2:00 - 2:50 p.m., Thursday, October 1, 2026
Live Zoom Webinar | Click on title to access link | Times listed in US CT
Click here to attend virtual session
Who Are Our Playmates? Community Building Through Play
PANEL HOST: Raeleen Ziegler Q&A MODERATOR: Dr. Joanna Cemore Brigden
You were born to play and are wired from birth to engage in social play. From our first interactions with our caregivers, to playing childhood games, trivia nights and team sports in adulthood, play brings us together. As humans, we thrive on these connections to each other. An 80-year-long Harvard Study of Adult Development (2023) found that people who are more socially connected to family, friends, and community, are happier, physically healthier, and live longer than people who are less well connected. By encouraging openness, trust building, and shared joy, play helps create and deepen meaningful relationships. How might play serve as a bridge across geography, socioeconomics, and cultural factors such as urban-rural divides in a bid to build and strengthen our communities? What role could schools, workplaces, or community organizations play in promoting connection through play?
Presenters
