By Asia Nail
The Truth Reporter
Sure, urban revitalization initiatives often sound like bureaucratic jargon. But when you meet Amelia Gibbon, executive director of Reinvest Toledo, you quickly realize this one is different. They are shaking things up in underserved neighborhoods, turning conventional approaches to urban renewal on its head. With a blend of fierce advocacy, innovative leadership development, and grassroots collaboration, Reinvest Toledo is rewriting the story of community transformation, making real, impactful change that all can see and feel.
“We are a community coalition dedicated to empowering residents in Toledo’s low and moderate-income neighborhoods,” shares Gibbon.
“We work tirelessly to ensure every voice is heard and every community member has the tools and resources needed to thrive,”
Since its 2015 founding in partnership with the Lucas County Land Bank and the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), Reinvest Toledo’s mission was clear: to advocate, educate and connect.
“We are more than just ac; we are a family,” says Gibbon. “Our under-resourced neighborhoods are not just a branded perception of people who are disenfranchised or waiting for assistance. Community is me, community is you.”
The Mission and Its Impact
Reinvest Toledo operates on three main fronts: advocacy, education and serving as a community connector. They collaborate with neighborhood groups and institutional partners to address community challenges and drive positive change. The coalition’s work is grassroots, meaning it starts with listening to residents, understanding their needs and working alongside them to find solutions.
Executive Director Gibbons emphasizes, “Our Reinvest Toledo Coalition consists of representatives from eight low- and moderate-income communities and four system partners who are stakeholders in the work of driving positive change in these neighborhoods. Our tagline says it all: ‘We are changing the narrative.'”
Reinvest Toledo also serves as a catalyst for neighborhood organizing, led by residents. They advocate for neighborhood investment from banks and community developers and provide a forum for community leaders to meet, plan, and strategize. By building capacity across low and moderate-income working-class communities, Reinvest Toledo informs national-level work while strengthening our local fabric.
“Our work is only successful when the communities we partner with are successful,” explains Gibbon. “We connect with neighborhood groups, learn their story, identify assets and challenges within their community, and then we act! True change cannot happen without the input of community residents from the onset of the planning and implementation process.”
The Power Tour: A Call to Action
“One of our most exciting initiatives is our upcoming Power Tour,” explains Gibbon. “It’s a multimedia production designed to inspire civic engagement for all age groups. This tour is more than just an event; it’s an invitation to activism. Featuring a 20-minute documentary scored by 15-year-old Englewood community leader Zaniel Williams, the Power Tour aims to educate residents about the “power” of their vote while encouraging participation in the democratic process.
“Civic engagement is also about the promotion of quality of life in a community,” says Gibbon. “It is ‘us’ trying to make ‘it’ better. Art is often used as a deeply human response to the chaos that happens when the quality of life in a community is threatened or harmed. We believe art can be an invitation to activism.”
The Power Tour is an invitation extended to those living in Toledo communities with the lowest voter turnout. This call to action is a powerful response to barriers that impact quality of life for many, not just a few. This dynamic 1.5-hour production centers on voter education, offering an engaging and interactive experience.
“Our cast members are all residents or individuals with roots in each neighborhood,” explains Gibbon. “The Power Tour is intergenerational and will feature artists with talents that span music, spoken word and film.”
Dates of the Tour are: September 22, 28 and October 6 and 12, 2024, at Collingwood Arts Theatre from 2 to 4 p.m.
Partnerships and Projects
Reinvest Toledo has also partnered with Premier Bank, which has a branch inside the Seaway grocery store in central-city Toledo. “We partnered with Premier Bank because they have a branch inside the Seaway Marketplace,” Gibbon explains.
“There are bankers that community members can talk to instead of only having access to an ATM machine.”
“We are also focusing on investments in housing, parks and Swayne Field as part of our neighborhood revitalization strategy for the Englewood area. “This is a new era for Englewood,” Gibbon says excitedly.
Join the Movement
Reinvest Toledo is calling on residents to join their efforts. Registration is now open for the Raised Voices Advocacy Project, a year-long program starting in July 2024 equipping participants with the skills needed to advocate for change in their communities. Through a mix of classroom and experiential learning, participants will gain vital knowledge in advocacy and community organizing, ultimately volunteering their time to address important local issues.
“The Raised Voices Advocacy Project is crafted for individuals committed to understanding and mastering the tools necessary for advocating change and mobilizing communities,” explains Gibbon. “Participants will learn essential skills and knowledge to implement advocacy strategies that affect positive changes in targeted neighborhoods.”
The program includes six months of classroom and experiential learning. From January to June 2025, graduates will volunteer ten hours monthly to work with neighborhood leadership, addressing community-identified issues that require their advocacy skill set. Graduates will receive a certificate upon completion, recognizing their commitment and contribution to the community.
“Neighborhoods make up cities,” Gibbon emphasizes. “We appreciate investors who believe in this important work. Together, we can change the narrative. This is our revitalization process: all residents, regardless of their socioeconomic status, are entitled to be involved in decision-making from the start, rather than being consulted midway through or only after decisions have been made that may affect their livelihoods.”
Weaving a Brighter Future Together
Reinvest Toledo is more than a non-profit organization; it’s a movement. As a fully realized reinvestment coalition, their work is only successful when the communities they partner with are successful.
The coalition invites everyone to join their efforts in truly driving change within our communities. “We are changing the narrative,” Gibbon says. “And we cannot do this without you.”
Through initiatives like the Power Tour and the Raised Voices Advocacy Project, Reinvest Toledo is making a real impact in the lives of many. These efforts exemplify what it means to bridge neighborhoods with resources—driven by the community, for the community.
By empowering residents to shape their own futures, Reinvest Toledo is fostering a stronger, more connected community.
“We invite you to join our efforts in truly driving change,” Gibbon concludes. “Together, we can make a lasting impact and a brighter future for all.”
Join in this journey and be part of the change Toledo needs.
For updates visit reinvesttoledo.org