Black American Descendants of the Great Migration and U.S. Freedmen

Get Involved

Civic and Community Roots

Uplifting Black American descendants in Summit Lake through civic power, cultural preservation, and pathways to generational wealth in Akron, Ohio.

Site Under Construction

A large, detailed neighborhood map of the Summit Lake area printed on slightly textured matte paper, spread across a dark wooden community table. The map highlights streets, parks, and the lakeshore in rich, natural colors, with clear labels for historic Black neighborhoods and civic landmarks. Soft, indirect daylight from a nearby window washes over the map, creating gentle shadows at the paper’s curled edges. A polished metal fountain pen rests near a marked “Summit Lake” label, and a slim leather-bound notebook lies partly open in the background. Photographic realism, shot from a slightly elevated angle with sharp focus throughout, conveying a professional, organized, and hopeful atmosphere centered on local civic engagement and place-based identity.

Our Summit Lake Story

Join Today

Past Events

Grandfather A.C. Brown, Grandmother Lillian Brown (Jones), and our Daddy James A. Brown Sr. (far right).

Public Forums and Academic Enrichment

Join neighbors in Summit Lake for book Reading Circles and public forums on civic leadership, voting rights, and strengthening Black homeownership in Akron.

RSVP

Heritage and Family Genealogy Research

Celebrate Great Migration legacies with oral histories, youth performances, and resource tables on education, jobs, small-business support, and community development support.

RSVP

Contact Us

Visit our Summit Lake office to learn about upcoming meetings, share your story, and connect with neighbors organizing for lasting change.

Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m

242 Lake Street, Akron, 44301

330-400-4042 (Office)

330-618-1126 (Mobile)

Updates

A close-up of a sturdy, well-worn community bulletin board made of cork and framed in dark wood, completely covered with colorful flyers and neatly pinned notices. Prominent among them is a professionally printed poster reading “Summit Lake Civic Engagement Initiative” beside one titled “Black American Descendants of the Great Migration & U.S. Freedmen.” Pins, paper edges, and layered textures are captured in high detail. The board is mounted on a softly painted, neutral wall in a community center hallway. Overhead fluorescent lighting is diffused, creating even illumination without harsh glare. Photographic realism, shot straight on with sharp focus across the entire board, evoking an active, organized hub of information and opportunity without showing any human figures.

Programs

We host leadership trainings, homeowners’ clinics, youth civic clubs, and neighborhood planning workshops that center Black American Summit Lake families, honoring Great Migration roots while building skills, connections, and clear action steps for stronger representation and shared prosperity.

Explore Programs