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The ‘M’ in Midwest Stands for Massive Food Sculptures

The Heartland, Flyover Country, the Rust Belt — to the Midwest’s long list of monikers one could also add “The Land of Massive Food...

Hidden Gems: Preserving the Rich Biodiversity of Northwest Ohio

Picture Ohio. You’re probably envisioning vast agricultural fields or the occasional deciduous forest dotting an otherwise flat landscape. And yet Northwest Ohio alone is home to wetlands and prairies, savannas and swamplands. It encompasses one of the rarest ecosystems on earth and supports rich wildlife. As biodiversity decreases across the globe, organizations in Northwest Ohio are working to preserve, protect and restore habitats and wildlife alike for generations to come.

White Bread and Beyond: The Complexities of the Midwest’s Bread Culture

“When you look at how sometimes people outside of the Midwest view the Midwest, they see it as kind of a homogeneous, one-dimensional culture...

Turning on the Light of Learning: Literacy Efforts Are Paving a Brighter Future for Toledo and Beyond

“I grew up where reading and writing was my biggest problem … And I always wanted to fit in. But I couldn't because my reading and writing stopped me.” Stephan Woodley is 61 years old. For nearly 60 of those years, he couldn’t read.

The Great Midwest Trivia Contest, Circa 1966

If you’ve ever played a game of trivia, you might be familiar with questions like “Who was the fifteenth president of the United States?”...

“Pure Michigan” and Its Indigenous Storytellers

In first grade, my teacher read aloud a series of children’s books about the history behind some of Michigan’s most well-known natural landmarks, including...

Can Ohio Turn the Tables on “Brain Drain”?

“Brain drain.” If you live in the Rust Belt, you’ve probably heard the phrase used to describe the economic woes of your city or...

The Revolving Doors of Fort Industry Square

They say a good building can take on many lives. But in many post-industrial spaces across the country, it’s often easier to forgo creativity for efficiency. The historic structures of Toledo are no exception. Over the last century, many beautiful buildings of this port city have been demolished, allowed to fall into disrepair, whose costs of maintenance far outweighs its capital potential. Yet on the waterfront block of Fort Industry Square, along its quaint facades of varying heights and styles, something quietly transformative is happening.

Exploring Urban Heat in Toledo, Ohio

It’s July 19th, 2021, a beautiful summer day in a tree-lined neighborhood in Toledo, Ohio. The sun is shining and the temperature hovers around 86 degrees Fahrenheit, but there’s plenty of shade to make a picnic or a barbecue pleasant despite the heat. But if you live a few miles away — particularly in the inner-city — it’s more than 10 degrees hotter, substantially raising both health risks and electric bills…

Saving the World, One Seed at a Time: How Libraries Are Tackling Modern Environmental Crises

The old card catalog at the Lyon Township Public Library (LTPL) in Michigan fell out of use after the library’s infrastructure went online. An...

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