The Greater Cleveland LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment is a groundbreaking interorganizational initiative that aims to identify and address the most pressing needs of the LGBTQ+ community in Greater Cleveland.
The Greater Cleveland LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment is being led by Kent State University’s College of Public Health in partnership with over an estimated 100 community organizations, including stakeholders and local government officials in Greater Cleveland, engaging LGBTQ+ community members from Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain and Geauga counties. The mission of Kent State's College of Public Health is to develop public health leaders and promote sustainable public health innovations in collaboration with community partners in Northeast Ohio through teaching, research and service.
“We are thrilled to be launching this important initiative in March of 2023, which will help us to understand better and address the needs of the LGBTQ+ community in Greater Cleveland,” said Andrew Snyder, principal investigator for the Greater Cleveland LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment. Snyder also serves as outreach program director and adjunct faculty member of Kent State’s College of Public Health.
The needs assessment will include a range of activities, including surveys, focus groups and interviews, to gather input and feedback from local members of the LGBTQ+ community in Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain and Geauga counties. The results of the needs assessment will be used to develop strategies for addressing the identified needs and improving the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals in Greater Cleveland.
“We are committed to ensuring that the needs assessment process is inclusive and reflective of the diverse voices and perspectives within the LGBTQ+ community,” said Phyllis Harris, chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee for the Greater Cleveland LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment and executive director of the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, the primary community partner on the project.
The Greater Cleveland LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment is grateful to the Cleveland Foundation for its support of this important initiative to help fund the costs associated with conducting the needs assessment and disseminating the results to the community.
“This investment is in clear alignment with our values as it lifts up the voices of the LGBTQ+ community, prioritizes lived experience and will help inform future investment,” said Andrew Katusin, Cleveland Foundation program officer for grantmaking initiatives. “As the community’s foundation, we believe that understanding the needs of the community, directly informed by the community, is the best source of expertise to guide how we can provide support where it is needed most.”
Snyder added, “We express our sincere thanks to these sponsors for their invaluable contributions to this project. Without their support, the Greater Cleveland LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment would not be possible.”
The project adopts a community-partnered participatory research approach, which means the project will welcome community members, organizations and leaders to walk equitably through the needs assessment process to ensure full community engagement.
“Geauga SOGI Support Network is excited to partner with the Greater Cleveland LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment,” said Chris Steigerwald, board president of Geauga SOGI Support Network. “This type of interorganizational project promotes the opportunity to have essential conversations with many facets of our community. The final report will be a valuable guiding tool to ensure that the needs of ALL members of our community are heard.”
The project is expected to be completed in December 2024. For more information or to get involved, please contact Andrew Snyder at asnyde20@kent.edu or call 330-672-7330.
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Photo Caption:
Andrew Snyder, outreach program director and adjunct faculty member of Kent State University’s College of Public Health, is principal investigator for the Greater Cleveland LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment.
Media Contacts:
Andrew Snyder, asnyde20@kent.edu, 330-672-8786
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595