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Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs concludes that basic physiological, safety, and belonging needs must be met before an individual has the capacity to flourish into self-actualization. Yet a look into Middlebury reveals multiple barriers challenging the foundational deficiency needs of families and children alike. Economic and racial disparities surround the neighborhood with a majority of students at Mason CLC coming from economically disadvantaged homes. In addition, nearly 20% of all violent youth crimes in Akron are committed within Middlebury, creating the highest rate of child removal by Summit County Children Services (SCCS).
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Middlebury is a neighborhood that epitomizes a disinvested rust belt city, and while that disinvestment is on display in the physical environment, it is also evident within the education system. At Mason CLC, only 8% of students are performing on level in math and similarly only 11% of students are performing on level in reading. This leaves a majority of students testing two or more levels behind, creating a compounding educational gap that is increasingly difficult to overcome as students progress. Students who do not graduate from high school are 8 times more likely to go to prison by the time they become an adult.  Left unaddressed, these barriers will cyclically exacerbate the very issues at hand, altogether challenging the foundational needs of individuals and consequently obstructing the path toward self-actualization.