Ode to the ZIP Code 2022 - Mariah Horton

Ode to the ZIP Code is an annual contest hosted by The Fair Housing Center, The Arts Commission, Toledo Lucas County Public Library, Toledo City Paper, and Toledo Area Parent. Local residents submit five-line poems where the number of words in each line is determined by the digit in their ZIP Code. This contest has served as a creative way to engage the community in talking about where we live and how it affects our experiences and shapes our life outcomes.

Mariah Horton, 2022 Contest Winner in the Adult Category, shares her story about how she and her husband are working to unify and inspire hope in their neighborhood which has experienced many challenges.