Our Healthy Community Launches HEART for the LGBTQ+ Community

Collaboration uses OHCEngage social platform to improve data collection from community-based organizations and shape national health equity standards for vulnerable populations.

CLEVELAND, OH - Our Healthy Community (OHC), an organization dedicated to improving health outcomes in underserved communities, is announcing the creation of HEART for the LGBTQ+ Community.

"We are thrilled to launch the HEART space on our OHCEngage social media platform," said OHC Founder and CEO Silas Buchanan. “We, unfortunately, are living in a time where homogenizing who we are and how we live is becoming the norm. However, at OHC we believe that when we create room for every voice to be heard and every identity to be seen and honored, we all grow stronger. We understand that highlighting our differences, and actually celebrating our diversity, is a real super-power! HEART is intended to accomplish this and is more than just a space - it’s a commitment to belonging, equity, and joy,” continued Buchanan.

Empowering Individuals and Communities 

HEART for the LGBTQ+ Community is an online space designed to empower individuals by focusing on:

• Health: Championing policies and practices that improve health outcomes for the LGBTQ+ community.

• Empowerment: Providing tools, resources, and support to help individuals thrive in all aspects of life.

• Advocacy: By raising voices, supporting important causes, and challenging systemic inequalities, we can drive real, lasting change.

• Resilience Strategies: Offering practical strategies to navigate and remain strong during uncertain political times.

• Togetherness: Fostering a sense of solidarity, knowing that when we unite, we are capable of creating meaningful change.

A Focus on Mindfulness 

HEART is a vibrant, inclusive, and affirming online community space created with the intention of fostering connection, healing, and empowerment — especially for LGBTQ+ individuals navigating today’s increasingly challenging social and political landscape. It is a place where joy, authenticity, and resilience are not only welcomed but actively nurtured.

A core focus of HEART is OHC’s commitment to support mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) strategies, which are grounded in evidence-based research. These practices are designed to help individuals become more present, regulate their emotions, and disrupt unhelpful mental patterns that can undermine well-being. The benefits of MBIs are particularly meaningful for LGBTQ+ people, many of whom experience chronic stress due to discrimination, marginalization, and systemic inequities.

In developing HEART, and in consultation with the Cleveland Clinic, we noted that MBIs can: 

• Reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression

• Strengthen emotional resilience and coping abilities

• Improve focus, clarity, and decision-making

• Develop deeper self-awareness and emotional intelligence

• Cultivate compassion — both for ourselves and others

In the current political climate — where LGBTQ+ rights and identities are increasingly under attack — HEART exists as both a refuge and a resource. It is a reminder that while we may not always be able to control external forces, we can equip ourselves with tools that protect our mental and emotional health, strengthen our community bonds, and sustain our capacity to show up fully and authentically.

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About Our Healthy Community (OHC) OHC is a community-first engagement and innovation company focused on building platforms, programs, and resources that address community needs. OHC develops cutting-edge tools and strategies that promote health equity. OHCEngage is a community hub where users can engage in consistent conversations around health equity to empower themselves and improve their community's health. In OHCEngage, community organizations can come together to share resources, address health disparities, converse with healthcare stakeholders, and foster dialogue and collaboration. OHC's mission is to bridge the gap between faith-based organizations, community organizations, and the healthcare industry, working toward achieving health equity for all. Learn more at ourhealthycommunity.com.