Lit Youngstown and Perseus Way Project showcase youth and community programs at Mahoning County meeting
May 21, 2026 | Mahoning County, Ohio
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At the Mahoning County Board of Commissioners meeting May 21, two local nonprofits presented community programming supported in part by ARPA funds and were recognized by the board.
Karen Schubert, cofounding director of Lit Youngstown, told commissioners that Lit Youngstown — the city’s primary literary-arts nonprofit — runs workshops for all ages, staged public-art and oral-history projects, and used ARPA funds to pilot a youth-poet-laureate-style program. Schubert said the organization brought young people from three public high schools to workshops, provided transportation and stipends, and awarded five small prizes of $100 and a $5,000 scholarship to one student, Lyric Salisbury. "We used our ARPA funding to try a pilot program... we selected 5 for $100 and one student for a $5,000 scholarship," Schubert said.
Schubert also described public art projects including stamped poem excerpts on Walnut Street and an oral-history book that recorded stories of 12 African American women, ages 64 to 101. She said Lit Youngstown recently moved into new space at 805 Mahoning (the former Comfort Keepers building) in partnership with Loop Youngstown and plans summer workshops and readings featuring regional authors.
Milian Perry, chief executive officer of the Perseus Way Project, described a youth employment and neighborhood-beautification program that teaches landscaping, minor construction and civic stewardship. Perry said the group will resume "senior Wednesday" events in June that provide weekly free services for seniors and emphasized the program’s role in engaging people aged roughly 14–25. The commission presented a proclamation recognizing the organization’s community service. "We love working in the community," Perry said.
The presentations drew praise from commissioners, who highlighted the value of youth engagement and the role of arts and community-service programs in mental-health and civic participation. The board thanked both presenters and encouraged continued community partnerships.
The presentations occurred after the board’s routine business items and before adjournment.
Karen Schubert, cofounding director of Lit Youngstown, told commissioners that Lit Youngstown — the city’s primary literary-arts nonprofit — runs workshops for all ages, staged public-art and oral-history projects, and used ARPA funds to pilot a youth-poet-laureate-style program. Schubert said the organization brought young people from three public high schools to workshops, provided transportation and stipends, and awarded five small prizes of $100 and a $5,000 scholarship to one student, Lyric Salisbury. "We used our ARPA funding to try a pilot program... we selected 5 for $100 and one student for a $5,000 scholarship," Schubert said.
Schubert also described public art projects including stamped poem excerpts on Walnut Street and an oral-history book that recorded stories of 12 African American women, ages 64 to 101. She said Lit Youngstown recently moved into new space at 805 Mahoning (the former Comfort Keepers building) in partnership with Loop Youngstown and plans summer workshops and readings featuring regional authors.
Milian Perry, chief executive officer of the Perseus Way Project, described a youth employment and neighborhood-beautification program that teaches landscaping, minor construction and civic stewardship. Perry said the group will resume "senior Wednesday" events in June that provide weekly free services for seniors and emphasized the program’s role in engaging people aged roughly 14–25. The commission presented a proclamation recognizing the organization’s community service. "We love working in the community," Perry said.
The presentations drew praise from commissioners, who highlighted the value of youth engagement and the role of arts and community-service programs in mental-health and civic participation. The board thanked both presenters and encouraged continued community partnerships.
The presentations occurred after the board’s routine business items and before adjournment.
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