Natural Science Technology Center at Toledo Public School

By

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March 10, 2023

~ A message from our partners ~

Laura Kubiak has been teaching Wildlife and Sustainability at Toledo Public School’s Aerospace and Natural Science Academy for seven years. As an avid lover of environmental education she studied at Miami University and took trips to biological conservation hotspots in India, Costa Rica, Belize, and Mexico to learn how to protect natural resources. Her transition to teaching high school students came from a desire to impart her knowledge and passion. “I want to inspire my students to be the next gen to work for environmental efforts.”

Students who are enrolled in Wildlife and Sustainability are able to hone in on what specific area they would like to learn more about. The program covers protection of soil, air, water, as well as habitat restoration and the study of all living things. The opportunities within the program include paid internships with The Toledo Zoo as well as working with the Metroparks, City of Toledo water treatment plant, and US Fish and Wildlife Services. Kubiak notes that the program is a great way for kids to get outdoors. “The class is research based but they learn how to enjoy natural resources…my students go on camping trips, participate in archery and cross country skiing.”

Kubiak’s favorite part of the job is being a mentor to these students. “It’s a unique job and I care very much to see our planet become more sustainable.” Students show success inside the program as well as beyond. A former student who interned with NASA is now an environmental science major at UT who created a water conservation festival for kids during the summer. Kubiak believes she will go on to work in restoration ecology. “It makes me proud that they have gained these skills and knowledge from the program. It will make a big difference.”

-Student Perspective

When Kai Mira Fisher first came to school she didn’t know much about plants and animals. But after doing a research project and interning at The Toledo Zoo working with local turtle populations she found her passion in being outside and connected with nature. When asked about the program Kai noted, “Try it out, you have four years of high school to figure out what you like. Don’t be scared.” The success she’s experienced in the program has helped expand her career options. She wants to be either a doctor or med student but also now has opportunities within the Toledo Zoo as well.

Hunter Sauerwein is a senior in the Wildlife and Sustainability program. His involvement in the Toledo Zoo internship impacted him immensely and made him want to go into conservation biology after high school. He noted that the program helps drive you to become a better person and to reach your goals in every possible way. When asked what he would tell potential new students he said, “ I’d want them to know that you can try multiple different things. Forestry, animal care, wildlife. Try everything at least once to see what works best for you.”

Day’Veonna Smith, didn’t know about this school until last year. She fell in love with the teachers and credits Ms. Kubiak in her career choice. “I’ve wanted to be a marine biologist since I was 10 and now I have solidified my choice.” The program allowed her to open her horizons to wildlife and fall in love with conservation. “They made me feel welcome and comfortable.”

Angelina Barto also has had a great experience with Ms. Kubiak. She notes, “Even if you’re not interested in majoring in these fields it’s still a good experience. The teachers really care.” Angelina has always had a love for animals which made the program especially interesting to her. Working in the classroom has shown her all of the options she has going forward such as a veterinarian or a wildlife biologist working with plants.

Toledo Public Schools

1609 N Summit St., Toledo, Ohio 43604

419-671-0001

Toledo Men Champion Gender Equality with HeforShe

By

Andrew Kersten

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March 10, 2023

A nonprofit organization in Toledo is advocating for gender equality as part of the HeForShe movement. The global effort, now localized in Toledo, joins men and women together for the unity of both genders while empowering women to further their careers.

The beginnings of an equality movement

During a 2014 United Nations meeting, Ban Ki-moon, South Korean politician and diplomat, and Emma Watson, UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, joined hundreds of thousands of men from around the world to commit to gender equality. They called this movement HeForShe. During that same year, Women of Toledo got its start to focus on addressing issues that are critical to the economic advancement of women in the workplace and the community. From 2014-2019, the organization has helped over 4,000 individuals through programs and services, according to its 2019 community report.

Shyam has helped push gender equality with HeForShe for several years.

In 2018, Women of Toledo championed the HeForShe campaign and brought it forth during a Women’s Economic Empowerment Power Luncheon. From there, the local nonprofit effort expanded to give men the tools to broaden their professional and personal horizons to break the social norm barrier.

Making the pledge

Shyam Suchak, co-chair of HeForShe, made his pledge in 2020.

Suchak grew up in a house primarily of women: four sisters and his mother. “I had the opportunity to see how powerful women can be, and they all have helped mold me into the man I am today,” he says, adding that his childhood provided him with a different outlook on life.

Suchak joins over 52 pledges made by other men in the Toledo area, including Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz, Dr. Brad Rieger, COO at Cooper-Smith, and Nick Komives, Toledo City council member at-large. The goal? To encourage 100 local men in the Toledo area to pledge their commitment to the HeForShe movement in 2023.

Suchak says any man, no matter their age, can make a pledge to continue to achieve gender equality. “It is not about empowering women. They are already very powerful. I am here to support the reveal of this power and claim my responsibility to use my abilities to move the needle of gender equality forward.”

Getting involved

Outside of making a pledge, HeForShe offers several ways that individuals can get involved.

Donate an annual gift of at least $250 to the No Women Left Behind Fund.
Attend two Women’s Economic Empowerment/Forum and Community activities/sessions each quarter.
Bring yourself and a friend to the upcoming HeForShe program session in September or October. More details forthcoming.
Are you working on women’s advocacy projects? Let the community know!

Suchak notes that one of the most effective channels for spreading the word about gender equality is through the HeforShe social media channels, such as Facebook. There, you can stay up to date on the latest events and happenings. You can promote gender equality by using #breaktheglass.

“Behind every great man is a strong and powerful woman and it’s our job as men to recognize those women. It is our job as men to recognize those women. It is time for us to step to the side so we can be successful together.”

The Program Inc: Toledo Nonprofit Inspires the Next Generation of Young Men

By

Molly Klima

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March 10, 2023

Exposure to new activities, such as kayaking, teaches the boys to take healthy risks, courage and provides exercise.

It is often said that you cannot become what you do not see. So if you are a young man growing up in a home without a father, who do you turn to?

Having walked a fatherless road himself until the age of 17, Tramain Rayford knows what it’s like to need guidance. As a result of his personal lived experience and working with the youth at his church, he founded The Program Inc. Five years later, The Program has helped hundreds of boys and young men learn life skills and build their confidence. They served 448 participants in 2022 alone. Boys ages from 8-18 are eligible for enrollment.

“We have a diverse group,” Rayford says, “Not only racial diversity but also socioeconomic diversity.” The Program Inc allows the participants to see they are not alone in their struggles, and they can help each other through them.

According to research published by the US Census bureau, the negative outcomes for youth coming from absent-father homes account for 90 percent of all homeless and runaway youth, 63 percent of youth suicides, 71 percent of high school drop outs, 85 percent of children with behavior disorders and more.

While those stats seem daunting, The Program is helping their participants change the trajectory of their lives. In 2022, 80 percent of their enrolled participants had grade averages of B or above. Per their parents, 87 percent noticed an improvement in their son’s self confidence.

Boys and young men from all over the Toledo Area join in on The Tug, a back-to-school event reminding the students they don’t have to give in to peer pressure or allow negative influences to distract them from their goals.

Rayford shares about a young man who was on track to meet some of those negative outcomes. He shares, “His mom called me. He was getting in fights, failing all his classes and getting expelled.”

Progress was noted after six months, and within a year the young man was on the honor roll and is now taking college courses prior to graduating high school. “When I asked him what he wants to do when he grows up, he said, ‘I want to run The Program.’”

How they do it

The Program offers three services: The Community Development Initiative, A-List Mentoring and Program Inc for Women.

The Community Development Initiative allows participants to partake in fun, hands-on learning activities. They are taught practical ways to deal with peer pressure, prevent violence against women and girls, basic car repair and more. The Program has had great success with their CDI such as the Tie Event, Tug of War, and First Date.

At the Tie Event, volunteers and older participants show the younger boys how to properly tie a tie and practice their soft skills. “The goal is that the older participants will give back what they have received. We don’t kick them out when they turn 18. This year we really saw that happen. One of our young men gave the instructions and lead at The Tie event and I didn’t even need to be behind the microphone.”

Mentorship

Older participants and volunteers assist newer participants at the Tie Event. In 2022, most participants left with brand new designer suits donated by NYC-based Appaman.

The A-list mentoring program offers monthly meetings for mentors and mentees to strengthen their relationships. It includes outings in the community, such as kayaking. The boys and young men give back to their community through community service projects. Rayford says, “We want to expose them to different things. That way they know they have other options than the negativity they see around them. They don’t have to join a gang or get into drugs.”

Some lessons are learned without direct instruction. Rayford explains, “They learn patience by waiting for their team. They learn courage by trying something new. They might have been scared at first to get in the water, but we are giving them opportunities to realize they can do things they are scared of. You can’t walk into a room and shake a man’s hand without courage. So even these things are helping them develop soft skills.”

Supporting moms

The Program Inc. for Women is a newer program that provides support to single moms. The Program is holding events for them such as yoga, boxing and other opportunities to receive support. Moms are also included in the First Date event, being accompanied by their sons to places like The Chop House, an event sponsored by Target.

All services and events are free. The Program has received several grants but is primarily funded by private donations and community sponsors. They have been able to provide all services to participants cost-free throughout the years thanks to the generosity of the community and businesses.

For more information, visit The Program Inc. on Facebook or at programinc.org.

Imagination Station’s Girl Power Event

By

Olivia Jo Johnson

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March 9, 2023

On Saturday, March 11, from 10am to 5pm, Imagination Station will be welcoming the 8th annual STEAM career event, Girl Power! This event, presented by Comfort Line FiberFame and Troy Electric, is helping to fuel the dreams of the youth. Young women in STEAM (science, technology, engineer, art) need support. This event targeting students grades 3 through 8 will challenge the stereotypes of women in STEAM by encouraging, creating connections, and allowing young women to dream big!

Women only make up 30 percent of jobs within STEAM fields, yet there have been tremendous strides made. At this event there will be many young women interested in making a change in their desired fields.

“Many times, girls have a hard time ‘seeing’ themselves in these positions. This event brings a diverse group of women under one roof to illustrate that these opportunities are attainable”, said Lori Hauser the chief and executive officer.

All attendees are encouraged to participate, interact, and engage with one another in the event activities. Some of these activities will include robotics, hydraulics, cosmetic chemistry, and underwater archaeology. Here, they will learn all the new and exciting skill they will use in their future careers.

There will also be keynote speakers. At the panel, attendees will hear from Dr. K Renee Horton, NASA Space Launch System Quality engineer. As an advocate for STEAM education diversity and inclusion, Dr. Horton will inspire, motivate, and excite all those looking to pursue STEAM fields in the future.

Lunch will be provided as well as a drawstring bag to commemorate the day.

Tickets are on sale now

Members: $25 for participants and $15 for chaperones

Non-members: $30 for participants and $20 for chaperones

ALL tickets can be purchased here.

For more information about The Girl Power event, please call 419-244-2674.

Send Us Your St. Paddy’s Pics

By

Riley Runnells

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March 7, 2023

People celebrate St. Paddy's Day — Photo provided via Flickr.

Nonprofit Susie’s Coats Provides Winter Coats for Kids in Toledo and Beyond

By

Sneha Kamath

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March 7, 2023

Susie’s Coats for Kids is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to providing winter apparel to children in need throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Over its 16 years of operation, Susie’s Coats has collected and distributed more than 30,000 warm apparel items to families within our region.

Just this winter, Susie’s Coats provided an impressive total of more than 5,400 items of winter apparel to, as founder Susan Perry calls them, “our children.” According to Perry, the language used to refer to children assisted by the organization is important — Perry does not consider children who receive help from Susie’s Coats as “the children; they’re our children. As a community, they are our children.”

The inspiration behind Susie’s Coats

For Perry, the plights of “our precious, adorable, and most deserving children” are personal. When asked to share her inspiration for founding the organization, Perry cited her own experience of growing up in poverty as a primary source of motivation. As Perry and her siblings faced a constant battle with homelessness and displacement, they relied on their mother, Norah, to help them navigate their situation.

In an effort to combine her goals to be of service to the community and honor her mother, on her 50th birthday, Perry created Susie’s Coats for Kids. During this first year, Perry, along with her daughter, visited downtown Toledo with 50 coats to distribute. This first experience was enough to confirm the need for winter apparel in the community, as the coats Perry had brought were gone within minutes.

Since then, Perry has established 17 “Coat Closets” around Northwest Ohio for Toledo public and parochial schools. The purpose of Coat Closets is to provide an initial inventory of hats, coats and gloves so they are readily available at school for children who are in need. One of Susie’s future goals for the organization is to have each school in Toledo equipped with a “Coat Closet,” as these play a fundamental role in making warm apparel accessible to families in need.

Distribution days are another method by which Susie’s Coats provides winter apparel to families in need. With help from various community partners such as Hannah’s Socks, Bags of Love, Buff City Soap, Toledo Public Schools, Anita’s Closet Pajamas, Marco’s Pizza, and the Toledo Fire Department, the Susie’s Coats team is able to host these distribution events where families are able to choose which winter apparel they would like.

Winter apparel distributed at these events caters to a range of ages, from infants to 18-year-olds. Susie’s Coats volunteers work hard to make distribution events special for those who attend, as they work with families one-on-one to help them choose items they would like and accompany them in the long lines that often form during the events.

Regardless of how a child receives apparel from Susie’s Coats, though, the family can be sure that the items are new and will be provided without presenting proof of financial need.

How to help Susie’s Coats for Kids

Supporting Susie’s Coats does more than just keep children warm. As Perry summarized in a statement during her interview: “If we can keep our children warm, they feel safe. And when they feel safe, they are much more hopeful about their tomorrow.”

Readers who would like to contribute to the mission of Susie’s Coats can do so in several different ways. One option is to refer a family to the organization. Susie’s Coats also has an Amazon Wish List on their website with hats and gloves. Monetary donations can be made online or by mailing a check to the Susie’s Coats P.O. Box 114, Woodville, OH 43469. To donate coats directly to the organization, contact them at 419-304-3296 or [email protected] to schedule a pick-up.