Latest news with #MahoningValley
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
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 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.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Young professionals honored at 25 under 35 event
SPRINGFIELD TWP., Ohio (WKBN) — For the 16th time, 25 of the area's young professionals under the age of 35 were honored for their accomplishments. WKBN was there Wednesday evening when this year's 25 under 35 honorees gathered for a group photo on the steps of the Lake Club in Springfield Township. It's the biggest event of the year for the Mahoning Valley Young Professionals group. The honorees work in finance, economic development, health care, and funeral services, and most were nominated by their employers. 'The top young professionals in their fields, and we're just here to celebrate them based on their community involvement, their career attributes, and just everything that they're doing in our valley,' said MVYP President Steven Weeden. Of the 25, three were named MVPs. They were Ashley Vidale of Sapphire Aesthetics and Wellness, Griffin Todd of HBK CPA's and Consultants, and Jessica Gaskell of Youngstown State. The 350 people at the event were the largest crowd ever for the 25 under 35 banquet. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
