The Origin Story of a Local HER-O Visionary mom shares her odyssey By Phoebe Samuel Rapp
Toledo mom Lexi HaymanStaples has contributed to the area arts scene and LGBTQIA+ community with contributions to a thriving art center and a robust Toledo Pride celebration. Lexi, the Artistic Director for the Collingwood Art Center and Toledo Pride founder/ organizer, also works and designs for longtime local art and jewelry mavens, Harold Jaffe Jewelers. Born in Sandusky, Ohio, Lexi’s family moved to the Old West End in the heart of Toledo. When she was in the fourth grade, Lexi and her family moved to Bedford, Michigan. She shares, “Toledo always felt like home.”
Quick Quips: Most valuable life lesson: Value relationships and always try to respect others, especially when you don’t agree with them. Words to live by: Be nice. Proudest accomplishment: Toledo Pride (my original baby) and Francis June (my other baby). Who’s your mentor? There are too many to list. I am constantly inspired by someone new and I love to learn. Also, my Dad was amazing, so that’s an easy pick if I had to pick.
Creative souls do wander Inspiration comes from: Art, nature, A passion for creating art drove family and friends Lexi to study art in college and to work as a tattoo artist. With a Best advice ever: “If you’re not getting happier as you get older, then your [messdesire to start a business, Lexi parting] up.” nered with her mother, Johanna Staples, to open Outskirts bar (on Worst advice: Don’t worry, it’ll all work Laskey Rd.) in 2008. itself out. But...I love to worry. In 2009 Lexi decided to create a Toledo celebration of pride with What lesson do you wish you had the city’s own parade. With $500 learned sooner? Math is hard and you from her mother, another $400 will have a calculator in your pocket. from an anonymous donor, and some craft store implements, Lexi went to work. the Collingwood Art Center, Lexi was The first-ever Toledo Pride Parade was ready to make her life with Nicole “ofheld in August, 2009 at the Erie Street ficial.” Taking her original engagement Market. Lexi used poster boards and markring design to Harold Jaffe Jewelers, ers for the decor and colorful plastic table she impressed the owners and they had cloths for the backdrop. Optimistically hired her for sales and design. With the expecting 1000 attendees, she was thrilled security of a great career, the couple that 2500 showed up. In 2019, over 20,000 was married on January 16, 2016. Toledo Pride participants gathered to celebrate community, inclusion and love. Personal baby fever The makings of a family When Lexi met Nicole Hayman in 2007, she realized she wanted to expand her life and family. Several years later, with Toledo Pride’s success and great progress at
Nicole, holding Francis, with Lexi Hayman-Staples. ing career, the couple decided that Lexi would carry their baby, a boy, Francis June Hayman-Staples. No really, it takes a village Nicole works long hours at the Toledo Hospital Cardiovascular intensive care unit and has a second career as a hairstylist, while Lexi works at Harold Jaffe Jewelers plus the Collingwood Arts Center. Lexi explains that with the help of aunties, friends and an indispensable grandma (Johanna Staples), they are able to manage careers and a happy home life. Busy as she may be, Lexi confides that her heart is at home. Little Francis
PHOTO BY JAMIE WARD PHOTOGRAPHY
leads the dance party with three cats and a dog in the mix. Nicole shares, “My absolute favorite thing about being a mom is watching him grow, learn and experience new things. I never thought I would understand the amount of love you can have for a child...it’s confusing and almost too much.” With extra time at home these days, the family enjoys cooking creative vegan meals, Facetiming with friends and family, and all kinds of art projects. Lexi concludes, “Nicole and I wanted to be parents for a long time. We are both so incredibly happy to have a great family and we are enjoying it every step of the way!”
Lexi describes the feeling she had when she held a friends’ baby as “personal baby fever.” She explains, “As I held their little baby, I thought for the first time that maybe I can have a baby.” With Nicole pursuing a nurs-
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