Shoppers of ideas are already stepping forward: Journey: Healing Together is asking LGBTQ+ people, allies and local professionals in Erie County to share priorities in a quick 3–5 minute survey so future wellness and learning programmes reflect real community needs.

Essential Takeaways

  • What’s happening: Journey: Healing Together launched the Learning Collective community input survey to co-design LGBTQ+ wellness and learning events.
  • Who’s behind it: The initiative is funded by the Erie Community Foundation’s LGBT Endowment Fund and led by Journey’s executive director, Dr William J. Koehler.
  • How to take part: The online survey takes about 3–5 minutes, or participants can join listening circles and prototype workshops.
  • Why it matters: Responses will guide workshops, peer support and community conversations that aim to be accessible, affirming and relationship-centred.
  • Feel of the work: The approach is collaborative and listening-led, with an emphasis on lived experience and practical barriers like access and scheduling.

A simple survey with a big ambition

Journey: Healing Together has chosen to start by listening, and that’s refreshingly tangible , the survey takes only a few minutes but promises to steer the whole project. According to Journey’s announcement, the Learning Collective’s first 90-day phase is all about gathering ideas, experiences and priorities from the people who will actually use the services. That feels less like a top-down programme and more like a community conversation that can be acted on.

Why funders are backing a listening-first approach

The Erie Community Foundation’s LGBT Endowment Fund is supporting this phase, which shows local philanthropy wants programmes built with, not for, the community. The foundation’s LGBT fund already backs projects intended to increase equity and resilience across the county, and this fits that playbook. For local organisers and donors, it’s a chance to invest in more targeted, practical support rather than one-size-fits-all events.

What the community engagement looks like

Phase 1 isn’t limited to an online form; it includes listening circles for deeper conversation and two prototype signature workshops to test ideas in real time. That mix , survey, facilitated listening, and pilot workshops , helps surface not only what people want but also what’s feasible. If you care about accessibility, this is where you can flag barriers like transport, timing, childcare or digital access.

How your response actually changes the programme

Journey says the findings will identify strengths, unmet needs and emerging opportunities , then future workshops and peer-support offerings will be shaped by those insights. Practically, that means if many people request peer groups for trans youth or training for helping professionals, those items are more likely to be prioritised. It’s a fast way to make sure limited resources target the most pressing local needs.

Practical tips for taking part and spreading the word

If you’re in Erie County, set aside five minutes to complete the survey online; it’s short, and every reply helps. Consider sharing it with friends, local groups or organisations that work with LGBTQ+ people so quieter voices get heard. If you prefer conversation to forms, look for the community listening circle dates or ask Journey how to join a prototype workshop , they’re explicitly designed to test accessibility and content.

It’s a small step that could change what local wellness and learning looks like for years to come.

Source Reference Map

Story idea inspired by: [1]

Sources by paragraph: