Research nonprofit reaching out to local LGBTQ+ community
A research fellow from the Center for Community Solutions is reaching out to Ashtabula County's LGBTQ+ population to understand what issues they're facing.
Andrew Snyder is running the Greater Mahoning Valley LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment, which is focusing on Ohio counties bordering Pennsylvania.
Snyder said the assessment is part of his Ph.D dissertation at Kent State University's College of Public Health.
CCS is partnering with Equality Ohio, a nonprofit that researches policy issues, to do outreach, Snyder said.
'[Equality Ohio] recently hired a Mahoning Valley organizer whose goals align closely with ours: to connect with the community, understand its needs and raise awareness about policies that impact LGBTQ+ Ohioans,' Snyder said.
Part of the community needs assessment consists of a confidential 30-40 minute survey for members of or people with a meaningful connection to the LGBTQ+ community.
Children 12 and older can also do the survey with a parent or guardian's permission.
Allies to the LGBTQ+ community can also take the survey, but will be asked a different set of questions.
Survey questions focus on issues like housing, education, safety and health, and can be skipped if participants do not want to answer, Snyder said.
Snyder is seeking at least 700 responses to the survey, from across all four counties, he said.
'This is our big call to action,' he said.
People can find the survey at lgbtqohio.org.
Participants can enter a raffle to win a $75 Visa gift card. Winners will be chosen in January 2026.
The community needs assessment will have a table at the Ashtabula Pride Festival June 21 at Walnut Beach.
Alongside the surveys, it will have confidential focus groups.
They will consist of a 90-minute listening session, where participants will be asked questions relating to their lives.
People can sign up for focus groups at the community needs assessment website.
Snyder said there will be a confidential focus group from 6-7:30 p.m. Aug. 20. There are a total of ten spots open.
'It's us listening to the communities,' he said.
Focus group participants will receive a $30 gift card.
CCS has done similar assessments in the Cleveland and Akron areas.
'Eventually, we would like to do it state wide,' Snyder said.
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