Town-Gown
![Ken Ditlevson and others decorating the Main Street Bridge for Rainbow Weekend Ken Ditlevson and others decorating the Main Street Bridge for Rainbow Weekend](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/20231009_BC_LGBTQ_Bridge_119.jpg?VersionId=2EFi5ItSMT9iMuX3lGtq5qG939z1ERqN&itok=E1FgtwX_)
'A Supportive Community Makes It a Lot Easier'
Students coming to ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ and, for some of them, living away from home for the first time can struggle with the transition. The transition can even be more difficult for LGBTQ+ students, particularly for those who have recently "come out." Ken Ditlevson, director of ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ's LGBTQ+ Center, talks about the many resources available at Kent to support them.
![Volunteers decorating the Rainbow Main Street Bridge Volunteers decorating the Rainbow Main Street Bridge](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/20231009_BC_LGBTQ_Bridge_204.jpg?VersionId=FHtWROjZ814LuPF.pbjBrJTmFVzO95UT&itok=E20maB-l)
It's a Rainbow Week at ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ!
ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ and the city of Kent encourage people to attend any of the LGBTQ+ events on campus and downtown this week.
![Hundreds of locks fastened to Kent's Main Street Bridge Hundreds of locks fastened to Kent's Main Street Bridge](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/20231009_BC_LGBTQ_Bridge_174.jpg?VersionId=.Fc.yZpd3YGjw_DYLowgxGKSYAEldgQl&itok=0C7unO2O)
IN A FLASH: Kent's 'Locks of Love'
Kent's Main Street Bridge has been accumulating expressions of love for nearly a decade.
![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)
10 Years and More Than 200,000 Guests Later
The ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ Hotel and Conference Center is celebrating 10 years of being at the heart of a transformed downtown.
![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)
New 'Flashes First Thursday' welcomes students to explore our vibrant college town
The first "Flashes First Thursday" welcomes students to experience the shopping, dining, music and more that make downtown Kent a fun place to visit.
![Main Street](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/230810-main-st_RD-00005.jpg?VersionId=QBS2YQhRwECxPS9VHPvNpvPWFeVB0fTV&itok=VImIgL59)
East Main Street to Get a $25.5M Makeover
A federal grant will help restart a major improvement project for a highly trafficked area of downtown Kent. Changes to East Main Street will include wider sidewalks, bike and pedestrian paths and crossings, and two roundabouts.
![Dean Tondiglia (right), ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ police chief and director of public safety, goes through the PulsePoint Respond app on his phone while Kent Fire Chief John Tosko (left) looks on with an automated external defibrillator (AED) in front of him.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/01.23.20%20Photo%20of%20Kent%20Fire%20Chief%20John%20Tosko%20and%20Kent%20State%20Police%20Chief%20Dean%20Tondiglia_0.jpg?VersionId=O4borRz.RbkIdPOx6AJkgcKVpssp113s&h=56d0ca2e&itok=Kr6-BOx8)
City of Kent Partners With ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ and UH to Launch New Lifesaving Tool
Sudden cardiac arrest, when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating, is the leading cause of natural death in the United States. To help people survive from sudden cardiac arrest, the city of Kent has partnered with ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ and University Hospitals Portage Medical Center to offer PulsePoint Respond.
![ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ students explore downtown Kent.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/03.13.19%20Photo%20of%20Kent%20State%20students%20exploring%20downtown%20Kent.jpg?VersionId=ysNQqPAHcIcrjy030SmLQWpraBvqik.x&h=4aa76400&itok=CsewfQWp)
Spring 2019 Bowman Breakfast Focuses on Economic Sustainability of Downtown Kent
For more than 55 years, leaders from ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ and the city of Kent have met over breakfast to foster successful collaboration between the university and the city.
Fall 2018 Bowman Breakfast to Reflect on 100 Years of Homecoming at ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ
ÌÇÐÄVlogÆƽâ°æ President Beverly J. Warren, emeritus artist and educator of Pan-African Studies E. Timothy Moore and head football coach Sean Lewis will serve as the guest speakers at the fall 2018 Bowman Breakfast.