That question is driving a powerful new effort in Toledo’s inner-city Junction Neighborhood. Through the Success Planning model, we are working to change education and strengthen families — one child, one block, and one future at a time.
Success Planning was created and studied by the Harvard Graduate School of Education EdRedesign Lab. It’s a new way to connect students and families with the help, relationships, and support they need to do well. The model is now starting in Toledo’s Junction Neighborhood — a community that faces big challenges but is full of strength and promise.
The numbers tell an urgent story. In Junction, the median household income is just $15,004. Only 38% of adults have a high school diploma, and 82% of children live in poverty. These numbers represent real families facing barriers that can affect their kids’ education, their income, and their overall well-being.
Success Planning is built to break down those barriers. It connects families to local support and a network of caring volunteer mentors. The program offers help with school, emotions, family life, and everyday needs — matched to what each family actually needs. The goal is simple: help families build momentum and break the cycle of poverty that gets passed down from parents to kids.
Christine Sweeney and Jennifer Archer at Success Planning Celebration
“Being a Success Coach with the Art Tatum Zone reminded me how much showing up for community matters. It doesn’t require having all the answers or a ton of time. It’s simply listening, encouraging, asking questions, celebrating progress, and helping a young person see the possibilities in themselves that they may not see yet.”
Toledo was chosen because the need here is great, especially in neighborhoods like Junction. But need alone isn’t why this community stands out. Toledo is a great fit because people here already know how to work together. Real change takes many partners working as one team — and that teamwork already exists here.
Success Planning works because local organizations are teaming up to improve life for children and families:
What makes Success Planning special is that it can grow, change with the times, and keep making a difference. United Way believes in this model because it is centered on the community, powered by volunteers, careful with money, and proven to work in communities across the country. Most importantly, it uses real, up-to-date information to get families help exactly when they need it.
This effort is more than fixing schools. It’s changing the whole community. Whether it’s helping a kindergartner arrive ready to learn or guiding a graduate toward a good career, every connection creates a new chance. Together, we are building a future where every child and every family have the support they need to succeed.
This program succeeds because of volunteers — people who care about being positive role models for kids today. Click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities. If you’d like to support this program directly, please contact Mary Fedderke.
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