
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Welcome Toledo Lucas County (Welcome TLC), housed at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, is a cross-sector network of community partners, including the Lucas County Board of Commissioners, and the Human Relations Commission of Toledo. Welcome TLC’s mission is to build a more welcoming and inclusive community for immigrants, refugees and people of diverse cultures that supports a vibrant civic, economic, and social fabric for all.
Let our staff connect you to information and resources. Email our Welcome TLC Specialist or call 419.214.6132 to set up an appointment. You can also sign up for our quarterly Welcome TLC newsletter.
The Toledo-Lucas County data report summarizes the demographic and economic contributions of immigrants and refugees in Toledo-Lucas County. Toledo-Lucas County, through the Gateways for Growth Challenge Grant, was one of 14 communities nationally to receive a competitive opportunity for direct technical assistance and tailored research from New American Economy (NAE) and Welcoming America.
Produced by Language Equity & Access Partners, the Community Needs Assessment Report outlines the demographics of linguistically and culturally diverse communities in the City of Toledo and the Lucas County area and the services provided by service providers. It also seeks to identify the strengths, needs, gaps in service, and barriers faced by linguistically and culturally diverse communities in accessing the programs.
The Welcome TLC Hiring Guide for Immigrants is an employer-facing document highlighting the business case for hiring international talent in our community. It additionally provides an overview of the most common visa types for employers, including H1-B’s for skilled immigrants and Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for international students.
Certified Welcoming is a national independent audit program of Welcoming America, which demonstrates a region’s commitment to welcoming all community members, including immigrants and refugees. Lucas County achieved the designation in 2019 and the City of Toledo in 2022, making Toledo and Lucas County the first city and county, nationally, to be certified together.
Immigrant Heritage Month gives people across the United States an opportunity to annually explore our country’s heritage and celebrate the shared diversity that forms the unique story of America.
The Welcome TLC storytelling series brings to life first-hand accounts from our immigrant, refugee, and diverse community members who call Toledo and Lucas County home. We celebrate their contributions, especially during Immigrant Heritage Month in June; an annual celebration of our nation’s shared immigrant heritage and cultural diversity.
2024
Andin Prenica, UToledo Public Health Student
Nicolai Salgau, Salgau Foundation
2023
Jon Dorcely, Embracing Haitian Heritage
Alona Matchenko, Toledo Helps Ukraine
Eugenio Mollo, Immigrant Justice Clinic at the UToledo College of Law
Afaf Doumani, Mental Health Care for General Well Being
2022
Ting Li, Instructor and Curriculum Coordinator
Franco Vitella, Librarian and Manager
Najwa Badawi, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Coordinator
2021
Terwase Ngur, Librarian and Manager
Houng Dhar, Small Business Owner
Andrea De la Roca, Coordinator of Intercultural Ministries
Paula Hicks Hudson, Ohio House District 44 Representative
2020
Karla Mendoza, Healthcare Shero
Dr. Richard Paat, Healthcare Hero
2019
Heide Allan, Local Business Owner
Xinren Yu, University of Toledo’s Confucius Institute
Free Picnic and Party, State of Welcoming Presentation Commemorate Welcoming Week at the Toledo Library — Toledo.com, Aug. 12, 2024
Celebrate Latino music and dance at Toledo Library welcoming party and picnic | Good Day on WTOL 11 — WTOL, Sept. 10, 2024
Toledo Library invites community to free welcoming picnic and party — 13abc, Sept. 12, 2024
Toledo Library connects cultures with Welcome Week — WTOL, Sept. 13
Toledo Main Library hosting picnic, party for Hispanic Heritage Month — WTOL. Sept. 13, 2024
Photo Gallery: Toledo Library immigrant celebration — The Blade, Sept. 14, 2024
The State of Welcoming in Toledo and Lucas County — Toledo.com, Sept. 16, 2024
TLCPL to host The State of Welcoming in Toledo and Lucas County program — 13abc, Sept. 17, 2024
Local Organizations Provide Services, Hospitality For Refugee Arrivals — Toledo City Paper, Aug. 24, 2023
Toledo, Lucas County recognized for dedication to immigrants — Toledo Blade, June 20, 2023
Toledo, Lucas County earns welcoming designation from nonprofit — 13 ABC, September 2, 2022
Resettlement to Revitalization: Welcoming Immigrants in Toledo’s Post-industrial Era — Midstory, November 3, 2021
Lucas County designated as ‘welcoming’ for immigrants – Toledo Blade, August 4, 2020
Report: Increasing immigrant population in Toledo contributes to local economy — WTOL, August 21, 2019
The Big Idea: 2019 with Mechelle Zarou and Reem Subei — Toledo City Paper, January 17, 2019
Toledo-Lucas County immigrant initiative gets award, research help — Toledo Blade, January 9, 2019
Fighting an Uncertain Future: Toledo organizations strive to reassure immigrant community after travel ban – Toledo City Paper, February 28, 2017
City council bans therapy type, backs inclusivity – Toledo Blade, February 8, 2017
International flair: Toledo film festival marks 3rd year — Toledo Blade, February 2, 2017
In Toledo, Syrian Refugees Are Welcomed Amid A Difficult Immigration Climate – NPR, January 4, 2017
How an Ohio Town Became a Model City for Resettling Syrian Refugees – Vice News, July 19, 2016
Immigrants are backbone of community – Toledo Blade, June 18, 2016
Study touts benefits of immigration – Toledo Blade, December 8, 2015
Among The Lucky Few: Syrian Family Rebuilds In America’s Heartland – NPR, October 20, 2015