And now the 419 with Gretchen de Bakker might kill them.

And Kevin Mullin.

Welcome into the 419 powered by ZTE and presented by Retro Wealth Management.

I'm Kevin mon.

Gretchen Debacker.

I kill them.

It is our toledo.com community calendar driven by Tada day.

That's everybody celebrates twitter.com driven by Tada.

Yeah, yeah.

They do their actual writing.

I think I think they should be.

It's worth celebrating because we're going to take a look at some of the best events across northwest Ohio, of course, curated by our friends@toledo.com.

And and then we've got, some.

Yeah.

I'm excited.

I admittedly, I don't know, George Thomas, with Fair Housing center, I know him.

Okay.

That feels rather ominous.

But I'm looking forward to that conversation.

And then, I have heard of and I'm a fan of, but I've not had any direct connectio with ode to the zip code.

Yeah.

Which is one of their programs.

So we're going to hear about that as well.

Yes, we have a couple of the, finalists for their poetry contest, which is what the order of the day is, and they're going to come in and, read their poetry and talk about why they wante to get involved in the program.

So it's gonna be cool.

Do we get to judge them?

I think we can.

Internally.

Yeah.

Oh, internally.

Yeah.

We're not allowed to say it out loud.

Yeah.

Okay.

This isn't like, it doesn't feel like good judgment, like America's Got Talent or American Idol.

We're not gonna be putting up numbers.

One of us can be still and a man doesn' put up numbers when it counts.

The nine.

What's Hardaway?

And then, Manhattan prince.

Yes.

He is someone I've not met, but he's a reporter at the blade.

Working on a cool downtown eats, event there.

I've seen some stuff in and around downtown, but highlighting all of the amazing downtown restaurants.

So he's going to talk about that.

Okay.

Sweet.

All right.

Well it's going to be a great show.

Yeah.

What are let's let's dive in.

What are the top events in northwest Ohio?

Of course, our toledo.co community calendar, driven by a all of these events are available at Chili recap.

We'll dip in energy there.

John.

When our friend John Nichols was here last week, he did mention this event, which is the Toledo Zoo Orchid Show.

It's open, the 13th through May 3rd.

So it's a number of weeks.

You can go get tickets at Toledo zoo.org.

They have horticulture workshops, talks, lectures.

You can just see the orchids.

I've happened upon them.

It wa sort of by accident, one year.

And it's a really cool.

Yeah.

So I'm not, terribly interested in flowers, per se, bu it's a spectacular presentation.

And I think really approachable, for anyone.

And it's the right time to b talking about gardening anyway.

Yeah.

As we just read the bitter en here of non planting season.

So.

Good time to get tips.

Could be a fun, fun thing to go to.

The second event is the Bailey Bailey Zimmerman concert.

And I have to say that I don't know who this is.

It seems like a country western person because the headlin is different night, same rodeo.

This is Thursday, April 16th.

I'll tell you what, Gretchen, your post deduction, if not failed, is just reading context clues.

I mean, with Low Bailey, there's so much.

Yeah, if it was not okay, well, if it is, you need to change up his marketing because he's also wearing a cowboy hat.

Yeah.

In the picture.

See?

Yep.

Clues.

Okay.

All right.

Yeah.

That's good.

No, no, I actually should be, like, the most famous person alive.

And I just don't mind cut my boots right now.

And I find horses to be soulless monsters, so I guess it's the card fitting.

Doesn't mean everything I have true.

I have gotten more afrai of horses as I've gotten older.

Yeah, because of their plotting.

Yeah.

That's right.

Yeah.

They're plotting.

No.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Plotting against us.

Oh, okay.

Yeah.

My niece is a champion, horse rider.

So she's not afraid of horses for some of her.

This is a record record store day.

Next thing, Kevin, just moving us right on gleefully.

The next thing is Recor store Day, Saturday, April 8th.

No horses there, no horses that we know of, but they're going to have food trucks.

They have like, performances.

They're going to have all kind of special releases on albums.

This is a cool cultural day.

In the city culture class is probably leading the charge there, but there's a number of different, record store in Toledo.

So I would check social media, as well as just googling Record Store Day or going to the little.com for getting more details.

It's a fun way to go through the milk crates and things like that.

Yeah.

People are thumbin through records for collections.

Good time to meet people who are, in the collecting.

Yeah.

You know, biz guys, do you guys collector have records?

Both my nieces have record players, and they do one of the champions.

One of the horse champ?

No, the other one.

Oh, yeah.

My my brother's big into records.

I mean, that's like, that's wha they listen to at their house.

Yes.

The musician at, No.

Matt.

Yeah.

Interesting.

And so and all of his kids are into music, but they, you know, h said like, his kids were always so well-behaved, like, from a very young age.

And he was like, yeah, because all we do is read books and listen to records.

That sounds like an elitist propaganda that very much.

But he wanted to get me into records, so he bought me a record player.

Yeah.

And, had a couple of records, but records, I don't even remember.

Yeah.

Smash mouth.

That's right, that's right.

No, no, no, the record of Smash Mouth is it's, it's actually something about Smas Mouth covering Michael Jackson.

Yeah.

It's great.

Interesting.

Yeah, yeah, that's the kind of record you can find a record, right?

Medication.

I was looking for the opposite.

I was trying to find Michael Jackson covering Smash Mouth and I just know that's an album.

Yeah, yeah.

Fourth event of the week.

We've gone off the rails.

Totally.

And I'm kind of excited about this one.

Toledo Speedway is having an opening day classic racing on Saturday.

Also Saturday, April 18th What makes you excited about it?

I think it's cool.

I lov I kind of like racecar driving.

My dad followed it a lot.

I didn't know that.

Yeah, no that's right.

You know huge NASCAR fan.

Yeah.

Cool.

So this is a cool, fun thing to go out.

They let you take coolers ou there, but they now, you know, fun opening, opening day out at Toledo Speedway.

And then obviously, the best event of the week.

It's the most important event of the week.

It's put last, but it should be first.

That's right.

These are in no order necessarily.

But Sunday, April 19th, there's a whole host of for one nine day events.

Obviously our event made the top one of the week.

We're celebrating for one nine day at juke mode on Sunday from 2 to 6.

We will be recording live a version of our podcast at 4:19 p.m.

we have amazing guest, Kevin Elaine Trudel, from Live Arts Toledo.

Yep, Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gherkin.

Yep.

And NFL veteran Chris Wormley.

It's insane.

It's really a nice, great lineup.

You can come out to the store, you can make your own, red t shirt at Jew mode.

To benefit.

There's going to b some sort of rib eating contest.

There is.

I've already mentioned it.

Thank you.

Gretchen.

And there's going to be a rib eating competition.

Because what says celebrate for one nine day better than packing.

Well, first of all, what celebrates America more than wasting food?

That's right.

I mean, stop wasting if you're eating it.

Yeah, that's right Kevin.

That's absolutely right.

It's a free event.

You don't need tickets.

Just come out.

No, I don't want to blow by this.

It is me versus.

Okay, the negligent monster that i the producer of our show, Shane, who is listening right now in his fortress.

Shane is he has a taller chair than us.

When we meet is a group and I'm going to take him down.

I like I say, I find it very interestin that you keep challenging Shane and yet neglect to challenge Chris warmly.

Who would I?

I said to his face.

I said, I'll see what you got.

And that was me looking up.

For those of you listening, I'm not afraid of that guy.

Okay?

Yeah.

Is he big and handsome?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yes.

They're not me.

Neither of those things.

And.

But he's talented.

Yeah.

That's right.

And successful.

Yeah.

And smart and smart.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Charming.

You're kidding me.

So it's really.

It's gonna be a grea show.

Is the anti Matt kill him?

Yeah, but we're going to battle.

He's going to feel hurt by that.

Only one of you gets to be called Matt Kill.

And I love this.

That.

Well at the end they'll all be i people be chanting Matt kill him when I spike the bone of the aftermath on their heads.

All right, so that and more is going to be coming up for one nine day at Jew mode.

Thanks to toledo.com and our friends at Tada.

Of course, all of these events target can help you get there.

And so we appreciate their support and, helping you get out in the community with some of the great things that are going on or take a brea when we come back, George Thomas with the Fair Housing Center, we'll start talking about ode to the ZIP code, another great event happening this weekend in Northwest Ohio.

We'll be right back on the 419.

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

Advisory services are offered through capital investment advisory services LLC, securities offered through Capital Investment Group member Finra, SIPC.

More information at whetroadvisors.com The 419, powered by WGTE is made possible in part by supporters like you.

Thank you.

welcome back into the 419 powered by ZTE.

We're talking now with the CEO and general counsel of the Fai Housing Center, George Thomas.

George, thank you so much for being here.

Oh, thank you for having us.

And you've got a big event coming up this weekend.

We'll talk about that in a minute.

But first, let's start wit what is the fair housing center.

Yeah, the fair housin Center is a civil rights agency that's dedicated to eliminating housing discrimination.

That just means if you're in the housing market and you're having difficulty accessing a home or getting a rental unit or a mortgage, housing is really broad.

But if you experience discrimination in that space where the free resource that assists you and I always try to emphasize, you know, your home where you live powerfully affects every aspect of your life.

So what we do is try to open those doors of opportunity so that people can access the neighborhood, access the home that they want.

We've talked to a number of we've had a number of elected officials on and, and, othe sort of leaders in the community that talk about housing is like sort of the number one issue nationally and certainly here.

Fair housing.

I know that you get requests or people think that you are in the business of developing housing, which is your advocate for that.

But that's not what your business is, right?

Yes.

And thanks for asking tha question to help clarify that.

It's we're at the space of helping individual with getting access to housing or making sure housing is developed.

There's not barriers to the development of housing or access to it.

Yeah.

Like tactically, what does that look like?

Yeah.

So we get about 2000 a little bit more than 2000 intake every year, folks contacting us.

And it's kind of runs the gamut of different experiences.

But a lot of the calls are in the rental market.

It's not exclusively, but, someone's, maybe tries to acces an apartment and they're denied.

But maybe the landlord makes some comments that are kind of suspicious or saying, oh, I see that you have children in your family.

I'm not sure if this i really the right fit for you or.

Oh, I see that you use a wheelchair.

I'm not sure if this is the right apartment for you and then never gives them the application.

Let's say a lot of times today, housing discrimination is hidden.

It's kind of hard to uncover.

People don't just say explicitly, I'm going to deny you based on your race.

So part of what we have to do then is investigate, gather evidence, and help that individual who feels lik they were mistreated show that.

Then we then file cases in court or with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, or with HUD, depending on the story.

But it's important, and it's important because so many members of our community rent.

Yes.

So a very large percentage of our, of our community rents housing.

So it's it's important for them to have this kind of support.

Can you just talk in genera about the federal law and what what are the areas in particular that, that you see peopl could be discriminated against?

Yeah.

That we help to enforce the Fair Housing Act, which is a federal law.

Ohio has kind of our equivalent.

But, who have pointed that to the federal law is kind of like the standard, the Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968, was the culmination of the civil rights movement.

It was passed seven days after the assassinatio of Doctor Martin Luther King Jr.

And took a lot to to get that law passed to protect your civil rights as an American in the housing market.

And then what that protects over time, things have been adde to the law here and there, but, protects against discriminatio based on race, disability, sex, familial status color on national origin, etc.. Those are kind of recognized, so, protected classes.

So if you experience discrimination based on one of those, that law protects you, then whatever your question is, what what do we actually see?

We actually have more disability discrimination complaints than any other category.

And that's very commo for other fair housing agencies across the country.

Disability is usually the most common, complaint.

And then after that is race.

And then after that it' a mix of familial status things.

But there's the disability, an unwillingness for, the owners to want to accommodate for.

Right?

I mean, they're in the they're in the business of making money, and that's a broad stroke, potentially unfair.

But is is that the barrier usually not wanting to invest in the property to make it accessible?

Good question.

So this ability is a little bit uniqu under the law in the sense that, we sometimes people can violate the law by not providing access, whereas some of th other protected class classes, we have to show intent, like we have to show that they intended to discriminate based on race, whereas sometimes with disability, a mere refusal to accommodate is enough evidence to show that there was was discrimination.

For instance.

George, in an ideal world, you would not this rule would not be.

Yes, absolutely.

I totally agree with that.

And I always say we are trying to put ourselves out of business.

So at the risk of being hyperbolic, are you?

It feels to me, that this role has potentially never been more important and is at the height of its need.

Is that true?

And why?

Why are you so busy?

Yeah I think that's absolutely true.

And, to kind of pull bac and give some perspective to it, you know, this country was founded with a demand for civil rights, right?

And the Declaration of Independence as kind of like the core of what we are.

How's that going?

Generally?

And I think that I think I'm patriotic in the sense that we try to trajectory towards, constantly fighting for civil rights.

And I think that's th basic story of this country is, you know, the Civil War, World War Two was a fight in a way, for civil rights against authoritarian, dictatorships, etc.. And now I think, sadly, we'v come back to that same question.

This is a reoccurring theme of do we want to protect civil rights for Americans?

And what does that what should that look like?

And more and more, we are getting complaints about, discrimination.

They're not decreasing.

They're increasing over time.

The difference right now is more it's more hidden.

It's harder to uncover in certain ways.

It does require more investigation, more work on our part.

And als our resources are under attack.

We we get grant funding, federal funding, other resources.

That's not very much by any means.

It's a tiny, tiny portio of the overall federal budget, but it's kind of a thin red line between the potential chaos of not having basic American civil rights and a place where you do hav the freedom to choose your home.

This is a potentially a question that's going to put you on the spot.

And again, more hyperbole, but are you going to battle against capitalism or the fact that we're no that evolved of a species yet?

No, I mean, that's it's really I mean, when we're talking about discrimination, is this a is this because we are now or constantly driving to make more money as the property owners or I just another sign that we're not as far ahead as we had hoped.

Well, I will say the, part of our work, does focus on neighborhood areas that have been historically redlined historically disinvested.

And I don't think a lot o people realize the implications of that history t is so very powerful to this day, that you've set, communities on a trajectory.

It starts kind of, a, a snowball effect of disinvestment over time.

And that's not going to chang unless we, as a community work to, reverse that trend.

And so one of the things we do, too, is advocate for reinvestment in neighborhoods that have been harmed in that way.

So I'm kind o getting to your point of like, if you put things in motion economically and in terms of investment, you attract certain types of investors, certain areas who continue to take advantage of the population there.

Sort of our system is kind of incentivize that in a way, and I think we have to work to reverse that.

And so it's I'm not directly answering your question, but that's part of the work.

Yeah.

I appreciate you talking about George Thomas from the Fair Housing Center.

George, what is the what are the protections that are in place for people with different immigration statuses?

Yeah.

So the federal law protects against discrimination based on national origin, for example.

So if you denied someone just saying, well, this person is I believe is from, this other nation, even though they could be, you know, perfectly valid citizen, their immigration status is perfectly legal.

But if you said, I just don't want to provide them housin based on that national origin, then that would be illegal.

The law does not.

The federal law does not currently protect against a certain immigration status, though, to be clear, I would mention that the cit of Toledo does have a local law that adds immigration status a an additional protected class.

Just kind of as an asterisks on that.

But the primary federal law doesn't our producer, South African, if I gave you his address, could you take could you remove him from our everything that the country so that would that would be a good example if someone tried to deny him housing, you're saying.

Well, I just don't like people from South Africa.

I like people, not that I him specifically.

It's not an issue of being South African.

Yeah, yeah yeah yeah I don't frankly, I don't care where he's from.

I just don't want him to be here anymore.

When you were, not that you're, an old, decrepit fossil now but when you were a young man.

Is this what you dreamt of?

Are you particularly passionate about?

Yeah.

Speaking up for those who don't have loud voices.

How did you get here?

That's not a question I don' get asked that very often, but.

So my background real quick was I was raised by a single mom.

She had actually really severe mental health disabilities.

She struggled a lot.

We moved really constantly because of her disabilities.

I see that with a lot of clients.

Yes.

We moved there mostly around the two areas.

Born in Toledo, mostly around here.

Moved around quite a bit, though.

But there was a lo of instability in the household and a lot of the folks tha contact us seeking assistance, they have mental health disabilities.

There's a lot of housing instability in their life, and that affects you in many different ways.

And for some strange reason, I was blessed that, strangely, I did good good in school and made my way, the, you know, first generation college graduate made my way into law school somehow.

Good for you.

But that that kind of tha background, I think is helpful.

So now when that when clients contact us, I have familiarity with mental health issues and kind of help them.

Where, wher where did you go to law school?

University of Toledo.

And did you do with this band the the primary focus of your work since, since law school or did you evolve into it?

Yeah.

Good question.

I started as an AmeriCorps attorney.

We believe now there's a American program for attorneys.

We have paid a tiny stipend, and I, took eviction, defense cases and utility shut off type, cases.

And it just kind of grew from there.

It was a variety of different work.

But always housing is a centerpiece.

I mean, you talk to anybody in the nonprofit sector and who's trying to charitable work.

Housing is a pillar for certainly.

And I represented the Fair Housing Center, a number of times.

I always work with them very closely throughout my career.

And then as a natural transition to to come over to the side towards, you know, you're episodically in the same rooms, you know, attend the IMA, with some regularity.

What do you do for fun?

I like to do a lot of home repair.

Actually, I do like, my own kind of deal, I. Why?

What's the worst thing that you've ever done on your own in terms of a turn out?

I'm not very good with finished work, so if if it's just struck me neither things.

If it has to look perfect.

Yeah.

Then I hire the professionals.

So, yeah, the motto in our house, yeah, is wa as it relates to DIY projects.

Call someone's.

Nope.

Do your best do your best and cock the rest.

Yeah.

Like that was on basement stairs.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, we took the stairs out of our house.

I don't know if I can say that.

I don't kno what the statute of limitations is on that kind of a it's unsafe.

That's why mounting it here.

Yeah.

So, Yeah, we did the stairs in the basement, completely out of the kitchen.

And now I'm going to have an inspector show up my house and question for you.

I'll call you.

Yeah, that's the next people are going to call you.

Yeah, well, that' that's actually very true.

So.

Oh, the the zip code is going up this weekend.

Yeah.

Forgive me.

That is a, poetry contest celebrating northwest Ohio.

Let's like before we dive into that.

Like what?

Why does a zip code matter?

Yeah, I as it was kind of mentioning earlier, your home or the neighborhoo where you live or your zip code powerfully affects every aspect of your life?

I just happen to think about it.

It's your access to jobs, transportation, proximity to family and friends, your health and safety.

Everything i powerfully affected by your home where you live.

And I think that's kind of assumed, right?

It's like the glasses on your face because they're there all the time.

So yo you just don't think about it.

I'm the only one wearing glasses that shot a major.

Glasses are not a protected class.

Yeah.

They're not currently.

We can.

We can work on that.

But, the idea of the contest, though, is, get you to stop, have a moment of metanoia.

Where you rethin things and say, wait a second, where do I live?

What would I make as a poem about my zip code?

And you've had hundreds of entrants for this?

Yep.

This is a cold entry.

Yeah.

This is our 11th year.

Oh, you're kidding me.

11th year is a thing.

And, so we had more than 500 entries this year.

A lot of them are from youth.

But we have all different age categories.

I think it's probably a mixed pretty good mix though, overall.

And, you know, and if people are familiar with the contest, it's based on zip code.

So it's for let's say your 43604 is your zip code is four words, three words, six words a pause and then four words.

That's that's the challenge is to come up with a poe that represents your zip code.

So there's going to be event at the McMaster center, which is the library at the library from 2 to 4, where, where I'm assuming people will read their poetry.

And then the, the the winners will be announced.

That's right.

Well, we'll have the poems up on the screen.

We'll announce the winners.

They will do it.

Do some of the readings.

Some of our judges and our folks will be there.

And that's a really broad audience is usually pretty well attended.

And then we also take that moment then to connect that to fair housing, to connect these issues that you see to fair housing.

And it's really not until the event that people see, wow, the poems really come out differently.

Yeah.

For the different zip codes.

And then you see that all at once.

And that becomes a powerful experience with all these years in.

What's been your favorite part of of doing this contest?

It has to be the youth of the younger groups there.

There is so much fun to see.

The kids try to come up with a poem, and if my kids have tried to do it as well.

How old are your kids?

Eight and ten.

So Saturday at the main library, downtown McMaster center.

Starting at 2:00.

Yes.

If people want more information, where can they find it?

Online, I, we have a little bit on our website.

I think the library and media partners, City Paper, I should mention, I really want to do a shout out to the Library City paper.

So parent paper and definitely the Greater Toledo Community Foundation, who really made this possibl this year because we have had, some struggles with our grants from the federal government.

The Toledo Community Foundation is a is one of our partners an and brought George and the Fair Housing Center to our show today.

So I mean and their investmen has been so community focused.

Right?

I mean, we've got a program that they're doing with we focused on neighborhoods, celebrating, telling their own stories.

Talk to me about that partnership with Community Foundation, why it's been so important.

Yeah, I love this new direction.

This cultural work i so important for the community.

I think it brings connections together.

People together were recentl just meeting all the other folks who are in the space we're meeting, including your producer by the way, who was wonderful.

And then now we are.

Yeah, yeah, when he joined us, to just kind of share what each other we're doing.

And I think there's going to be more to come with collaborations because of that.

All right.

George Thomas, CEO, genera counsel of Fair Housing Center.

If people want more information on Fair Housing Center or they they've they need help, where do they get it?

Best place on our websites little fhc.org or our number is (419)243-6163.

One more time with the number (419)243-6163.

George, thank you so much for being here.

When we come back, we're goin to have, some of the finalists.

Yes.

In the ode to the zip Code poetry contest are going to join us here on the 419.

We'll be right back.

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Where you come to watch, listen and learn.

Welcome back into the 419, powered by the ode to the zip code contest from the Fair Housing Center and supported by the Community Foundation.

It's coming up this weekend, April 18th at the McMaster center at 2:00.

It's a poetry contest where folks across northwest Ohio, celebrate their zip code, their home community.

And we're pleased to be joined by two of the finalists through the stars, two of the stars of the show here in ode to the zip code, we have Alex and Anna.

Thank you so much for being here.

Over 500 people have entered poems into this contest, s you guys are cream of the crop.

Alex, why did why did you decide to enter this contest?

So the first time I entered the contest was back in 2020, I believe.

And I actually won the contest.

Yes.

And what champion for that?

Well my current zip code was 43612.

Okay, current is 43614.

So are you moving to be the champion in each one?

I guess so, yeah.

Now we got to just get in every year.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's my strategy.

It's really part of the transfer portal is that there's other zip codes that if you're city council members, if you care about sports you would have thought that was the transfer portal.

Okay.

So do you, write poetry generally.

Did this particular event inspire you?

I think that particular, event did inspire me.

It's it was just kind of a challenge.

And I like a challenge.

I do write poetry, kind of for fun, but definitely nothing professional or anything like that.

And what do you do?

You're a teacher and.

And what do you teach?

Yep.

So I'm a pre-K JC teacher a Miami Valley Country Day School.

So we do like a forest school program, with kids 3 to 5.

So it's a it's a really cool program.

It's great.

The forest school, I mean, they're out.

You guys are outside every day.

Doesn't matter the weather.

Yeah.

It's like, come prepared with your boots and.

No, let me tell you outside.

Yeah.

So, how about you?

Why did you decide to enter this contest?

It looked pretty fun.

How did you find out about it?

So, I mean, one night, me and my parents were, writing poems, and my mom was done, and she was just lookin on her phone, and she saw that, there is a poetry contest, and now here I am.

Yeah.

That's so amazing.

So, do you guys write poems together?

Yeah.

How did you how did you learn how to do that?

Well, it just good.

I it's like.

Yeah.

Yeah, I like it a lot.

How old are you?

I'm eight years old.

Okay.

We.

I was not doing nearly this intelligently.

You're not doing it now, when I was say, that's also true.

Yeah, yeah.

What, what's your favorite subject in school?

Math and reading.

Okay.

All right.

Okay.

Where do you go to school?

Melville elementary.

We just recently on spring break.

Yeah, yeah.

Did you do anything fun, or did your mom make you write poetry the whole time?

You know, we.

Yeah, we did stuff.

Fun.

Yeah.

What was the most fun thing?

Building with my Legos?

Yes.

Yeah.

What did you make?

I made a shark.

Axolotl.

And my daughters are crazy about axolotls.

What is it?

So it's my dog?

Yes.

Yeah, it's a thing.

Yeah, it is a thing.

It's like a building thing.

Oh, they're an animal.

Oh, that live in reverse?

I don't know, it's an amphibian.

Right.

I think he's.

Please educate Gretchen.

You know more than I do.

Yeah, well, you know what?

What is your zip code?

43613.

Okay.

All right.

So how did you both know when you were when you were writin or you're working on your poem that you were finished?

How did you know?

Like that was the one you were going to submit?

Just felt right.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, I would agree.

Just there's a vibe.

There's a feeling that.

Yeah, this makes sense.

And and it follows all the rules.

That's a big part of this one is that it was the numbers.

Just everyone that is in the Championship.

Are you all at the same height.

That we don't know yet.

So far so good.

So far so far so good.

What do you love most about your neighborhood?

That there's that.

Usually there's, like, beautiful flowers and like, spring, summer.

And.

Yeah, it's a great, great answer.

Alex, how about you?

I like the community and the old homes and the, plate 21 coffee sho is right around the corner, so.

Yeah that's a good neighborhood spot.

Yeah, well, why don't we have.

What are we here?

Your, your poem and a do you want to tell everyone what your poem is?

Yes.

Okay.

Whenever you're ready.

I saw a red at the park because I want to see nature outside.

Then it flew.

That's so nice to.

You.

I love that, Alex.

Go ahead.

Yeah.

So my zip codes four three, six, one four.

So, my ode is 101 year old woman from her lawn watching over the Red Bull Stadium.

Since 1962, Beverly Roots and roots.

That's great.

Yeah.

So just to remind our listener or what the rules are, whatever your zip code is, those are the those.

That's the number words you can have in each stanza of your poem.

Correct?

Right.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So very good.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Great.

What?

Why is this important, Alex?

I mean, as an educator, as a as a community member, why is this poetry contest important?

I think it's an important, way to reflect on where you live and, how you connect to where you live.

And what that means for you.

I guess, and then.

Yeah, like, getting the community together for the reading is really special to just to hear everybody's different perspectives about where they live.

And I would presume that although different, there's a celebration of similarity as well.

Right.

Yeah.

Absolutely.

I mean we often I think are guilty of talking about who you're not as opposed to who we are.

And both of your beautiful poems talk about things that we share.

Right.

So tell me about, there's a, an event coming up.

Do you have to read the poems there?

Yes.

Yeah.

Are you nervous about that, or does it feel pretty comfortable to you?

You seem very comfortable here today.

You're doing so well.

Yeah.

I'm comfortable.

Yeah.

Yeah, you're.

You're a star, I get it.

What about you?

I mean, you're you're an educator, so you're sort of naturally always on stage.

Is that a natural thing to you or.

I think so I still get nervous and a little anxious, but, when I one last time, it was during Covid, so it was, like, all online.

So I didn't get this opportunity.

Yeah.

So I am excited to when you hear Gretchen different, when you hear Gretchen thin that an axolotl is a building, does it make you does it make you fearful of where educational system is like a made up word?

Well, to be fair, yes.

Tell all about it.

Yes.

Yeah.

It's it's, it goes in the water and it's pink and it some, ha this weird thing is on its head.

Oh, now I know what is so.

And it's it's how we describe Gretchen and it's spelled with an A, right.

So I bet my daughter who is a year younger than you, $100,000, it was spelled with an E. Do you know over that?

I know over $100.

Right.

So, That's crazy.

Her mother's very smart.

Yes, I was listening that I was right.

So, But she she loves them as well.

We have stickers from our great library system.

She likes to 3D print the and give them out to her buds.

So that's a, you know, what you want to be when you grow up.

I don't know, it's very hard.

Yeah, it's a lot of choices.

Yeah.

You can do whatever you want.

You got a ways to go.

You don't have to make that decision.

Matt.

Do you know what you want to be when you grow up in axolotl?

Oh, yeah.

Well, that's a that's a construction thing.

Yeah.

That's a building.

Yeah.

In other words.

Yeah.

That's right.

All right.

So, if you, if you win on Saturday and everybody is a winner, but if you win on Saturday and you leave and mom takes you out for a treat, what's the treat that mom take you out for?

There's hard decisions.

Sure.

Yeah.

So, would you go ice cream?

Would you go, cookie?

Would you go new ring pop?

Yeah, that's a great choice.

That is a great answer becaus it's both jewelry and delicious.

That's right.

All right.

Now it's.

How are you celebrating?

Victor if it happens.

Ring pop.

Also.

Yeah.

Yeah, it definitely ring.

That's like from my era.

So yeah, I agree.

Yeah.

Awesome.

Well, yeah.

No, I think, just, the clothes.

What do you like living in?

In our area.

What's your favorite thing?

Not just your neighborhood.

Oh, I love Toledo.

It's just it's a great home base.

It's affordable.

There's.

You can get everywhere in 20 minutes, right?

Like, it's it's the best.

I think it was the best poet in your house.

Is.

Are you your mom or your dad now?

Your mom?

Your mom.

Really?

Okay.

Is that because you are fearful that you won't have a ride home if you don't say that?

Even writing poems longer than me?

Yeah, yeah, well that's fair.

Yeah.

She had a head start.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

All right.

Well thank you so much for Saturday.

Yeah.

Vote.

Yeah.

Thanks for having us.

Absolutely.

All right.

The ode to the zip code poetry contest with Fair Housing center.

Is this Saturday, April 18th, starts at 2:00 at the McMaster center in the downtown Library.

For more information, you can find it at the Fair Housing Center's website.

Huge thanks to bot of our guests, for being here.

And of course, George Thomas talking about the great work, the Fair Housing Center does community, community Foundation every week is encouraging us to talk to great people making a difference in their communities.

And there's no question that Anna and Alex are both in that category.

And, George I think, referenced something.

There is, and this isn't a criticism of, of, of the past either.

Right.

But the Two-Year Community Foundation's sort of new direction, if you will.

Is inspiring.

So it is both largely, strategic and impactful.

And I know there's a lot of things that are coming out, but the, the team that Kate, is assembling there, is continues to hit it on, the broader stroke of the, the macro and the micro or things just like this.

There's a lot to celebrate.

And, we're so excited.

We'd be lucky if you, lived the rest of your life here in Toledo as opposed to moving away.

But of course you can.

Thank you for spending your time educating our youth as well.

I'm particularly grateful for the forestry, the forest program.

Selfishly, as a Metroparks employee.

Yeah.

We, we can't thank you enough.

Of course.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

We're going to take a break.

When we come back, Manhattan Green from the Toledo Blade will join us.

Talking about what else?

Toledo.

Some of the great things happening in and around our region.

We'll be right back on the 419.

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Welcome back into the 419, powered by CTE.

Gretchen has just learned that an axolotl.

We already accomplished pretty is pretty, succinctly that it's an animal.

No, you didn't, said Lego, and then you said others.

No.

One single?

No one.

Someone thought it was a toy.

I do have a news segment idea.

It is Gretchen's animal.

Thursday tries to guess what animal it is.

Own the name.

Yeah, or.

But we just get to describe it or draw a picture.

Or just like the word what I thought you're saying, Axelrod I'm like, what the hell?

We're joined now by Mr.

Hat and Preen, from this little blade an explorer for one nine Manhattan.

Thank you for being here.

You knew what an axolotl was, I did, yes, I did.

My mom's a teacher, so you know it's right.

And you're a person of everybody.

Just say trendy goldfish.

Why you got to say.

You got to say that it's not just a goldfish.

It's like, kind of like a lizard.

Goldfish makes a lot cuter.

It's a pretty.

It's a living organism in water.

It looks kind of prehistoric.

So it's really unique to me.

Yeah.

I mean, it had what is 64419.

Yeah.

So it's 449 is a social and tied in the infinity.

And if you don't kno oh okay I'll try my best.

Yeah.

We actually just went to the zoo yesterday.

There you go.

Explore for nine is about fu things to do and see in Toledo.

So it's on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook.

And we post about five days a week about fun things to do and see Should we do food?

We do arts.

We do like activities.

We do free activities, especially for families, local businesses.

And so if you're looking for something to do, we try to do the legwork so you don't have to do all that research on your own.

Tell us about your background Where are you from originally?

So I'm from here originally.

I was born and raised here.

Born in Toledo hospital.

And floor.

Yeah, probably.

Yep.

Yep, I hope so.

Yeah.

I mean, otherwise it was a mistake.

All right.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Right.

Yeah.

So, Yes, I was born and raised here.

I grew up here.

And then I left for three years.

I went to college in Hawaii at BYU Hawaii.

So that was really amazing experience.

I loved it there.

How did you I, I had, literally I sent my, Act scores to the University of Hawaii.

Yeah.

Because I was like, oh, yeah, why not?

How did you convince me you still waitlisted that?

Yeah.

I never got accepted.

My family was sending me away.

My parents went there, they graduated there.

So they knew that it was an amazing experience.

And so they were like, please go.

You'll have a great time.

So, yeah, it was wonderful.

But I guess my parents did pretty good because I came back to them.

I live here again now.

My husband's in grad school at UT, and so when I came back here, I was a little, I don't know, dubious about being back to Toledo.

I know I'm like, I lived here for a long time.

I know everything there is to know.

But I'm so sick of the sun, right?

Right.

Yeah, sure.

But I feel like in coming back and getting this job, I've really been able to see Toledo in a new light and see all the things that weren't there before.

I feel like Toledo is always growing.

There's always something new.

And that was something I didn't really understand.

That's really the same thing with the show, really.

I mean, getting to talk to s many people and the positivity and the hard work that so many people are doing to present, particularly arts and culture events, tourism type events for the residents of Toledo.

It's it's really, it really is inspiring.

Yeah.

I hope you have enough time for the Gretchen's meandering there.

Basket.

Manhattan.

Did you ever feel any pressure you have a star's name.

That's a lot to live up to.

What is the etymology of this?

How did you.

Yeah.

So a lot of people will think you know, my parents met in Manhattan.

I've had people ask me to after the cocktail.

It is not after the cocktail.

I hate to disappoint.

It was actually a joke.

So my parents will hate that I'm telling it this way.

But my mom was joking to her brothers, and they were talking about, what are you going to name your kids, right?

And my friend said, oh, we'll name our first born something really weird, like Manhattan.

That was the exampl they threw out into the world.

And then they had a fro and they named a frog Manhattan.

And they had a plant and they named a plant Manhattan.

And then they had a baby, and it had already stuck.

And so, yeah, here I am.

Well, it worked out.

Yeah it worked out.

It's memorable.

Is our third time is a charm, right.

Exactly, exactly.

If they had an actual ride, man.

Thanks a lot.

Whatever.

Yeah.

That's it.

I never had an actual ride.

Anyway, let's talk a little bit about some of the things, you made mention.

I just want to talk about the ice cream thing.

No, let's talk first.

Talk about the best bit to that, which is this weekend.

Right.

It's all a focus on all the downtown restaurants.

Tell us about that event.

Yeah So explore nine and the blade.

We co-host, some events, specifically food events, which is really exciting.

So this weekend we have our Best Bites downtown Toledo event.

So this is a tasting tour.

You get your, like, lanyard and you get to go around to 13 different restaurants and you get a taste of all of them.

And the restaurants are super generous.

Last year, like Pizza Palace had like a huge slice of pizza like they're not skipping you.

It's not like a tiny bite.

It's like a full meal.

And just, like, totally.

I have to lay down, you know?

So, so that's really fun.

And it gets people into new spaces tha you might not go to otherwise.

It gets you to try new foods with a low risk environment.

Right.

And so it's a really, really fun time.

Tickets are sold out for this weekend, and I'm just excite to congratulate everyone else.

It's you really get around from place to place.

This is sort of a self-guided thing.

Yes.

It's self-guided.

It's just walking around downtown.

So I know it might be raining this weekend.

We're hoping it's not.

We're hoping it's not.

Because, yeah, you just get to walk around, you get to be in downtown Toledo.

All of it's pretty localized.

So you don't have to walk to.

And then the next event you have coming up is sounds glorious, basically, but nice.

Spring passport.

Can we be a media partner on this sport if you want to.

We would love that.

But yeah, it would require you to bring ice cream in every time you come in.

Well, how about this one?

I can do that.

Okay.

Shane, our producer, is a big, big ice cream.

He's big period but he is big ice cream eater.

Cookie and I have an ice cream eating competition.

I would I would probably authorize anything I do, I suppose.

Yeah, I' hoping that it seems explodes.

Yeah, yeah.

So what's the ice cream passport going to be and when does it start.

Yeah.

So we're going to start selling these in lik May as the introduction flavor.

Oh I really like cookies and crea I like a lot of different ones.

And cream is always good no matter what.

You, you know but yeah.

So we're going to start selling it in May and then it'll run all the way from the 1st of June through August 31st.

So it's going to be all summer.

We currently have 12 restaurants signed up, but we're planning on getting to around 15.

And we're really excited.

Basically, you get your passport and you get like a free scoop of ice cream.

I love this at every restaurant, and you can go on your own tim at whatever hours that they say they're okay.

1 ice cream places a month anyway.

Yeah, right.

So this is saving you money.

Saving you money, right?

Exactly.

Our friend Lori House is going to want to get in.

Yeah, she is part of our 12 step program or some of the, the, restaurants that are participating in the ice cream fest.

So we have, like, Swanky Scoops.

We have Timbo.

So Mr.

G's barn, we have Ben and Jerry's and Cold Stone classics, of course.

Shivers, ice cream and just a bunch of other really amazing restaurants.

We're really excited that so many of them have wanted.

We won't put you on the spot for which one is the best, because those are all great.

Yeah, I haven't tried them yet.

So I mean if you follow us for four nine, I'm going to be going out with some local influencers and we're going to be trying a bunch of the different restaurants that are participating, and we'll kind of tell you what we liked about them and things like that.

We must have jus missed our invitation to them.

Yeah, I know, maybe next year, maybe next year.

So what we asked, what are your, what are your colleagues, Maddie, on the show before?

Did you do a lot with her?

She's.

Yes.

She's delightful.

Yes.

As are you.

Yeah.

So what kind of stuf do you guys do together?

Yeah.

So I kind of support her in her foodie endeavors.

She does meals with Maddie.

Yeah.

Some of you may have heard, the boring name.

Yeah those are Maddie.

No.

No, man.

So, so, so cute.

And, she does meals on that side.

Come and do some behind the scenes footage, and we are able to collaborat on that on explore for a night and just share that with her and help the blades efforts.

And also just help people to know some new restaurants you've been doing this for, for nine for a little over a year now.

I mean, is this what you, when you were a kid, is this what you wanted to do?

No.

Absolutely no way.

I mean, when I was a kid, this job didn't exist, right?

So I'm not totally crazy, but I was an English major in college.

I wanted to be a librarian.

And I love our libraries.

And I still, you know, that's maybe a one day dream.

But this is just kind of what I fell into.

And it's been a real blessing to be able to see the community in a new light and get to experience so many amazing things through six, four, four, nine and hopefully share them with others.

Right?

My goal is my philosophy of thanks for for nine is I'm just an average Joe.

I'm nothing special.

I'm not athletic, I'm not a huge foodie.

I'm really not anything.

But I hope that people are abl to see themselves and explorer and say, oh, hey, if you can do that, then I can do that too.

If you can do archery, I can too.

If you can do curling, I can do, you know, things like that.

So your husband is in grad school you mean, which was he studying?

Physical therapy?

Yeah.

Okay.

I'll help you after the ice cream quest.

Right?

Exactly.

Yes.

Yes, yes.

Yeah.

He's excited about that.

He's a big.

He thinks not.

Thanks.

But he's like this.

This stuff is wasted on you because he loves food.

He could eat just everything.

And I have a small appetite, so he's like, you just.

It's wasted.

You.

I bring a lot of leftovers for him.

So what's the partnership?

What's the.

What's been the biggest discovery for you through explore for one nine.

That has been the kind of moment.

As somebody who grew up here that you're now reintroducing yourself to Toledo.

I think that's a really good question.

I think the restaurants have been a big moment for me because growing up we didn't really eat out and not everyone has the money for it.

Sure.

But getting to see firsthand how hard those owners work, how hard those chefs work, and how much they believe in their product I mean, everything from coffee shops to ice cream to pizzerias to elegant restaurants.

Like everyone i just really trying their best.

They want to give you a good product, and they want you to enjoy coming to their space in their shop.

Take out the financing and having to work through it all if you had to.

If you were opening a restaurant today with your foodie husband.

Okay, what what kind of food would you want to serve?

Honestly, we'd probably just serve what we serve at home.

So my husband makes axolotls.

Yeah.

Whatever.

Right?

Right, right.

That's right.

Probably endangered.

Might not.

Yeah, yeah.

We've got the Gretchen's.

You can find out about m that way, I know.

There you go.

So tasty.

Right?

It can be blissful.

All right.

Yeah.

We we finally serve, like my husband makes a really mean chicken pot pie.

Yeah.

It's amazing.

You can't beat a good chicken.

You can be getting my pie.

And he does a cheese crus on top, so it's just delicious.

It's heart healthy.

Yeah.

Exactly.

Exactly.

Yeah, yeah.

So that's just our producer.

Shane would love that.

Yeah, yeah, it's basically a garbage disposal with it.

I would love so much mor if Shane wasn't a real person.

Yeah, yeah.

To me, I agree with that sentiment hundred percent.

I frequently receive where Shane is incredibly kind and supportive and he doesn't like that.

Yeah, man, we love.

There we go.

You guys are yourself to him at all.

No worry about attempting to.

Oh we're going to get we're going to get canceled.

Yeah.

This win win.

Yeah it's great.

Yeah.

What what, what's something that you a story that you haven't told yet that you want to, I don't know.

I think I just think there's so many things out there that I haven't found.

Like, I can't think of anything specific, but there's every day I'm finding something new that I'm like, oh, I want to feature this.

Like I mean, I know Paddle and Groove has been around for a while I did not know about it.

Right.

And so I just reached out and we're going to be able to feature them.

And that's something that that's when I lived here.

I didn't even know it was a thing.

I didn't kno it was a possibility, you know?

So I think every day there's something new to find whether it's an activity, it's an event, it's an organization, it's a restaurant.

There's always something that is about, you know, about paddling.

I did it's such a cool event.

It's it's one of those things that you look at and go, why didn't no one start this sooner?

And I love the water, and I love that it's the Black Swamp Conservancy that's doing it all.

Yeah.

And then, of course, Ro kind of connected his passions.

The director there of, you know, I mean, he is a music aficionado.

Yeah.

So yeah.

Any any tech is.

Yeah.

Well, that's probably true.

But any band he picks, I'm like, yeah, that sounds great.

I'm not saying I agree.

And so if folks aren't familiar with it, what is paddle and groove?

So you get to kayak down the river and there's a floating band while you do so, which I love music, I love activities, and so that's really a yes, of course, the new access there brought to you by you.

I'm not following.

Right, right.

Yeah.

That's you know do you talk to talk about like, the origin of names, So our youngest, Miles, we were on a kayak brewery tour in Traverse City and the like tour guide is a conception story that you have to go.

You know the tour guides name was Miles.

Oh, and he's like, what?

That's right, I actually I can let's get to the quiz immediately.

I can comfortably say he's not telling this.

Slide through.

Here we go.

Rapid fire.

If you wrote a book, what would it be called?

Oh, I don't know.

Probably something like, I don't know, life of an English major or something nice.

I like that you could attend any celebrity wedding.

What would it be?

Probably Emma Watson's just because I love her, and I want to meet her.

What's your favorite seat on an airplane?

Definitely the window.

You can't go wrong with the window.

And then which store?

Which store do you shop at the most probably Walmart.

I don't shop very much, so just groceries.

What is.

What is one word you would us to describe the city of Toledo or the region?

This is two words, but I think it embraces you like that's nice.

You could also say clings to you but I think like people embraces as nice as phrases is nicer.

People come in, they don't leave.

Like my parents came for school and they never left.

Right?

People just love it here.

They love the community here.

And it really holds on to you and gives you good reasons to keep coming back.

Yeah, great.

That's a beautiful sentiment.

All right.

We're going to do the nine things in the city or region that are your favorite.

Are you ready?

Okay.

Let's do it.

Okay.

So the libraries.

Yes, definitely.

One of my very favorites.

Metroparks.

Of course.

Museum of Art.

Yes.

Toledo Zoo.

Zoo for sure.

House of coffee recently has been a favorite of mine.

That's been awesome.

Oh, I'm getting stuck at the YMCA is very great.

Local one shot that before.

Yeah, that's a great one.

Was the last restaurant you ate out that you loved?

Ooh, the last restaurant that I ate at that I loved, Gangnam Crispy.

It's a Korean restaurant.

Mochi donuts.

I'm going to give you two for that one.

Amazing.

What's your husband's name?

Linden.

Linden.

It, thank you so much.

Manhattan is so fun.

It's a pleasur meeting you as well.

Manhattan.

If people want to follow you or follow explore 419.

Where can they find you?

You can find us on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, at explore underscore for one nine.

And we also have a website with an events calendar called explore for 9.com.

All right.

The highlight of my year is going to be the ice cream passport.

Yeah.

Go ahead and get it.

And you will not be disappointed I assure you.

Can't be disappointed by ice cream Manhattan fre and with explorer for one nine.

Thank you so much.

When we come back, we'll wrap up this Tuesday edition of the 419.

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Welcome back into the 419 powered by ZTE.

We took a at our total.com community calendar driven by Tata, which we d every Thursday here on the 418.

And maybe the lesson of the day, has got to be that axolotls are a real thing and spelled with no.

Well, I mean, it sounds like it.

I think so much of the day i that fair housing is important.

I agree, though, that is a more important than made up fish thing is that real?

It's some kind of robot.

Robot?

Prehistoric robot.

And that allowed largely because it sounds stupid, but the fish stick.

For PBS, man.

We're not going to get this education.

It's strong.

Only only on the 419 can we have.

Yes.

An important and serious conversation, because I found this smart lawyer and CEO.

We've never had an accomplished, smart lawyer on the show.

Like, for the first time ever.

That was my joke.

Yeah, and then Alex and Anna were just like, how adorable.

Yeah, in the same size.

Yeah.

Well, that's, when they sat dow in the chairs, I was like, yeah.

Which one of you is ten?

Talented.

But yeah.

What about that cat?

In her classroom?

I hav no one knows what you're saying because we didn't talk about that on the show.

All right, so, so huge thanks to our friends from the Sara Housing Center for being here.

George Thomas, do an incredible work, with the team.

And, of course, ode to the zip code coming up this Saturday.

I think we're going to go.

Yes, at the library.

Thanks for the invitation.

And then, Manhattan Brain was just a lot of fun, a lot of energy.

If you missed any part of the show.

7 a.m.

on YouTube, 3 p.m.

on FM 91 and 6 p.m.

on Connect channel 30.4.

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