{"id":16039,"date":"2025-05-15T16:48:31","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T16:48:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=16039"},"modified":"2025-05-15T16:48:40","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T16:48:40","slug":"the-museum-that-chose-to-belong-how-toledo-quietly-made-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/15\/the-museum-that-chose-to-belong-how-toledo-quietly-made-history\/","title":{"rendered":"The Museum That Chose to Belong: How Toledo Quietly Made History"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Ebele Okobi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Asia Nail
\nThe Truth Reporter<\/p>\n

The air was still buzzing.<\/p>\n

When I called Rhonda Sewell<\/strong>, director of Advocacy and External Affairs <\/em>at the Toledo Museum of Art<\/strong>, I could hear the excitement in her voice. She had just helped lead a three-day event that, in many ways, felt like history in the making.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi Rhonda, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

Then I said thank you for something much bigger\u2014\u201cthank you for helping the world remember how to hope.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a time when museums across the country are shrinking back from diversity work, the Toledo Museum of Art did the opposite. They leaned in. Quietly, boldly, beautifully.<\/p>\n

They hosted the Inaugural Belonging Symposium<\/strong>, a powerful gathering full of rhythm, reflection and real talk. Nearly 200 people came in person and online.<\/p>\n

Over three days and two nights, they filled the museum with laughter, note-taking, honest tears and moments that made hearts shift. It was a space where people from all walks of life came to talk about one thing: what it means to truly belong.<\/p>\n

Why Now? Because the World Needs It<\/strong><\/p>\n

This event wasn\u2019t a quick reaction. It was a full year in the making.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was always a dream of mine,\u201d said Sewell. \u201cWhen I was hired as director of Belonging, I told our director, Dr. Adam Levine, I\u2019d love to someday host a symposium like this. When the moment came, he said yes\u2014and trusted us with the vision.\u201d<\/p>\n

That kind of leadership, she says, is rare. And it\u2019s exactly what made the event feel safe and sacred. Sewell co-led the project with Libbey Koppinger<\/strong>, Development Operations coordinator<\/em>, and together, with their \u201cAgile team\u201d of planners from across the Museum, they made it happen.<\/p>\n

\"\"The theme was ADVANCE<\/strong>: Forward-Thinking Strategies for Belonging in Museums<\/strong>, but the ideas stretched far beyond gallery walls.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to work in a museum to take something away from this,\u201d Sewell said. \u201cIt was built for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

And everyone came.<\/p>\n

Stars, Ropes and the Rhythm of Belonging<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the most powerful parts of the symposium was the art\u2014especially a painting by Faith Goodman<\/strong>, a local artist and TMA staff member. Her piece, Stardust Dutch<\/em>, felt like a visual heartbeat of the entire event.<\/p>\n

It showed faceless human figures playing double Dutch in the stars.<\/p>\n

Why double Dutch<\/strong>? \u201cBecause it\u2019s a game you can\u2019t play alone,\u201d Goodman explained in her artist statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt takes timing, rhythm, teamwork\u2014and trust<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

The jumpers stretch toward the stars, symbolizing what we can achieve when we collaborate. The image made people pause. Some stood still, others whispered but all felt its power.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s this cosmic dance,\u201d said Sewell, \u201cand it reminded all of us that belonging doesn\u2019t come from one person. It\u2019s something we build together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Voices of Commitment<\/strong><\/p>\n

That spirit of collaboration isn\u2019t just reflected in the artwork\u2014it\u2019s woven into the very identity of the Toledo Museum of Art.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis event aligns with who we are\u2014our values and our strategic goals: to be a model museum, known for our commitment to quality and for fostering a true culture of belonging,\u201d said Rhonda Sewell.<\/p>\n

She explains that the Museum\u2019s dedication to belonging is grounded in more than just good intentions\u2014it\u2019s rooted in values chosen collectively by the staff.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have four values that align with a symposium like this,\u201d she said. \u201cOur entire staff selected them about five years ago when new leadership came in. These values\u2014community, innovation, trust and diversity\u2014guide everything we do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leading with Access<\/strong><\/p>\n

TMA isn’t just talking about inclusion, either; they’re making it happen. They were the first major museum in the country to have a Manager of Access Initiatives<\/em>. This role ensures that everyone, regardless of ability, can enjoy the museum’s offerings.<\/p>\n

Katie Shelley<\/strong>, who holds this position, brings personal experience to her role. Living with a disability and accompanied by her service dog, Petunia, she ensures that accessibility is at the forefront of TMA’s mission.<\/p>\n

A Community United<\/strong><\/p>\n

TMA’s efforts are resonating. Visitors from all walks of life are finding a place where they belong. The museum’s outreach programs have increased local engagement, and their exhibitions are more representative of wide-ranging cultures and histories.<\/p>\n

Sewell reflects on the broader impact:<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the museum field, access is often lacking. Here at the Toledo Museum of Art, we use the term DEAI<\/strong>\u2014diversity, equity, access<\/strong>, and inclusion\u2014though most people know it as DEI. We see what\u2019s happening across the country; we read the news like everyone else. But for us, this is about a core value system\u2014something we live out as an anchor institution in the Toledo area, recently voted the best art museum in the country by USA Today.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

At the heart of the museum\u2019s success is a leadership style as rare as it is effective. Instead of relying on top-down decision-making, TMA runs on collaboration\u2014and it shows.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have an agile leadership model where internal members from various departments come together to plan all kinds of things\u2014from construction projects to creating documentaries,\u201d says Sewell.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe staff powers this museum.\u201d<\/p>\n

That staff-driven approach isn\u2019t just a trendy leadership buzzword\u2014it\u2019s baked into the culture. Everyone has a seat at the table. Everyone has a voice. And that\u2019s not something you see every day.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very staff-driven and non-hierarchical, which is uncommon,\u201d Sewell added.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re unlike a lot of organizations\u2014period. Not just museums, but period.\u201d<\/p>\n

That kind of culture doesn\u2019t go unnoticed and in fact, it may be a big reason TMA was recently voted the best in the country<\/p>\n

A Plan with Power\u2014and Proof<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the Toledo Museum of Art, belonging<\/em> isn\u2019t just a feeling. It\u2019s a plan. A real, measurable, written-down plan that they update, live by, and hold themselves accountable to.<\/p>\n

The 2025 Belonging Plan outlines big goals and even bigger actions. And the results? Speak for themselves.<\/p>\n

Just a few years ago, only six percent of museum visitors came from the surrounding two-mile neighborhood, an area with some of Toledo\u2019s lowest-income communities. Today, that number is nearly 18 percent<\/strong>, and total attendance has grown by over 40 percent<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

How? They removed barriers\u2014starting with parking. \u201cAs of January, it\u2019s free to park at the Museum forever,\u201d Rhonda shared. \u201cIt was $10 before. That\u2019s a barrier for a lot of families. Not anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Belonging Plan focuses on four major goals:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Active Outreach and Engagement<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. Broaden the Narrative of Art History<\/strong><\/li>\n
  3. Become an Employer of Choice<\/strong><\/li>\n
  4. Create a Platform for Operational Excellence<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    From hiring diverse curators to collecting art that reflects different cultures, to making physical and digital exhibits more accessible\u2014TMA is showing other institutions how to lead with both heart and backbone.<\/p>\n

    You can read the entire Belonging Plan here: <\/em>Belonging at TMA<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

    Soul-Stirring Speeches and Standing Ovations<\/strong><\/p>\n

    If there was one moment that cracked everyone wide open, it was the keynote from Maurice Stinnett, EdD<\/strong>. He\u2019s led DEI efforts at Warner Music, for the NBA\u2019s Brooklyn Nets, and even served under President Obama.<\/p>\n

    His talk? \u201cAre Organizations Truly Committed to Belonging?\u201d<\/p>\n

    But instead of pointing fingers, he turned the question inward. \u201cYou<\/em> are the organization,\u201d he said. \u201cYou<\/em> have the power to change things.\u201d<\/p>\n

    The room was electric. There were tears. A standing ovation. Sewell called it \u201csoul-stirring,\u201d and said his words hit people like a sermon, a mirror, and a rally cry all in one.<\/p>\n

    Later that day, a panel titled \u201cWhere Do We Go From Here<\/strong>?\u201d brought together voices from across the country.<\/p>\n

    Bee Davis<\/strong>, a Black trans NASA engineer. Roberto Bedoya<\/strong>, a Latinx elder known as the \u201cGodfather of Belonging.\u201d Tim Tegge<\/strong>, a visually impaired executive for The Sight Center of Northwest Ohio. And Priya Frank<\/strong>, East Indian racial equity and strategy consultant. The panel was led by local HR leader and TMA board member Rodney Eason<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    They didn\u2019t just speak. They shared. Deeply. Honestly. Powerfully.<\/p>\n

    Watch It Again. Or For the First Time.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Couldn\u2019t make it to the event? No worries.<\/p>\n

    The entire Belonging Symposium<\/strong>\u2014featuring nearly 200 participants and an incredible lineup of national and local speakers, artists, scholars, and advocates\u2014was filmed in full. It will soon be available to watch on the Toledo Museum of Art\u2019s YouTube channel<\/a>, giving viewers everywhere the chance to experience the powerful keynotes, panel discussions, and shared strategies that made this historic event so impactful.<\/p>\n

    That kind of access\u2014offering deep, meaningful content for free to the public\u2014fits the spirit of the symposium perfectly.<\/p>\n

    It was never about gatekeeping. It was always about gathering<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    The Museum That Walks the Talk<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Adam Levine<\/strong>, D.Phil, the Museum\u2019s director and CEO<\/em>, said it best in his letter inside the Belonging Plan:<\/p>\n

    \u201cIf we do this right, people won\u2019t just come for a program or event. They\u2019ll come back again and again\u2014because they feel at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

    And they do.<\/p>\n

    Because this isn\u2019t a museum that\u2019s quietly hanging pretty pictures. It\u2019s a museum that\u2019s inviting people in and listening when they speak. That\u2019s turning strategy into stories and stories into change.<\/p>\n

    For the Ones Who Feel Like They Don\u2019t Belong<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Before we ended our call, I asked Rhonda one last thing.<\/p>\n

    \u201cWhat would you say to someone reading this who feels like they don\u2019t belong anywhere?\u201d<\/p>\n

    Her voice softened.<\/p>\n

    \u201cI\u2019d tell them\u2014come visit us. Come to the Museum. No cost. No pressure. Just come walk through. Sit. Breathe. Look. We\u2019ll greet you. We\u2019ll guide you. You belong here.\u201d<\/p>\n

    And I believe her.<\/p>\n

    Because in a world that often tells people they don\u2019t fit, TMA is a place that says\u2014you do.<\/p>\n

    To learn more about the museum\u2019s Belonging Plan and initiatives, visit <\/em>toledomuseum.org<\/em><\/a>.
    \nFree admission. Free parking. All are welcome.<\/em><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    By Asia Nail The Truth Reporter The air was still buzzing. When I called Rhonda Sewell, director of Advocacy and External Affairs at the Toledo Museum of Art, I could hear the excitement in her voice. She had just helped lead a three-day event that, in many ways, felt like history in the making. \u201cHi […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16035,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[250,17],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[293],"class_list":["post-16039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news","category-local"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16039","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16039"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16039\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16041,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16039\/revisions\/16041"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16035"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16039"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16039"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16039"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=16039"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}