The Greater Mahoning Valley LGBTQ+ community is set to take a major step forward with the launch of the next project expansion of the LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment in 2025. Led in collaboration between the Center for Community Solutions, Equality Ohio, and Kent State University's College of Public Health, this inter-organizational initiative is the first of its kind in Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, and Ashtabula counties. This work aims to identify and address the most pressing needs of the local LGBTQ+ community. Over 50 local community organizations will be participating in the study, with primary community partners including Equality Ohio, Full Spectrum Community Outreach, PFLAG Youngstown, and Mahoning Valley Queer Action.
The project includes a comprehensive community survey, intersectionality listening sessions (think focus groups), and key stakeholder interviews to gather input and feedback from local members of the LGBTQ+ community in Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, and Ashtabula counties. These activities will be inclusive and reflective of the diverse voices and perspectives within the LGBTQ+ community. The results of the study will be used to develop strategies for addressing the identified needs and improving the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals in the greater Mahoning Valley region.
Capturing insight about the current status and potential accomplishments and deficiencies in the LGBTQ+ community will provide valuable information, freely accessible to the public, to support and validate decision-making and prioritize commitments to community health interventions, resources, and investments. This work, an expansion of LGBTQ+ community needs assessments conducted in Greater Akron (2022) and Greater Cleveland (2024), contributes to improving the day-to-day lives of LGBTQ+ residents across Northeast Ohio.
The study will cover several critical areas including:
Health and Wellness,
Religion and Spirituality,
Education and Literacy,
Housing, Food, and Basic Needs,
Business, Employment, and Commerce,
Safety and Law Enforcement, and
Recreation and Leisure
You can now take the community survey or register for an intersectionality listening session using the links below:Take the survey! Register for an intersectionality listening session!
If you're part of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, you can help make this study a success by getting involved and providing input. For more information or to get involved, click the button below and submit your information via our webform—a member of the research team will reach out to you.