If you have spent any time around South Street Ministries, you know that our community is full of people with heart, grit, and a great sense of humor. So when we say that one of our faithful monthly supporters is named Taylor Swift, we can promise you it is not just a headline grab. It is true.
Our Taylor is not a global pop star, although we think he is pretty legendary in his own right. He is someone whose life was shaped by this ministry years ago and who continues to give monthly so others can experience the same kind of transformation he did.
My name is Taylor J. Swift (yes, that is my real name), and I first got involved with South Street Ministries in 2017 while living in Akron and attending The University of Akron. I split my time between helping in the Bike Shop and volunteering with the after-school education programs. Both gave me a chance to see how South Street operates at a very practical level, providing kids with structure, mentorship, and opportunities to grow in ways that are not always available to them elsewhere.
Nearly a decade later, I now live in Washington, D.C., where I serve as Director of Congressional Engagement for the Rebuild Congress Initiative. My work focuses on strengthening Congress as an institution and helping Members and staff improve how they govern and represent the public. Before that, I worked at the POPVOX Foundation and in Congress for the House Democratic Caucus.
The connection between my time at South Street and my work in D.C. is simple. Community and institutions, whether in the halls of Congress or a neighborhood after-school program, function best when they invest in people, relationships, and trust.I continue to support South Street because I have seen up close how their approach works. South Street cares deeply for its neighbors, equipping and inspiring people to shape their own communities and families. I support them because I have seen how that kind of investment transforms lives. South Street changed my life for the better, and I know it will continue to do so for countless individuals, families, and communities.
Taylor’s story reminds us that giving monthly, no matter your name, is about showing up faithfully and helping neighbors thrive. Each recurring gift fuels South Street’s work, gives kids confidence and connection at Bike Shop, provides nutritious food and holistic enrichment opportunities for our kids, and helps justice-impacted neighbors find hope, belonging, and transformation.
Monthly giving may not come with stadium lights or platinum records, but it builds something far greater: trust, stability, and community. It allows us to keep showing up for the people who call South Street home.
When you give monthly, you join that rhythm of faithfulness. You help sustain a ministry built on second chances, shared tables, and steadfast love.Join Taylor Swift and others who give monthly. You might not headline a world tour, but you will make a world of difference right here in Akron. Make an impact that never goes out of style.
$10,000 Challenge Fund: Become a Monthly Donor before 12/31!A generous donor has created a $10,000 Challenge Fund to multiply the impact of every new monthly partner who joins South Street between now and December 31.When you sign up as a monthly donor during this special opportunity, your commitment will help fully realize this Challenge Fund, fueling even greater impact for kids, families, and justice-impacted neighbors across Akron. |
In Akron’s North Hill neighborhood, more than 30 languages are spoken, a testament to its rich history. In the early 20th century, the neighborhood was populated by immigrants from Italy, Ireland, Poland, and Croatia. Today, the resettlement of refugees has led to another season of change. North Hill is now home to Bhutanese-Nepali, Afghan, and Congolese communities whose languages and cultures contribute to the dynamic, diverse makeup of this thriving community.
Since launching The Bike Shop at 915 North Main, we have discovered that our largest challenge has been the barrier created by language. Yet, when it comes to bikes, as Janice Tower once said, “It doesn’t matter what language we speak; we all speak bike.” Click, click, click. Clang, clang. These are the universal sounds of a bike. Learning to ride is the same for all of us, and falling down hurts the same, too. Simply put, the bike is a conduit that allows us to transcend language and cultural differences to build connection and community.
When talking about The Bike Shop, the true sign of impact lies in the transfer of knowledge from one individual to another. For example, we have been working with a young man named “Bar Bar.” After working on and earning his bike, Bar Bar helped his brother and several neighbors earn theirs. Initially, he was asked to help. But the second, third, and fourth interactions of the day were his own choosing. He was empowered. And in each moment, he demonstrated the same techniques and processes that had once been shown to him.
Stories like Bar Bar’s remind us that transformation often begins with something simple, and it grows because of people like you who pray, give, and believe in this work.
When it comes to measuring success, one is the only number that truly matters. One life impacted. One neighbor reached. One friendship formed. Your support helps make it possible. Divided by language, unified by bike.
1995’s Toy Story was a blockbuster hit. The opening sequence features an original song with lyrics by Randy Newman, and on screen, we see Andy playing with Woody. The two are, by all means, the best of FRIENDS!
Cycling FRIENDS! is a social-emotional learning experience that seeks to teach the fundamentals of friendship, something we’ve all seen unfold in picturesque fashion countless times while watching this film.
As the Bike Shop Program Coordinator for South Street Ministries, I had the opportunity to pilot this program alongside Bike Shop Volunteer Brian Bortz. Cycling FRIENDS! is an eight-week program for individuals in grades K–5. FRIENDS! is an acronym that spells out the qualities of a good friend, with each quality paired with a cycling skill or technique.
F – Feelings
R – Reaction
I – I feel…
E – Empathy
N – Non-judgmental
D – Dependable
S – Service
! – Execute
In our first year, we had ten participants, all of whom became fast FRIENDS! When you’re five or six, or even a bit older with limited cycling experience, the Towpath Trail can look like a rough road. Yet in just eight weeks, we’ve covered miles and miles, discussed our feelings and troubles, and forged friendships that will last a lifetime.
It’s the kind of growth and joy that happens when young people are given a safe space to learn, connect, and be seen, something made possible by the faithful prayers and support of this community.
Next season will see the reach of Cycling FRIENDS! expand both internally and externally through partnership and collaboration with Summit Metro Parks and South Street Ministries’ summer camp and after-school programming.
Thank you for helping create opportunities like this, where faith, friendship, and learning come together on two wheels. Watch for an article in January’s newsletter that highlights my motivations and the emotions behind this dream, which has become a reality.
This past summer at South Street, summer camp was about more than just having fun. Our kids spent time making friends, learning new things, and building confidence in who they are. As a staff and team, we got to see how much the kids grew not just in skills, but in independence and in the way they carry themselves. For our kids, summer camp was a reminder that when they’re given support and opportunity, they thrive.
That same heartbeat carries on through our after-school program, beginning at the start of October. During the week after school, our K – 5th youth walk through our doors and know they are safe, cared for, and surrounded by people who believe in them. They get help with schoolwork, chances to try new activities, and time to simply be kids in a healthy environment. Families know they’re not alone, and students know they’re part of something bigger.
South Street’s summer camp and after-school programs go hand in hand. Together, they give our kids a place to belong, grow, and step forward with confidence and care. Your prayers, generosity, and encouragement help make this possible, creating spaces where children feel known, loved, and supported every day.
Thank you for being part of this transformational time as we commit to loving our kids and walking with them toward bright futures.
Your prayerful support of South Street Ministries makes caring, compassionate Kingdom work possible.
It is your generous giving that keeps us walking alongside children, families, and neighbors who need hope. Together, we’re making an impact alongside you to renew our community for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Thank you, and God bless you!