilience, and unique communities, I learned many lessons. Here are 9 of the key ones:

Try new things
Expect the best out of every conversation
People are always open to talk
Think for yourself, craft your own opinions with logic and understanding
Find beauty everywhere
Live in the moment
Take time to slow down
Always have an open mind
Opportunity is everywhere

I’m super grateful to Arjav for allowing me to experience America, and more importantly life. With my love of electronic music not dying down anytime soon, the rhythmic flow, and pulses will always remind me of the people I met, conversations we had, and stories we shared. So to wrap it all up, step out of that bubble, go out and actually talk to people, and explore this nation.

How should federal, state, and local governments support new initiatives being led in Ohio? What steps can be taken to fill in the loss of manufacturing-related jobs? Please comment below with any reactions, ideas, or recommendations for The Next Tide to improve in the future. Thanks for reading!

Blogs will be posted on a biweekly schedule on Mondays. The next blog will be posted on Monday, 8/2/2021.

Discovering the Pulse at the Heart of Ohio

Mansfield, OH

Dayton, OH

Yellow Springs & Athens, OH

Reflections & What Comes Next?

International Business Expansion in South Carolina