TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) -
The
African-American Legacy Project got off the ground in 2004, to document and
preserve the contributions of African-Americans in the Toledo area.
It
includes more than 6,000 photos and memorabilia to help tell the story of those
who made their mark in the city and in the world.
"It's
great to see you start something and to see it flourish. We have wonderful
stories here and we just see the next home as a continuation," said Robert
Smith, who has helped to transition the project from concept, to its original
home on Upton Avenue, with work now starting to relocate to a church building
at the corner of Dorr and Collingwood.
"We
have been very fortunate," Smith added. "We were deeded a new facility, which
is in the heart of the African-American community."
Besides
telling individual stories, Smith says the new center will allow them to also
tell the story of Toledo's African-American neighborhoods.
"People
can come in and help us define old businesses, old homesteads, old important
institutions that were relevant to Toledo's African-American community."
Smith
said the project is all about drawing on the past to motivate future
generations to be successful in life.
"What
you need, to begin to understand, you need to have a very strong commitment, a
darn good work ethic, and you need a very strong education."
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Some of what can be viewed at the museum.
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