TOLEDO, Ohio — A national initiative from Harvard University selected one of Toledo's neighborhoods for a new program to support education and present better life opportunities for its residents.
Christine Sweeney is the executive director of the Art Tatum Zone, a neighborhood revitalization company transforming Toledo's Junction neighborhood.
"I was born in the Junction neighborhood," Sweeney said. "In fact, I grew up on Belmont and between Junction and Hoy Street. My mom still resides here. It's a place that's near and dear to our heart."
She says the Success Planning Initiative offers life and education support so more kids' dreams will come true.
"Obviously growing up in the area, I'm familiar with the challenges and the barriers that exist, but also the amazing people that reside here," she said.
Sweeney added the initiative's goals of of improving education and development have been prominent challenges in the Junction neighborhood for years.
"We understand that there are unique things that are going on in each child and family lives and we'll be able to address those and strengthen their and develop their strengths," she said. "But we'll also be able to deal with things that are plaguing this area like chronic absenteeism and third grade literacy rates that are lower than they need to be."
Planning strategies and methods for growth are key to the program, as well as helping students learn both inside and outside the classroom.
"When we think about this strategy, what we're really excited about is it allows us to give people enough momentum, enough velocity to escape generational poverty cycles," Sweeney said.
Not only does the local support from the Art Tatum Zone help, but the national support does, too.
"For children and families in the Junction neighborhood, not only to hear from the Art Tatum Zone or people here in Toledo that they matter but for national partners to say the people of Junction, the children and families here, matter. That's what gives hope," Sweeney said.
By the end of the month, project leaders will meet with partners to talk about the first step of their new plan for the Junction neighborhood for the upcoming year.