WE ARE Betty Jacobs

Betty Jacobs is a lifelong Lake County resident and a mother of six. She has spent most of her career working and volunteering with nonprofit organizations. It is through that, that she became aware of the gaps in support and services for the Lake County LGBTQ community. Betty earned her Associates of Human Services through Lakeland Community College. She is currently in her last semester of her Bachelors of Social Work through Youngstown State University.

Betty is the National PFLAG Great Lakes Regional Director. She is also a PLFAG-Cleveland board member. She developed and facilitates PFLAG Cleveland satellite meetings, which are held at the LGBTQ+ Allies Lake County offices. She has also founded and co-facilitates, TransSupport Lake County, Youth Pride, LGBTQ REcovery, Gaymers, LGBTQ Book Club, LGBTQ Movie Club. Betty has presented over 40 diversity training (safe space) seminars/webinars for organizations, agencies, and businesses.

Betty has made it her mission to continue advocating for the LGBTQ community by developing and facilitating, the first and only LGBTQ Practicum for leaders in Lake County. She has been working with the leaders of Lake County on the disparities and discrimination that LGBTQ individuals face in Lake County. She has brought together more than 20 health and human service providers both for children and adults, drug addiction agencies, sheriff’s departments, churches, and community members to work on how to make Lake County more LGBTQ inclusive and welcoming.

Betty has a passion for advocating and empowering the most marginalized groups, in particular, LGBTQ individuals.