A native of Urbana, Ohio, advocate, community builder, entrepreneur, and member of the LGBTQ+ community, Justin T. Weller’s business prowess and dedication to enacting change in his rural community have fueled the idea that a better tomorrow is always possible.
Freedom and justice have always been important to Justin. Growing up as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, he became keenly aware of the challenges facing “fly-over” country. While at Urbana High School, Justin frequently heard adults tell students that if they wanted to have access to abundant opportunities, they should graduate and leave the town. Justin knew that message must change.
While this may seem like a simple feat, advocating for progress as a young bisexual man in rural Ohio is anything but.
Entrepreneurial Spirit
While his topic of focus has evolved over the years, his identity and love of entrepreneurship have remained steadfast since childhood.
Raised on his family’s farm in Urbana, Justin started his very first business when he was 14 — a beef cattle company. From this early age, Justin fell in love with building organizations he was passionate about and set out to further develop his business prowess.
Once he reached high school, Justin co-founded the marketing and media company TrueChat, which led him to develop and host a podcast called The State of Us. The podcast focused on cutting through the noise to bring attention to pressing issues, and it was syndicated on AM and FM radio stations across much of the United States and Canada for 12 years.
After studying psychology, political science, and public relations at Xavier University, Justin committed himself to entrepreneurship full-time. While continuing to lead TrueChat, he founded Urbana Tomorrow, a business group in Urbana, Ohio, to manage an event venue at his family’s farm and invest in blighted properties in the Urbana area. Today, the organization spans real estate, construction, event spaces, media, and retail. Urbana Tomorrow has shepherded more than $10 million of investment and economic potential into a community that, not long ago, had a nearly shuttered downtown. Thanks to other like-minded developers also pouring millions into the community, Urbana has experienced a revitalization of its downtown.
From new and unique retail establishments to “class A” office space and residential accommodations spanning the economic spectrum, Urbana Tomorrow is demonstrating the power of private investment in small towns.
A Passion for Progress
In 2019, at age 24, Justin ran for mayor of Urbana as an Independent on a platform focused on providing freedom and justice for all people so that anyone could build a better life. Part of that dream was a local youth center.
While Justin narrowly lost the mayoral election, he remained dedicated to improving education locally, making the Urbana Youth Center (UYC) a reality.
“At the time, founding UYC was not something I planned to do,” said Weller. “However, looking back, I definitely believe it was an example of finding new life from the ashes. My bid for mayor had ended, but from it, my belief that improving education grew tenfold.”
In a community where about 1 in 5 students did not graduate in four years from the local high school (class of 2023, most recent data), the idea that anyone can rally community resources to uplift students and set them on a path toward success was life-changing.
Equipped with a team of education professionals with more than 150 years of combined experience, collectively passionate about rekindling a community full of fun, opportunities, love, and acceptance, Justin grew UYC into what it is today.
At its core, the Urbana Youth Center provides evidence-based and creative programming to more than 700 student members to help set them on a trajectory for accomplishing amazing things.
Magic Maker
In light of his efforts in community betterment with Urbana Tomorrow and the UYC, Justin’s “incredible acts of magic” earned him the title of “Magic Maker” from Corporate Citizenship for Disney. He was one of only 50 people across the United States to earn this distinct honor, out of tens of thousands of nominees.
As with his dedication and long-time work in the Urbana community, Justin does not take this title lightly.
“At the youth center, we are working to grow and transform our staff to provide even more services to our students,” said Weller. “The hope is to secure unwavering, long-term success at our current location and founding resource centers in countless other similar communities as we grow.”
Whether in business, education, or personal life, Justin’s belief that open hearts and minds ultimately open doors rings true.
