Embracing human diversity in all its forms while defying discrimination and intolerance is a new challenge being presented to residents by the city of Toledo and its Human Relations Commission.
As part of this effort, Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz and the Human Relations Commission are establishing the “Good Neighbor” initiative. This challenge is a way for the community to show respect for the differences of others while living in a shared community.
“We’re living in a more diverse country, a more diverse world, and the more we can embrace programs like WIMBY, the better,” Mayor Kapszukiewicz said at a news conference Monday.
WIMBY stands for “Welcome In My Backyard,” a play off the word NIMBY which is an acronym for the phrase "not in my backyard," a term commonly linked to the opposition of residents to proposed developments in their local area.
“Embracing the WIMBY campaign means that Toledoans aren't just open to new neighbors but they're open to new ideas,” Mr. Kapszukiewicz said.
Founded in 2018, the Human Relations Commission of the city government works to support residents in overcoming prejudice while building mutual respect.
Human Relations Commission chairman Erin Baker encouraged residents to take the WIMBY pledge as a show of support for diversity in the community.
The pledge expresses the affirmation of welcoming individuals from all walks of life into their neighborhood and community with an assurance to respect those whose backgrounds and experiences are different.
WIMBY yard signs and stickers are available to those who take the pledge.
The commission also hopes that participants will proudly display the yard signs or wear a WIMBY sticker, Ms. Baker said.
“Another great way to show your support for the campaign is by attending any of our upcoming human relations for [commission] events such as the human library coming up on Saturday, April 15,” she said. The event will take place from noon to 3 p.m. in the atrium of the Main library in downtown Toledo.
The human library encourages conversation between different people to encourage discussion and address prejudices. Instead of a book, attendees can interact with a person and listen to his or her stories.
Rachael Fortlage, staff attorney at the Toledo-based Fair Housing Center, said that the yard signs have the potential to impact new residents.
“I know that people who are moving into a new neighborhood might feel scared that they won't be accepted based on their membership in one of our protected classes,” she said.
“If they're driving through and they see those purple signs, they look it up,” Ms. Fortlage said. “Those neighbors are telling them ‘You are welcome in my backyard.’ That has a really big impact on their life and relationship with their community.”
Mayor Kapszukiewicz thinks initiatives such as this are in some ways the pushback to more unfortunate negative realities.
“We do live in a divided world, a divided country,” Mayor Kapszukiewicz said. “I think people want to find things that bring them together. And if this can help bring people together, I don’t know how it could be a bad thing.”
To take the WIMBY pledge, go to https://www.hrc.toledo.oh.gov/wimby
For details about the human library event, visit https://www.hrc.toledo.oh.gov.
First Published April 10, 2023, 9:13 p.m.
