And I'll the 490 with Gretchen de Becker, Matt Killam, and Kevin Mullin all.

Welcome to the 419 Powered by Wheat presented by Wealth Management.

I'm Kevin Mullin backer Matt Killam.

I am not breathing already.

Inevitably, we start the ten second countdown and that is the only moment of the top that Gretchen is funny just in that ten second period.

That's right.

We've got a great show today.

Our friends at Community Foundation have teed up some incredible conversations of great people doing incredible work in the community.

I'm a huge fan of Amelia Gibbon and the work that she's doing in the community.

Her commitment to Northwest Ohio is just.

And if I'm not wrong, we've been trying to get Amelia for.

She's been a little.

She's in demand.

Yeah.

It just took somebody else telling her she had to be on the show.

So apparently three of us sheriff's department sent to her home and dragged her here.

That's exactly right.

And then Brittany Moore and Tina Hall from Reinvest Toledo and from.

The Visionary project.

Visionary project.

Thank you We'll be on the program as well.

And then we'll wrap up the conversation with an actual journalist who's right.

Yeah Which makes this embarrassing.

It is.

I know that you joke about not wanting to do Gretchen's wacky quiz, but that is going.

To be torture.

That'll be fine.

Fletcher word is going t join us from sojourners Truth.

Of course.

Also one of the Sojourner Truth, one of the co-hosts of the local thread here on whit will be on the program as well.

I'm excited to hear some of his background and story and why why it's important and maybe some of the the history of the name.

Right?

Yeah.

And why this show represents an evolutionary U-turn to journalism.

Yeah.

Well, that's that it does.

He's also a fellow capped professional.

Okay.

I don't know that I've ever seen Fletcher without a ball cap on.

You know, don't want to call him a mentor, but I wouldn't be wrong if I did.

This is something you're trying to make, okay?

In the professional environment as well.

I'm almost half a century old.

I would venture to say I'm making it.

Okay.

Okay.

In the years I worked for the money, I would see somebody take.

I'd see a player without the baseball cap, and I have no idea who they are.

Do you have that experience?

I do have that experience.

I know what you're doing right now, and I'm not going to walk down this path because this was something we said before the show, and Gretchen made a shot.

It's called sho prep, Matt.

Yeah.

That's right.

It's the first time for everything.

So.

Yeah.

Kevin.

People don't recognize me without this hat on with some regularity.

So there may or may not be family members.

But you do have darling new glasses on, and you look very handsome today.

Thank you very much.

Thanks to the people at Petco, I presume to take.

A shot on Shadow Man.

Look at those Ray-Bans.

Their black for our our radio listeners.

If yo go to Walmart, that claw hand.

I don't know if we're allowed to mention Walmart on because it's local.

We're gonna take a break.

When we come back, we'll be joined by Amelia Gibbo with Reinvest Toledo on the 419.

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Our friends at the Toledo Community Foundation, are encouraging us to talk to great people in the community doing great things.

There is no questio that applies to our next guest.

We're joined now by Amelia Given.

Amelia, you and I me a long time ago at United Way.

You've gone on to continue to do amazing things in the community, but as as life would have it, I don't really know what you've been up to.

So why don't you catch us up?

So you went from United Wa to the Friendly Center, correct?

What do you what are you doing now?

So now I serve as the executiv director of Reinvest the Lido.

I'm also a small business owner, AG sandbox, where workers play and plays work.

And I spend my time really helping community to realize that it has power.

Power lies in people.

And how do we strategically elevate our voices so that change will happen?

One neighborhood, one community at a time.

Where doe where does your voice come from?

Where did that?

I mean, let's talk about little Amelia.

Kind of where did this where did this start?

A little Amelia started out in the red soil of Alabama under the rule of George Wallace.

A little Ameli went to the back of restaurants because I wasn't allowed in the front.

Little Amelia wa the first person in her family to go to an integrated school.

Started my journey there as opposed to a segregated school.

The first words that she hear that impacted her journey were, I tried to keep all of them out of here.

Those words were uttered by the principal, who was Caucasian, and the teacher.

And so that in itself, you know, they stole my voice, for lack of a better word, because every time I walk into a room, people don't look like me.

That plays.

And I have to, you know, play over that message and realize that I do belong, that as a community, I oftentimes share this quote that those closest to the problem are closest to the solution but that is not something that those in power, perceived power actually believe in.

They might not know what the actual problem is.

Meaning the problem from their perspective is not the problem from other people's perspectives.

And so if they don't talk to other people, many times people in leadership, that's a huge part of the problem.

That is absolutel that's the crux of the problem because you you make decision based on your frame of reference as opposed to the lived experience of those that you are positioning yourself to help.

How did you get into.

I'm sorry Matt.

How did you get to Toledo from from where you grew up?

My mother was very brave and decided that she wanted a different narrative for her children, so she packed us all in the back of her Chevy and we came up north.

I was going to ask, you know, you were talking about finding your voice.

And it certainly possible although infrequent, that people find their voices on their own.

But talk to me a little bit about mom.

And you just mentioned her bravery, but that i that is allowing for you to be the person you hear are here today.

Not that you haven't forged your own path, but you talked a little bit about her and your brothers and sisters and what sibling you dislike the very most.

Okay.

That's great.

Yeah, I will, I can do that.

Sure.

You know, honestly, it's a little bit emotional because Mother's Day and the anniversary of my mother's death is coming up so this is always a hard time.

But but this is a stor that I tell people about my mom.

She was a nurse's aide.

She decided she wanted to go to school to become a nurse.

And we lived in a very when I say rural community, there was literally one road in, one road out.

She didn't have a license, s every morning she would get up.

After she got off work, she would get dressed and started walking to the college community college.

If you can imagine walking from Toledo to Penta, not Penta, but more like Owens, right?

Believing in someone woul pick her up and give her a ride.

And so that was her determination.

She didn't have a she didn't have her license.

So she would just get up every morning and start walking and go to nursing school.

And my daughter is a nurse.

She actually has her Ed.

Yeah.

And I always tell her she finished her grandmother's journey.

Yeah, starting at the LPN, walking to school.

And then she's on the faculty of the University of Toledo.

So now she influences and trains other nurses.

Do you have trouble still telling her what to do?

All the time.

My mom.

Is struggled with not bossing me around.

Telling my daughter what to do.

No I don't.

It's very difficult to argue with yourself, but I, I absolutely.

When my mother was living, sh we always had this conversation and I tell people I share it with them.

She was very frustrated with me and she was like, I am not your employee at the Friendly Center.

You cannot tell me what to do.

And I said, if you were my employee, I would fire you so you wouldn't have to worry about me, you know?

So it's just understanding relation, nature, relationships and strong personalities.

At the risk of of hitting.

Fast forward way too soon, because there's so much that I would love to talk to you about.

How has these lived experiences, both as a, as a daughter and as a mother in Alabama?

And then again, growing up in Toledo fueled the work that you're doing with Reinvest Toledo.

I think that, you know I was a teenage parent, and so I'm going to get benefits.

That was the most dehumanizing experience.

I found it very invasive and intrusive, and I just thought I just walked away.

I'm like, I don't I don't need this.

Right.

It's not a fair exchange.

And that that was the first time when I began to understand the systems that were created to help u oftentimes obviously oppresses.

Right.

And so I did not want to be part of the system.

I wanted to actually help to shift.

I don't think shift systems, I'm sorry, will change in our lifetime, but we can certainly influence them to shift in ways that are more beneficial or inclusive.

I've been in many a room over the years, Amelia, where you're where there's a problem, and the solution by someone in the room eventually is Amelia Gibbon can figure this out.

Let's call it let's let's call it.

I wrote my list.

That is really scary.

Yeah, we're in trouble.

Specifically, what what Reinvest Toledo is doing for residents that are participating in the program.

Well, so Reinvest Toledo's mission is simply to affect change in LMI communities through neighborhood leadership development.

I don't believe in masses of people.

We believe in helping thos who are closest to the problem and the solution find their voice, you know, because neighborhood leaders understand what happens in their community.

There are commonalities.

Certainly, for every community has its own personality.

And so the visionary project, which is what was funded recentl by the foundation, was created.

It was created to engage a group of neighbors in the Inglewood community to begin to understand this idea of land usage.

Brittany Moore will be here shortly.

Brittany actually did th research as part of her capstone pursuing her master's degree, and she was an intern for RT.

But as you know, briefly, Dola Jarvis was a fortune 500 company at one time.

It left Toledo.

So they left all their stuff behind.

Right.

And so the neighbors in Inglewood understand, you know, from an environmental space, this is unhappy for our community.

It's an eyesore and all those things.

But what I wanted them to understand is that you need to educate yourself, right.

You need to go through a process so you can understand that it's not just we want, it's working with those who are funders and those who are developers and understanding what our local administration, the role they play.

They spent some time connecting the work of the visionary project directly to the forward Toledo plan.

It supports it, aligns with it.

It is not.

The visionaries project is not a silo, right?

It aligns with the bigger picture, but more importantly, is driven from a community space by neighbors.

We're talking with Amelia Gibbon with Reinvest Toledo.

You said folk that are closest to the problem are often closest to the solution.

That is correct.

What is the biggest problem?

The biggest problem, from my perspective as a community leader, is not listening to the people and and allowing them, not allowing them, but understanding their equitable stakeholders.

And they should be treated as such because you will get closer to the solution because everyone is engaged instead of just a select few, based on a criteria that is not reflective of community.

It can put you on a spot here.

No, don't.

Okay.

Never mind.

Question.

With someone who has experienced segregation and has an understanding of the inherent flaws in our system, which are to some degree o not a large degree purposeful.

How do you find grace and provide or impatience for people who look like me?

Meaning like we had a little bit before we started about having your voice taken out or not being soon you're in the room right now.

That' certainly not always the case, but you've certainly known that it is absolutely the case sometimes.

So how do you how do you measure that?

How do you stay?

I mean, your human being, you really experience these things, right?

And you have t champion progress and understand that there are small wins and things of that variety.

But how do you get the strength to move this forwar and not just quit and be angry?

I can't afford to.

Okay.

I think that, you know, obviously I have more days behind me than I have in front of me.

And so time is very precious.

And the the reality of it is what is my legacy?

My legacy is not money.

My legacy is my ability to find young people, to create the succession plans that are needed.

I think that's part of the parable.

That's probably the biggest problem for me as a leader, is understanding that we have failed to prepare the next generation of leaders and reinvest.

Toledo is a platform in which to do that.

Right?

Is that the goal is is the goal to have people participate in th in reinvest Toledo's programs, including the visionary project, and then take the mantle up?

Oh, absolutely.

I mean, you'll meet Brittany.

She's I think Brittany's not 40, so, you know, but she is definitely.

We want to.

Know she she has a lot to say.

But.

So certainly within within reinvest we are intentionally placing younger people in leadership roles, but we are also providing a safety net as the elder so they can fall and get back up and learn without being harmed.

What do you do with the frustration that people feel, even if they think like, you know, this elected official or this company leader, school leader, whatever is great says something, says they're going to do something and then they don't.

They fail to do it, or they don't communicate that they can't be done.

What do you tell people about sort of a mass question about getting back up or trying it again, or trying a different way to get something accomplished?

From my perspective, I think one of the things we fail at doing is thinking from a strategic space.

And that's what I talked to people about.

Please understand that it' not going to happen overnight.

We didn't get here overnight, but instead of reacting from emotional space, let's think about it strategically.

And let's think about the long game, because you can't change it overnight.

And I think when people inhale and exhale and realize that and that they do have power, you know, to create those strategies that make sense, then they're more willing to stay engaged and not just throw up their hands and give up.

What's your typical week look like in your agency?

What kind of things are you?

Are you doing day over day?

You know, you're sort of what is your work day work life look like.

So with reinvest and also doing my business right.

So just really quick in th sandbox I do project management, community engagement and life coaching.

So a lot of times, you know, I spend a lot of time with my clients and that's that's the place where I get energy from seeing that growth there.

But with art, it just depends on what project and what work is happening.

I mean, we recently we started working with WTA tour with the make it make sense.

Yes.

That's all about creating town halls.

Yeah.

So individuals, neighborhood leaders can talk to subject matter experts to understand what is happening on national level and how a trickle down it impacts what goes on.

Can you talk a little bit more about make it make Sense and where you guys are in the project?

Well, at for so we work Pacifically art, we really are more on the community side.

So we've been doing neighborhood surveys, being able to understand and target what's important, what what community needs to know.

And so how do we create those town hall and make sure that they actually are talking to people who are decision makers, or can educate them so they can make informed decisions on how to support.

We're also getting read to launch year two of the Power Tour.

On year on was about the power of the vote.

Year two was about the evolution of leadership, and we're focusing on 18 to 24 year old and helping them to understand art and civic engagement, and how those things married together can elevate their voices.

As leaders.

We talked about the visionary project, talking about making it make sense.

These are programs that are funded in part by the Community Foundation.

Yeah I know you and I work together at the United Way at the same time with Kate Summerfield, who's now leading the foundation.

Talk to me about, you know, just as a community leader, what you're seeing in the community foundation and the role that they play in, i putting some wind in your sales.

So I hate the word program.

I would just say I prefer opportunities because programing says simply that there's something wrong with you and I'm going to fix you go through my program.

So opportunity.

To do some programing.

Yeah.

I think I'm certainly very excited about Kate taking the leadership role because I think the foundation plays a critical part in supporting the wor of organizations like reinvest.

But more importantly, I think beyond money, they have expertise.

They have experience that they can bring to the table to undergird leadership.

Yeah, right.

It's important for people to see themselves.

Yeah, right.

And so while Kat and I might not look alike, but Kate and I are very committed to the same thing that's making community grow, becoming inclusive.

So it's grea that we can sit down and share our share, our lived experiences, and how we can take what we have access to and make it work collectively.

As we close, may I ask you, we talked a little bit about legacy.

Talk to me about what you would want people to say about you.

If it was your retirement party, what is a what is a successful career?

What would you wan people to say about your legacy?

I've been fortunate enough that people have already said these things to me, that I. Can't wait to get rid of you.

Yeah, I want to go.

They won't let me go.

Please let me write it off into the sunset.

But know.

That I have a change.

Yes, ma'am.

That one of the things, the.

One of the things that I'm most proud of.

And people say, and they believe that I'm going to change the maker.

And I do it from the bottom up, because I believe that, unfortunately, in Toledo, when you say grassroots, you don't think of power and arts.

Arts tagline is changing the narrative, an that's what we're going.

To do.

If people want more information on, we're going to do a couple of things here.

More information on Reinves Toledo.

Where can they find it?

They can go to our website, Reinvest Toledo.

And if they want more information on AG Sandbox.

They can go to my website AG Sandbox.

Amelia, thank you.

So much.

Pleasure.

When we come back, we'll be joined by Brittany Moore and Tina Hal here on the 419 powered by two.

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Welcome back into the 419 powered by W. Just wrapped up a conversation with Reinvest Toledo's Amelia Given.

We're joined no by Brittany Moore and Tina Hall to continue your conversation about the great work that Reinvest Toledo is doing.

Brittany.

Tina, just I mean, not Tina.

I Amelia was just telling u a little bit about some research that you've conducted, both for your capstone and is also for reinvested.

Can you talk a little bit about what that work was?

It was.

Just background information on the Dollar Jarvis Company.

It was started in 1908 by an immigrant that came to America, Hermann Dealer.

He was a German immigrant, and it started off in New York.

And eventually Mr.

Doyle met Willis overland, John Willis overland like an auto show.

And Willis Overland was able to convince him to move his operation, which is die casting, metal die casting to Toledo and specificall into the Inglewood neighborhood.

And for over 90 years, Dollar Jarvis was the backbon of the Inglewood neighborhood.

My dad worked there for a couple of years.

Wow.

What was the reason that it left.

In presumably 1908?

My dad looks like he's 2000 years old.

And math isn't fully over.

Well.

You should see him.

Yeah, yeah.

The reason that it lef it was just economic pressures.

Doyle or Jarvi got really big during wartime.

They made a lot of part and things like that for planes to fight in the wars and got a lot of defense contracting, which really helped the company to expand.

And then, you know, with overseas pressure and different things like that.

By 1998, the Toledo plant closed.

And what is the impact that that has had on the Inglewood neighborhood?

It has just left a hole in the community.

It's a massive structur to just to provide some context.

To it.

Yes, it's nine acres.

It's nine.

Acres, which is immense.

Right in the almost like i the middle of the neighborhood.

And for the building itself, part of the building itself, the square footage.

Do you know that at the Top of it?

I don't know at all.

Just make it up.

This is not a show based on data.

Yeah.

I want to I want to pull Tina into this because Tina, I mean, you live in the neighborhood.

You had said right before we started, before we came back from the break, that you're living i the same house you grew up in?

Yes.

So you've been in this neighborhood.

How have you seen th the changes in this community?

Well, I actually live.

Right down the street from Dola Jarvis.

Every morning when.

I get up.

To leave, I drive right toward it.

It's an eyesore.

It makes.

The community look bad.

I'm excited that we are doing some things to make some change and that in the next few years, maybe even next year, when I drive down the street, I'll be able to see something pretty rather than the eyesore tha I've looked at since it closed.

So tell u what's going on with the site.

So I want to tell yo a little bit about Dola Jarvis.

Yeah, please.

We are a group of community leaders.

Some of us.

Well, most of us grew up in Inglewood, although some of us don't live there now.

We got together, we learned about brownfields.

We learned about Dola Jarvis.

We connected with community members.

We connected with land Bank, who actually owns the property now and is cleaning it up.

We've had meetings with them to talk about what the community would like to do.

What your vision is to be your own defense contractor.

Right now.

My vision, my vision is to make my community look like a community worthwhile living.

Yes, ma'am.

But right now, we are looking at some things that land Bank gave u some ideas that they want to do.

And our group is going to kind of look at those, do some research, decides which tw we want to show the community, and we're going to assist them in having community meetings so that the community has a safe and what and what.

I think 30 years, this is almost 30 years.

This buildin has not been operating at all.

Not there was ever a particularly esthetically pleasing I can't discount my day job.

Obviously.

You can probably tell by my apparel that I work for the Metroparks of Toledo, so it's baked into our.

Do you do your research?

Yeah.

Just smart.

Oh, we don't have to touch her for the rest of the show.

But the impact of looking at a building like that, and that's not a criticism that did employ people in feed families, you know, for almost 100 years, right?

So that's not a criticism of that.

But staring at a buildin and then a vacant building does cause damage to the most important muscle in your body, and that's between your ears.

So this is a generational important project, right?

Can you talk a little bit?

I know we're going to talk about some data and details and we'll have to talk to Miss Moore again on regrettably.

But talk to me a little bit about the impact generationally this will hav and how fulfilling that must be.

Well, during the course of learning about how to be an advocate, one of the things that we learned and it really hit home for me is, do we want to put Band-Aids on things or do we want to build legacy?

Yes, I do.

And for me this is about building legacy.

I am a senior in the neighborhood.

We didn't Say that.

And I will say.

Okay.

I am a senior in the neighborhood.

I am considered an elder in the neighborhood.

And for me, it makes me feel good.

Because when I'm gone, then that will be something that the younger generation will be able to look a and it will fulfill that legacy.

Yes, ma'am.

As opposed to just putting a Band-Aid on it and keep it moving.

Have the visionaries decided on that are participating in this project?

What are some of the concepts, if you can talk about that?

So the area is very toxic.

So we can't put them all up there.

We can't put a grocery store anything like that.

We can't even grow vegetation up there that we can eat.

So a lot of the different ideas that were given to us are to help the soil become better.

And so one of them is kind o a plateau with pretty flowers.

Another one is the no mo grass with a a walkway.

Since the area is so larg and I'm sure it's over a mile.

They have a little trail that could be walked.

And then the other one i just basically growth of plants and things that would help the soil become healthy.

I mean, this is you talk about legacy, right?

And what this is going to be.

I mean, I know you talked about being a being an elder in the neighborhood.

I mean, this is work that that you're putting in.

Both of you put it in such hard work right now for something that even if you, when you see it built, the real gift of this is still probably a generation away, right, of somebody that grows up that their entire life is in a neighborhood where this beautiful space exists, right?

What what keeps you?

I mean, knowing that you're not.

It's a generation away, right?

We're likely not going to see the payoff.

What's the motivation that keeps both of you going and putting the time in on something like this?

I think for me, it's just to have a lasting impact almost kind of like how Dollar Jarvis did for that 90 years.

You know, it employed over 8000 people.

They got union paying jobs.

You know, you were able to see like payday was a big deal because you could see people are taking home their pay.

They're spending it in their neighborhood.

That's helping the corner store and helping the the homes, property value and different things like that.

So I think that's that's what we want is we want to have that continued impact, and we want people to have something beautiful to look at.

And hopefully we'll be able to include some way to remember Dollar Jarvis, because it is important to remember.

Yeah, that' such an important thing to say.

You know, as we reimagine the downtow area of the Metroparks project, we came across a lot of industrial legacy not dissimilar to what you're articulating.

Rolling Mills was a iron ore producing facility.

So we found these giant crucibles underneat similarly awful grilling space.

Right.

What was dirt?

There was actually fly ash, which is a toxic material, probably kissing cousins t what is underneath Dola Jarvis.

But to your point, we can' and miss Given talked about it in, you know, really awful part of our history but it is our history.

And if we ignore it then we're not learning anything, right?

There's no legacy based on soft coating something o putting a candy shell around it.

Right, right.

Because then another hundred years, then we're more susceptible to falling back.

Right.

Talk to me a little bit about.

Patience for other generations isn't really what I mean.

But, you know, there are things that that you've experienced or seen.

You're changing out nine acres for a generation.

That everybody thinks a generation below them is like the sign of the apocalypse like these kids need nowadays.

But talk to me about the duality of that.

Right?

How what does that mean to you?

Working with the youth and making a difference to the kids of today?

And how do you teach them and kind of let them learn on their own as well?

I would like to be considered a role model and eventually the mode that we have created doing this.

I think we should be able to do it with others and especially do it with the youth, because one of the things that we we need to to help youth understand is that they have a voice and that advocacy is an important part of moving the community forward.

And advocac also is it's an important part of moving things forward i all of the aspects of our life, whether it's employment, whether whatever.

So I'm hoping that as an elder in the community, that I can be a role model and that I can show others, especially our youth, how to become advocates within the community.

You mentioned earlier in the segment learning how to be an advocate.

Can you talk a little bit about that?

I mean, it's not a spectator sport, right?

You got to show up and not everybody is invited to the table, as you both know.

So talk to m a little bit about the lessons you've learned about advocacy.

And if you were teaching a class on it.

What what are the what are the building blocks?

It's kind of funny because we did take classes, though.

Very, very loud.

Why did not work for her?

And there are revelations that I think you go through going through the coursework.

And it was almost a year, wasn't it?

Yeah.

Going through that coursework, there were revelations that you had, like I said before, one of the things that hit me hard was, d you want to put a Band-Aid on it or do you want to build legacy?

And I was a social worker for 30 years.

Oh my goodness.

And so what I did, it feels lik now I've put Band-Aids on stuff.

Now that I've learned how to become an advocate.

Now I know what it means to be a legacy and how important that is.

So I think if I were going to do some coursework around that, I think that I would help people understand the difference, the difference i and an example that we had was, you know, every year we give out winter coats to the kids who need winter coats.

Every year we do the same thing, but we're only if that's a bad day because it's not it's not helpin and it's not teaching anything.

And so I think as an advocate, I would want to teach people that you need to fix the issue and not just put.

A Band-Aid.

You never have to give out the coach to your current meaning, like you're solving the systemic problem.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

I may ask the same for you.

I know it's difficult to follow that, right?

Because.

No, I mean that sincerely.

I think I mean, maybe pivot a little bit, like as you think about that next generation.

Right.

The kids that are getting the coats.

I mean what's the lesson that you hope they get on advocacy from, from the work that you guys are doing?

Just like Tina said, the work it's really it's really about and we talked about this in our very first class.

It's about doing good versus having an impact.

And what we're trying to do with the visionaries program is we want to have an impact on the community and for it to be multigenerational, just like how dull or Jarvis was.

And so that's what I hope that they walk away from.

It's something that they ca remember through oral history, but it's something that they can physically see and go to.

And I think that impact is something that our friends at the Community Foundation are share, share in that mission.

What what other aspects of your of your life has learning about the efficacy affected?

Are you doing responding in different ways at work or within your family?

Up when a co-host is rude to you on a talk show?

That's right.

You're welcome.

I'm just allowing you to show all your leadership.

Thank you.

For that.

Yeah.

You're welcome.

I think for me.

It really has taught me that advocacy.

Everybody has the power to be an advocate.

You don't have to lead a whole movement.

Because really, the people that make up the movement are the most important pieces of the movement.

Right?

And so it's it's about coming together and being able to work hand in hand with the people in your community to build something better.

For all of you.

Who are some of the partners that are helping make this work happen?

Well, there are eight visionaries and then we the way our program was structured, we had to reach out to those peopl who we needed the training from.

So that meant we had to reach out to people in the city, peopl from the University of Toledo.

So we literally had to reach out to them and say hey, this is what we're doing.

We need for you all to come and teach us.

Interesting.

Okay.

Yeah, yeah.

Again if people want more information on Reinvest Toled or on the visionaries Project, where can they?

Where can they find that?

Well.

It's on the Reinvest Toledo website.

Yes.

Great.

Awesome.

Thank you both.

Pleasure to meet both of you.

Appreciate you being here.

And of course, our incredible thanks to the Community Foundation for introducing us to such great people and supporting this incredible work in communities that needs to happen.

We'll take a break.

When we come back, we will continue our conversation.

We'll welcome on Wheat Zone.

Fletcher word from the oh m gosh, what is the local threads?

I'll get it I'll get it local threads program here on WTT.

We'll be right back on the 419.

Support for the 419 comes from Row Wealth Management, where we understand that your financial path is personal.

Advisory services are offered through Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC, securities offer throug Capital Investment Group member Finra and see more information at Whiterock advisors.com.

Destination Toledo whether you're a local or a visitor, Destination Toledo invites you to explore the region and be a tourist in Toledo.

Find events, dining and things to do at Visit Toledo.

Work spring HR issues and employee well-being.

Go hand in hand.

Work spring supports employers through compliance, training and wellness because healthy workplaces don't happen by accident.

Learn more at work.

Spring Toledo Refining Company, a subsidiary of PDF Energy Toledo Refinin Company is a supplier of fuels that keep our region moving.

Located in Oregon, Ohio the refinery processes crude oil into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other petroleum products.

And Tada!

Celebrating its 55th yea of connecting Northwest Ohioans to their community.

More information at Tata.

Com.

Welcome back into the 419 Powered by.

There's some great thing happening around the community.

Obviously, our friends at Re-invest Toledo doing incredible work, but is doing some incredible work to retell the stories of Northwest Ohio as well.

And part of how they're doing it is bringing on great people that are great storytellers.

We're joined now by Fletcher Word with Sojourner Truth newspaper.

Fletcher, thank you so much for being here.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I talked a little intimidating because you're an actual journalist.

Yeah.

And you.

With also a great voice.

Yeah.

I've been called worse and great last year, and I plan on doing that on this segment.

Okay.

But.

So we have no business entertaining your talent.

And I hope that doesn't make you feel comfortable, but it's true.

One of the things about this show that we do am.

I pronounce your name right?

I'm just kidding.

One of the things that's important to us on the show is talking abou and elevating local stories, but there's a much bigger part of tha as well about local journalism.

Can you talk to us a little bit about the intrinsic value of both of those concepts?

Well, you know, I can certainly address the journalistic standpoint now, the Sojourner Truth, we are now in our 25th year.

Believe it or not.

And next April will be our 25th anniversary.

And and who's the namesake?

Make sure that people don't blow by the importance of that individual.

Well, so Journal Truth was a well-known abolitionist.

Yep.

She was born in New York City and gained her freedom, changed her name to Sojourner Truth, became an abolitionist an one of her most famous speeches.

And I, a woman was was performed here in Ohio, in Akron.

So that's the last thing that happened in Akron.

Your works.

Well, you know, I hope LeBron James isn't here.

Yes he is.

We can't get the second number fast enough.

Yeah.

So that's who she was.

And so when we we so when we started the papers we were, you know juggling names.

That one was because it has the word truth in it, you know was one that really struck us.

Yes, sir.

You know, and because because our audience is primarily African American, digging int the African-American community, certainly naming the paper after an abolitionist made a lot of sense.

So.

I mean, 25 years ago, creating a newspaper focused on truth may not have felt as innovative as it does today.

Right.

I mean, journalism, finding truth, trusting truth has become increasingly harder in a politicized world.

And I think, you know, I'm a believer that the 24 over seven, 365 news cycles have destroyed how w tell stories, because we're just trying to fill time.

But how do you hold yoursel to that standard of truth today?

Well, I think I might be the wrong person to answer that question.

I think if you if you look at our readers, our audience, and the responses that we've gotten, we've never been attacked for being untruthful.

Okay.

So, you know, that's that's the good part of all that, because I think at the beginning.

You know, one of the, you know, this sort of subtitle on the on the cover is you shall know the truth, you know, biblical praise.

And to be honest with you, our readers have not attacked us, you know, for for being less than truthful.

But that doesn't happen by accident, right?

No, we are we are careful.

Yeah There's no question about that.

Who's the wheat?

Tell us a little bit about the operation of the paper.

I see.

You, we've all seen you around at many community events, interviewing people, taking photographs, etc.

are there other staff members?

Tell us about sort of your.

I do it all by myself.

They even take out the trash.

That's right.

Yeah.

Now we've had over the year we've had some wonderful people working for us on the on the reporting side right now, for instance, we have several outstanding reporters such as Asia Nail, whom I talk about a little later.

Don Scotland, Alexander leathery and and and unfortunately, you know, as these things go, in the course of 25 years, we've had some people come and go.

Sure.

You know, which happen with any sort of organization, you know, so I could tick off a number of people that I'm sorry that we that we lost.

You know, can you name something you were happy to see you go.

I'm just kidding.

But also, let me let me say this, please.

Reporters.

Those are the sort of staff reporters a large amount of our content is by contributors.

Okay.

Doctor, doctor Donald Herriman, you know who has been outstanding over the years.

Leaf Tolliver, a local attorney.

They've contributed ove the years with a lot of opinion.

Then we have people who write about health and business and and that sort of thing.

So a lot of a lot of it is from contributors.

How important is it to be telling?

I mean, you said your audience is predominantly African-American, telling the stories of the African-American community in Northwest Ohio.

Well, I have a paper dedicated to that.

I want to be careful when I say this, that that our office, that our audience is primarily African-American.

The paper is primarily about what's going on in the African-American community.

Okay.

Be it local, national or international.

You know, as far as our audience is concerned, that's a different story, because, you know, all sorts of people are picking up the paper and reading communities, local things that have.

But is is word your real last name?

No.

It used to be bricklayer, but.

I changed professions.

Right.

What was it before?

It was.

Just.

So every time I changed professions.

Yeah, I changed the name.

That's why.

My last name is killing.

You know, so.

I'm in the prosecutor's office.

I started off in the restauran business as a waiter, you know?

Yeah.

And then it was.

Hey, you.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That's true When the phone call came from.

What about the local thread?

Yeah.

The new program here focused on local stories and journalism.

What was your immediate reaction to that and why did you ultimately decide to get involved?

Well I thought it was a great idea.

It was an opportunity for us to showcase a lot of individual in the community who are doing some important things, interesting things.

And it gave us an opportunity for members of our staff and others to contribute.

What we did was we divided into four segments what's happening in the community, what's happening in business, what's happening in travel.

It was happening in healt and brought in people like Asia nail, one of our, you know, what are our reporters?

Alexander Leathery, another one of our reporters to handle this.

Stacy Fowler, who does pursuit magazine, was one of one of the hosts.

And Rikki Tyas who's who owns a travel agency that the travel part so and when I say travel local people who are traveling, you know, and what their experiences and our are and how you do it and what you need to be aware of and that sort of thing.

So it was great to to expand on some of the things that that we write about.

Sure.

You know, take thing maybe in a different direction with some of the same people who had interviewed.

And so is fascinating.

Most people have a routine in the morning more depending on the work schedule when they get up.

Well, the first things they sort of check in from a media standpoint.

What is your morning routine to to acquire news and why is it Fox News?

I'm just kidding.

I mean, am interested in talking about.

The truth.

I mean.

They.

They.

Tell the truth.

They tell her that.

They tell that they do it.

Maybe a certain president.

Yeah.

But something on his.

Yeah.

That's right.

You're talking about him.

And then Fox reports it.

Yeah.

So it's obviously the truth.

The truth, but the truth.

Social truth.

Social influence.

But I am interested in you roll out of bed in the first.

What is the media check in look like for somebody who's.

The first thing I do is look at the news from around the nation, around the world.

And and.

I trust.

Where do you go?

I look at everything.

I don't do a lot of television because it seems to me very often television doesn't have the, the bandwidth to, t really explore a lot of things.

Much theater.

So NPR.

Yeah.

Is for me the firs and the last thing in terms of, in terms of straight news, news that I trust.

Sure.

News I believe in news and news that can expan and give you the complete story.

Do you often.

Take the.

The things that you se on the national level and try to relate it to local people an get your story ideas that way?

Oh, always.

Yeah.

Yeah, always.

When when you're talking about some of the subjects that we've discussed, be it health, be it business, be it be it politics, you know all of that, you know, whatever, whatever happens nationally ha some sort of local echo to it.

Right.

You know, and so.

It's it's helpful to remind you of that.

Yeah.

Right.

Tell me about Mr.

and Mrs.

Bricklayer, your parents that you you got here on your own?

I mean, not literally, of course, but from a journalistic standpoint, was it important to them?

What did the what what were they like that.

Well, my parents, they were fantastic.

You know, I, I, I wish, you know, I have a couple of kids and I'm not sure that I'm as good a parent.

It's.

My parents.

Were said to had some notes.

No, but.

But they were great.

And as I said, I grew up on the East Coast.

And so we eventually when I was the age of ten or so, moved to D.C.

and, you know that really is was my hometown.

And what brought your family to D.C.?

What did your folks do their work?

Thank you for your interview.

That's the truth.

Teachers.

Yes.

They were teachers.

And their goa had always been to move to D.C.. Yeah.

They're from the the South.

From Virginia.

Okay.

And for a lot of especially at that time a lot of African Americans, D.C.

was the holy grail.

Yeah.

To mov to getting out of the South and, you know, getting into an exciting town that was open and and and relatable to black folks.

Yes, sir.

And it was becoming from a population standpoint, was becoming heavily black.

At that time.

At that time one of the first cities to to be so so that, you know, that was their goal.

We're talking with Fletcher, word with sojourners, truth and the local thread.

Where can people.

Pick up Sojourner Truth?

We're in probabl about 100 locations around town, grocery stores and barbershops, big and small businesses.

But we're also online.

The truth Toledo.

Com and, you know, we upload it every week.

We come out.

Every week.

Every Wednesday.

That's amazing.

Okay.

And we're online about that.

And we also have a mailing list where we're sending out notices about, you know what's coming up, what has been so you can get in anywhere.

If you if you've got a little phone you can you can pick it up.

Awesome.

All right.

It's now.

Time for wacky quiz.

This seems even more embarrassing.

Yeah, around legitimate journalist.

Yeah.

Look at us playing house here.

All right.

I'm going to ask for rapid fire questions.

Gretchen's going to ask yo to describe Toledo in one word.

And then you and Matt will lis for nine best things in Toledo.

Question number one.

What's one piece of advice you would go back and tell your younger self?

My younger self.

Oh, boy.

I think I would have done more school.

Okay.

Yeah I think I would have gone to graduate school, get a law degree.

I think that would be interesting.

Not that I want to be a lawyer.

You don't.

But I think.

That that.

That that type of education is invaluable.

So that's what I would tell my younger.

What's the crazies fashion trend you ever rocked?

I did way back in the day.

Where?

Bell bottom.

Oh.

Yeah.

Bottom.

Right.

I love it.

Right.

Well thank you for wearing him today.

Yeah.

Well.

They're so fashionable.

Yeah.

They're back.

If you could start a charity, what would it be for?

Hunger?

Yeah.

I think the number one thing that I would like to address is eliminating hunger.

You know.

All right, well, this is it feels like an inappropriate follow up question What is your perfect sandwich?

Having it.

Perfect sandwich.

Yeah That was the perfect sandwich.

I would say that my favorite sandwich is probably a corned beef on rye.

You can't beat that.

What is the one?

Mustard.

Don't put any of that other stuff in there.

No.

Okay.

Which some people do.

What's the other stuff?

I don't know.

Okay.

That's one word.

Anything else for them.

To describe?

Mayonnaise.

The city of Toledo.

One word, one word.

Can I use.

Two words?

Yes.

You may.

Okay.

Great people.

Okay.

I love the people of Toledo.

I learned the first time.

That isn't one word.

Okay.

Nine.

Nine.

No, it's got about 11 to 12 letters in it.

But this one.

Not the way I spelled.

Okay.

Nine of your favorite things.

Let's roll through it.

Nine of my favorite things here in Toledo.

Or the region.

Region?

Okay.

Either one you want.

Clearly the lake.

Love.

It is right up.

There with.

The lake.

I've got to say this, you know, and I'm not trying to suck up to you or anything like that, but the Metroparks system is.

Everyone does it.

Fabulous.

Suck up to him or talk about Metroparks.

Certainly not suck up to me.

Okay.

Yeah.

Metroparks is great.

What's your favorite part?

My favorite park right now is the on that I was just in last night.

The the new one, glass city.

That warms my heart.

I mean, you know, because I pass by it all of the time.

There's so many interesting things to do.

And in terms of restaurants, you know, and.

Well.

Your support.

For helping us get the word out was a big part of that.

So I hope you see yourself in there.

Sincerely.

Yeah.

That's what you wanted me to say on the.

Show and just suck up to me.

That's right.

Yeah.

Keep going.

All right.

We only have a two way street.

Yeah.

By the way.

I love favorite restaurants.

Restaurants here in town.

Oh, my gosh, there's so many good ones.

But, you know, a lot of local ones like Georgios Georgios, you know, that sort of thing.

I got married there.

You know, there are some lesser known ones, like this.

Is it?

Yes.

You know Ron Detroit?

Yes.

Yes, yes yes, yes.

Fabulous.

Fabulous place like that Jamaican spice.

Yes.

It's another.

You've only got two.

Slots left.

Yeah.

So we got finished strong.

But those are, those are some of the, some you know, but your kids names.

Fletcher.

Yeah.

All right.

And Fletcher named them all Fletcher.

No, no.

Thanks.

Thanks to George Forema for joining us on the program.

Yeah, that's why I said you guy are really on it this morning.

Fletcher and Laura.

Yeah, okay, I'll do it.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

You can catch every Wednesday.

But you can also catch the local thread.

Online at or download the new and improved app.

We'll be right back on the 419.

Support for the 419 comes from which row wealth management, where we understand tha your financial path is personal.

Advisory services are offered through Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC, securities offer through Capital Investment Group member Finra, and I see more information at which.

Com Destination Toledo Whether you're a local or a visitor, Destination Toledo invites you to explore the region and be a tourist in Toledo.

Find events, dining and things to do at Visit Toledo.

Work spring H issues and employee well-being.

Go hand in hand.

Work spring supports employers through compliance, training and wellness because healthy workplaces don't happen by accident.

Learn more at work.

Spring Toledo Refining Company, a subsidiary of PDF Energy Toledo Refining Company is a supplier of fuels that keep our region moving.

Located in Oregon, Ohio the refinery processes crude oil into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other petroleum products.

And Tada!

Celebrating its 55th yea of connecting Northwest Ohioans to their community.

More information at Tata.

Com.

Welcome back into the 419.

Powered by as we close.

Out a Tuesday edition.

Incredible conversation.

With Amelia and Brittany and Tina and of course, Fletcher.

We are not worthy.

I do have a question for you, Matt.

You said something that I know Gretchen is normally the one that uses phrases that we don't know where they came from.

Because I'm the smartest of the.

Three of us.

You use the phrase kissing cousins.

Oh, yeah.

Yes.

What?

Where?

What?

What?

Why?

Well, for those of you who don't know, they're our family tree has no branches.

So that's what I mean.

I mean tha in matchmaking and lovemaking.

Yeah, yeah.

So, that being said, big family reunion this year, which we couldn't be.

Lots of weddings coming up, but.

But you used it to describe cousins kissing.

No.

Used to describe two things that were somewhat similar.

Somewhat similar.

Yeah.

But but like different enough.

Right.

So you saying that, like, there is a level of.

Dumb the way you used it?

Yeah.

Matt was with Kevin.

You're on.

Here's the deal, guys.

I don't have enough time.

And there's not enough time on all of to educate you too.

I would recommend using the electronic devices you have in your hand.

And or I don't.

I don't actually want to get some cousins kissing cousins.

Yeah.

For the first time.

Welcome back, Mr.

Mullen.

Yeah, sure.

Doesn't stop.

That's that's the least of your word.

Yeah.

Everybody has that one cousin, and you know who you are?

I think, yes.

All right.

Huge thanks to Michael Gibbon, Brittany Moore, Tina Hall and Fletcher Wood and Fletcher word.

And of course, thanks to Matt's cousins for being on the program.

Thanks, Matt.

Well, if you missed any part of the show.

7 a.m.

on YouTube, 3 p.m.

on FM 91 or 6 p.m.

on connects channel 30.4.

Of course on line 24 7365 at get the 419.

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Thank you.