Community EngagementEnvisioning the Future of the Midwest Together
Midstory engages the community every year to share a collective vision for the future. We believe in highlighting our authentic Midwest voice and in educating the community on key issues regarding our region to broaden our understanding of one another, the nation and even the world. In addition, the team also hosts educational seminars and lectures and have done so with area educational institutions, corporate events and partnerships with organizations. Below are a few examples of public events hosted by Midstory in the past. If you'd like to inquire more about Midstory's educational outreach, please contact us at contact@midstory.org.
MidstoryTalks
On August 7th, 2020, Midstory hosted an all-day public livestream that provided a platform for its 18 college student interns to share their research, perspectives and own stories with the community. Last year's summer cohort came from 10 states and universities to join us virtually for a full-time internship experience. For more information on the college internship program, head over to our internships webpage.
A Yearin Review
On January 30th, 2020, Midstory hosted its annual celebration to recollect on the successes of last year (its first full operating year as a 501(c)(3)) and to preview its plans for 2020. The team repurposed the Thomas and Elizabeth Brady Center at the University of Toledo to include exhibitions of various Midstory series, projects and content. The event featured a self-designed and constructed lighted walkway and pergola, live music, food from local restaurants, themed exhibits, a networking lounge and media displays. In total, over 200 community leaders and supporters joined us for the evening of festivities. For the full presentation, click here or view the event highlights using the button below.
Gala xExpo
The "A City in Transit: Gala x Expo," a city-wide public event, was held on August 3, 2019 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza to provide a community platform for engagement, vision-sharing and networking. Adopting the train thematic, Midstory envisioned the event as a vehicle of change, inviting regional leaders and community members to be united in the region's direction and destination. The event saw more than 1,100 attendees and more than 80 local organizations and businesses were represented in expo-style spaces. The event also featured a walkway through time (ft. train mist and sounds, a sponsor wall and train announcements in 9 different languages), a mayoral address, an interactive arts exhibit by the Arts Commission, live music from local musicians, an Instagram photo competition gallery, a car show and presentations from Midstory's summer interns.