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MARCH 2023

Highlights from the Nationwide Network of Champions 



Commit to Connect’s Virtual Hub has grown to 233 Champions who represent 210 organizations. The newest addition to the Hub is the Intergenerational Engagement Community where Champions are encouraged to share resources, events and ideas related to intergenerational engagement. Newly featured on the Hub are the Meet the Champion blog posts, which highlight various active network members. Be sure to log in or sign up to stay up to date on all the new activities and resources on the Hub. The Hub is a no-cost virtual space for passionate leaders and innovators at the local, state and national levels dedicated to ending social isolation and loneliness. Have questions? Contact info@committoconnect.org. 

Register Now for the engAGED and Commit to Connect Virtual Summit  

Join engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults and Commit to Connect for a two-day Social Engagement Virtual Summit, May 9-10 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm ET on both days. The Summit will bring together national, state and local leaders for interactive discussions on addressing social engagement in rural communities and supporting the social connection of unpaid caregivers. Find out more about this free event and register now!  

In Case You Missed It: Exploring the Nationwide Network of Champions Webinar



In January, Commit to Connect held the first in a series of Communities of Interest (COI) webinars. These webinars include guest speakers and also offer ample time to engage with others on the topic at hand. The January COI focused on tips for engaging in the Virtual Hub and featured speakers from Commit to Connect. A recording of the session is available here. Stay tuned for the announcement of the next COI webinar! For more information on all Commit to Connect events, visit the Events webpage. 

Miley Stanton-Flowers

Join An Upcoming Community of Practice: Understanding the Impact of Social Isolation and Loneliness Programs 

Commit to Connect is seeking participants for the new Community of Practice, which will focus on understanding the impact of social isolation and loneliness programs. Participants will share and build expertise while implementing the Upstream Social Interaction Risk Screener (U-SIRS) tool in their current program promoting social connectedness. The application deadline is March 29 by 11:59 pm ET. 

New from Commit to Connect: Introducing Peer-to-Peer Exchanges 



Looking for ways to connect with fellow colleagues across the nation who are focused on reducing social isolation and loneliness? Commit to Connect holds virtual Peer-to-Peer Exchanges, for networking with peers. The first Peer-to-Peer Exchange took place in February with more than 50 participants from a broad spectrum of organizations, including Area Agencies on Aging, universities, senior centers, state-level initiatives and more. The discussion focused on the intersection of technology and social isolation and loneliness, including the benefits and challenges of hybrid programs as well as barriers to reaching hard-to-access populations (including rural communities). Visit our Events page for more information on upcoming offerings. 

• View this short clip, featuring Prince Taylor, Deputy Director for the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Center for Development & Civic Engagement, to learn more about how the Veterans Administration is helping veterans fight loneliness.
• A Washington Post article includes advice from U.S. General Surgeon Vivek Murthy and highlights eight ideas to rebuild social connection.
• engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults hosted a webinar focused on social engagement among tribal elders. View the recording and slides from the webinar.
• The Foundation for Social Connection released its Work, Employment, & Labor (WEL) Sector Report for public comment. Read the report and view this webinar recording to learn about evidence-based policies and practices you can implement to foster connection through your work.
• A news segment from CBS Miami addresses the growing problem of social isolation and loneliness across the country.
• Kaiser Health News highlights ways virtual health and wellness programs benefit participants, especially in rural communities.
• CNBC highlights the result of a Harvard study on happiness, which found a strong link between happiness and social connectedness with family, friends and social circles.
• Med City News highlights a report on the impact of a social health platform, Wisdo, for reducing loneliness among Humana Medicare Advantage Members. 

1. Become a Commit to Connect Champion by joining the Nationwide Network of Champions. Tell your story and join the conversation.  
2. Invite your friends and colleagues to join you as a Commit to Connect Champion.
3. Visit the Commit to Connect website to apply to join the newest Community of Practice or sign-up to participate in a Peer-to-Peer Exchange or Community of Interest.

Upcoming Events and Deadlines

• Virtual Summit: engAGED and Commit to Connect Social Engagement Virtual Summit (May 9-10 from 1:00-4:00pm ET)
• Conference: On Aging (American Society on Aging, March 27-30, Atlanta, GA)
• Symposium: Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium (National Council on Aging, May 11 from 10:00am-5:00pm ET)
• Observance: Global Loneliness Awareness Week (June 11-17)
• Conference: Age+Action Conference (National Council on Aging, June 12-13, Arlington, VA; and June 20-21, Virtual Sessions)
• Conference: USAging’s 48th Annual Conference and Tradeshow (USAging, July 16-19, Salt Lake City, UT)
• Conference: Generations United 22nd Global Intergenerational Conference (Generations United, July 26-28, Washington, DC)
• Conference: Meals on Wheels Annual Conference and Expo (Meals on Wheels America, August 16-19, Phoenix, AZ)
• Conference: Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Conference (ADvancing States, August 27-31, Baltimore, MD)
• Conference: American Indian Elders Conference (National Indian Council on Aging, September 25-29, Cherokee, NC)

Funding for this initiative was made possible by contract no. HHSP233201500088I from ACL. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.