Frederick Douglass Community Association: Making an Impact but Struggling to Survive

By Linda M. Nelson
Sojourner’s Truth Reporter

The Frederick Douglass Community Association, located at 1001 Indiana Avenue, is like many of the community organizations throughout central Toledo. The ideals and concepts of these organizations are simple: for some that purpose is to serve the people in the community through programs and education; for others it is offering assistance and a hand up to those who need it. But the one prevailing theme among each one seems to be a lack of community support and a desperate need for funding.

Sonya Harper-Williams, executive director of FDCA, is fighting to stay afloat in an opposing current. Her goal, in the almost two years that she has been at the helm, is to transform the association and make it viable again.

“We are in a dire situation,” Harper-Williams says. “People don’t know how close we are to not being. There is a financial struggle, and if the community wants this institution to survive we need them to claim this building as their own.”

The building that FDCA has occupied since 1979, is actually the James B. Simmons Jr. Neighborhood Facilities building. Harper-Williams says that although the building is owned by the city and designated as a community resource center, FDCA serves as the administrator or onsite landlord. “The city maintains the building but we are responsible for managing the space,” Harper-Williams says. 

Sonya Harper-Williams
 

According to the FDCA website, the community agency was founded in 1919 out of a desire that attorney and community leader Albertus Brown had to provide opportunities both socially and recreationally.  “This facility belongs to the community,” Harper-Williams continues. “All programs and services are designed for that purpose.”

But before Harper-Williams and her team prepare to move forward they must first eradicate the financial burdens of the past.  “When I got here, almost two years ago, it was a mess,” Harper-Williams describes. “The building was in disrepair. The lights weren’t on. Doors didn’t lock. Windows were shot out. It made me mad. And I thought what’s going on? It’s been 95 years and we’re still struggling.”

And although Harper-Williams is reluctant to cast a negative light on previous administrations, she believes that past neglect is directly affecting the future of the center. “There were unpaid taxes and poor choices made,” she says.  “And while we need to pay our previous debts, we also need to fund future projects. If we are going to move forward we have to address the past. It has a chokehold on us now.” 

Harper-Williams says that when she came, the association was on its way out and many were surprised that it was still viable. In fact Harper-Williams herself was surprised when she heard that FDCA was looking for an executive director.

“I’d heard that the center was closed,” she says. Another red flag was the elimination of FDCA’s name from the Lucas County Children’s Services’ referral sheet. “Our name was grayed out, and we were no longer being considered as a referral,” she says. 

But Harper-Williams states that she is committed to seeing a change soon. “I want the center to be what it was designated to be, and I see a brightness every day.”

That brightness lies within many of FDCA’s programs.

Harper-Williams says that the Community Peace Garden, which sits across the street, was obtained from the Lucas County Land Bank, a $31,000 grant from the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and plant donations from Toledo Grows. The plots were then adopted by local church groups who are responsible for the upkeep of the garden.

Harper-Williams says that eventually she’d like to see the produce from the garden be sold to the community as a way to raise funds for the center.

FDCA’s school suspension program is formed by a partnership with Pickett Elementary School. FDCA staff takes those children who have been suspended from Pickett and provides a structured environment for them to complete class work and not fall behind. “Our goal is to get kids back into the classroom,” Harper-Williams says. She also purports that they have seen a marked improvement in student grades because of the program.

Also FDCA now holds a Friday basketball game night. This event is the brainchild of Teneashia Cunningham (Coach T), FDCA program coordinator. “I wanted to see the guys off the street,” Cunningham says. Cunningham says that the evening games begin at 6 p.m. and can go until 2 a.m. The games run for eight-week sessions and are targeted to males ages 14 and up.

FDCA also has an afterschool program, onsite tutoring, a Youth Opportunity Program (YOP) that offers incentives to students who do well, and a GED program in partnership with Owens Community College.  

Along with its own programming, the building is used for: TPS’s Head Start program, a food distribution site in partnership with The Seagate Food Bank, weekly AA meetings, a private daycare and Sunday services for a local church.

The association offers computers, which have been donated, for public use. Also donated is a large piano that sits in the foyer. Harper-Williams says they are looking for a cost efficient piano teacher so that the center will be able to offer lessons

Harper-Williams and Teneashia Cunningham

Headstart teacher assistants

Harper-Williams says that FDCA has experienced much generosity but she wants to encourage others to support the center through donations, volunteering or by renting space.

 “It’s a great facility. We have plenty of space. We are central,” Harper-Williams says. Along with office space the association has a full service kitchen and a gym that can be rented. 

Harper-Williams talks about future plans for the association. “I would love to see more expanded family programs like financial planning, budgeting and nutrition classes,” she says. “A kid’s point of need starts at home.” 

But while Harper-Williams continues to worry about how the bills will get paid, she says she does see improvement and remains optimistic. “Vacant lots around us are not being dumped on anymore. There are so many opportunities for this center and the community but the car is stalled,” she says. “It’s frustrating, but I believe that it will happen. When I came here almost 2 years ago people said I wouldn’t last six months, but I know what God can do and I refuse to believe that we will be left. We must change people’s opinions and regain trust.’

Sonya Harper-Williams is a Toledo native and a graduate of St Ursula Academy.  She holds a bachelor of arts degree from Ottawa University, and has more than 20 years experience in non-profit management. Harper-Williams says that she left Arizona and returned to Toledo in 2012 to be reunited with her husband, a hospital chaplain. “I toiled about coming back to non-profit,” she says. “Non-profits are tough.”

For more information on the Frederick Douglass Community Association contact them at 419-244-6722 or go to www.fdcatoledo.org.

FDCA Youth & Parent Mixer

The Frederick Douglass Community Association (FDCA), located at 1001 Indiana Ave., Toledo will host a Youth & Parent Mixer on Monday, September 15, 2014 at the FDCA gym from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. 

Information and Open Registration for all FDCA after-school programs including enrichment classes and sports.   

Parents must be present for registration.

Refreshments, activities for kids, lots of community information, music and good times for all. 

Copyright © 2014 by [The Sojourner's Truth]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 08/16/18 14:12:31 -0700.

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