Community & Society
Kent State University’s Center for Public Policy and Health in the College of Public Health was recently awarded $600,000 in grant funding to support the Northeast Ohio Mental Health Awareness Training, a collaborative project that will train teachers and relevant school personnel to connect children and youth in a school setting to appropriate mental health resources.
![Flashes of Pride 2023 Photo Session Flashes of Pride 2023 Photo Session](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/FlashesPrideBanner.jpg?VersionId=Wb80VWn1KzozPXO.cyEqe2iBz5AR2P9d&h=32d47049&itok=ImGg6GlA)
This week began the annual photo shoot for the Flashes of Pride Poster, which features the faces, names, sexual identity and majors of some of Kent State’s LGBTQ+ community and allies.
![Hotel evening view Hotel evening view](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/Evening%20Hotel%20Shot.jpg?VersionId=j2duiYwa2rBq2nj1DRlEkQtsFQbduapT&h=511b1a2e&itok=Y_8Anb8e)
The Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center is celebrating 10 years of being at the heart of a transformed downtown.
![International Overdose Awareness Day is Aug. 31 Graphic for International Overdose Awareness Day](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/IOAD2023-banner-2048x678.jpg?VersionId=Qbt_Z5skBGqRTLvCfzzHFKoa9KoLFewM&h=38613253&itok=t6lXIiAj)
The Kent State University Kent Campus will be one of four locations offering free Narcan education from the Kent Health Department on Aug. 31. To help raise awareness about overdoses in Portage County, Open United Recovery (OUR) Place, the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Portage County, Kent Health Department and Brightview Kent Addiction Center will distribute free resources and educational materials.
![Fall 2023 Nursing sophomores White Coat Ceremony. Fall 2023 Nursing sophomores White Coat Ceremony.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/DSC06441_edits.jpg?VersionId=YWxIlISWW9Uj3A.VxoS_QoHfYkC1O3Pp&itok=xh-nXFuf)
The Fall 2023 White Coat Ceremony marked nursing students' transition to professional nursing classes.
![Pictured (from left to right) are Mary Kutchin, Tracey Motter, Erin Slay and Holly Ma. Pictured (from left to right) are Mary Kutchin, Tracey Motter, Erin Slay and Holly Ma.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/Mary%20Kutchin%2C%20Tracey%20Motter%2C%20Erin%20Slay%20and%20Holly%20Ma.jpeg?VersionId=1Edq2zQ8A2wsrJ4rXgcdR9UK8hkrFRPq&h=52d3fcb6&itok=sBwmS4aV)
Faculty researchers from Kent State University’s College of Nursing recently received nearly $4 million in grant funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration to develop an LPN-to-BSN pathway called the LPN Education Advancement Program (LEAP). The program will provide licensed practical nurses at University Hospitals the opportunity to increase their skill set by removing barriers that may have prevented them from furthering their education.
![Barbie-mania has people talking barbie dolls grouped together](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/dolls-3857137_1920.jpg?VersionId=pxPXCds4os1HYZRT161YZR3EkLrKxG7R&h=e5aec6c8&itok=HRbH5faX)
Lydia Rose, Ph.D., director of Public Relations for the Islamic Society of Akron and Kent and an associate professor of sociology at Kent State University, shares her perspectives on the resurgence of Barbie’s influence on our culture today.
![Students discovering downtown Kent. Students discovering downtown Kent.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/KSU_3274.jpg?VersionId=6eianjSVoTYcxekVZgn4qPpjSICJM4xo&itok=U1724HCV)
The first "Flashes First Thursday" welcomes students to experience the shopping, dining, music and more that make downtown Kent a fun place to visit.
![Scene from Summer Commencement 2023 Scene from Summer Commencement 2023](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/20230819_BC_Commencement_PM_141.jpg?VersionId=s9EyOHVrFsN3Pi8RNQL3zWCiZ3pFRMP0&itok=aFhhFj6T)
Kent State's Summer Commencement ceremonies took place on Manchester Field last Saturday.
![Hospitality students in the DI Hub. Hospitality students in the DI Hub.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/IMG_0027.jpg?VersionId=eLMCyGcKIahSJvRAaa8TeTadQ9tVNyjg&itok=vSrj0A7-)
A scholarship funded through the Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center benefits students in Kent State's Hospitality Management program.