Community Action Day

Here’s what to look forward to:

6:30- Matt Kilam from the Toledo Lucas County Metroparks

Metroparks protect our community’s natural resources by using public dollars responsibly to conserve, preserve and restore areas that provide remarkable environmental and economic value for all of northwest Ohio. Parks and open space benefit the community by helping clean the air and water, retain stormwater, provide essential habitat for wildlife and enhance property values.

7:00- Jennifer Bohnsack- Isaiah 117 House

My husband and I have been foster parents for 12 years. We have fosterered 35 amazing kids and are parents to 8. We have adopted 2 and are currently fostering 2. I am the expansion coordinator for non profit Isaiah 117 house. An Isaiah 117 home acts as the in between place for our children to go to on removal day. Where our children can be lavishly loved on, cooked for, read to, played with and receive new clean clothes while awaiting a foster placement. Our focus is on reducing trauma in removal day, lightning, the load of caseworkers, and easing the transition of or kids into their new foster or kinship home.

I am also parishioner at St John 23 parish in Perrysburg, our family loves the theater, I am a baseball mom and cheer mom!

7:20- Shelby Cully- Lucas County Children’s Services

Shelby Cully is chief counsel for Lucas County Children Services. She has spent the past 18 years in child protection. Ms. Cully began her career as an attorney in private practice representing children and parents in child protection cases. As part of her private practice, Ms. Cully was trained as a mediator and worked with the Lucas County Juvenile Court to provide child protection mediation to the families of Lucas County working with Lucas County Children Services. In 2010, Ms. Cully joined Lucas County Children Services as a staff attorney representing the agency in cases of child abuse and neglect. In 2019, Ms. Cully was promoted to Chief Counsel after serving just over two years as legal manager. Ms. Cully is passionate about child welfare and works on multiple state-level committees to influence positive change for children who encounter abuse and neglect. Her advocacy at the state level is also focused on improving the conditions for the workforce and caregivers who serve these children. Ms. Cully also works to influence the next generation of child welfare attorneys by teaching at the University of Toledo, College of Law. Ms. Cully graduated with her B.A. in 2002, and her J.D. in 2005, both from the University of Toledo.

7:40- Rachel Gagnon- Lucas Metropolitan Housing

Rachel Gagnon is a native Toledoan, and a proud graduate of Central Catholic High School, The Ohio State University, and Capital University Law School. She is licensed to practice law in both Ohio and Michigan and has devoted her career to serving the community through a variety of roles in the nonprofit and volunteer sectors. Prior to coming to LMH, Rachel served as the Executive Director of the Toledo Lucas County
Homelessness Board as well as the Chief Operating Officer at Sunshine Communities. Rachel believes housing is a fundamental right for all individuals; she has spent time in these roles advocating for inclusive housing developments and rebuilding response systems to effectively serve community members in need. In her free time, Rachel enjoys spending time with her friends, reading, volunteering, and traveling. Rachel is the proud mom to kiddos Vera and Ellis.

8:00 Luke Grable – The Program Inc.

Pictured (From Left): Luke Grable, Tramain Rayford, The Program, Inc. CEO, Jonathan Burns, The Program, Inc. chair.

Luke Grable works for Directions Credit Union as a community outreach and education coordinator. Luke has worked with The Program inc for almost 5 years as a presenter on financial literacy, Treasurer for the programs board, as well as being the MC for The Program Inc.’s infamous purse bingo. Luke is a proud father of six kids whom him and his wife have adopted through foster care. In their free time they love to travel and experience the great outdoors.

9:00- Pastor Ethan Chumchal- Rustbelt Coffee

Ethan Chumchal is a youth pastor at life chapel, and has been involved with Rustbelt and the city hub since 2016.

9:20 Dr. Calvin & Christine Sweeney – Art Tatum Zone

The Art Tatum Zone is a neighborhood revitalization organization that is focused on bringing help and hope to individuals, children and families in our community through a myriad of programs and supports.

Calvin and Christine Sweeney are the President and Executive Director of the organization, as well as the lead pastors of the Tabernacle church. They are both committed to loving people and to helping them experience abundant life.

9:40 Pastor Kirk Schneemann- First Alliance Church / Dinner Church

Pastor Kirk Schneemann has been lead pastor at First Alliance Church (Collingwood and Monroe in UpTown) for the past eight years. Hailing from Pure Michigan, he loves Holy Toledo and believes there’s only one Church in our city…with many congregations. 

Dinner Church is a fresh expression of First Alliance. It’s a non-traditional, interactive experience designed to help people connect with God and others over a community meal, conversation, message, and the arts. It’s food for the mind, body, and soul. Literally! 

Dinner Church gathers on the second Sunday of the month at 5 PM at 2214 Monroe Street (the FAC Fellowship Hall, NOT the main sanctuary). Each month we feature an artist in our Artist Spotlight and offer them a platform for their art and story. We’ve featured painters, photographers, musicians, poets, rappers, dancers, and others. We are His masterpieces (Ephesians 2:10) and art can inspire, challenge, and refresh the soul. 

All are welcome. Come as you are. Really.

Food for your mind, body & soul