As 2019 ends, look ahead to a brighter 2020
At the end of the year we often look back with 20/20 hindsight — well, I guess this year, we can look back at 2019 hindsight — and see what the year has brought.
Many people will point to all the tragedy that Dayton has endured in 2019: There was the Ku Klux Klan rally on Courthouse Square in May. There were the Memorial Day tornadoes that ripped and destroyed so many pockets of our region, especially in Trotwood. There was the mass shooting in the Oregon District in August that took 10 lives (including the shooter) and injured so many more. All of these tragedies shook our community to its core, and we are still trying to recover from the personal, physical and financial losses they brought with them.
In response, our community rallied and came together, sparking and making Dayton Strong. Some worked to clean up the storm damage and rebuild, and that is still going on. Some provided comfort to the families and friends of those shot, by shedding tears, by lighting candles, by providing food and compassion. Many decided to Do Something. Those acts have made Dayton Strong, and I think we as a community have been energized to continue to make lemonade from this basket of lemons.
Looking ahead to next year, I am going to try some 2020 foresight to look at things that will improve our community and give us hope that we will have a future for which we can all be proud.
First, and perhaps most important, we have those programs that enable us to provide for ourselves and our families. It is exciting to think about the coming of the Gem City Market, the grocery store coming to the Salem Avenue corridor, just across the bridge from downtown. This grassroots co-op already has more than 2,000 members and promises to be an oasis in this Dayton food desert.
For those less fortunate, there are several programs that provide free food and other benefits, notably the Dayton Food Bank, the House of Bread, the Mission of Mary Cooperative, and many of our area churches. These programs are playing a key role in providing a safety net for our community.
Second, we are looking at an incredible amount of commercial and residential development in our community. The re-opening of the Arcade has excited everyone, especially through the wonderful works-in-progress photos by local artist Andy Snow. Then there is the OnMain project headed by the University of Dayton and Premier Health that will transform the old fairgrounds into a new, vibrant part of the city. We can also look at the continued expansion of residential housing in the downtown area. Some projects are new; some are transformations; all are encouraging.
Third, Dayton’s cultural opportunities and offerings may be the best in the State of Ohio, Think of the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, with the Philharmonic Orchestra, the Ballet and the Opera, all producing first-class performances for our community. We have The Muse Machine, the Human Race Theatre, the Dayton Playhouse, the Bach Society and more. Don’t forget the parade of touring Broadway shows and club performers that bring other entertainment to our various venues. Of course, the Dayton Art Institute that is a real treasure. And wouldn’t it be nice to have our Dayton Funk Hall of Fame & Museum alive and well in the renovated Arcade?
So, now with all those community assets, and with all those organizations and community supporters, I am confident that Dayton will have a strong year filled with hope — and I say that with perfect 2020 foresight.