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Local Neighborhood Leaders Reignite Dorr Street Renovation
Discussion
By Tricia Hall
Sojourner’s Truth Reporter
Toledo residents have either heard of or remember the shops,
services and residential housing offered along Dorr Street
decades ago. Local neighborhood leaders organized a first of
several panel discussions to reignite the need to renovate
Dorr Street.
The Saturday, October 10, event was moderated by community
advocate and mortgage lender Julia Lee and included
panelists: Chloe Aquart, Center for Court Innovation;
Kimberly Cutcher and Shaulonda Jones, Toledo Local
Initiatives Support Corporation; Washington Muhammad,
Community Solidarity Response Network; Trish Newman; Pastor
Keith Polin, Urban Christian Development Institute; Officer
Donald Scott, Toledo Police Department; Sister Virginia
Welsh, Padua Center and St. Martin de Porres Catholic
Church; and Pastor Le Roy Williams, Search-Lite Community
Church.
“Welcome everyone, especially on this beautiful Saturday.
Let’s talk about why we are here and why it’s important to
discuss Dorr Street,” explained Lee during opening remarks.
The panelists were invited to share memories from the days
when Dorr Street was home to black-owned businesses and
served as the core of the black community in Toledo.
“We all want more community involvement this time around.
I’m here to help to move this idea forward, and want to
avoid focusing on self-serving goals,” explained Pastor
Williams.
Saturday’s conversation served as a launching point for
continued conversation about the impact of Urban Renewal and
impact of communication gaps on the families located in
Englewood and Junction, how to build coalitions with
partners that focus on homeownership, unemployment,
generational wealth and other issues that impact the family
dynamic.
“We need to have a conversation within the community, but
for today, let’s start with who we have. There were many
other people that were invited, including city council, the
credit union, and the mayor, because we need everyone
involved to pull this together and bring back our business
district. Let’s figure out how to rebuild,” explained Lee.
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