What makes a great city? The people who live there, of course.
For this issue, we talked with ten members of our community who are doing much more than just punching the clock. From medicine and education to the arts, sustainable food and even baseball—these are the individuals helping to make Toledo a great place to call home.
Compiled by Kelly Thompson, Athena Cocoves and Chris Watson Photos by Michael Nemeth
Joe Napoli President & General Manager, Toledo Mud Hens, Toledo Walleye
What I do: Our organizations create what we hope are everlasting memories. The approach there is that we want everyone who walks through our doors to have this incredibly positive, memorable experience. And as an organization, we have offices full of people that get that, and love it, and live by it.
Why it matters: We’ve been downtown for 14 years now, so we looked around the country and saw that minor league sports in particular ballparks could spur on economic development if placed in the right location. We could’ve stayed out in Maumee, but if we did we’d have to surround the building with a parking lot. We looked at the Warehouse District and asked, ‘what if we placed this ballpark here? What would happen around it?’ What we were hoping for were condos, townhomes, restaurants, bars and coffee shops. And those things have happened.
My inspiration: First and foremost, my family. Family always comes first. And as far as the community goes, you know, I think 20 years from now, we’re gonna look at downtown Toledo through a much different lens—a significantly improved downtown. If everything was to go according to plan, I’d love to see 25-35,000 people working downtown, and 10-15,000 people living downtown. Folks walking to work, local-serving retail . . . the pharmacy, the grocery store, the dentist . . . we need those things, and it’s on track right now to be a reality.
The $18 million Hensville project will add retail and restaurants to St. Clair St.
Aly Sterling Founder and President, Aly Sterling Philanthropy, LLC
What I do: Short answer: Our firm are consultants to the charitable sector. Long answer: One is working with nonprofits in fulfilling and growing their mission. Second, we help people make their giving more powerful.
Why it matters:The nonprofit sector has become very impactful in how we live, work and play. Millennials are making decisions as to where they are going to work based on their charitable impact. People choose vacations based on mission rather than place. Many of us make decisions on how the product is produced, where they give, how they treat charity. As the nature of what we consider to be charitable giving changes, i.e. purchasing over direct giving, we help our sector respond to that change.
My inspiration: I come from a family of entrepreneurs. It’s in my DNA. After a dozen years working for nonprofits, I decided that I should use my experience as a model for all nonprofits. We’re now in our seventh year and hiring our next employee. I’m a junkie for human interest stories and human achievement stories. Things like courage and risk, powerful things that people do every day that we get to tell and be inspired by. I get to play in a fun space where I have access to wonderful people, stories, and amazing achievement by individuals and organizations.
Aly Sterling Philanthropy, LLC was the first firm of its kind in the city
Keith Jordan Co-Owner / Vice President, JLJ Vision Outreach General Manager, Jordan Temple Development Corporation
What I do: We help with children who are having trouble with their current placement in schools and are finding it hard to adjust in school and in their community. We try to reach people where they are and help them become individual the best that the can become. We don’t set bars and we don’t set limits; we customize services to allow each individual to succeed at their own pace.
Why it matters: What I see is in our community the fabric of the family broken down. We can restore hope to kids, so they can believe they can be somebody. We can write checks . . . that is good. But it doesn’t not replace a hug. ‘Doing’ is way better than funding. Most of all we want to restore hope; we want kids to believe in their dreams. We really want kids to believe that they can be somebody.
My inspiration: My family. My community. My God. Those three things keep me moving and are the reasons I go to work every day. It’s at the heart of my spiritual connection to do right by folks. It’s in my heart to love my family and to make sure they are better off than I was. And it’s in my heart to leave my community the same as I received it or better. If I can’t do those things, I don’t have a purpose in life.
I think everyone should get a second chance. There are no perfect people. Who are we to say to someone that they are ‘done’?
JLJ Vision Outreach partners with the Juvenile Justice Department to mentor youth ages 5-16
Marty Porter Director, Toledo School for the Arts “By being accepting of artists and their unique perspectives, we have a community based on mutual respect.” What I do: I am the Director of the Toledo School for the Arts and have been involved with TSA since the beginning. I oversee our programming and our community of creative people. We have teachers that understand the creative process and that versatility, diversity, and sometimes chaos are involved. We want to allow that process to occur without intervening to create a better product. We integrate art in every nook and cranny we can, letting it serve as an anchor during liberal arts classes.
Why it matters:Many of our students were not able to prosper in more traditional schools and find this a more palatable environment for individuality and uniqueness. Students often say that here, they do not feel like the weird one, and that “we are all weird.” The creative energy and productivity has brought us into the community countless times through art shows, music, theater and dance performances. We have 135 arts outreach events planned in 2015.
My inspiration:I see the mission of arts in a broad way . . . I see the impact in community, I see art change neighborhoods and individuals. Artists have a way of communicating what the community feels in a unique way, and I think a community without art would be a very dull place to live. I’ve played music all my life and value the act of creation and the product. The reality that we set out with integrated arts and suddenly we have an orchestra that can compete statewide was a hugely inspirational moment.
Toledo School for the Arts was recently named one of the Top 25 Urban Schools by the Fordham Institute
Anneliese Grytafey Senior Program Officer, Toledo Community Foundation
What I do: I am responsible for managing the activities of the program department, managing the competitive grant programs, and making sure that we’re directing funds to high-quality organizations.
Why it matters:We play a role as a convener—we set the table and bring people together around different ideas, things that are happening outside of Toledo that might be good for Toledo. We are helping to establish the new Head Start program within Lucas County, which is a collaborative effort to bring high-quality education to our community.
My inspiration:There’s a lot of room for new ideas. I’m inspired by the youth of Toledo, the people who grow up here and choose to make their future here. That’s what I get excited about—I get to see kids getting an enriched education through a program that we funded.
Toledo Community Foundation exceeded $200 million in assets supporting the community in 2014
Dr. Imran Andrabi Chief Operating Officer, President of Networking and Chief Integration Officer, Mercy
What I do: My major concentration of work is both the Toledo area and Northwest OH. My work with being president of cheif integration – developing our network, all the physicians, pieces and parts that are required for us to provide the best quality of care. Whether you’re being seen in a physician’s office or in a nursing home…how do we put those pieces together to provide the best care to our patients.
Why it matters:What Mercy has done is taken a proactive approach to healthcare delivery, looking to what models will look like in the future. Our mission is to provide care for people that’s easily accessible, comprehensive, and at a cost that is affordable. We ask ourselves, ‘How do we understand compassion, sickness, life, and justice for the people we take care of?’ People are going bankrupt because they can’t afford health care. We want to improve the overall health status and quality of life in our community.
My inspiration:We’re significantly impacting short- and long-term implications to the communities in Northwest Ohio with preventative care. For example, years ago, we were close to a 16% positive outcome for controlling diabetes for 500 patients. Now, we’re at 30% improvement rate for 6,000 patients. Those people are now less likely to have a heart attack, kidney disease, vascular disease, or a need for dialysis. To us, that’s really exciting.
With Dr. Andrabi’s direction, Mercy is working toward a more progressive healthcare model
Maria Rodriguez-Winter President, Co-Founder (1996), and former Executive Director, Sofia Quintero Art and Cultural Center
What I do: I promote Latino art, culture and entertainment and educate those unfamiliar with my culture. The Center provides emerging artists a venue to display their work and engages the community through both art and agricultural programs. We have acquired land surrounding Broadway Street, and have beautified the area with murals, colorful gardens and will begin a culinary arts program this year. I want to give young people the opportunity to grow and process food by caring for Mother Nature. We sell preserves and honey from our beehives, allowing those involved to both value the activity and recognize its profitability.
Why it matters:I think that through art many barriers are broken down. Art and food draws people in, and that sense of community and culture is important. I have empowered young people through art, urban gardening and education. Our vision is to improve the health, wellness and safety of the neighborhood. Last summer we had over 300 volunteers worked in our gardens. The community overall feels safer and happier in the neighborhood.
My inspiration:The Center is named after my late, best friend Sofia Quintero. She grew up in Swanton and was the first Latina to be elected to the Board of Education. She inspired people and loved children. Her legacy of education and promotion of Latino culture made an impact on me. I think it is important to know your culture and know who you are… so many young people are on a quest to discover themselves, and I believe that knowing your ancestry and history keeps you grounded. This solidarity is a large value to me.
Sofia Quintero is leading the way in revitalization & promotion of the Hispanic Community.
What I do: I have two main tasks. As manager of Toledo GROWS, I secure and administer grants, ensure knowledge of that program, and other administrative duties. I am also the director of education, and particularly focused on growing food, healthy eating, and outdoor living.Toledo GROWS supports 120 community gardens in Toledo. We can loan tools, provide seed swaps, and much more. Our partnership with the juvenile justice system gets kids out and helping in the community, which helps build relationships and job skills. We’re also doing more and more with youth outreach in schools, including school gardens and nutritious eating.
Why it matters:We need to all get back to healthy eating and reconnect to our food source. Not only is this healthy, but it also helps people provide for themselves. In the case of the juvenile court system, it helps transition people from being tax users to tax providers. These young people have come from backgrounds that are not nurturing. It costs less money to help with training and education and life skills than it does to incarcerate. We help provide them with an opportunity to grow food and to grow as a person.
My inspiration:The reason I took this job was be able to help people directly. If I can help connect people with seeds, land, money, and opportunity to grow their own food . . . that’s something I love. Throw in my love of education and love of the outdoors, and this is a great job.
Toledo GROWs supports 120 community gardens in our city
Hugg Grefe Executive Director, LISC Toledo, Local Initiatives Support Corporation
What I do: I work to help people in communities build places they want to live. We makes homes by helping to support nurturing, complete environments by reversing patterns of disinvestment. Through investment in real estate, projects and other community groups, we help support revitalization and growth.
Why it matters:Since we are a non-profit, we can make loans that banks cannot, which streamlines progress and boosts community transformation. With major projects, like the recently announced Hensville, we are able to fund the surrounding development and help establish a cohesion in the community. It is a danger to rely on a major, silver bullet project to create all of the change needed.
My inspiration:I was in 7th grade when the March on Washington took place. This awareness of civil rights issues and interest in equality has always driven me towards social change. A year ago, I took part in a poverty simulation conducted by the United Way, which affirmed my belief in the necessity of community development.
In 2014 LISC Toledo committed to invest more than $12 million into the community via grants, loans and equity
Randy Oostra President and CEO ProMedica Health System
What I do: With ProMedica, I am changing our vision of the future of Toledo health care by focusing on including social determinants of health. The traditional view of health care organizations has been that we care and worry about people when inside of our walls, but when you look at it from a more global nature we should be looking at a person’s overall health and wellbeing, the things that impact people throughout their lives. Only 10-15% percent of a person’s overall health is vested in traditional care; 85% is invested in social determinants. Hunger has been our first priority, because it is a solvable issue and there are very practical things we can do to help hunger.
Why it matters:As a large organization, ProMedica has a lot of resources that we can reinvest in our community. I think there has been this line between public health and traditional health care for a long time. I’ve been in health care for more than 35 years, and the attitude has been, “well that’s not our problem, that’s not our job.” There are studies that indicate physicians are well aware of social determinants, they see them every day in their offices. These providers just don’t typically have the support system in place to help people. Some have kind of figured it out on their own, but i think as a healthcare institution, and as a community, we need to be much more involved in making sure we have resources wrapped around these providers so we can hand people off to these resources very cleanly and easily.
My inspiration:We went through a process where we asked our employees what they thought ProMedica’s core values should be. They picked compassion, innovation, teamwork and excellence. This resonates with me. We can no longer afford health care the way it exists currently, so we really need to change how we think. Whether or not everybody understands or appreciates it, we are going to continue to focus on these areas. Every time we do something, it is validated through patient response, so we are looking forward to a healthy community.
ProMedica plans to relocate as many as 2,500 employees to downtown Toledo.
What makes a great city? The people who live there, of course.
For this issue, we talked with ten members of our community who are doing much more than just punching the clock. From medicine and education to the arts, sustainable food and even baseball—these are the individuals helping to make Toledo a great place to call home.
Compiled by Kelly Thompson, Athena Cocoves and Chris Watson Photos by Michael Nemeth
Joe Napoli President & General Manager, Toledo Mud Hens, Toledo Walleye
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What I do: Our organizations create what we hope are everlasting memories. The approach there is that we want everyone who walks through our doors to have this incredibly positive, memorable experience. And as an organization, we have offices full of people that get that, and love it, and live by it.
Why it matters: We’ve been downtown for 14 years now, so we looked around the country and saw that minor league sports in particular ballparks could spur on economic development if placed in the right location. We could’ve stayed out in Maumee, but if we did we’d have to surround the building with a parking lot. We looked at the Warehouse District and asked, ‘what if we placed this ballpark here? What would happen around it?’ What we were hoping for were condos, townhomes, restaurants, bars and coffee shops. And those things have happened.
My inspiration: First and foremost, my family. Family always comes first. And as far as the community goes, you know, I think 20 years from now, we’re gonna look at downtown Toledo through a much different lens—a significantly improved downtown. If everything was to go according to plan, I’d love to see 25-35,000 people working downtown, and 10-15,000 people living downtown. Folks walking to work, local-serving retail . . . the pharmacy, the grocery store, the dentist . . . we need those things, and it’s on track right now to be a reality.
The $18 million Hensville project will add retail and restaurants to St. Clair St.
Aly Sterling Founder and President, Aly Sterling Philanthropy, LLC
What I do: Short answer: Our firm are consultants to the charitable sector. Long answer: One is working with nonprofits in fulfilling and growing their mission. Second, we help people make their giving more powerful.
Why it matters:The nonprofit sector has become very impactful in how we live, work and play. Millennials are making decisions as to where they are going to work based on their charitable impact. People choose vacations based on mission rather than place. Many of us make decisions on how the product is produced, where they give, how they treat charity. As the nature of what we consider to be charitable giving changes, i.e. purchasing over direct giving, we help our sector respond to that change.
My inspiration: I come from a family of entrepreneurs. It’s in my DNA. After a dozen years working for nonprofits, I decided that I should use my experience as a model for all nonprofits. We’re now in our seventh year and hiring our next employee. I’m a junkie for human interest stories and human achievement stories. Things like courage and risk, powerful things that people do every day that we get to tell and be inspired by. I get to play in a fun space where I have access to wonderful people, stories, and amazing achievement by individuals and organizations.
Aly Sterling Philanthropy, LLC was the first firm of its kind in the city
Keith Jordan Co-Owner / Vice President, JLJ Vision Outreach General Manager, Jordan Temple Development Corporation
What I do: We help with children who are having trouble with their current placement in schools and are finding it hard to adjust in school and in their community. We try to reach people where they are and help them become individual the best that the can become. We don’t set bars and we don’t set limits; we customize services to allow each individual to succeed at their own pace.
Why it matters: What I see is in our community the fabric of the family broken down. We can restore hope to kids, so they can believe they can be somebody. We can write checks . . . that is good. But it doesn’t not replace a hug. ‘Doing’ is way better than funding. Most of all we want to restore hope; we want kids to believe in their dreams. We really want kids to believe that they can be somebody.
My inspiration: My family. My community. My God. Those three things keep me moving and are the reasons I go to work every day. It’s at the heart of my spiritual connection to do right by folks. It’s in my heart to love my family and to make sure they are better off than I was. And it’s in my heart to leave my community the same as I received it or better. If I can’t do those things, I don’t have a purpose in life.
I think everyone should get a second chance. There are no perfect people. Who are we to say to someone that they are ‘done’?
JLJ Vision Outreach partners with the Juvenile Justice Department to mentor youth ages 5-16
Marty Porter Director, Toledo School for the Arts “By being accepting of artists and their unique perspectives, we have a community based on mutual respect.” What I do: I am the Director of the Toledo School for the Arts and have been involved with TSA since the beginning. I oversee our programming and our community of creative people. We have teachers that understand the creative process and that versatility, diversity, and sometimes chaos are involved. We want to allow that process to occur without intervening to create a better product. We integrate art in every nook and cranny we can, letting it serve as an anchor during liberal arts classes.
Why it matters:Many of our students were not able to prosper in more traditional schools and find this a more palatable environment for individuality and uniqueness. Students often say that here, they do not feel like the weird one, and that “we are all weird.” The creative energy and productivity has brought us into the community countless times through art shows, music, theater and dance performances. We have 135 arts outreach events planned in 2015.
My inspiration:I see the mission of arts in a broad way . . . I see the impact in community, I see art change neighborhoods and individuals. Artists have a way of communicating what the community feels in a unique way, and I think a community without art would be a very dull place to live. I’ve played music all my life and value the act of creation and the product. The reality that we set out with integrated arts and suddenly we have an orchestra that can compete statewide was a hugely inspirational moment.
Toledo School for the Arts was recently named one of the Top 25 Urban Schools by the Fordham Institute
Anneliese Grytafey Senior Program Officer, Toledo Community Foundation
What I do: I am responsible for managing the activities of the program department, managing the competitive grant programs, and making sure that we’re directing funds to high-quality organizations.
Why it matters:We play a role as a convener—we set the table and bring people together around different ideas, things that are happening outside of Toledo that might be good for Toledo. We are helping to establish the new Head Start program within Lucas County, which is a collaborative effort to bring high-quality education to our community.
My inspiration:There’s a lot of room for new ideas. I’m inspired by the youth of Toledo, the people who grow up here and choose to make their future here. That’s what I get excited about—I get to see kids getting an enriched education through a program that we funded.
Toledo Community Foundation exceeded $200 million in assets supporting the community in 2014
Dr. Imran Andrabi Chief Operating Officer, President of Networking and Chief Integration Officer, Mercy
What I do: My major concentration of work is both the Toledo area and Northwest OH. My work with being president of cheif integration – developing our network, all the physicians, pieces and parts that are required for us to provide the best quality of care. Whether you’re being seen in a physician’s office or in a nursing home…how do we put those pieces together to provide the best care to our patients.
Why it matters:What Mercy has done is taken a proactive approach to healthcare delivery, looking to what models will look like in the future. Our mission is to provide care for people that’s easily accessible, comprehensive, and at a cost that is affordable. We ask ourselves, ‘How do we understand compassion, sickness, life, and justice for the people we take care of?’ People are going bankrupt because they can’t afford health care. We want to improve the overall health status and quality of life in our community.
My inspiration:We’re significantly impacting short- and long-term implications to the communities in Northwest Ohio with preventative care. For example, years ago, we were close to a 16% positive outcome for controlling diabetes for 500 patients. Now, we’re at 30% improvement rate for 6,000 patients. Those people are now less likely to have a heart attack, kidney disease, vascular disease, or a need for dialysis. To us, that’s really exciting.
With Dr. Andrabi’s direction, Mercy is working toward a more progressive healthcare model
Maria Rodriguez-Winter President, Co-Founder (1996), and former Executive Director, Sofia Quintero Art and Cultural Center
What I do: I promote Latino art, culture and entertainment and educate those unfamiliar with my culture. The Center provides emerging artists a venue to display their work and engages the community through both art and agricultural programs. We have acquired land surrounding Broadway Street, and have beautified the area with murals, colorful gardens and will begin a culinary arts program this year. I want to give young people the opportunity to grow and process food by caring for Mother Nature. We sell preserves and honey from our beehives, allowing those involved to both value the activity and recognize its profitability.
Why it matters:I think that through art many barriers are broken down. Art and food draws people in, and that sense of community and culture is important. I have empowered young people through art, urban gardening and education. Our vision is to improve the health, wellness and safety of the neighborhood. Last summer we had over 300 volunteers worked in our gardens. The community overall feels safer and happier in the neighborhood.
My inspiration:The Center is named after my late, best friend Sofia Quintero. She grew up in Swanton and was the first Latina to be elected to the Board of Education. She inspired people and loved children. Her legacy of education and promotion of Latino culture made an impact on me. I think it is important to know your culture and know who you are… so many young people are on a quest to discover themselves, and I believe that knowing your ancestry and history keeps you grounded. This solidarity is a large value to me.
Sofia Quintero is leading the way in revitalization & promotion of the Hispanic Community.
What I do: I have two main tasks. As manager of Toledo GROWS, I secure and administer grants, ensure knowledge of that program, and other administrative duties. I am also the director of education, and particularly focused on growing food, healthy eating, and outdoor living.Toledo GROWS supports 120 community gardens in Toledo. We can loan tools, provide seed swaps, and much more. Our partnership with the juvenile justice system gets kids out and helping in the community, which helps build relationships and job skills. We’re also doing more and more with youth outreach in schools, including school gardens and nutritious eating.
Why it matters:We need to all get back to healthy eating and reconnect to our food source. Not only is this healthy, but it also helps people provide for themselves. In the case of the juvenile court system, it helps transition people from being tax users to tax providers. These young people have come from backgrounds that are not nurturing. It costs less money to help with training and education and life skills than it does to incarcerate. We help provide them with an opportunity to grow food and to grow as a person.
My inspiration:The reason I took this job was be able to help people directly. If I can help connect people with seeds, land, money, and opportunity to grow their own food . . . that’s something I love. Throw in my love of education and love of the outdoors, and this is a great job.
Toledo GROWs supports 120 community gardens in our city
Hugg Grefe Executive Director, LISC Toledo, Local Initiatives Support Corporation
What I do: I work to help people in communities build places they want to live. We makes homes by helping to support nurturing, complete environments by reversing patterns of disinvestment. Through investment in real estate, projects and other community groups, we help support revitalization and growth.
Why it matters:Since we are a non-profit, we can make loans that banks cannot, which streamlines progress and boosts community transformation. With major projects, like the recently announced Hensville, we are able to fund the surrounding development and help establish a cohesion in the community. It is a danger to rely on a major, silver bullet project to create all of the change needed.
My inspiration:I was in 7th grade when the March on Washington took place. This awareness of civil rights issues and interest in equality has always driven me towards social change. A year ago, I took part in a poverty simulation conducted by the United Way, which affirmed my belief in the necessity of community development.
In 2014 LISC Toledo committed to invest more than $12 million into the community via grants, loans and equity
Randy Oostra President and CEO ProMedica Health System
What I do: With ProMedica, I am changing our vision of the future of Toledo health care by focusing on including social determinants of health. The traditional view of health care organizations has been that we care and worry about people when inside of our walls, but when you look at it from a more global nature we should be looking at a person’s overall health and wellbeing, the things that impact people throughout their lives. Only 10-15% percent of a person’s overall health is vested in traditional care; 85% is invested in social determinants. Hunger has been our first priority, because it is a solvable issue and there are very practical things we can do to help hunger.
Why it matters:As a large organization, ProMedica has a lot of resources that we can reinvest in our community. I think there has been this line between public health and traditional health care for a long time. I’ve been in health care for more than 35 years, and the attitude has been, “well that’s not our problem, that’s not our job.” There are studies that indicate physicians are well aware of social determinants, they see them every day in their offices. These providers just don’t typically have the support system in place to help people. Some have kind of figured it out on their own, but i think as a healthcare institution, and as a community, we need to be much more involved in making sure we have resources wrapped around these providers so we can hand people off to these resources very cleanly and easily.
My inspiration:We went through a process where we asked our employees what they thought ProMedica’s core values should be. They picked compassion, innovation, teamwork and excellence. This resonates with me. We can no longer afford health care the way it exists currently, so we really need to change how we think. Whether or not everybody understands or appreciates it, we are going to continue to focus on these areas. Every time we do something, it is validated through patient response, so we are looking forward to a healthy community.
ProMedica plans to relocate as many as 2,500 employees to downtown Toledo.