By Asia Nail
The Truth Reporter
When you talk to Jason Rayford, CEO of 1983 The Brand, you can tell right away that he carries Toledo on his shoulders the way someone carries a treasured family heirloom—carefully, proudly and with purpose. His voice moves with the steady rhythm of someone who has built something brick by brick, late night after late night, fueled by faith, focus and community.
Jason didn’t wake up one day and say, “Let me start a whole creative agency.” It wasn’t that simple. Instead, the spark showed up quietly, almost like someone lighting a candle in a dark room. At the time, Toledo’s creative scene felt all over the place, like puzzle pieces with no picture to follow. “I identified a void,” recalls Rayford. “I sensed a lack. Rather than ignore my intuition, I leaned in.” And he co-founded 1983 The Brand with Nate Maddox and David James.
Initially, 1983 The Brand was simply hosting events. A party here, a show there, something to bring joy to the city. But soon, Rayford realized something deeper: he had a natural gift for helping people with their music. Artists trusted him. They brought him their concepts and ideas, and somehow he seemed to instinctively know how to help them turn those aspirations into reality. The moment Rayford understood that his guidance could help others grow – that was the true beginning of 1983 The Brand.
“I honestly,” Rayford stated, “went from parties to a music label. Now, I guess you can say the brand is like a whole television set with eight channels playing at once as a picture-in-picture.”
Music. Media. Production. Business consulting. Marketing. Events. Community service. Mental health advocacy.
What began small has evolved into a multi-lane organization centered around community, trust, and collaboration. And the best part? Jason didn’t do it alone.
The Team Behind the Vision
1983 The Brand feels less like a company and more like a family cookout. Everybody has a job, everybody helps, and nobody leaves until the work is done.
Rayford speaks about his team with such heart that it’s easy to imagine them gathering around one table, brainstorming projects the way families come together to plan Sunday dinner.
His team consists of:
- Saria James Newborn, Event Coordinator
- Jada Harris, PR
- Kayla McCraney, Assistant Director
- Kayla Morse, Director of 1983 The Brand Detroit
- Ana Lesia Encalado, Photographer
- Julian Huntley, Head of Security
- Miesha “DJ Lu” Alford, DJ
All of the members of the team work full-time jobs, yet still pour their hearts into community events and creative projects.“There’s always a voice in the room saying, ‘We still have work to do. We still have to show up for the community,’” Rayford says. “That’s what keeps us moving forward.”
Their working relationship is like a well tuned choir: different voices, different melodies, but all singing the same tune. Now, the team moves in sync, sometimes finishing each other’s thoughts. But that rhythm took time to build. Rayford chuckles as he remembers the early days, when blending personalities felt like trying to match two different tempos. Today, those same differences create their strongest harmony.
A Mission Rooted in People, Not Products
Many creative agencies focus upon the end result: the perfect-looking video, the precise logo, the large-scale event. Rayford and his team, however, chose early-on that their focus would always be people first.
“Our non-profit events can’t happen without the people,” Rayford affirms. “Every person who attends, every vendor, every performer, every volunteer, that’s what makes it work.”
Additionally, what they do is not a money grab. In fact, most people would be shocked to learn the truth:
1983 The Brand doesn’t make profit from their annual BLAK Gala.
Zero.
Nothing.
Not a penny.
When individuals purchase tickets to attend, half of the revenue generated is used to cover costs associated with food and labor (such as lighting, sound, technical support – items many individuals do not consider). The remaining portion of the funds is donated directly to the non-profit organization they are honoring that year. Therefore, the team departs with empty pockets – yet, with full hearts.
After people hear that, Jason says, many ask, “Well then… why do you do it?”
His answer is simple: because it’s about the community.
Over six years, they’ve recognized and honored numerous non-profits making significant contributions to improving lives in Toledo – including Mom’s House, Isaiah’s House, Brothers United, and more. This year, they honored Pathway Inc.’s Brothers United program, which supports fathers and strengthens families across Lucas County.
Building Events That Heal, Not Just Entertain
Rayford and his team think deeply about the emotional side of their work. Mental health is not a side mission for 1983 The Brand – it is the underlying foundation of all they do.
He recounted the numerous nonprofit leaders that have expressed to him that the gala felt like their first opportunity to breathe, like the first time they were able to enjoy a night without the weight of their title. In their everyday jobs, these leaders must keep everything together, like rubber bands stretched to their limit. But at the gala, they can finally relax, dance, laugh, and be fully human.
The team even created a special drink this year called the Brothers Bourbon Lemon Drop, just for Brothers United, to make them feel seen. Small touches like that soften the stress that often builds up behind the scenes.
Choosing Leaders Worth Celebrating
Selecting the nonprofit to honor each year is an intentional process. The team follows the needs of the community, not trends. They look for programs that fill real gaps, whether it’s supporting young men, feeding families, helping single moms, or providing safe spaces for kids in crisis.
For 2026, the theme will be homelessness, which connects closely to mental health. It’s a need that keeps growing, and 1983 The Brand is determined to shine a brighter light on it.
The Heart of the Brand: A Leader Who Doesn’t Want the Spotlight
What distinguishes Rayford from many other successful leaders is that he continually strives to minimize his own spotlight and widen everyone else’s. He admits that he’s even tried to dodge interviews and photo shoots because he wants the team to get just as much recognition.
But his team always brings him back: “You opened this door. Now you have to walk through it. We will be standing by you.”
What’s Next for 1983 The Brand
1983 The Brand has several big projects on the horizon:
- A collaboration with Toledo Shares at their speakeasy, The Wine Room
- Their annual toy drive on December 20, with donations benefiting the Children’s Hospital
- A New Year’s Eve celebration featuring a touring Tina Turner tribute band, after a show-stopping gala performance that had guests of all ages dancing the night away.
The momentum is only growing. As Jason looks ahead, the goal remains the same: serve the people, uplift the city, and keep building a creative space where everyone belongs.
In a world that often overlooks mid-sized cities like Toledo, 1983 The Brand stands as proof that powerful things can grow in hometown soil. Some people build businesses. Others build communities. Jason Rayford and his team found a way to do both.
Explore 1983 The Brand here.