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Making it Easier to Connect

About

Social Connection Circle is dedicated to making it easier to meet new people and remove obstacles for connection in Milwaukee County and beyond. Our approach is two-fold:

  • Supporting Individuals:

  • Resources: Explore our Resources to access companies, books, and other tools 

  • Events: Soon we'll be providing events and opportunities to connect and grow the Social Connection Community 

  • Supporting Collaborators:

  • minglespaces at events and public spaces 

  • Connection Driven Events to intentionally connection people and lead to more meaningful interactions

  • Neighborhood Connectors that help create connected neighborhoods

Interested in Collaborating? Have an event, want to collaborate, or be active in your neighborhood? 

Growing awareness of the loneliness epidemic presents an opportunity to organize our society in ways that address the cause of this crisis. 

On an individual level, it is true that we must normalize and destigmatize discussion about feeling lonely. Just as there is no shame in feeling hungry, there should be no shame in feeling lonely and talking about it and getting the tools needed to get the social connection you need.

But loneliness and isolation are at root not personal problems caused by lack of individual action, they are societal ones—symptoms of long term societal norms and social structures. And at a societal level, just as being free from hunger is a right, we need to take action that says we understand that being socially connected is a right. The Social Connection Circle's initiatives are designed with these social structures in mind, addressing the cause of what leads many of us to become lonely in the first place. 

With our initiatives, we can mold social norms to be reflective of our human needs as social creatures —we can create social infrastructure that brings forth the hidden potential of interactions between people that otherwise never take place. And by making it easier to make connections at events and public spaces and normalizing new conversations, we can make more of society's meeting places become inclusive for those experiencing loneliness.

Our Approach

Growing awareness of the loneliness epidemic presents an opportunity to organize our society in ways that address the cause of this crisis. 

On an individual level, it is true that we must normalize and destigmatize discussion about feeling lonely. Just as there is no shame in feeling hungry, there should be no shame in feeling lonely, talking about it, and reaching out. 

But loneliness and isolation are at root not personal problems caused by lack of individual action, they are societal ones—symptoms of long term societal norms and social structures. And at a societal level, just as being free from hunger is a right, we need to take action that says we understand that being socially connected is a right. The Social Connection Circle's initiatives are designed with these social structures in mind, addressing the cause of what leads many of us to become lonely in the first place. 

With our initiatives, we can help mold social norms to be reflective of our human needs as social creatures—we can create social infrastructure that brings forth the hidden potential of interactions between people that otherwise never take place. And by making it easier to make connections at events and public spaces and normalizing new conversations, we can make more of society's meeting places become inclusive for those experiencing loneliness.

Our Approach

Just as a society struck by famine cannot be productive, a society struck by loneliness cannot thrive. 

Research has shown that loneliness is a physiological warning sign comparable to hunger—a sign that the body is lacking the necessary social connection for the human mind and body to function properly.  

The U.S. Surgeon General has classified social isolation and loneliness a public health crisis, with over half of all Americans experiencing measurable levels of loneliness.

Physical & Mental Health

  • Four decades of research has shown those who are socially isolated have an increased risk for early death from all causes. 

  • We now know that loneliness has health impacts equal to smoking 15 cigarettes per day or having alcohol use disorder.

  • Deficiencies in social relationships can increase the risk of stroke and heart disease by ~30%.

  • Social connection is so important that we are 50% less likely to die prematurely if we have strong social connections.

  • Loneliness:

    • is linked to depression, poor sleep quality, accelerated cognitive decline and impaired immunity

    • increases in suicidal ideation/attempts and self-harm.

    • is twice as harmful to physical and mental health as obesity. 

 

Public Safety & Trust

  • Social isolation has been found to be the most important external indicator leading to attacks by mass shooters. 

  • Isolation and loneliness has led to reduced trust in government and among neighbors, rise in hate groups, and lack of belonging. 

    • In the 1970s, 50% of Americans felt that “most people can be trusted.” In 2012, this figure has reduced to 33%.

    • Social disconnection has led to doubling of hate groups in the last 20 years. 

Learn more in the US Surgeon Generals report on social connection>

Our Loneliness Epidemic

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