Soul of the Glass City

Born in Toledo, surrounded by a supportive family and raised in diverse communities, Lance Self recalls fond memories of growing up in the Glass City. After college, Self helped to found a non-profit called the YNOTT? Foundation, which helps educate pediatric transplant patients. Self is also 20 Under 40 Award recipient, and one of the co-founders of the Strictly R&B Park Jam, which has become one of Toledo's largest R&B Music Festivals. Tune in as Lance shares with us what he loves about the Glass City, and how he plans on continuing to impact its growth.

Many find their purpose later in life, but Audrey Johnson always knew that her world was rooted in the arts and community services. A native of Canton, Ohio, Johnson made Toledo her home after graduating from Bowling Green State University. An artist, mother, and entrepreneur, Johnson founded the Unbounded Artists Development Community (UADC), is the Development and Communications Coordinator for Toledo Fair Housing, and a local coordinator for American Cultural Exchange Service (ACES).

Brittany Shaw is a wife, mother, businesswoman, and social media influencer born, raised, and has lived all her life in the Glass City. As a strong woman who contributes a lot to her city, she shares with us how she wouldn't have been as accomplished as she is today, if it weren't for the love and teachings of her father. Tune is as we discuss our love for her dad, who, even though he has passed away years ago, his legacy still lives and continues with her.

Michigan native, Kim Buehler, chose to make Toledo her permanent home after pursuing a music career in the Glass City following graduation from high school. Kim has maintained a wholesome career rooted in music ever since; landing a job at TSA in 2000, (where she taught voice lessons), to becoming the Executive Director of the Toledo Jazz Society for many years, Kim holds a Bachelor's in Education and a Master of Music degree from the University of Toledo. Tune in to learn more about music educator, and Jazz singer Kim Buehler.

We all know that our youth are our future. Zara Sediqe is a senior Ottawa Hills High School, who is proud to be an example of what our city's next generation of leaders look like. Sediqe is an advocate for her peers and a spokesperson for youth who seek to get into the modeling industry. Landing her own TEDx before the age of sixteen, Zara will be sharing with us what she loves most about being in the fashion business and how having a mentor has inspired her journey.

They say that, "A picture is worth a thousand words", well just as much can be said about M.Ed, mother, President of Delta Sigma Theta Toledo chapter, and professional photographer, Ambershaun aka Amber Byrd. A true success story who was born, raised, and stayed to build a strong foundation in the Glass City. Tune in to find out how Amber turned her passion into her purpose through her love of her hometown and photography.

Known around town as the charismatic radio show host and founder of one of Toledo's top annual fashion events, Steve Reamey has been touted as the guy who gets it done. Originally hailing from Ohio's state capital, Columbus, Reamey moved here in his teens, and went on to become a proud Toledo Rocket. His story gets even more interesting, as he chose to make the Glass City his forever home base after that. Tune in to hear about the complexity of social savant Steve Reamey.

How does a man go from a specialized career in law enforcement to becoming the CEO of one of the leading youth mentoring non-profits in the Glass City? In this episode, Dr. Marvin Whitfield talks about his upbringing in the state of New York, traveling the world as a professional consultant, to finding his future and purpose in Toledo, Ohio. He explains how mentors early on in his career helped to shape his outlook on life as well as how he pays it forward in communities with our youth today.

LeSean Shaw is a man who has always held the belief that Toledo is a great city. Moving around a lot as a child growing up with his mother, he was fortunate enough to live on different sides of town, befriend many people, and have diverse cultural experiences. As he grew older, he cultivated his education and those relationships to very lucrative careers, eventually landing a role as a vice president of a tech company. Even though that didn't go as planned, leaving Shaw in a tough place, he never gave up on his dreams and he is now one of the leading minds of the future AI (Artificial Intelligence) movement in the Glass City. Tune in to hear the challenges and triumphs of LeSean Shaw.

LaDale L. Whaley, is a multi-faced educator and creative who began her journey right here in the Glass City. Inspired by her mother, who she watched be an entrepreneur from childhood, Mrs. Whaley also became a proud mother and business owner herself and has persevered to overcome many obstacles. Obtaining her Masters degree and becoming a college professor, Whaley moved back to Toledo after living in Florida for the past 10 years. Tune in to learn more about the life and career of LaDale L. Whaley.