Nina Corder: Facilitating the power of connection
Greater Toledo is getting better at collaborating and in part that just might be due to the efforts of the 2021 regional Jefferson Award winner, Nina Corder. Nina is the whirlwind and spark behind Women of Toledo, an organization that provides networking and professional development to women of diverse backgrounds. Their latest initiative, HerHub, is one more tool in their toolbox to educate, engage and empower Toledo area women. Through HerHub’s online search engine, women can make connections with one another, find support services, search for volunteer opportunities and support local women’s businesses.
Why HerHub?
As the Managing and Program Director of Women of Toledo, Nina would like to be all things to all people, but realizes that even with all of her passion to serve, she has her limitations. In canvassing the community she realized that there are several organizations and businesses that serve women in many meaningful capacities. HerHub was developed as a way to bring all of those resources together in one online platform so that women can search for what they need in one place. “I am always searching for someplace where I can belong,” says Nina. “This was developed so that we can all find where we belong.”
Although this started as a way to help newcomers transition to the Toledo area, it is truly a digital platform for all women of Toledo. Anyone can go to 419herhub.org and find descriptions and contact information for nonprofits serving women, women owned businesses and local women authors. For those who list their organizations and businesses on the website, additional networking opportunities and a library of resources to help with business development, marketing and finances are offered.
Making Toledo home
Nina’s passion for connection began as her life took a turn while she was in college. As a UT international student from Malaysia, her plans to return home after graduation were interrupted when she met her future husband, a native Toledoan, during her senior year. She decided to stay here and thus began her personal search on how to belong in her new community. Along the way, women mentors helped her find her path in her adopted home. Nina says, “I am who I am because of all those women. It is now my turn to serve others who do not feel they belong.’”
Nina believes that both individuals and community can be better served by collaboration. She states, “Research tells us that it is natural for us, as social animals, to gravitate towards what we know, but that can also limit our experiences,” HerHub broadens the landscape for all women by providing a way for them to connect with women they wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to know. Bringing women together from all backgrounds with many different talents helps individuals thrive and strengthens the community. “Women of Toledo’s superpower is mentorship and connections”, states Nina. With HerHub, that connection happens.
To start connecting go to 419.herhub.org
Q&A
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You can’t be what you can’t see.
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I’m not afraid to change the status quo. I aim to see things from a different perspective so that I don’t stay stagnant!
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I would love to see HerHub expand to multiple cities. It would be wonderful to be able to hop on a local HerHub while traveling! We are already talking with women leaders in Detroit and so that may be our second HerHub.
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Do I have to choose just one person? I will choose a group instead. Our Young Women of Toledo group of 15-24 year olds inspires me a lot and makes me realize that the world is going to be awesome!
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Susan David’s Emotional Agility and anything by Brene Brown.
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I love aromatherapy and a good massage. I also like walking in nature.
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…keep it to myself!
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…Nina is not my given name.