Detroit/Youngstown Horizon League Tourny

VALPARAISO | Youngstown's DuShawn Brooks, right, stops Detroit's Donavan Foster as Youngstown State takes on Detroit in the second round of the Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament Friday, March 2, 2012.

Detroit/Youngstown Horizon League Tourny

VALPARAISO | Detroit's Eli Holman keeps Youngstown's D.J. Cole at bay as Youngstown State takes on Detroit in the second round of the Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament Friday, March 2, 2012.

Detroit/Youngstown Horizon League Tourny

Youngstown's DuShawn Brooks, a Thornton grad, shoots over Detroit defenders during the second round of the Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament on Friday.

Detroit/Youngstown Horizon League Tourny

VALPARAISO | Youngstown's DuShawn Brooks, right, is guarded by Detroit's LaMarcus Lowe as Youngstown State takes on Detroit in the second round of the Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament Friday, March 2, 2012.

Detroit/Youngstown Horizon League Tourny

VALPARAISO | With a half second left in the half, Youngstown's DuShawn Brooks takes a freethrow shot as Youngstown State takes on Detroit in the second round of the Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament Friday, March 2, 2012.

Detroit/Youngstown Horizon League Tourny

VALPARAISO | With a half second left in the half, Youngstown's DuShawn Brooks takes a freethrow shot as Youngstown State takes on Detroit in the second round of the Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament Friday, March 2, 2012.

Detroit/Youngstown Horizon League Tourny

VALPARAISO | Youngstown's DuShawn Brooks is guarded under the basket by Detroit's Doug Anderson as Youngstown State takes on Detroit in the second round of the Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament Friday, March 2, 2012.

Detroit/Youngstown Horizon League Tourny

VALPARAISO | Youngstown's DuShawn Brooks, right, is guarded by Detroit's LaMarcus Lowe as Youngstown State takes on Detroit in the second round of the Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament Friday, March 2, 2012.

One Region, One Vision approach has many facets

Youngstown, Ohio Mayor Jay Williams speaks during a Gary and Region Investment Project Urban Exchange in Gary on April 27. Williams is now part of the Obama administration, as executive director of the Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers.

Youngstown

Former Youngstown mayor: Don't write off region

Rumors speculating the death of Midwest cities such as Gary and Hammond have been greatly exaggerated, U.S. Department of Labor official Jay Williams said in his keynote address at the Times'-sponsored One Region, One Vision luncheon.

Former Youngstown mayor: Don't write off region

MERRILLVILLE | Rumors speculating the death of Midwest cities such as Gary and Hammond have been greatly exaggerated, U.S. Department of Labor official Jay Williams said Thursday.

Creating relevance in the Rust Belt

Battling blight, population loss and crime are challenges for any mayor to face. But last week at the Gary and Region Investment Project's first Urban Exchange event, Youngstown, Ohio, Mayor Jay Williams said that one of the biggest battles he's had to fight is helping to change the mindset …

Creating relevance in the Rust Belt

Youngstown, Ohio, Mayor Jay Williams talks about the challenges and successes of his city during a GRIP Urban Exchange at The Steel Yard in Gary.

Creating relevance in the Rust Belt

Youngstown, Ohio, Mayor Jay Williams, left, and and Gary Mayor Rudy Clay listen to U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky's speech Wednesday GRIP's Urban Exchange at The Steel Yard in Gary.

Quality of Life, One Region event set for Sept. 8

Jay Williams, former mayor of Youngstown, Ohio, and director of the White House's Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers, is expected to speak about local and national issues at the One Region, One Vision/Quality of Life Council's Sept. 8 event in Merrillville. Also slated to sp…

Youngstown mayor urges communities to diversify

CHICAGO | The mayor of Youngstown, Ohio, a steel town in the midst of an economic uplift effort, warned a Chicago audience the presence of abandoned buildings and vacant lots can deter community progress.