The Rust Belt Humanities Lab

April is Native Plant Month! On the blog, KSU Press’s director puts the annual celebration of native plants in dialogue with last week's @RustBeltLab symposium on the Regenerative Rust Belt—and arrives at insight about publishing, place, and the act of giving voice.

Excited to share our newest project: a comic about the many ways Cleveland has played a central role in our democratic experiment! You can read more and see the full art here: clereviewofbooks.com/cleveland-labo… #CLE #comics #democracy #Superman @KatieTrostel @ValentinoLucaZ @clereviewbooks

Pitch call for 2026: in collaboration with @OhioHumanities @RustBeltLab and @litcleveland: we are publishing a series of essays on Toni Morrison alongside Ohio's year-long celebration of her. Please send your ideas to pitches@clereviewofbooks.com. Excited to work with you!

The @RustBeltLab at Ursuline College emphasizes the power of regionally-based storytelling. Katharine Trostel and Valentino Zullo share insights into two of this year's Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards winners. Learn more about the 2025 AWBA winners here: anisfield-wolf.org/winners/

I spent three months exploring the american rust belt, here’s how it went

This Labor Day Weekend, take a Rust Belt Roadtrip with @gmoult, who recommends three books about Cleveland’s extraordinary sacred architecture from Kent State University Press. His new essay is linked below.

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 @ValentinoLucaZ @midstory @OhioHumanities @UrsulineCampus Rustbeltstudies.org

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! @OhioHumanities @midstory @KatieTrostel @ValentinoLucaZ More at Rustbeltstudies.org

I love Superman and the new statue now proudly displayed in downtown Cleveland. I must say, though, I’m most proud of helping make this a reality. None of us would be doing of any of this without Jerry, Joe and Joanne. Welcome back home, friends! @JamesGunn @SiegelShuster38

Join us at the @CapitolW65th on July 11 for a special screening of @Superman! @BRIANMBENDIS joins us as well as @SuperHouseOfEl. Afterward we're having a party at Superelectric Pinball Parlor! @JamesGunn you're also invited. Grab your tickets here: booking.clevelandcinemas.com/tickets/44008/…

🔗: l.cleveland.com/q12y1x  Cleveland, suit up! 🦸‍♂️ Tower City is throwing a Superman-sized party to celebrate the new movie filmed right here in the 216. Free fun, cosplay, comics and creators, photo ops and more on July 12. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures via AP

The House of El is partnering with @SiegelShuster38 to host a screening of @Superman on July 11 in Cleveland, Ohio - the backdrop for the city of Meteopolis in @JamesGunn’s new film! We’ll be hosting a live podcast after with special guest Brian Michael Bendis. #Superman

We’re excited for next week! @TheCityClub @Cleveland_PL @TowerCityCLE @SuperHouseOfEl @SinaGrace @andrewaydin @BRIANMBENDIS @PhillipKJohnson @geneluenyang

Next month Cleveland will be on display for the world! Thanks @JamesGunn. Join us in #CLE as @TowerCityCLE and @Cleveland_PL celebrate this historic moment! @andrewaydin @BRIANMBENDIS @SinaGrace @PhillipKJohnson @geneluenyang #Superman #Superman @SuperHouseOfEl @thegeekofsteel

For me Cleveland was the third partner in the creation of Superman. That @JamesGunn chose Cleveland to film is a full circle. @ClevelandMag @SiegelShuster38 See you soon @andrewaydin @BRIANMBENDIS Grace Ellis @SinaGrace @PhillipKJohnson @geneluenyang clevelandmagazine.com/entertainment/…

Snapped this pic of Dr. Valentino Zullo at the West Side Market — a true Cleveland gem. Assistant Prof. at Ursuline, Anisfield-Wolf Fellow, co-director of Rust Belt Humanities Lab, and co-founder of Get Graphic at @Cleveland_PL. Always a joy working with him on lit events.

SUPER excited to announce The House of El will host a screening of #Superman in Cleveland, Ohio on July 11 - followed by a live podcast - all benefitting @SiegelShuster38. Come see the movie opening night with a room full of @Superman fans! Full details coming soon! @JamesGunn

We have partnered with @cplocfb, @UrsulineCampus, and @cwru to host book discussions led by Fellows Dr. Valentino Zullo and Dr. Jamie Hickner. Join us at @Cleveland_PL on Wednesday, April 16 for a discussion of Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, Isabel Allende's memoir "Paula."

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! ❤️

Thanks for the writeup, @CoolCleveland! #RustBeltLab @UrsulineCampus @ValentinoLucaZ @KatieTrostel coolcleveland.com/2025/03/ursuli…