The Rev. John Jones has known first-hand what a difference in life that access to quality education makes, and as president of a new nonprofit, he is determined to improve such access for Toledo children.
“I’ve lived the experience,” Reverend Jones said, “whether me personally or with friends I grew up with. Having had the opportunity to grow up within a neighborhood where not all the children had access to good education, it is a passion of mine to really try and improve educational experiences for as many people as I can.”
Effective Oct. 1, Mr. Jones, 46, a Toledo native and a 1992 graduate of Emmanuel Christian School became president of HOPE Toledo — a nonprofit set up this year after Pete Kadens announced plans to pay tuition, room, and board for every Scott High graduating senior enrolling at an in-state college.
HOPE Toledo’s mission is to “coordinate and deliver higher-quality educational experiences for children and youth, from birth to career, with the goal of helping to create generational economic change for the betterment of Toledo area families and our community,” Debbie Monagan, spokesman for the nonprofit, said in a statement.
The organization “is committed to a full educational continuum beginning with a focus on early childhood education, universal access to Pre-K, so that all Toledo children have the opportunity to enter kindergarten ready to learn,” she said.
“My feeling in one word — I am excited,” Reverend Jones said. “[That’s] because Toledo has a unique opportunity to really impact the educational landscape for generations of Toledoans through this initiative.”
“When you look at the current rate of kindergarten preparedness in Toledo — which is around 18 percent — the challenge of increasing it is one that is worthy to accept,” he said.
That rate has to do with the fact that about 36 percent of the people in the Toledo Public Schools district live below the poverty line, Ms. Monagan said.
Reverend Jones said his contacts with the Hope Toledo board started last year when ProMedica — where he was a community liaison at the time — got involved in early childhood education to boost the readiness of local children for kindergarten, because “education is intrinsically tied to access to health care.”
“John has been instrumental in developing the vision for HOPE Toledo,” said Wendi Huntley, HOPE Toledo board chair. “We are thrilled that he is now able to pivot to take the leadership role in the organization. John’s deep experience in working with youth and his knowledge of our community, make him the ideal leader.”
Before working for ProMedica, Reverend Jones was president and chief executive officer for the former Greater Toledo Urban League.
In 2012, Greater Toledo Urban League ceased its activity after Reverend Jones stepped aside as its president and chief executive officer. The Blade wrote at the time that the organization had developed what its then board chairman James Murray said was a “large debt load.”
Reverend Jones told The Blade at the time that the Urban League’s debt grew to about $300,000 as funding and fund-raising dwindled during the economic downturn and despite efforts to control costs, but had been paid down to about $200,000 since late 2011.
“I stepped down from the Urban League because I got another job opportunity,” Reverend Jones said when reached for comment Thursday.
“Not at all,” Ms. Huntley said when asked whether Mr. Jones’ stepping down from the Urban League gave the HOPE Toledo board pause when considering him for the presidency.
“We hired John Jones and we have full confidence in John’s leadership capabilities and we are excited about things to come for Hope Toledo,” she said.
Reverend Jones graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio, in 1996. He also holds an executive master’s degree in business administration from the University of Toledo and a certificate in diversity management from the American Hospital Association’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity.
He is an associate minister at the Christian Temple Baptist Church. His father, the Rev. Charles Jones, is pastor.
First Published October 8, 2020, 8:39 p.m.
