Originally published by the Akron Community Foundation
A recent impact grant from the Gay Community Endowment Fund will help to shape future investments in the local LGBTQ+ community for years to come.
In March, the fund awarded a $10,000 grant to the Kent State University Foundation to support the Greater Akron LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment. This comprehensive assessment is the first of its kind in Greater Akron and will collect and analyze data surrounding key measures of health in the LGBTQ+ community, including education, housing, nutrition, employment, safety and recreation.
The results of the study will inform the strategies of local funders and service providers as they allocate resources and deliver programs to improve the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community in Greater Akron. A diverse group of more than 50 government, business and nonprofit organizations have signed on to participate in the project.
"Our goal is to analyze the strengths and unmet needs of the local LGBTQ+ community so we can provide a benchmark that will help decision-makers more confidently allocate scarce resources where they are needed most," said Andrew Snyder, research program coordinator at Kent State University’s College of Public Health.
"Our goal is to analyze the strengths and unmet needs of the local LGBTQ+ community so we can provide a benchmark that will help decision-makers more confidently allocate scarce resources where they are needed most," said Andrew Snyder, research program coordinator at Kent State University’s College of Public Health.
Snyder said the final product – a full community report that is slated to be released by August 2022 – will paint a picture of the community's current status, including not only deficits and unmet needs, but also the many strengths and accomplishments that can be harnessed to address priority findings.