ICEBREAKER

NRN liaisons began the meeting in a circle, each considering the following question: “What’s one meaningful takeaway you’ve had from your discovery sessions?” Responses included (in blue):  

• I realized how knowledgeable I was about the many resources in Needham!

• I was excited to see how quickly the staff leaned into the importance of mental health resources for kids and adults.

• Our discussion went as expected, with participants thinking of the resources they’re not aware of, and of stigma.

• One member of our focus group shared a word of wisdom: “If you have a problem, you don’t need to walk into a room trying to show you’re the happiest person. There are people who appreciate your being honest”. 

• Our focus group felt there was a lot of knowledge about mental health in Needham, but they don’t necessarily always feel understood. 

• Many in the group felt they did not know about local mental health resources and hoped this would be an opportunity to learn more.

• For some people disclosing pain is helpful - talking is helpful.

• The question emerged about how to spread the word about resources. 

• It’s important to have information about and access to affordable medical help. 

• Even with groups where people were professionally attuned, there are many cultures and a wide range of starting places in mental health awareness and knowledge in Needham. 

• Through these conversations, we’re learning about local resources.

• There was a lot of gratitude towards the campaign for even asking these mental health questions - it reinforced how just asking how someone is doing is part of the wellness practice. 

NRN FOUNDATIONS: BELONGING

Belonging is getting more attention in recent years because it is an essential component of thriving, for individuals and communities. It can be defined as the fit between a person and a setting (e.g., family, friends, workplace, local community, nation, etc.). The way one thinks about that fit is constantly changing based on policies, relationships, events, and social cues within the setting. In assessing whether we have a sense of belonging, we ask ourselves: “Is this place good for me? Can I see myself growing here?”. Cohort 2 members associated the following words with belonging: safe space, fitting in, community, and unity. 

Research on belonging has revealed the following (citations can be found in The Belonging Barometer: The State of Belonging in the US, 2023):

• Belonging is multifaceted. It sits at the intersection of social connectivity (emotional connection, satisfying relationships, feeling welcomed and included), psychological safety (sense that one can be their authentic, whole self, sense of being valued, comfort in expressing opinions), and co-creation or agency (knowing how things work, being able to influence decisions, feeling treated equally). 

• Belonging matters for nearly every sphere of life. A 2022 nationally representative survey showed that belonging is significantly and positively associated with individual health, societal trust, a desire to get to know others across differences, civic engagement, comfort with change, and support for democracy. 

• State of Belonging in America. As of early 2023, most Americans reported non-belonging at the workplace, in the nation, and in their local communities. 

• State of Belonging in Needham. The NRN worked with Polco, a national survey agency, to conduct a representative survey of Needham households in 2022. It found that belonging was significantly associated with neighborhood and community satisfaction, and that race (being white vs. non-white) and having a more diverse social network were significantly associated with higher levels of local belonging (other correlating factors were age, years in neighborhood, socioeconomic status, and school district, though these lost significance when belonging/social network were included in the model). When specific belonging statements were assessed, non-white residents reported significantly lower ratings than white residents for: feeling emotionally connected to other local residents, feeling welcomed and included, feeling like an insider who knows how local systems work, feeling valued, and feeling comfortable expressing one’s opinions.  The NRN will conduct a follow-up survey this fall 2025.

SMALL GROUP #1 REFLECTION & LARGE GROUP SHAREBACK

In small groups of 4, NRN leaders explored the following questions. Below, we summarize some of their reflections in blue.

Reflecting on the belonging data from Needham, what surprised you or felt worthy of note?

• There’s a duality where for some that don’t feel they belong, they then don’t participate, which can become a negative cycle. Leaning in on both sides - inviting and joining - is required. 

• Any statement of gratitude can be so helpful in people’s sense of belonging.

What is your lived experience with belonging in Needham? Where have you felt it? When have you not?

• Enjoying the diverse experience within the Cohort. 

• A sense of belonging can also be related to duration of time living in a place, as well as whether one is part of a first/second/third generation family. 

• Working or living in Needham can shape experiences.

• Many immigrants came to this country with open hearts and minds and hold their original culture as well as American cultures; it’s important that we listen and embrace each culture. 

How do you see Cohort 2’s work to raise awareness about mental health as contributing to belonging in Needham? 

• By understanding the dynamics of belonging, communities can create spaces and practices where everyone can feel a sense of belonging. 

• I’ve been working with staff developing a monthly brown bag lunch around mental health to teach volunteers about health and wellness.

WELLNESS-INFORMED PRACTICES, PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES

Cohort 2 liaisons received two outputs this month: 

1) A summary of their group’s Discovery Session responses.

2) Communications templates that can be used/adapted to “share out” highlights from their Discovery Session with the rest of their subnetwork via an email to their organization/group, personal conversations, meetings, and through public-facing platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Common themes and takeaways across the 16 focus groups in town included: 

• Recognition of the stigma that still exists around mental health (might look different in different groups) and support for using the term ‘emotional wellness’ versus ‘mental health’ 

• Gaps between town bodies and community groups/residents when it comes to awareness of resources 

Going forward, our respective programming will be framed under the title “Needham Thrives Campaign”. Cohort 2 members will establish themselves as trusted leaders in offering support to mental health.

NEEDHAM THRIVES CAMPAIGN

The Practices, Programs, and Activities List is an outgrowth of NRN Discovery Data on ‘Hopes and Aspirations for Mental Health in Needham’ and professional best practices in wellness activities. The ‘List’ highlights those activities in which our subnetworks can engage either internally or in collaboration with other groups and /or town or community agencies and organizations. The Cohort is also invited to consider every day or small scale practices aimed more at prevention and wellness than intervention or response. 

Program design categories include: 

1.Centralizing Mental Health Resources - Information hubs, packets and signage

2.Implementing Early and Ongoing Mental Health Education - community-wide trainings, forums, programs with wellness and self-care themes

3.Strengthening Social Connection - networks, gatherings, play, multigenerational connection, volunteer

4.Create Holistic and Preventative Approaches to Mental Health - physical activity, mindfulness, creative outlets

5. Increasing Cultural Competence and Inclusion - creating and disseminating culturally specific materials, programs, language, clinicians, and observances

6.Civic Engagement and Collaboration - collaborative efforts between town, police, schools around wellness, identifying and honoring needs/language/understanding of specific groups 

7.Workplace and Organizational Culture - healthy work-life balance, internal systems communication/boundaries/MH ‘talk’

8.Community Infrastructure and Gathering Spaces - strategic use of public venues/recreation areas for diverse gatherings and wellness-related conversations

In planning next steps, each subnetwork will consider their aspirations, needs, and goals; target audience; hoped for takeaways for participants; and methods for measuring impact. 

SMALL GROUP REFLECTION

In small groups of 4, NRN leaders explored the following questions: 

1) In which wellness activities is your group already engaged? 

2) What from this list stood out to you as something that (a) is needed and/or might appeal to your subnetwork and//or Needham residents AND (b) could be organized between now and September?

3) What are your next steps in planning this activity or program? 

Below, we summarize their reflections in blue. 

• Consideration of a joint parent- faculty meeting focused on emotional wellbeing curricula, tools, and local context.

• School faculty feels well-suited with resources for students, and adults will also need. 

• More awareness and access to resources for adults.

• Our group already holds programs related to culture, mindfulness, knowledge, dance programming…these offerings were informed by the group’s own start in Needham. People don’t feel they belong until they’re contributing. 

• These programs and practices can help group members step into leadership and become champions of those causes.

• More socials 

• Our monthly newsletters and meetings could include personal stories.

• In my own personal experience, I would have loved a welcoming packet, and felt the onus was on me to connect.



• It's a hard thing for people to make that effort but once you do you feel connected.

• Using town spaces can feel neutral and connecting.

• Can we cosponsor activities?

• Increased people to people communication, perhaps through simple things, like a coffee hour.

• Hearing others’ ideas about connecting practices is useful. - liked the idea of a film series, building on the momentum of another group.

• Need to redesign safe spaces and learning programs, like offering training in coping strategies.

• These programs and practices can help group members step into leadership and become champions of those causes.

GROUP BIO: NEEDHAM MUSLIM NEIGHBORS (NMN) - Sri Baqri

NMN is a group of more than 40 families (from 25 members two years ago!) of South Asian, Arab, and Persian origin. Professionally the group includes doctors, lawyers, scientists, educators, corporate professionals and business owners. Children attend Needham and private schools. A variety of languages are spoken, and foods are diverse and delicious!

Civic and town engagement are important to the members of NMN, who partner with Needham Interfaith Clergy, Needham Diversity Initiative, NRN, Human Rights Commission, Parent Teacher Council, and more.

NMN’s programming and events include:

• Sunday Ramadan dinner
• Annual town wide Iftar
• Charity events and collection 
• Programs intentionally focused on welcoming 

If seeking connection with the NMN, there are active Facebook and WhatsApp groups. NMN always welcomes connection with others in the community and invites anyone interested to join them in their activities.



Onward!

Bala (NRN Lead Facilitator) 

__________