The Foundation for Social Connection

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at the Foundation for Social Connection! We know the holidays can be a challenging time for many, especially when it comes to experiencing isolation and loneliness. If you are looking for ways to foster connection and navigate this holiday season, check out our Resources page, as well as the Surgeon General’s recent “Recipes for Connection” guide. https://lnkd.in/gxBDEUMk https://lnkd.in/ejc2k5YP

The transportation sector plays a crucial role in addressing social isolation and loneliness and fostering connections (SILC) by providing accessible and inclusive mobility options that enable people to engage with their communities and maintain social ties. Our most recent SOCIAL Framework highlights ways to increase social connection through the Built Environment. One of the critical components mentioned in our research underscores how creating safe, active travel options benefits their independence, social connections, and community health. Some examples of these include the Walking School Bus. A walking school bus is a group of children walking to school with one or more adults. A similar initiative, bike buses, is led by parents through neighborhoods for parents and children to join the group to bike to school. Both formats create an avenue for parents and children to socially interact and generate trust. Learn more about active transportation and our Built Environment in our SOCIAL Framework Report: https://lnkd.in/gQjkE6Jj Register today for our Built Environment Webinar, happening on December 10, where we dive deeper into our Built Environment and its critical role in fostering social connection: https://lnkd.in/gdb2XMiJ

🌳⭐Strategy Spotlight⭐🌳 This week, we’re highlighting how implementing nature-based social prescribing can improve social connection through the built environment. Social prescribing describes the practice of non-medical referral programs that aim to increase one’s sense of social connectedness and belonging to combat social isolation and loneliness. When linked with nature-based programs, social prescribing can promote nature contact to foster restorative and social benefits. Utilizing natural elements like parks, hiking trails, and coastlines as a means of restoring mental health can reduce the need for more costly medical interventions in some cases. Learn more about this strategy and more by reading our SOCIAL Framework Report on the Built Environment: https://lnkd.in/gQjkE6Jj Register today for our Built Environment Webinar, happening on December 10, where we dive deeper into our Built Environment and its critical role in fostering social connection: https://lnkd.in/gdb2XMiJ

“We’re seeing a reduction in things like social groups, clubs, engagements in clubs, third spaces, and communities for people to gather” - Jillian Racoosin Kornmeier, MPH, Executive Director, Foundation for Social Connection Listen to the latest NPR episode with Katia Riddle featuring our Executive Director, Jillian Racoosin Kornmeier, MPH, and Josh Penny, Director of Social Impact at Hinge. Together, they discuss how young adults are among the most vulnerable to experiencing loneliness. The conversation highlights the One More Hour initiative, our collaboration with Hinge aimed at encouraging Gen Z to spend more meaningful time together “IRL”. Check out the full version here: https://lnkd.in/dSXN35jH

🌳⭐Strategy Spotlight⭐🌳 This week, we’re highlighting how expanding broadband access enhances social connection through the built environment. Broadband is essential for communication, education, healthcare, and reducing social isolation. It fosters connections in underserved communities and increases civic engagement. Programs like Chicago Connected, offering free internet to 100,000 students, and the city’s Broadband Challenge, bringing free wifi to public spaces, help bridge the digital divide. Learn more in our SOCIAL Framework Report: https://lnkd.in/gQjkE6Jj Register today for our Built Environment Webinar, happening on December 10, where we dive deeper into our Built Environment and its critical role in fostering social connection: https://lnkd.in/gdb2XMiJ

Take advantage of the last chance to register! Happening tomorrow, Thursday, November 21st, from 1:00 PM-2:00 PM EDT, we can't wait for this engaging discussion with author and host Allison Gilbert and special guests to address one of the greatest public health crises of the 21st century. The Making Connections series will continue to explore loneliness in the workplace. Many of us feel disconnected from colleagues, customers, or clients. Learn from experts like Eddie Garcia, Founder and Secretary of the Foundation for Social Connection; Susan McPherson, author of The Lost Art of Connecting; and Ann Shoket, CEO of TheLi.st and co-author of the Ten Minutes to Togetherness Report and Tool Kit, on how organizations can improve our sense of connectedness. Register today at: https://lnkd.in/gh-v3_du

We are so excited to introduce our new Associate Program Manager supporting the Foundation’s Network & Partnerships and Research & Practice areas, Prachir Pasricha. Prachir has long been committed to building a more relational and connected world. With a wealth of experience supporting communities in developing plans and testing interventions that foster belonging, scaling resident-led social infrastructure, and researching the measurement of social connection as a 2023 Social Connectedness Fellow with F4SC, Prachir brings invaluable insight into the policies, systems, and norms that shape our social landscape. Through his work at F4SC, he is committed to building a future of care, solidarity, and trust for generations to come. Please join us in welcoming Prachir and read more about his accomplishments here: https://lnkd.in/g2vkgmVC

📣 Join us for Diving Deeper: Advancing Social Connection through the Built Environment! On December 10th, we will be delving deeper into the built environment and its critical role in fostering social connection! Building on the release of our fourth SOCIAL Framework report, which highlighted strategies at the intersection of transportation, housing, and environmental sectors, this session will spotlight our new supplemental research briefs that examine these individual sectors. During this webinar, our staff and expert practitioners who contributed to the briefs will share their insights on practical applications of these strategies, discuss successful community examples, and identify key research gaps in need of further exploration. 🎙️ Our fantastic speakers include: - Frances Kraft, Research & Practice Program Director, The Foundation for Social Connection - Dr. Carrie Henning-Smith Smith, Associate Professor, Division of Health Policy & Management at the University of Minnesota - Michelle Hoar, Project Director at Hey Neighbour Collective - Ayanna Williams, Director of Community and Environmental Resilience, National Recreation and Park Association Whether you're a researcher, policy maker, practitioner, or community leader, this webinar is designed to equip you with actionable insights and a deeper understanding of how to create a vibrant society where social connection is at the heart of how we live. 📆 Register today: https://lnkd.in/gdb2XMiJ

Perfectly timed for the holiday season, the Surgeon General’s most recent guide, “Recipes for Connection: Inspiring Social Connection One Bite at a Time,” offers creative and diverse ways to strengthen connections. This booklet provides ideas for meaningful gatherings designed to address the growing loneliness epidemic and foster community-building around food. View the full version of Recipes for Connection: https://lnkd.in/ejc2k5YP Read about one example of how Recipes for Connection has been used in a new initiative, Project Gather, https://lnkd.in/eAw2XyGj

Meet our Board member - Andrew M.! As a part of our new strategic plan, we’ve made some exciting changes to our Board and want to reintroduce you to our members! Our member, Andrew MacPherson, is the Founder and Executive Chair of the The Coalition to End Social Isolation & Loneliness (CESIL) - soon to be known as the Foundation’s Action Network - and a co-founder of the Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection (GILC). He has over 20 years of experience in healthcare policy development and coalition building, currently working as the Founding Principal and Managing Partner a Healthsperien LLC, In this position, Andrew co-leads a team of policy experts dedicated to transforming care systems for vulnerable populations. His includes legislative and regulatory strategy, advocacy, and communications across a variety of healthcare organizations and non-profits. Explore Andrew's impressive accomplishments here: https://lnkd.in/gAXENcfW To learn about more exciting changes coming to the Foundation, including the Coalition’s transition to our Action Network, read our Letter from Leadership here: https://lnkd.in/esBjz_R3