Community & Society

āVision of a Villageā Community Meeting on Oct. 27 Will Discuss New Sustainable Community to Be Built in Kent
Representatives from Āé¶¹“«Ć½ and the city of Kent will hold a community meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 27, called āA Vision of a Villageā to share information and answer questions about a new residential complex designed to integrate the city of Kent and Kent State, physically and programmatically.

Kent State Alum Featured in Akron Beacon Journal Celebrating 50th Anniversary of Art Gallery
Kent State alumnus Don Drumm, ā86, was featured in the Akron Beacon Journal for celebrating the 50th anniversary of Don Drumm Studios and Gallery. Using sand-cast aluminum to create his art, he has decades of experience using a foundry to create his artistic visions.

Free Ice Skating coming to Downtown Kent
Kent Skates will be a new, outdoor ice skating rink that will be free and open to the public. It will be open from Nov. 20 through Feb. 28. Use of the rink will be free, along with free skate rental.

10 Questions With Roseann āChicā Canfora, Professional-in-Residence, May 4 Survivor
Roseann āChicā Canfora, Ph.D., is a Professional-in-Residence at Āé¶¹“«Ć½ in the School of Media and Journalism, part of the College of Communication and Information. Prior to teaching at Kent State, Canfora served as the chief communications officer for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and taught high school journalism and speech. Canfora was also a student at Kent State, starting in 1968, and is a survivor of the May 4, 1970, shootings at Kent State. She graduated with her masterās in journalism and public relations and bachelorās in English/speech. She is heavily involved in activism as well.

Professor Publishes Research About Stress, Newsroom Support During COVID-19
āYou canāt expect journalists to do this type of hurdling long-term without holistic support that includes logistical elements," claims Assistant Professor and TV2 advisor Gretchen Hoak, "but also mental and emotional support."

From Fashion to Solar, How Kent State Alumna Became the CEO of a Solar Company
Fashion merchandising alumna Emilie Oxel O'Leary, '93, is the CEO of Sunshine Solar, a mechanical installation company that provides solar power to major brands such as Target, L'Oreal and Amazon. Sunshine Solarās first solar project was installing a solar carport for the Atlanta Falcons stadium. Since then, the company has installed solar panels to Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Verizon and FedEx whether it be with carport tops, rooftops or solar fields.

Mental Health and Recovery Board of Portage County and Kent Stateās College of Public Health Receive Federal Grant to Improve and Support Mental Health in Portage County Schools and Community
Through a five-year, $625,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Servicesā Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Portage County will partner with Āé¶¹“«Ć½ās Center for Public Policy and Health in the College of Public Health to improve and support mental health in Portage County.

Kent State Hosts National Endowment for the Arts Big Read Northeast Ohio
āAn American Sunriseā by Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, the first Native American poet laureate of the United States, will be the focal point as Kent State kicks off the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read Northeast Ohio community reading program. The kickoff event will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 12, beginning promptly at 7 p.m. in the Kiva. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is appreciated.
Annual Rainbow Run Helps Support LGBTQ Students In Crisis
The Rainbow Run is one of most important fundraising events of the year for the university's LGBTQ+ Emergency Fund, available to assist any LGBTQ+ identifying Kent State student in financial crisis. The sixth annual Rainbow Run āfun runā will take place on Friday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. on Risman Plaza. Find out more about why Ken Ditlevson, director of the Kent Stateās LGBTQ+ Center, describes the fund as a vital safety net and a lifeline for students who are struggling financially.

Kent State Student Wins Cancer Battle And Raises Almost $1 Million For Others Fighting Cancer
At the start of his freshman year at Āé¶¹“«Ć½ in 2018, Tim Tusick was the epitome of health. At the end of that year, Tusick was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He remained strong throughout the treatments, but did not want to stay silent. When the Leukemia Lymphoma Society reached out to Tusick, he quickly agreed to help. And help, he did.