Akron Stories

Akron Stories Recognition

"The spirit of the nation is founded upon, and reflected in, its exciting and colorful past. Launched in 2019, this grassroots initiative (Akron Stories) has labored to collect, preserve, and celebrate the stories of local rubber workers and their descendants. Great care and considerable resources have been invested in this endeavor, and it is sure to become a source of pride for the whole community."

"All those associated with the Akron Stories project are to be commended for their tremendous efforts to guarantee that the past will not be forgotten, and the dedication of this new monument convincingly demonstrates how very much can be accomplished by a group of conscientious people with clear objectives and firm resolve. Indeed, they have distinguished themselves as concerned and responsible citizens and have, with admirable dedication, helped sustain the history of the area."

• Ohio House of Representatives •

A Dedication to Remember

On October 9, 2021, Art x Love hosted the Rubber Worker Statue & Stories dedication ceremony in downtown Akron. Hundreds of people gathered to honor family members, friends, and loved ones. We created this video to honor the occasion and help others understand the remarkable spirit and legacy of the rubber workers.

Since 2019, Art x Love has led and managed the Rubber Worker Statue & Stories Project in collaboration with the City of Akron, Summit County Historical Society, Akron-Summit County Public Library, and the University of Akron. We created Akron Stories as a grassroots initiative to advocate for the rubber worker statue and collect the stories of Akron’s rubber workers and their descendants. This project culminated in 2021 with the unveiling of Alan Cottrill’s rubber worker statue and the installation of the Akron Stories kiosk.

Visit AkronStories.com to learn more.

Rubber Worker Statue

The Akron Stories Project is a grassroots initiative to collect, preserve, and celebrate the stories of Akron’s rubber workers and their descendants. Art x Love created the website, marketing materials, managed the sale of commemorative bricks, developed the interactive kiosk, led the oral history project, and handled all communications (digital, print, phone, mail). Our team interviewed hundreds of people, collected thousands of stories, and mined extensive public and private archives to bring their stories to life. To explore the stories, learn more about the project, and support the initiative, please visit AkronStories.com