The Demography Project is a collaborative effort between the Midstory team and researchers from across the region to unearth an in-depth picture of millennial and overall population loss in Toledo and other post-industrial communities. Looking ahead to the upcoming 2020 census, current demographic data suggests that if we are to reverse the trend of loss in our communities, we must focus on courting, retaining and investing in millennials. And that’s not a negative thing—in fact, we find it hopeful.

The goal of the project is to unearth the reality of what’s going on in our region and provide avenues to move forward toward a solution. This includes basic demographic research and data collection, creating frameworks in which to gather and present research, making information more publicly accessible and educating the public. The team aims to produce a comprehensive research brief with data, analysis and recommendations along with accompanying media and educational tools.

The Water Project is a research and design project that has been ongoing since the algal bloom of 2014, presenting a holistic vision for the both the water and city revitalization. The algal bloom disaster in Lake Erie and Northwest Ohio provides a perfect catalyst to engage the local, national and even global communities around solving this environmental problem while at the same time, positioning the city of Toledo as a key geographic location for waterfront development, academic research and business opportunity.

Using a native wildflower, the American lotus, that has been an iconic signature here in the U.S. as early as the 1800s—an important food item and touristic attraction to early settlers—this project envisions the potentials of water remediation through lotus aquaculture that sets the scene for Toledo to experience transformative civic, social and economic opportunities in a changing post-industrial era.

Spurred by the recently reinvigorated conversations around public transportation, rejuvenated urban planning and creative reuse of space, the City Infrastructure Project is a new 2020 collaborative effort between the Midstory team and researchers and organizations from across the region, be a support, resource and public educational arm for organizations working in urban planning and public infrastructure and transportation advocacy. The team aims to produce series of comprehensive research brief on specific aspects of city infrastructure with data, analysis and recommendations along with accompanying media and educational tools.

The Innovations Project is a collaborative effort between the Midstory team and researchers from across the region, initiated to raise awareness around and support innovators and start-up, technology and other initiatives in our region. While cities like Ann Arbor, Cleveland and Detroit have begun to draw more investment into the city from elsewhere and the the rise of the so-called “Silicon Prairie” has begun talk of investment in the Midwestern states, Toledo (and many cities like it) still struggle to maintain an ecosystem that can cultivate ideas and draw in investment.

The team begins by positing the term “innovation ecosystem” on the premise that attracting and cultivating new ideas and innovations requires a group of diverse communities and resources that collaborate to determine the feasibility, viability, and desirability of new ideas, products, and services to create value at scale for a regional economy. The team aims to produce a comprehensive research brief with data, analysis and recommendations along with accompanying media and educational tools.

The Higher Education Project is a new 2020 collaborative effort between the Midstory team and researchers from across the region, initiated to take an in-depth look into our regional higher education ecosystem, to study cities in which universities have played a key role in revitalization and to provide recommendations and inspiration for moving forward. The team aims to produce a comprehensive research brief with data, analysis and recommendations along with accompanying media and educational tools.

The Non-profit Project is a new 2020 collaborative effort between the Midstory team and interested parties from across the region, initiated to take an in-depth look into our regional non-profit ecosystem, to be a connecting and supporting force for local non-profit innovation and growth and to provide recommendations and inspiration for moving forward. The team aims to produce a comprehensive research brief with data, analysis and recommendations along with accompanying media and educational tools.

The Local Journalism Project is a new 2020 collaborative effort between the Midstory team and researchers and publications from across the region as well as other interested parties, initiated to examine what a healthy local news ecosystem looks like the digital age and how we can support and encourage that ecosystem here in the Toledo region, with the end goal of producing and educating about a model that can be used for similar mid-size cities in the Midwest. The team aims to produce a comprehensive research brief with data, analysis and recommendations along with accompanying media and educational tools.