Back to Basics: Third Places and Shared Humanity

11:15 a.m. - 12:05 p.m., Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Live Zoom Webinar

Despite living in an age of constant connectivity, loneliness is on the rise. Political and social division, the COVID19 pandemic, gentrification, and other community level stressors have contributed to the loss of third places—the informal, accessible gathering spaces beyond home and work where relationships, trust, and social capital are built.  When these spaces are not utilized, communities can become more fragmented, and opportunities become diminished for individuals to connect, especially with those different than oneself.  What impact does social connection have on quality of life at the individual level and on societies as a whole?  Can learning emotional intelligence and conversation skills play a positive role in the home, workplace and elsewhere? How can communities reimagine and reinvest in spaces where meaningful social connections can be formed and social capital grow—especially that invites belonging and dialogue across persistent divisions and group boundaries?

Presenters