CSU Day Toledo aims to help families turn the dream of college into a reality
By Robert Smith, African American Legacy Project
Guest Column
The African American Legacy Project, along with countless community leaders, understands the historic and vital role that Central State University and other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have played in our culture, our communities and our nation.
Central State University is Ohio’s only public HBCU and Ohio’s only public 1890 Land-Grant university. Founded in 1887, Central State has served Ohio for 139 years – educating, empowering and elevating generations of students and developing leaders who have strengthened communities throughout Ohio and beyond.
But Central State represents more than an institution of higher education. It is, in many ways, a powerful reflection of the African American experience – our determination to pursue education when opportunity was restricted, our commitment to developing leaders when doors were closed, and our resilience in building institutions that could advance generations to come. Central State’s story is part of our story.
For generations, Central State has reached into the Toledo community, giving hope and opportunity to young people whose chances of experiencing a college education may once have seemed improbable. Central State has not simply educated students; it has nurtured minds, developed leaders and helped young people see possibilities beyond their circumstances.
Somewhere in our community, there is a young person wondering whether college is financially possible. She may be talented and academically capable. She may dream of becoming a teacher, engineer, nurse, entrepreneur, scientist, social worker, educator, business leader or community leader. But she may also believe her family’s financial circumstances make college unattainable.
For too many young people, the dream of college does not end because of a lack of talent. It ends because they never discover what might actually be possible. That is a problem our community can do something about.
On Saturday, September 26, 2026, Toledo will host CSU Day, an educational initiative bringing students and families together with Central State representatives and community partners to explore college opportunities, financial aid, scholarships, academic programs and career pathways.
Factually, this is about much more than recruiting students to a university. It is about changing the question from “Can we afford college?” to “What opportunities are available to help us make college possible?”
Information Can Change a Family’s Decision
There are families throughout northwest Ohio who may never have had a meaningful conversation about financial aid. Some parents may not know what scholarships are available or how the FAFSA works. Others may assume that limited household income means college is simply beyond their reach. Some students may never apply because they do not want to place an additional financial burden on their parents. The result is that talented young people can eliminate college from their future before learning what resources may be available. CSU Day Toledo is designed to help change that.
Students and families will be able to ask important questions like: Can my child afford college? What scholarships are available? What financial assistance might we qualify for? What academic programs are available? What career opportunities can come from an HBCU education?
Why Central State?
Central State has a unique place in Ohio’s educational landscape. As Ohio’s only public HBCU and its only public 1890 Land-Grant university, Central State carries a mission that extends beyond the classroom.
The 1890 Land-Grant designation is a living commitment to teaching, research and Extension -taking knowledge and resources into communities. Central State’s Extension work includes agriculture and natural resources, youth development, health and nutrition, financial literacy, small-business development and community and economic development. Its Land-Grant mission also supports research and education in areas such as agriculture, engineering, mathematics, computer science and other emerging fields. That matters to Toledo.
Central State’s relationship with northwest Ohio does not have to begin and end with a student enrolling in college. Its Land-Grant mission creates opportunities for partnership in education, workforce development, entrepreneurship, research, community development and economic growth.
Central State represents more than a degree. It represents an opportunity for a young person to discover what they are capable of becoming. The student who once thought, “College isn’t for people like me,” may begin to think, “Maybe I can do this. ”That change in perception can be the beginning of a very different future.
When One Student Succeeds, an Entire Family Benefits
When one young person earns a college degree, the impact often reaches the entire family. Younger siblings begin to see college as achievable. Parents gain confidence in what their children can accomplish. Over time, education can contribute to greater economic mobility and generational opportunity. That is why CSU Day should matter to everyone.
It should matter to parents and grandparents, teachers and counselors, pastors and church leaders, businesses and community organizations – and to anyone who believes Toledo’s future depends upon the success of its young people.
This Is a Community Responsibility
The African American Legacy Project, working with Central State University and a growing list of community businesses, organizations and individuals, is helping bring this initiative to Toledo, but …no single organization can open every door. Churches can identify students. Schools can inform them. Alumni can inspire them. Businesses can invest. Parents can encourage. And students can take the first step. Communities do not become stronger by accident. They become stronger when they intentionally invest in their young people.
For generations, HBCUs have provided more than classrooms and degrees. They have built confidence, developed leaders and helped generations of students understand that their circumstances do not have to determine their destiny. Central State is part of that extraordinary legacy.
Toledo’s Future Is Already Here
The timing of this initiative could not be more important.
The workforce our children will enter is changing rapidly. Employers need people with education, technical skills, leadership ability, creativity and problem-solving skills. Toledo needs those young people. Northwest Ohio needs those young people.
Central State’s Land-Grant mission provides another important connection between education and economic development. This is workforce development. This is economic development. This is community development.
If we want more doctors, engineers, educators, entrepreneurs, scientists, architects, social workers and business leaders coming out of Toledo, we must help young people see themselves in those roles – and help them understand that there are pathways to get there.
Two Minutes Could Change a Life
So here is the question: Do you know somebody who wants the opportunity to attend college?
If you do, invite them to CSU Day Toledo on Saturday, September 26, 2026. Registration is easy. Simply visit CSUDay419.com. It takes only two short minutes to register – but those two minutes could change the course of a young person’s life. Those two minutes could lead to a conversation about scholarships. They could lead to financial-aid information. They could lead to a college application. They could lead to an acceptance letter. They could eventually lead to a college degree.
It is about opening a door. It is about replacing uncertainty with information. It is about replacing fear with hope. It is about making sure a student’s economic circumstances do not become the reason they never pursue their dreams.
We believe our community’s future will be shaped not only by the opportunities we create, but by the opportunities we help our children recognize. The future of Toledo is already sitting in our classrooms, worshipping in our churches, playing in our neighborhoods, and dreaming about what tomorrow might hold.
Our responsibility is to ensure that every one of those young people has the opportunity to reach their full potential. On September 26th, don’t just attend an event, open a door of opportunity. After all, it’s about our legacy – it really is about our children.
Register today at CSUDay419.com.