An action forum for leaders working to address social isolation, loneliness, and connection.
Our goal is to address our social isolation and loneliness epidemic – learning community insights and solutions for greater social connection from pioneering researchers, social innovators, and corporate, nonprofit, and civic leaders. Together we can spark action and transformation at the local, state, and national levels.
On October 12-14, 2023, the Foundation for Social Connection, Healthy Places by Design, and Harvard University’s Human Flourishing Program – with generous support from Einhorn Collaborative – hosted Building Connected Communities, an action forum for leaders working to address social isolation, loneliness, and connection. We invited changemakers from across the country to join us in Boston, Massachusetts and virtually to learn how we can collectively build more socially connected communities.
Over the three days, pioneering researchers, social innovators, and corporate, non-profit, and civic leaders presented their solutions and shared their insights for addressing community barriers and advancing greater social connection. Additionally, attendees participated in plenary sessions, small group workshops, and a half-day field trip to Boston neighborhoods for learning exchanges with local organizations.
12:00PM
Check-In (Harvard Memorial Church)
1:00PM
Opening Session (Harvard Memorial Church)
Social Connection and Flourishing Throughout Life
Drivers of Disconnection: Identifying Root Causes
2:45PM
Connection Break
3:15PM
Community Leader Storytelling and The Learning Tree Workshop (Harvard Memorial Church)
4:35PM
Connection Break
4:50PM
Building Connected Communities (Harvard Memorial Church)
Policy and Progress: The role of local government
6:15PM
Connection Break
7:30PM
Film Screening: Join or Die (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School)
8:30AM
Morning Coffee (Harvard Memorial Church)
9:30AM
Concurrent Sessions
Early Relational Health: Forming the Roots of Connected Communities (Sever Hall)
Creating Connection in Community Spaces (Harvard Memorial Church)
Civic Life and Participation (Smith Campus Center)
11:00AM
Connecting in a Disconnected World: Where do we go from here? (Harvard Memorial Church)
11:05AM
iGen: Social Connection and Loneliness Among the Smartphone Generation (Harvard Memorial Church)
12:00PM
Programmed Lunch hosted by Lennon Flowers and K Scarry (Faculty Club)
1:30PM
Concurrent Sessions
Economic Prosperity and Social Connection (Sever Hall)
Adolescents and Young Adults: Responding to the Social Disconnection Crisis (Harvard Memorial Church)
Coming Home: Learnings from Two Decades of Promoting Veterans’ Connection and Belonging (Smith Campus Center)
3:00PM
Fireside Chat and Q&A with U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy and Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad Ph.D. (Harvard Memorial Church)
4:00PM
Concurrent Sessions
Religious and Spiritual Engagement (Sever Hall)
The Promise and Peril of Digital Technology (Smith Campus Center)
Loneliness, Isolation, and Aging (Harvard Memorial Church)
5:30PM
Evening Keynote (Harvard Memorial Church)
7:30PM
Evening Reception: The Arts and Connection (Harvard Art Museums)
8:30AM
Welcome and Introduction to Boston’s Social Connectedness Work (Thelma Burns Building)
8:45AM
Overview of the Day
8:50AM
Welcome to Boston and Citywide Supports for Social Connection
9:00AM
Social Connection Strategies in Action
9:50AM
Orientation for Field Learning
10:00AM
Connection Break and Load Shuttles
10:15AM
Experiential Learning in Boston Neighborhoods
12:30PM
Lunch (Thelma Burns Building)
12:45PM
Reflecting on Social Solutions (Thelma Burns Building)
1:15PM
Closing Remarks (Thelma Burns Building)
Building Connected Communities is hosted by the Harvard Human Flourishing Program, The Foundation for Social Connection, and Healthy Places by Design with generous support from Einhorn Collaborative.