Parents understand first-hand the substantial financial investment of raising a child. SmartAsset analyzed the data to uncover the places across the 100 largest U.S. cities where families are having more children, and Toledo ranked 17th. Key findings from the study revealed that Texas and Nebraska cities dominated the top 10, no northeastern states made the top 25, and changes in children’s population within the top 10 cities showed an incremental increase of .26%. While nationwide, the total number of children is declining.
What Better Way for Kids to Learn Their ZIP Code Than Through Poetry?
The Ode to the ZIP Code poetry contest— hosted by The Fair Housing Center, The Arts Commission, the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, the Toledo City Paper and Toledo Area Parent— is back for its fifth annual year! The contest invites participants to submit short poems inspired by their ZIP Code, where the number of words in each line of the poem is determined by the corresponding digit of the ZIP Code. Parents and teachers can begin submitting their children’s and/or students’ work in one of two youth categories: ages 12-17 or ages 11 and under. An adult category, for ages 18+, is also available. Submissions run from Wednesday, February 12 through Friday, February 28.
Enter online at toledocitypaper.com/online/ottzc-2020-submit.
February 2020 Giveaway—Art & Science of Color Paper Chromatography
Need an indoor play idea that is engaging AND educational? Enter to win The Art & Science of Color Paper Chromatography by Yellow Scope! Children can explore, one afternoon at a time, with supplies for hundreds of experiments. Made by scientists who are also moms, this STEM gift provides hours and hours of color-changing fun. Yellow-scope.com
The Ability Center Opens New Canine Training Center
The new training facility will be home to The Ability Center’s Assistance Dogs for Achieving Independence Program and Agility Angels. The standalone building provides ample dog training space, a consumer service center, a model independent living apartment and extended programming opportunities for children and adults with autism.
Boochy Mama’s Daily Immunity Tincture
Boochy Mama’s Daily Immunity tincture, which is kid-friendly, has been a lifesaver this winter in warding off germs. Kids can take a dropper of the sweet tincture as-is or parents can sneak a squirt into their child(ren)’s morning drink.
130 10th St., Toledo
Boochymama.com
Let Noor Run: Sylvania High School Athlete Reflects On Unfair Disqualification
When 16-year-old Noor Abukaram from Sylvania participated in a cross country meet last October 19, she never imagined that her fastest 5k, at 22 minutes and 22 seconds, would not officially count. Officials disqualified Abukaram, a member of the Sylvania Northview’s girls cross country team, at the Division 1 Northwest District cross country meet in Findlay because of her hijab (which was made by a high profile sports clothing and equipment company).
The Ohio High School Athletic Association [OHHAA] requires a waiver be submitted before competitions if runners wear religious headwear, such as a hijab. Abukaram had no idea about this rule until after the Findlay competition, although she had participated in several competitions before with no issues.
No advance notice
Abukaram recalled the shocking moment when she found out she was disqualified: “They were checking my teammates and me as they usually do,” she remembers. “They made one of my teammates change her shorts because they did not match the rest of the team’s uniform, and immediately in the back of my head, all I could think about was ‘Oh shoot…they’re going to say something about what I’m wearing.’” But the teammate changed her shorts, nothing was said to Abukaram, and the meet continued as usual.
“I finished my race and gave my teammates hugs,” she said. “Overall, I was having a great day. I found out my team was going to regionals, and we were through the roof (with excitement). So, a couple teammates and me… went to see the placings of the race… and my name wasn’t on there.”
Abukaram thought it was a mistake and asked the other girls on her team why she wasn’t on the list. The girls were silent for a moment, then admitted, ‘They say you got disqualified’. “I didn’t immediately think anything of it,” Abukaram recalls. “I chuckled and asked, ‘Why?’ but [the other girls] were not laughing. One of the girls looked at me and said ‘because of your hijab.’”
Viral on social
A couple of days later, Abukaram’s cousin, Zobaida Falah, a local entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded CURE bars, posted Abukaram’s story on social media and it went viral.
“Zobaida has dealt closely with the media before, so when I decided to come out with my story, she was the first person I went to. She knows how to manage the crazy world of social media,” Abukaram said.
Abukaram received an outpouring of support from around the world, including from Rep. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and from her role model, Ibtihaj Muhammad, an American Muslim athlete who competed for the United States in the 2016 Olympics while wearing her hijab. Abukaram was featured in Teen Vogue, CNN, Huffington Post, Sports Illustrated and a number of international news outlets.
A whole community
“I love the positive feedback, and it validated how I am feeling because it took me a while to want to tell my story. It seems there are so many things going on in the world that people need to worry about,” she said. “But once I told my story, it wasn’t just me. There are plenty of other Muslim girls going through the same thing, and it opened my eyes to a whole new community.”
When asked how she deals with the negative comments and Islamophobic remarks, she said she doesn’t look at the hate comments.
OHHAA plans to modify the religious headwear waiver so disqualification can be avoided in the future. Abukaram believes that things would have been different if the officials had communicated with her before the race, as they did with her teammate with the shorts violation. “The official at the race did not seem to have the same respect for me as he did my teammate,” confesses Abukaram.
She has advice for athletes who may look or dress differently than others: “Don’t ever compromise a part of yourself to make the person next to you feel comfortable.”
Abukaram hopes the #LetNoorRun campaign creates dialogue and a platform for athletes to fight discrimination, with upcoming events planned in the Toledo area.
Q & A With Noor Abukaram
Who are your role models? Ibtihaj Muhammed, Hope Solo, Megan Rapinoe, Crystal Dunn.
What’s your favorite activity to do with your family? Play soccer, hike and go on road trips.
What is your favorite book? Tuesdays With Morrie.
Best Ramadan/Eid memory? Late night suhoor [pre-fast meal] adventures.
What’s your favorite way to spend “me” time? Playing soccer and running.
Describe your life in a word. Hectic.
What is your favorite place in the Toledo area? Downtown Sylvania.
Check out letnoorrun.com for more information.