Make It Make Sense

Make It Make Sense is a partnership between WGTE Public Media, Reinvest Toledo and the City of Toledo’s Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. Its goal is to turn information into understanding – and understanding into action.

Make It Make Sense is designed to achieve three core goals:

Amplify community voices
Provide young adults with valuable job training
Support resident-led solutions to neighborhood challenges

Engaging Voices That Too Often Go Unheard

It begins by engaging young adults who are at risk of or impacted by gun violence. These individuals receive paid internships, where they are mentored by WGTE staff to develop skills in:

Audio and video production
Digital storytelling
Interviewing and research
Creative collaboration
Leadership and communication

Through these internships, Make It Make Sense partners work together to develop a series of town hall-style events in which residents from underrepresented neighborhoods participate in dialogues about the issues that directly affect them. These conversations will explore topics identified by community leaders and residents, including:

Housing and neighborhood development
Community safety
Local policy and decision-making
Opportunities for civic participation

Storytelling Rooted in Lived Experience

Above all, Make It Make Sense centers the voices, perspectives and experiences of the community, helping residents understand how policies affect them and their families. Then, through developing understanding, the community leaders will gain confidence as they elevate their voices around issues they have identified.

Watch this space for future Make It Make Sense updates.

Make It Make Sense is made possible through a grant from Greater Toledo Community Foundation. Evaluation is provided by Joysten Group, an independent research firm.