Woodward student is winner of logo contest

This logo is intended to help rebranding efforts in North Toledo.

ONE Village now has a new logo to go along with its new name.

The logo is part of a long-term effort to rebrand the neighborhood, led by the group United North and the ONE Village Action Committee. Julia Bitter, a Woodward High School student, designed the logo in a community-sponsored contest, and won a prize of $100.

Terry Glazer, chief executive officer of United North, said the rebranding's purpose is to reflect the positive changes - such as the construction of 48 houses - made under the Quality of Life plan, which ONE Village residents and community leaders have been working on for the past two years. The first step in the rebranding process was changing the name of the area from North Toledo to ONE Village earlier this year.

Residents decided to recruit graphic design students at Woodward High School to create the logo, and ONE Village met a few times to choose the one that best represented the neighborhood.

Mr. Glazer said they were main-ly looking for a graphic that would look good at a smaller size and that would represent the future of the neighborhood.

The chosen logo features the neighborhood's name as well as an image of a dome, which represents the one at the top of Woodward High School's new building, a neighborhood focal point.

"The dome came out of it as being under one umbrella," said Emilio Ramirez, principal of Woodward High School and a member of One Village. Mr. Ramirez said he was surprised but pleased that the high school was represented in the logo, and said he had nothing to do with the design.

Julia Bryant, co-chairman of ONE Village, said it was appropriate to make Woodward High School the focus of the logo because it is the only high school in the neighborhood, and a common point among most residents.

Community leaders agreed that the next step was to get more people involved in the rebranding process by prompting businesses, media outlets, and residents to use the new name and logo.

"People I talked to liked the idea of the name change," said Beth Lewandowski, 36-year resident of North Toledo and vice president of Lagrange Village Council.

"We're trying to get away from the stereotype that it's not the most pleasant place to live."

About 30 residents attended the unveiling of the logo last week.

Contact Aliyya Swaby at:

aswaby@theblade.com

or 419-724-6050.