Practical Ways to Build Community

Overcoming Isolation and Creating Strong Communities Through Connection

Image from Canva

My message is simple: Get involved in your local community. Today.

I’m tired of pretending that doing it all for yourself and by yourself is supposed to be a good thing. Isolation and hyper-individualism are harmful to our mental health and social well-being. An epidemic of loneliness is sweeping across our country, leaving many people feeling disconnected and unsupported. Supposed reasonable adults struggle to form friendships without the expectation of a romantic outcome. When people need practical, financial, or emotional support, they often find themselves with nowhere to turn. This is absurd, especially in a country as populous as the United States. We must rely on each other to create strong, supportive communities that enhance our quality of life.

I know it’s hard. I’m a natural introvert. If I hadn’t been “adopted” by a handful of extroverts in my early to mid-twenties, I wouldn’t know the benefits of community firsthand. I started with networking groups after college to find a job. Then volunteer organizations for personal fulfillment. Then I became a leader in an organization and was able to connect new nonprofits with donors, newcomers to the city with new friends, and raise funds for life-changing…