Chief of Staff Rachel Gagnon successfully completes Leadership Ohio's Class of Fellows for 2022

Lucas Metropolitan Housing (LMH) is pleased to announce that LMH Chief of Staff Rachel Gagnon has successfully graduated from Leadership Ohio's Class of Fellows for 2022.

"Rachel is the first member of the LMH team to graduate this prestigious program," said Joaquin Cintron Vega, LHM president and CEO. "Leadership Ohio augmented her already impressive leadership skills, making her a more valuable asset to both our organization and the community at large. We're all lucky to have her expertise right here in Lucas County."

Founded in 1992, Leadership Ohio was designed to educate civic-minded individuals with a deeper understanding of Ohio and its current issues, and to help those individuals chart a new path of service.

According to Leadership Ohio's website, "We uniquely blend experiences and dialogue with influential leaders, dreamers, movers and shakers, often with an eye toward disrupting outdated mindsets and challenging the status quo. Our approach produces a class of leaders with statewide knowledge, perspective and connections, who are inspired to a higher level of service. Leadership Ohio graduates are a highly select body of leaders with a unique statewide grounding."

The seven-month program lasted from April to October this year, during which Gagnon and her cohort spent day-and-a-half-long sessions each month engaging with some of the most influential business, community and elected officials in communities across Ohio.

Gagnon officially graduated from Leadership Ohio earlier this month as part of Leadership Ohio's 30th Anniversary Class.

Gagnon is a native Toledoan and a 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. Before joining LMH, she served as the executive director of the Toledo Lucas County Homelessness Board and the chief operating officer at Sunshine Communities.

Gagnon has devoted her career to advocating for inclusive housing developments and rebuilding response systems to effectively serve community members in need. She said she believes housing is a fundamental right for all individuals and is grateful to be part of LMH, an organization whose mission and values so closely align with her own.

"In order to best service our community and help those struggling with housing issues to get all the help they need, it's vital that all of LMH's leaders are at the top of their games," Cintron Vega said. "Ms. Gagnon's accomplishment keeps us very much in line with that mission."

More information about Leadership Ohio is available at leadershipohio.org.  

About Lucas Metropolitan Housing Established in 1933, Lucas Metropolitan Housing (LMH) continues to provide affordable housing to adults, seniors and children in its Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, Mixed-Income and Market Rate housing units. LMH also provides myriad programs and opportunities designed to improve the total quality of life for our residents, with the ultimate goal of achieving self-sufficiency. The programs and services are the result of successful collaborations with numerous community partners.

Our current housing portfolio consists of 2,633 Public Housing units, 4,657 Housing Choice Vouchers, 322 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit units, 198 Market Rate units and 107 Homeownership Properties. There are approximately 17,500 people who reside in LMH properties. Lucas Metropolitan Housing partners with ALL people and organizations willing to exchange ideas and efforts to enhance Toledo, Lucas County and the world.

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