Preserving the Past, Preparing the Future: Robert Smith on the African American Legacy Project

History only continues when someone takes responsibility for preserving it.

For Robert Smith, that responsibility means documenting the people, stories, accomplishments, and contributions that have shaped Toledo’s African American community, while also making sure the next generation understands where that history came from and why it matters.

In this episode of Taylor Community Connection, Community Ambassador Terry Crosby sits down with Robert Smith, founder and executive director of the African American Legacy Project of Northwest Ohio, to talk about the organization’s work, the people it honors, and the importance of connecting history with education, service, and opportunity.

Through its museum, community programming, African American Sports Legends initiative, and growing partnerships, the Legacy Project is building a record of people whose stories might otherwise be forgotten.

But Robert makes it clear that preserving history is only part of the mission.

The other part is making sure someone is ready to carry it forward.

Becoming the Keeper of the Record

Robert’s path to the African American Legacy Project grew out of his experience in media and his belief that more could be done to preserve the stories of the community.

That idea eventually developed into an organization dedicated to documenting local history in ways that go beyond traditional classroom learning.

The Legacy Project tells stories through collections, exhibits, events, recognition programs, and the personal items that connect people directly to Toledo history.

Robert describes himself simply as “the keeper of the record.”

That record includes far more than one profession or one type of accomplishment.

Inside the organization’s museum at 1326 Collingwood Boulevard, visitors can find stories of athletes, educators, entertainers, judges, community leaders, and many others whose work helped shape Toledo and communities far beyond it.

One example Robert shares is a collection connected to Prince Spencer, a member of the Four Step Brothers who performed across the country and opened for entertainers including Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

The museum also documents educators and other community figures whose names and contributions deserve to remain part of Toledo’s story.

For Robert, walking into the building and seeing those histories represented is deeply meaningful.

It is a reminder that the record exists because people chose to contribute, preserve, and share it.

More Than Athletic Accomplishments

One of the Legacy Project’s most visible initiatives is the African American Sports Legends program, which began in 2015.

The program recognizes accomplished athletes, but Robert emphasizes that the honor is about much more than what someone did during competition.

The organization also considers what that person did afterward.

How did they serve?

How did they contribute to the community?

What kind of impact did they continue making once their playing days were over?

That standard is important to Robert and to the committee responsible for reviewing nominations.

The discussions can become passionate, he says, because members take the responsibility seriously.

They review records carefully and want every person selected to reflect the values of the program and the community it represents.

The group has also developed traditions of its own.

Members wear blue jackets that have become a recognizable symbol of the Sports Legends committee. Robert says those jackets initially gave the group an identity, but over time they began to represent something more.

When members of the Legacy Project community experience loss or important life moments, the group shows up.

The jackets have come to symbolize connection, loyalty, and shared responsibility.

What started as recognition has become community.

Making Sure the Legacy Continues

Even an organization dedicated to history has to think about the future.

Robert and Terry discuss one of the Legacy Project’s most important priorities: bringing younger people into the work.

The organization is actively developing a succession plan that introduces a new generation of men and women to the process of documenting history, evaluating honorees, and understanding why preservation matters.

Robert is direct about the reason.

The future belongs to them.

The first group is expected to be small, with several younger participants beginning a process designed to help them understand the Legacy Project’s mission and responsibilities.

Retired counselor and educator Robert Caldwell will help guide those participants through that experience.

The goal is not simply to recruit volunteers.

It is to build understanding.

Robert wants younger people to know how the stories they are preserving connect to the opportunities they have today.

He wants them to understand the people who came before them and the responsibility that comes with carrying those stories into the future.

That is how legacy becomes more than a collection of artifacts.

It becomes something living.

Rebuilding a Connection With Central State University

That focus on the next generation is also behind a growing partnership between the African American Legacy Project and Central State University.

Robert explains that Toledo once had a strong pipeline of students who attended Central State, creating deep connections between the university and Northwest Ohio.

Those relationships never completely disappeared.

Many Toledo residents attended Central State, built successful careers, and remained connected to the community.

Now, the Legacy Project is working to strengthen that connection again.

On September 26 and 27, 2026, Central State University will visit Toledo as part of an effort to expand recruitment, scholarship opportunities, educational connections, and the university’s presence in Northwest Ohio.

Robert says the relationship grew after meeting Central State leadership and beginning conversations about what a stronger Toledo connection could look like.

Those conversations led to the creation of a Pipeline Development Committee and an Endowment and Scholarship Committee.

Their work centers on an important question: what does Central State need from Toledo, and how can Toledo help create opportunities for local students?

For Robert, the effort is about much more than sending students away to college.

The larger goal is to create a cycle where students gain education and experience, then bring those skills back into the community.

That can mean future scientists, educators, agricultural professionals, business leaders, and others contributing to Toledo’s growth.

Education, Opportunity, and a Community Commitment

The Central State weekend will also include conversations about educational partnerships throughout the community.

Robert discusses working with churches, schools, colleges, and other organizations to create a broader commitment to education.

Dozens of area churches have already participated in that effort.

On September 27, the president of Central State University is scheduled to deliver an address at Third Baptist Church, giving the public an opportunity to hear the university’s vision for its relationship with Toledo.

Robert describes the effort as a long term partnership rather than a single weekend of events.

The hope is to expand recruitment, educational programming, scholarships, and other opportunities while strengthening the university’s presence in the region.

Taylor Automotive Family is also supporting the effort, something Robert recognizes as part of a larger pattern of community involvement throughout Northwest Ohio.

For both Terry and Robert, partnerships like these work best when organizations do more than put their names behind something.

They show up.

Celebrating the People Who Built the Community

Another important date on the Legacy Project calendar is the annual Legends Luncheon, scheduled for October 17 at The Pinnacle.

Robert describes it not simply as an event, but as the organization’s signature celebration.

The luncheon recognizes people whose accomplishments and community contributions deserve to become part of the historical record.

Among the individuals Robert mentions are Dr. John Norwood, Ray Wood, Ayanna Floyd, and Lucas County Recorder Michael Ashford.

Each represents a different kind of contribution, reinforcing the Legacy Project’s belief that community history is created in many places and through many forms of leadership.

The presentation of those honors is an important moment because it gives families, friends, and community members an opportunity to see those stories recognized while the people connected to them can still share in the experience.

History With a Purpose

Throughout Robert Smith’s conversation with Terry Crosby, one idea continues to surface.

History should not simply sit on a wall.

It should teach.

It should connect.

And it should create a path forward.

The African American Legacy Project preserves the accomplishments of people who helped shape Toledo, but its mission does not end with remembering their names.

The organization is also helping younger generations understand those stories, encouraging new leaders to step forward, supporting educational opportunities, and building partnerships designed to strengthen the community for years to come.

That is what makes the word legacy so important.

It is not only about what someone leaves behind.

It is about what the next person chooses to carry forward.

👉 Watch now to hear Robert Smith share how the African American Legacy Project is preserving Toledo history, developing future leaders, and building new educational opportunities for the generations ahead.