Hear from this week’s host, Andrew Novak on why he chose to stay in Akron instead of moving to a “big city” and how he’s trying to make a difference here:
“I’m a born-and-raised Akronite. I attended Old Trail School where my mom is a teacher, so the CVNP holds a very special place in my heart.
I had convinced myself after college that I NEEDED to move to NYC or the Bay Area to ‘make it’ and be happy. But the longer I stuck around, the more I realized how much of a difference I could make in my own hometown. Akron is my home base, but I also LOVE to travel.
I have been involved with tech start-ups since graduating college, but my degree is in marketing. I worked remotely for Dryver, a competitor of Uber, for three years and was kind of a self-described hermit. After that gig, I have made a point to get out into the community, meet new people, and make Akron a more fun place to live and play.
It’s amazing seeing (and being a part of) the renaissance of downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. There are so many supportive and interesting people in Akron that push for improvement of the city and its residents.
I collect art and vinyl records along with a laundry list of other oddities. I’m a former Nervous Dog barista who you still may find behind the counter or at a market on weekends with Akron Coffee Roasters. I consume an embarrassing amount of television series on Netflix and HBO.
I am also an entrepreneur and co-founder of Stay in Play Recreation (@stayinplayrec), which is an organization that runs volleyball and kickball leagues for adults and young professionals around the greater Akron area with more leagues/sports in the pipeline.”
Andrew’s favorite thing about Akron is one we haven’t heard before from a Peeks host. “A recent favorite with some personal nostalgia is ‘The Ball Machine’ at Akron Children’s Hospital by George Rhoads. It’s a Rube Goldberg type piece of art that I remember being mesmerized by as a child. I visit Akron Children’s for my job with Timocco and always take time to decompress and watch the colorful fun piece of art move and make sounds.”
Follow Summit Peeks on Twitter to get a look at Andrew’s Akron this week.
Everyday Akron 