The Toledo Urban Missions Ministry offers a variety of programs geared at improving the educational and personal lives of our Toledo youth through character building, parent-student relationship exercises, and mentoring. 

We provide services to children and teens in the following ways:

4Corners – An elementary after school program that works with children in grades 1 - 5.  The program has a dual focus of academic enhancement and character development.  It presently serves three under-performing schools in the Toledo area (Kaiser, Hawkins and Reynolds)  and is hosted by the McTigue Middle School.  The program meets Thursdays from 3:30-7:00pm and serves an average of 125 students per week.  It is always in need of volunteers.  

Wonder Years – a middle school campus club that incorporates parents and students into small groups.  The focus is character development for both groups of participants.  Activities are developed to include the student and the parent.  Outcomes are geared at greater parental involvement in the students education, functional conflict resolution between parents and students, improved academic performance, and reduction of negative behavior by the students in both school and home settings.  This program is not currently active and is in need of a new host site!

Real Life – Campus Club for high school students and is hosted by Springfield High School.  This group meets Mondays at 7pm off-site of the school and is inclusive of all the students from the targeted school.  Real Life volunteer staff lead activities, discuss everyday issues and mentor students to find a better way of navigating through life.

YOU Turn – A suspension alternative that Toledo Urban Missions has piloted with Toledo Public Schools.  This program seeks to change the attitude of suspended students toward school.  The elements of the program are:

1) one on one intervention
2) academic help
3) group activities and chores
4) group problem solving sessions
5) Parent interaction and tips on keeping their student accountable
6) Student generated personal mission statement and goals
7) Campus re-entry

YOU Turn is a “value added” program, shortening the length of the suspension and expunging it from the student’s record upon satisfactory completion of the program.  This program is not being done presently, but is looking for new schools and organizations for interest.  It ideally would run Monday-Wednesday with campus re-entry on Thursday.

Camp Toledo – A mobile summer day camp that is held in low-income neighborhoods around and beyond the city of Toledo.  The purpose of the week is to involve youth and young adult ministries in a missions training experience.  The camps are always partnered with a local church in the selected neighborhood.  The goalof the week is to give the visiting youth or young adult ministry a missions training experience that will change the way they think about their own communities and thus causing transformed behavior toward the needs in their own towns and neighborhoods.  To date, nearly 7,000 children have attended the summer day camps and over 500 youth and young adults have been equipped and trained.  The camps run from the 2nd week of June through the last week of July.  The missionary training experience cost is $199 per person in Toledo and $299 per person outside of Toledo.  The fees include lodging, 3 meals a day, the cost of putting on the camp, the cost of gifts given to the “campers”, t-shirts for the missionary training participants, and all training materials.  Workshops are held for the missions training each morning along with a workshop for leaders so they are equipped to take the experience home and implement it.  Call or email to find info about available weeks this summer which also include a week of camps in the Orlando Florida area.

Volunteer Opportunities:

All programs are volunteer driven and run.  Four Corners is always in need of new volunteers as is Real Life.  Any interest in helping implement inactive programs in new schools is also welcomed. 

*To protect our youth, all volunteers will be required to complete a criminal background check at their own expense, and will need to submit three references.  For more information or question on this process please see the contacts below.

Contact Information:
Ministry and Program Director:  Jenai Hicklin, jenaihicklin@buckeye-express.com, 419-242-7401.
Executive Director:  Steve Anthony, santhony@tamohio.org, 419-242-7401.

Upcoming Events:
None currently