There are programs defined by what they offer, and then there are programs shaped around the exceptional people who lead them. Anthony Guinn Jr.’s Lead the Way Initiative belongs to the latter.
Established in 2013, the Lead the Way initiative is a youth program focusing on giving young people a safe and supportive environment where they can build confidence, learn accountability, develop leadership skills and be exposed to opportunities beyond what they may encounter in their everyday lives. It’s a behavioral and mental health after-school and summer program that works predominantly with youth aged from 5 to 17 but extends up to age 21.
“Lead the Way bridges the gap between families who might have a single mom or single dad because it’s take a village to raise to raise a kid,” shares Anthony Guinn Jr., the director of the program.
Guinn, 41, was born and raised in Toledo, so this mission is very near to him. “How I grew up in the urban community was basically just being a follower, just adapting to my environment,” Guinn explained. “There was a lot of gang violence and drug dealing, so, with my background, I just don’t like to see young men and young women going down that path.”
The program runs Monday through Thursday from around 3:30-7pm, but it doesn’t stop there. They provide one-on-one sessions seven days a week with kids in crisis, also offering support to the parents in that time, too. The programs provides other services such as transportation to and from school, feeding the families as needed, and teaching young people basic hygiene.
“I want to say 85% of our clients live in urban communities, so if I see an area over there that needs to be picked up, that’d be something that we do,” Guinn explained.
As far as engaging the larger community, Guinn and his staff have sponsored three football teams for the mid-city football league. Additionally, they feed the homeless once a month and carry out regular trash pick ups. “I also try to teach the kids during service work, I just let them see that [they could end up on the streets] at some point if they keep down the route they’re keep going and not caring and thinking life is a game.”
The Lead the Way Initiative doesn’t seem to have a definitive list of services offered; rather, Guinn and his team seem to constantly adapt their time and efforts to the needs of the community.
“My company is really just a support system, not only for the youth but also the parents the household. We have vouchers if there’s a hard time in life and the family needs some assistance, we can come up with a little money to help out,” shared Guinn. “That’s what Lead the Way is about. We’re not giving up, and my slogan is no child left behind.”
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Guinn highlighted the importance of giving kids access to the one-on-one sessions every day of the week, explaining that some of the young people might be embarrassed or shy participating in group settings, especially the older teenagers. “This isn’t just a program; this is your granny’s house, you know, this is where you go to to feel the love and the warmth, and that’s why we do services seven days a week. We just want to be supportive. The only thing we’re doing is bridging the gap.”
When asked about the impact of the program on the kids, Guinn lit up discussing the privilege of seeing their growth over the past thirteen years.
“Basically, I’ve just seen the growth, and the growth in me, too, not having a school background, just personal experience,” Guinn shared. “So, I actually grew with the kids. I’ve just seen how much opportunity they don’t understand they have. With Lead the Way, we want to give the kids that option, that outlook that you don’t have to sell drugs or kill to get the lifestyle that you want, like the nice cars or the flashy stuff, you can get it the honest way and become a dream chaser.”
Guinn has three children himself—one 22 year-old and a set of twins about to turn twelve—who strongly influence his work.
“When you’ve got your own kids, it’s different. Having a background where my father was absent and now getting to be a great father, I can understand what these kids are going through when they come to the program. And they’re not chasing their dreams because of the lack of support. So, I had to grow and mature and see things differently.”
Guinn’s dream is for community groups to work together for the betterment of the next generation. “My vision has always been that we all come as one,” he shared. “We all come as one with different entities, we’re all under the same umbrella of basically community service mentorship…We all just need to link up and become that chain of change. I envision that, and I send my hands out to every program from TPS schools to private schools, I send my hand out so we all work together to save our future—because these kids are our future.”
Brittani Hamilton, who works alongside Guinn, expressed just how inspirational a leader Guinn has been. “Anthony has dedicated his time to creating positive opportunities for youth in the Toledo community through mentorship, fitness, life skills, career development, and hands-on activities,” she shared. “What makes Anthony’s work special is his ability to connect with young people while providing the structure, encouragement and positive male leadership that many families are looking for in our community.”
The Lead the Way Initiative accepts drop-off donations at 3170 Central Ave. They also accept donations at their main office, 338 North Erie, located on the second floor of the building. You can learn more about the program, its mission, and how to donate at lead-theway.org.
“All we are is we that uncle you don’t have, that you’ve been missing. We are your dad if you don’t have one, your mom if you don’t have one,” Guinn said. “The Lead the Way Youth Initiative is here to stay.”
