Musician Malcolm Dalglish and his musical ensemble perform while leading community members as they parade down newly renamed Toby Strout Way.
BY CARMEN SIERING
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NAAMA LEVY
On Friday, March 8, the portion of South Washington Street that runs in front of properties owned by Middle Way House, was named to honor the legacy of Toby Strout, who served as executive director of the nonprofit agency for 30 years. Strout died in February 2017 at the age of 71.
Speakers at the naming ceremony included Strout’s daughter, Anna Strout, and husband, Bob Arnove. Other speakers and performers included Middle Way House executive director Debra Morrow, Mayor John Hamilton, jazz singer Janiece Jaffe, poet Shanna Ritter, and musician Malcolm Dalglish, who led those present on a march along Toby Strout Way, the honorary nomenclature for that portion of South Washington Street.
Strout first served on the Middle Way House board of directors and was named executive director in 1987. In 1998, under her direction, a transitional housing program, The RISE, first opened. And, in 2010, the New Wings building, which includes an emergency shelter, six permanent housing units for survivors without children, and the nonprofit organization’s administrative offices, opened at 338 S. Washington St.
Check out this photo gallery by Bloom contributing photographer Naama Levy. (Click on the photo to start the slideshow. Use the on-screen arrows or the arrows on your keyboard to navigate forward and backward.)
