Windsor-Essex Pride Fest is inviting members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the region to participate in a survey, to better address needs and services, thanks to a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
With more than $128,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Resilient Communities Grant, Windsor-Essex Pride Fest will launch Qmunity, a local needs assessment.
“The impact of this funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation grant cannot be underestimated,” said Wendi Nicholson, president of Windsor-Essex Pride Fest. “This will allow us to conduct this important regional assessment of 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Windsor-Essex and better understand what needs are … and this truly helps us reach out to hear from all.”
Windsor-Essex Pride Fest hosted MPP Andrew Dowie (Progressive Conservative —Windsor-Tecumseh) to make the announcement Friday morning. The grant was first awarded in July 2022.
Qmunity will include community consultations, a regional assessment survey, focus groups and more to help both Windsor-Essex Pride Fest and service providers and local leaders get a better understanding of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Windsor and offer more relevant programming.
“Given that it’s been more than a decade since the most recent iteration of the assessment, I look forward to seeing our Pride community’s feedback reflected in this new report and to continuing our work together improving the services Pride Fest offers to Windsor-Essex,” Dowie said.
Wendi Nicholson, president of Windsor-Essex Pride Fest, is joined by Andrew Dowie, MPP for Windsor-Tecumseh, during a press event launching the Qmunity Windsor-Essex Needs Assessment, on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023. PHOTO BY DAX MELMER /Windsor Star
Research shows that while 2SLGBTQIA+ communities are both strong and resilient, they are also disproportionally impacted by physical and mental health issues and economic and social inequalities.
Those in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Windsor and Essex County who want to participate in there survey are encouraged to do so, and can visit http://wepridefest.com/weqmunityna", "layout_section": "in-page-link"}">wepridefest.com/weqmunityna.
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Windsor-Essex Pride Fest is funded in part by a generous