Community Impact
![Members of Kent State's Football Team visit the I Promise School in Akron. Members of Kent State's Football Team visit the I Promise School in Akron.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/240125_LJFF_IPS_KSU_FOOTBALL_VISIT-115.jpg?VersionId=7mGlIshKajNmgcsbp91mFVizCqyos3jh&itok=9NU7xx16)
Golden Flashes football team members spent a recent afternoon visiting with students at the LeBron James Family Foundation’s I Promise School in Akron, Ohio, where they checked out the school’s facilities and spent time reading to youngsters.
![LGBTQ students and allies painted The Rock LGBTQ students and allies painted The Rock](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/pro-msEiUJn5.jpeg?VersionId=Y9WzryaUZceblr54iT0B9vFrKe9rSl5L&itok=Gi691I9B)
Members of Kent State's LGBTQ+ community and their allies used The Rock to share a call for kindness.
Kent State's Flashes Fighting Hunger initiative engaged families and the community through an MLK-themed event at Ravenna's King Kennedy Center.
![Decorated door at DeWeese Health Center Decorated door at DeWeese Health Center](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/2024-01/Screenshot%202024-01-31%20at%2012.55.47%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=pIWnyNUi_Xh8fwup4onRkEaXs2aPOK3H&h=340314a2&itok=KkPE1kr_)
On-campus flu vaccine clinics help keep Kent State students, faculty and staff healthy throughout the flu season.
![Kent State alumna Michelle Abrahamson Robell Kent State alumna Michelle Abrahamson Robell](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/Robell.jpg?VersionId=LsYBNOWmO9HQKKGsYUBk1unJd6wEFOVE&itok=4SOQseNl)
After a few stops and starts, alumna Michelle Abrahamson Robell found her purpose in a fulfilling (and award-winning) career as a teacher.
![An image of a healthy Black mother and child. An image of a healthy Black mother and child.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/AdobeStock_422571389.jpeg?VersionId=llFdkZ1uAYmMKOhh6OzHLQsTDYXHD1Ku&itok=gFMFFsm3)
Kent State University’s Anti-Racism and Equity Institute, in conjunction with University Libraries, on Feb. 6 will host a movie screening and panel discussion for Black History Month addressing the increasing infant mortality rate among African Americans in Northeast Ohio.
![Ribbon-cutting for the new track at the Kent State Fieldhouse Ribbon-cutting for the new track at the Kent State Fieldhouse](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/20240119_BC_MBB_V_Akron_2134.jpg?VersionId=XFR4hiJ2crdYTQ8x96_4wwTqPXyW0EuD&itok=YcWXMFUL)
There was an official ribbon-cutting for the new, high-tech running track that installed at the Kent State University Field House this summer.
![Work continues on the Kent State Ice Arena Work continues on the Kent State Ice Arena](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/420862031_704593138493595_1975899872398671867_n.jpg?VersionId=LJrfoA.kai_1ByX5kvA73Oduy4yJjAC0&itok=ldzX0CmX)
Work continues on the renovations and improvements to the Kent State University Ice Arena.
![Senior fashion design majors Mackenzie Karsten and Daniella Byrnes review candidates during model tryouts at Kent State's School of Fashion Senior fashion design majors Mackenzie Karsten and Daniella Byrnes review candidates during model tryouts at Kent State's School of Fashion](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/BOB_5816-Enhanced-NR.jpg?VersionId=bSM8woLWgmpThJRSwwPU89PeWkAjmS.o&itok=1viBKC3E)
Students, faculty and alumni from Kent State University’s world-renowned School of Fashion will be sending some of their most exciting designs down the runway on Feb. 8 in Haute for the House, a fashion show to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio.
![Turtle Bay Wetland Turtle Bay Wetland](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/2024-01/Screenshot%202024-01-24%20at%202.23.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=PCxorlBw5kkSwYfv7Le4RNf.Oyau0Gbp&h=8da21835&itok=owh49sMo)
Kent State researchers are studying how the presence of waterfowl contributes to the health of wetland ecosystems.