WWW.SHAKER.LIFE | SUMMER 2019 43
One of the challenges residents
identified was that many of them did
not know their neighbors. They were
seeking more ways to connect face
to face, “going back from digital to
analog,” says Compton.
But just as important, says
Compton, is what he calls the “small
magic” that happens, not just at these
monthly meetings, but between them.
“There are a million every day
wows,” says Compton – the game
nights, the book clubs, the meet
and greets. One resident organized
a community-wide spring cleanup
of the neighborhood. Another has
helped start an outdoor Tai Chi
exercise class. Neighbors might
decide to go see a movie together or
try out a new restaurant.
Says Compton, “The events are
exciting and fun, but the relationships
are what create an enduring
attachment to this place.”
The connections that have
come out of the community theater
productions are a testament to how
this can occur.
“Monica has been very successful
in coming up with programs that
are of value to residents of every
age, from high school students to
community elders who have lived
here for more than 50 years,” says
Compton. “The arts are clearly a very
powerful platform for community
engagement.”
To inquire about having
IMAGINE present programming on
teen domestic violence for a school
or group, contact the organization
at imaginedmb@gmail.com or
440-644-0168. SL
Photograph by Angelo Merendino
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