Hey out there, Akronites.

Welcome once again to around Akron with Blue Green.

And yes, we have an amazing show ahead of us today.

I'm going to head over to Immersive Space, The Rialto Theater, Be Love Love Ang.

And to kick this show off today I'm going to head over the community connections for the ETA, the Employment Training Academy.

Let's go see what the Community Connections is all about.

- Starting in middle school, I would volunteer with the executive director, Robin of Community Connections.

We're a branch of Community Connections.

I would volunteer at the dances she would hold on Wednesday night, for adults with disabilities and they raised money for Special Olympics.

And I've always had a heart for people who are different.

I have a disability myself.

I have ADHD and dyslexia.

I was in special ed classes, so I really understand what it's like to not exactly fit in the mold as everyone else does.

I've been with the company for going on eight years.

I got my bachelor's at Kent State in Disability Studies and Community Education, so it just kind of evolved from there.

I've really been with the company for a very long time.

Community Connection.

so we started in 2015.

We just celebrated our ten year anniversary, and it started with one participant and Robin, and it grew and grew.

and then Jan came on to the team and she is the supported employment.

We also have a supported employment branch and we job coach and help individuals who do have community jobs complete their jobs, do an interview, fill out the tax forms, learn their job.

So she came on and we've just kept growing since that day.

And we serve over 100 individuals today.

So everyone who is in our program is on a waiver through either the Summit (unintelligable) or state.

And that funds that person to come to our program.

We're a service.

So there's many different great programs in Summit County and people tour different locations, pick which one fits best for them, and then they begin.

What our program is, is something for people to do, work towards a goal and not just sit at home.

They're able to get out in the community, come to our program, make friends.

And specifically our program focuses on the end goal of community employment.

So we're all centered around that.

We do work with adults, so 18 and up, graduated high school.

Community Connections ETA program, we tailor the program around the individual.

We really take into consideration what the person enjoys doing, and we edit the program to reflect that.

You know, we have a participant who's really into recycling, Robin ordered, you know, divider bins for recycling.

And now we're recycling.

You know, we're going to do a lesson about what can be recycled or what can't be recycled.

And that person's going to help me do it.

When someone approaches us with an interest or a passion, we really like to fuel those because our main goal is having good days.

and being a safe space for people.

The building was built in the 40s, When there was still a dirt road through the area, and the church is called the Chapel of Prayer.

We rent the space from the church on the weekdays, but we're not affiliated with the church at all.

We just rent their space and we take care of it.

Like a person would renting the building.

So each person, each participant in our program has a shared responsibility at the end of the day that we rotate out.

And we do things like, dust mopping the floor, vacuuming the carpet, taking the trash out, just basic things to keep a building looking nice and up and running.

And everyone kind of has their hand in on keeping the place looking nice.

It's amazing.

It's why we're here, you know?

It's why I come to work.

I want to see people improve and reach their goals.

We've been known to advocate on behalf of our participants when we've noticed them reaching a ceiling or reaching a limit, like, you know, this person has shown leadership skills.

They take the program very seriously.

We think it's time for them to move on.

We hold a team meeting with everyone who's a part of that person's team, and then make a plan for that person to move on if that's what they want to do.

So it's very exciting.

We have, you know, many people who have graduated out of our program.

The goal is within 2 to 3 years, we have someone move on from us.

And that's why we try to get out into the community.

There are so many benefits with hiring someone with a developmental disability, intellectual disabilities.

You know, structure.

You know, our guys really like a structured, you know, they're very consistent.

You know, a lot of our guys work really hard and do a phenomenal job, you know, regardless of disability.

Again, it's just getting your foot in the door.

That's the hardest thing.

So someone may be more apt to hire someone with a disability when they see that they've already had experience, like, “oh, they've, worked before, you know, they know how to follow instructions and how to follow rules.” And they may be more willing to hire someone with a disability.

Next up, positivity is an amazing thing.

Let's go see what Be Love Love Ang is all about.

- I've always been kind of a very emotional person.

A lot of anger in my past, with my childhood and in different things not really knowing how to see things differently or help myself or not think so negatively or not put focus on things that are going on around me.

So I started way early trying to I guess forgive people that I thought had done me wrong or work through my own grace, my own past, my own misery.

I felt like I was trying my hardest.

I always tried to put a smile on my face, but in the inside, I really didn't know what I was doing and I felt lost and I felt sad and I felt a lot of fear.

So I started just being aware and working on myself and grabbing any tool possible.

Back in the day, it was a lot of books and so I started you know, reading books on self-help, just different perspectives of life, different ways of looking at things, different ways of choosing to live.

And I just it's been a journey my whole life.

And then when I was working at Rubber City Clothing, I had the option to put any message I wanted on shirts if we had letters and numbers and that's what I would promote, because the brand sold itself because it's amazing.

But we had letters and numbers, so I made a lot of my first shirt was be a Good Human, and that was I made that literally to wear while I was bartending, because I thought some people needed to see that.

But the core of it no matter what's going on we're all humans, like the core of everything.

So if we can really just take it down to that and just be a good human, that was the first thing I wanted to promote.

So I guess that's where it started with the brand was, making the shirts with whatever message that I could put on them.

So it became fun because a lot of people would say “oh hey, you know that's cool we should think of that there.” Another one was Too Cute for Hate and that was so people would get it and they would laugh and then be like, all right you know what I mean?

Like, why would you hate there's no reason for hate you're too cute for that.

It's crazy because I did it because and another thing, they helped me as I went through life, I made different designs.

Like when I was going through some hard times I made this just a moment.

Like, it is literally just a moment when it's not good keep on going, it will be okay, and when it's good enjoy it.

Because it's literally just a moment.

That one was the biggest one that I made it for myself and it got me through moments.

But I had a lot of people come back and like, you don't understand I was going through some hard stuff and it was just me and myself.

I literally blocked myself away from everybody, but I had this to tell me to help me get through, and I got through.

So that warms my heart to know that in a in a time of need for a human, they just remembered.

Because all you got to do is remember you get so worked up into whatever is going on in your life, and you don't see light sometimes and you don't remember that it's literally just a moment and you've been through a million of them and you got through, but you don't remember that.

So to have that be brought up when you don't know how you're going to get through and just keep working and just keep going, and then you see that you got through.

You know, whatever the issue or trial was, that it's going to be okay.

Well I have about 22 creators they're amazing, they're mostly women trying to do different things, trying to work and bring out their own creativity.

It's cute to watch them grow as well.

But yeah, I've got a lot of different I've got a woman that makes jewelry out of antique silverware, you know different things.

We've got Here We Go Coffee that just started we've got a lot of different creative beautiful humans in here.

Not even just with positivity, but just the awareness of not all that matters.

What really matters is we are born into this world we are going to die, that is fact.

It is not anything dark, it is fact.

What we need to do is figure out how to enjoy it.

How to step away from the things that are unsavory and bringing us down and just be grateful for that hot bath and the chocolate ice cream and the flowers and the trees and the nature and the people that we're not going to have one day because it doesn't.

So if we could switch our perspective to lifting people up and lifting ourselves up and separating ourselves from the ugliness that's going on in the world, also that.

We are here Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 11 to 5.

I'm hoping to open up the hours as I balance my income with my other two jobs and paying for all the things, but it's going to open up a little bit more in the summertime, stay open later and get these classes and these workshops rolling because I want more people in here healing.

Next, it’s over to Kenmore Boulevard for the Rialto Theater.

I interviewed them a long time ago and man, they've come a long way.

Let's go see what the Rialto Theater's ten year anniversary is all about.

- Well first shout out to you for putting that video together because that also helped Nate and I, the other owner of the Rialto, really get the ground running.

We were two really naive businessmen I guess to all just musicians trying to put the music venue together.

So we had no money and putting this place together you know, a video like that and things that you've helped us do helped tremendously.

But fast forward into today, from when we did that video we went through, which the whole music industry went through quite a bit with the whole COVID situation and things like that, but we started out front we put all brand new glass and windows and doors in the facility.

We got brand new marquee that kind of lights the boulevard if you will.

And we created what's now called the Rialto Living Room which is you know, when we did that interview we were in the theater space but we put another bar up front, we have a kitchen now, we do solo, duo acts in the living room space and stuff like that.

That's more open to the public and ten years ago in 2015, 16, whenever we did that interview, we didn't have any of those things so we did quite a bit.

When we first started back in 2015 you know, we were kind of learning as we went if you will.

And as we kind of grew, the space itself grew and our guests started you know, doubling and then we'd have 50 people and we have 75 and we're like, we need to put these people somewhere at the time The Front, which is now The Living Room, was a studio and it wasn't really a space for people to gather.

And with the addition of adding the space we're like, well let's put another bar in you know if it gets busy people can go get another drink there that's where we’ll serve your coffees, and your teas and things like that.

We're not baristas by any means, but we will get you a nice coffee or espresso or something like that.

Then at the time we’re like, “well, you know what?” We need to put some food on premises as well.

And you know, being a music venue you know it's a little tricky because we're not your fine dining if you will.

But we do take pride in some you know we have a little flatbread pizzas and we've got some like appetizer foods and things like that.

So we added that addition to kind of wrap, hopefully what we're trying to do in this space alone to kind of give it the full nightlife feel.

Soul focus was you know, just making the theater itself you know, known if you will.

And then you know fast forward throughout the years it's like, well “we're growing, how do we expand?” How do we keep creating, keep reinventing the product, if you will and then you start meeting people in the local community.

And that's kind of where the Rialto kind of what me and Nate if you will, go out and meet new people and see what's going on in the community and Kenmore Boulevard can be a really special place.

It's got a great business district it's got all the buildings that you need for a cool nightlife you know?

So once we started the theater you know, we started meeting new people and you know, people would come in and say “wow” you know, they tell us stories about the Rialto.

What is was back in the 20s, the 50s, but we started figuring out ways with the community you know, how can we make this place a better you know, how can we make it better?

How can we attract more business owners and now sitting here in 2025, there are some awesome businesses on the boulevard now that we can piggyback off of, we can create you know, special nights for people and special days you know.

So originally it was, can we get people to come to Boulevard?

Yes we did that, now how can we keep them?

You know, coming back and that's kind of where the rest of the business district comes in place.

So we kind of, Nate and I personally kind of try to be more involved in the community and in the the planning if you will of how we can create other spaces for people to come into.

Now we've got another music venue, we've got really good guitar shops, we've got a cool tea shop, coffee shop wrapped around it's beautiful you got to go check it out and we've got other cool bars as well for everybody, to be honest.

So now we're not there yet we're still moving, we're still progressing we still got to find other cool ways.

I do have a shout out our cello player in our band has a dance studio across the street it’s called, The Center dance and yoga studio and if you are into any of that stuff please go visit her as well she does stuff during the weekends.

We have an Airbnb at the Rialto now it's called, the Rialto Airbnb.

So we we built that originally.

My brother and I lived up there because again, we were trying to keep all the money centered around creating this place.

But we lived up there for quite a few years, and then we're like, you know what?

Artists need a place to stay if they're traveling or finding places to sleep while you're trying to do your magic you know, or your art and Nate and I are thinking, let's create a space for them to stay.

And we've already gotten people that stay up there so bands come in, they spend a night here, contact us and we'll give you some lodging for the evening.

Now we did open that up to the public as well and that's cool too, because now if you're a if you're a concertgoer you can also stay up there.

So if you're staying at the Rialto and you've had maybe 1 or 2 drinks and you want to drive, you can book a stay at the Rialto Airbnb.

So people always ask me you know, “you're a bar?” I'm like, no I'm not, I'm not a bar I'm a music venue with a bar and I think that's important because it does not replace somebody's artistic work.

They're the feature, that's why we're doing this.

Yes we have to sell alcohol or beverages we don’t just sell alcohol you know, your coffee, we've mentioned that even your pops and waters, you know that all will keep the venue alive.

But we're a music venue with a bar and I think that's important to to make sure people know so we don't lose track of why we're doing this.

Nate and I want to promote original work so and that's kind of you know, in the same sense what we're trying to do.

Now to wrap this show up today, this is stuff you're gonna want to see for yourself because my video just won't do it justice.

Let's go see what Immersive Space is all about.

- I actually can describe myself like a scientist as all my life I work in STEM education.

I have a master's degree in natural sciences it corresponds to the United States level like master of applied physicist.

All my life I'm trying to use new technologies for education.

Education should be interesting it's not boring because everyone then starting learning something is going to sleep and not remember anything.

So that is why I create the space when you can dip yourself in any type of what do you want to learn?

And the subject.

So it can be only the space I start making.

You can, be inside of nuclear bomb for example or under water it's the deepest in ocean or you can visit new countries here and new anything about something new or about these countries.

So it's amazing you can just be wherever you can be on a Tesla factory to visit and know about all the processes so that was my main idea of this space.

So actually, this is nothing like this in the world.

We can find similar immersive spaces which usually is shown in pictures and music.

It's not main point of educational for my idea, not waste of time just looking at pictures or having an entertainment.

You just have to remember something, to know something because if we use an emotion once that it's not like a cinema.

So you're feeling some people feeling like everything moving around and it's helped to like your mind to remember it's because you have emotions.

So that is why next steps is interesting.

I'm planning to add sensors.

There's going to be lidars on the walls, on the floor, and speaking systems and artificial intelligence.

Like the vision you go up in space it can be a classroom, children class or universities or some scientists.

You come inside and artificial intelligence by your voice recognize you and you ask something for examples, show me nucleus dividing intelligent generates visuals and you can go to the wall.

And touch the wall because lidars, scanners, recognize your touches also we can add the sensors of movements.

That's recognize your movements, your hands but usually touch is more comfortable than just (unintelligable.)

Sorry for my English.

I think it's possible to create this, because I know it.

Yes, I did it by myself and it’s took pretty much time.

It's you know, this system ten times complicated comparing this regular cinema, ten times more equipment and you have to create ten times more visuals here that's why I'm thinking about artificial intelligence to help me do it.

And also you have to imagine, which parts are in contact with another parts in your mind, so I though to add ceiling it's not a big problem.

Maybe in the future we edit and you know, in the future if files can allow us, we can change it to LED screens.

It's much expensive, but it's much easier to work with.

I see it's future of cinema, so now people has TV at home they don't really interested to go in a cinema and sit still.

But for example you came here and to show me a book about, I don't know, fairy tale books or tell me the story about Terminator for example.

And artificial is you know, it's everyday going better and better and you can be inside of the movie.

And to watch the movie it's next level of the cinema not only education.

Thank you once again for watching this episode of Around Akron with Blue Green.

If you have any questions or comments, you can catch me on social media.

Thank you, and have an amazing day!

Right there Around Akron with Blue Green.