Rust Belt Lab

We're currently accepting articles for our 2026 issue, The Regenerative Rust Belt. Send us your articles and write with any questions. Also, please share the CFP far and wide! @katietrostel.bsky.social @valentinolzullo.bsky.social #academicsky #booksky

Contact Details: christabel.devadoss@mtsu.edu or christabel.devadoss@proton.me

Compensation: The first 35 participants will be compensated with a $75 gift card. You can decide to stop participation at any time.
 
IRB Details:
·      Investigator: Christabel Devadoss
·      Protocol ID: 21-2089 7v             Approval: 01/20/2021

Participants: Looking for people who 1) self-identify as a racialized minority, 2) live (or have lived) in Ohio, northern Indiana, eastern Pennsylvania, southern Michigan, northwestern New York 3) live or work in a rural area (not a city).

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand the experiences of racialized minorities in the rural Rust Belt. Interviews will be about your experiences living or having lived in the rural Rust Belt.

Seeking volunteers for a research study on experiences of racialized minorities in the rural Rust Belt
 
Looking for participants for virtual or in-person interviews (approximately 30 min-1 hour).

When we hosted @andrewaydin.bsky.social in Cleveland, we had to have him do a reading of Taste of Justice--a superhero webcomic about superheroes and food, 2 things #CLE is known for--@dccomicsreal.bsky.social @literarycleveland.bsky.social Read it here: www.dcuniverseinfinite.com/comics/book/...

When we hosted @andrewaydin.bsky.social in Cleveland, we had to have him do a reading of Taste of Justice--a superhero webcomic about superheroes and food, 2 things #CLE is known for--@dccomicsreal.bsky.social @literarycleveland.bsky.social Read it here: www.dcuniverseinfinite.com/comics/book/...

Last week we hosted @andrewaydin.bsky.social at the Cleveland Foundation for the 90th anniversary of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards and Congressman Lewis, who won the award in 1999. Dawn Arrington, Dir of Comics at the Corner led the interview
@katietrostel.bsky.social @valentinolzullo.bsky.social

Inked: Hurricane Helene's legacy lives on, through comics When Hurricane Helene tore through Southern Appalachia last year, it left behind more than just downed trees and flooded homes. Helene carved enduring, indelible stories into the lives of those who li...

Need some good news? smokymountainnews.com/news/item/39...

Good Trouble Comics announces the Appalachia Comics Project aiming to spotlight the devastation of Hurricane Helene and history of the region The first issue of Appalachia Comics is set to be released Winter 2025

Good Trouble Comics announces the Appalachia Comics Project aiming to spotlight the devastation of Hurricane Helene and history of the region #comics #comicbooks @andrewaydin.bsky.social

What a weekend! We'll be sharing highlights from our 2nd Rust Belt Symposium, a chance to tell our own stories and imagine new futures rooted in community. Like the #splicecreamtruck, we are "powered by North East Shores" ... and stories! ❤️ @valentinolzullo.bsky.social @katietrostel.bsky.social

It was a true honor to host one of comics' greats this weekend when @andrewaydin.bsky.social visited Cleveland for the first time. He fit right in! Look for picture and videos: here is a sneak peek @katietrostel.bsky.social @valentinolzullo.bsky.social @topshelfcomix.bsky.social #CLE #RustBelt

Books at the Market today at the West Side Market with @literarycleveland.bsky.social, Cleveland Public Library and more! @andrewaydin.bsky.social will be signing books at 1pm! #comics #comicssky #booksky #CLE #RustBelt @rustbeltlab.bsky.social @katietrostel.bsky.social

Display of books on stands at a conference exhibit, with Kent State University Press drape.

Thanks to everyone who’s stopped by our exhibit at today’s Rust Belt Humanities Symposium at Ursuline College—featuring books by @jlauck1941.bsky.social and more. And thanks too to the organizers at @rustbeltlab.bsky.social!

Reframing the 'Rust Belt' narrative through the humanities The Rust Belt Humanities Lab at Ursuline College is using community events and guest speakers to help students and residents re-imagine the region and its future.

@andrewaydin.bsky.social, @katietrostel.bsky.social, and @valentinolzullo.bsky.social will be on the Sound of Ideas this morning! #CLE #RustBelt #booksky

www.ideastream.org/show/sound-o...

Thanks for the writeup, Cool Cleveland! #RustBeltLab
@katietrostel.bsky.social @valentinolzullo.bsky.social

coolcleveland.com/2025/03/ursu...

We met w/ Dawn Arrington of Comics at the Corner today to plan her conversation w/ @andrewaydin.bsky.social at the Cleveland Foundation this week. Let's celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award and John Lewis' legacy @valentinolzullo.bsky.social @katietrostel.bsky.social

Our reading of John Lewis, @andrewaydin.bsky.social, and @natepowell.bsky.social’s March with students from Tri-C and Ursuline College continues. Pictured are some of our book club members. @topshelfcomix.bsky.social @valentinolzullo.bsky.social @katietrostel.bsky.social #comics #Cleveland #rustbelt

Our reading of John Lewis, @andrewaydin.bsky.social, and @natepowell.bsky.social’s March with students from Tri-C and Ursuline College continues. Pictured are some of our book club members. @topshelfcomix.bsky.social @valentinolzullo.bsky.social @katietrostel.bsky.social #comics #Cleveland #rustbelt

We have a handful of additional tickets available for our April 4th Symposium. Please email katharine.trostel@ursuline.edu if you're interested! @valentinolzullo.bsky.social @katietrostel.bsky.social

The Story of The Land: How Literature Confronts the Climate Crisis in partnership with Orion Magazine, Literary Cleveland, and Mac's Backs

🚨 Climate Crisis Panel Discussion! 🚨

Join us to discuss the urgent challenges of climate change and explore the role of literature in this moment. Registration is free in the link below!

givebutter.com/IPMJbW

@beltpublishing.bsky.social
@literarycleveland.bsky.social
@rustbeltlab.bsky.social

Next week @andrewaydin.bsky.social will be at the Cleveland Foundation in honor of the 90th anniversary of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, which John Lewis won in 1999. #booksky #comicssky @topshelfcomix.bsky.social @valentinolzullo.bsky.social @katietrostel.bsky.social #comics #Cleveland #RustBelt

Next week @andrewaydin.bsky.social will be at the Cleveland Foundation in honor of the 90th anniversary of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, which John Lewis won in 1999. #booksky #comicssky @topshelfcomix.bsky.social @valentinolzullo.bsky.social @katietrostel.bsky.social #comics #Cleveland #RustBelt

Look for my KSU Press colleagues at the symposium's exhibit, and if you're writing a book on a Rust Belt topic, drop me a line!

Getting our swag ready for our Rust Belt Symposium at #ursulinecollege! Our bags are from Found Surface "Manufacturing eco-friendly soft goods in Cleveland, Ohio." Our event is sold out but you can learn more about our work: www.rustbeltlab.org. @katietrostel.bsky.social @valentinolzullo.bsky.social

Next month: Books at the Market at Cleveland's historic, West Side Market w/ @andrewaydin.bsky.social. Will we see you? Join @literarycleveland.bsky.social, Cleveland Public Library, Comics at the Corner, more! #comics #booksky #CLE #RustBelt @valentinolzullo.bsky.social @katietrostel.bsky.social

Students @ Ursuline College & Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland are reading March 1-3 by John Lewis, @andrewaydin.bsky.social, & @natepowell.bsky.social this Spring! Prepping for Andrew's visit! @topshelfcomix.bsky.social @katietrostel.bsky.social @valentinolzullo.bsky.social #comics #CLE

The Charles W. Chesnutt Archive team - Seeks to make accessible Chesnutt’s writings addressing topics of race, identity, violence, class, and familial and economic relations.

The founding team of Midstory - A 501(c)(3) non-profit thinkhub progressing the narrative of the Midwest “to drive renewed interest and human capital into post-industrial cities.”