In the early pandemic, we clapped & sang to strangers, sending the simplest message: I’m right here with you. These acts gave way to division. In her latest for Psychology Today, our founder Kim Samuel talks about how we can reclaim solidarity & rebuild belonging. https://ow.ly/ic3I50Xqb6T

✨ Global Symposium: Day 1 Recap The day opened with reflection and creativity—from keynote insights to music, dialogue, and shared mapping of barriers to belonging. Hope, courage, and connection set the tone for what’s ahead. 🔗 ow.ly/Xt6u50XnZvm #BridgesToBelonging

"People are ready to rebuild in their communities—we just have to open the door to opportunity." — Kasandra James Kasandra challenges narrow ideas of volunteerism and celebrates diverse, culturally rooted care. 🎧 Listen: https://ow.ly/4jwM50Xqyy6

Two Harvard students share how fostering civility & connection transformed their newsroom. By setting clear norms for respectful debate & building trust, they found that genuine relationships strengthen belonging—and better dialogue follows. https://ow.ly/6AZf50Xq9Nm

✨ Global Symposium: Opening Reception An Indigenous welcome, remarks from Kim Samuel, and reflections on belonging from Sharon Avery set the tone for the days ahead—connection rooted in presence, care, and listening. Read more: ow.ly/MXco50XnZvp #BridgestoBelonging

Faith can bring us together in quiet but powerful ways. In her article for @express.co.uk, our Founder and Chief Architect, Kim Samuel, reflects on how Dame Sarah Mullally’s appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury can nurture connection and hope. www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2118...

How do the places where we gather shape the way we connect? Join us online November 4 for The Walrus Talks at Home: Place and Belonging, to hear experts explore how the spaces we create strengthen community and connection. Register: www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-walrus...

“They need to be there for their community.” — Suman Roy For newcomers, volunteering isn’t just about giving back — it’s about belonging. 🎧 Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/s...

Our 2025 Global Symposium brought together voices from around the world to explore how we make belonging real. We shared our Charter for Belonging, announced the Belonging Press, and celebrated connection to people, place, power & purpose. https://ow.ly/jKOj50XhPbQ

This autumn, we become the Belonging Forum. A unified global identity, a platform for research & dialogue, and a movement to make belonging a right, not a privilege. We look forward to partnering with you in the work ahead! Learn more: belongingforum.org/a-new-chapte...

At @sconnectedness.bsky.social presents The Walrus Talks at Home: Place and Belonging, four experts share their unique perspectives on how the spaces we invest in can strengthen our social fabric. www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-walru...

Equitable access to nature-based play helps build resilience, social bonds & belonging, even in cities with little green space. 2022 Fellow Laura explored how urban planners can integrate play into everyday spaces to support community well-being. ow.ly/s69050WUSPr

“Volunteering has huge benefits for those that do it, for community, and the wider social fabric.” — Sara Lyons In this episode, Sara explores how to reimagine volunteerism as a more inclusive, resilient, and connected force for community. Listen: ow.ly/T2w350WUS05

What do we seek when we reach out for connection? As Paul Bloom notes, it’s to be “humanely understood.” Empathy means caring enough to truly see another’s emotions. That felt care, given and received, is at the heart of belonging. ow.ly/H96s50WHALc

During COVID-19, many queer youth found belonging through online communities. As a 2022 Social Connectedness Fellow, Ashli Au explored innovative ways these spaces support 2SLGBTQ+ youth in partnership with McGill. ow.ly/BHFi50WMbV8

Immigration raises deep questions of belonging. As Adrienne Clarkson writes: “Immigrants cannot remain they. They will be, and are becoming, us.” Building belonging means moving from mistrust to a new language of trust and respect. cbc.ca/radio/ideas/...

“Belonging goes beyond a social need. It’s rooted in a profound connection to the land & water.” — Chief Kluane Adamek. In The Conversation Piece, Chief Kluane shares how a deep relationship with nature grounds us. Especially in times of disconnection. podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/c...

Seoul has opened “mind convenience stores,” community hubs where residents facing loneliness can share meals, watch films, or simply be together. Even small, everyday interactions can spark comfort, connection, and belonging. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

“Do I feel included? Do I belong?” Kelly Lendsay shows how true inclusion goes beyond a buzzword—it drives reconciliation, strengthens communities, and transforms workplaces into spaces where everyone is valued. ow.ly/MpAy50WHyCJ

Indigenous youth are 8% of Canada’s youth but 48% of incarcerated youth—a number still rising. 2019 Fellow Shaista Asmi explored how colonialism and systemic failures drive over-incarceration, deepening trauma in Indigenous communities. ow.ly/I50g50WCMkR

“Belonging is inherent in the Ininiwak way of life.” Dr. Becky Cook shares how Indigenous-led education can reclaim identity, restore autonomy, and help each person find their place in the community. Belonging isn’t taught—it’s lived. podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/d...

“What if loneliness isn’t about individual health but community health?” – Claire Lehmann Loneliness is more than personal. It's a broader crisis of belonging & disconnection from people, place, power, & purpose. It’s time to build healthier communities. ow.ly/S4SK50WvOO8

When people lose language, culture, or identity, it can deepen loneliness.” – Kahir Lalji Kahir shares how culturally relevant care, like tailored social prescribing, can help older adults reconnect and belong. 🎧 Listen: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/k...

Food is about more than nutrition; it’s about belonging. 2023 Fellow Nicole Traynor partnered with Qajuqturvik CFC to explore how food insecurity affects connection in Nunavut, where over half of households struggle to access food. ow.ly/TPri50WpclQ

“Our sense of belonging, purpose, and meaning are keys to our well-being and our happiness.” – Diana Rose In this episode of The Conversation Piece, Diana shares how social prescribing can foster identity, healing, and connection. podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/d...

“We need others—perhaps especially those we disagree with.” In “Love Your Enemies,” Arthur C. Brooks reminds us that gratitude can grow from mutual dependence, even across divides. Belonging deepens when we make room for one another’s imperfections. 🔗 www.hbs.edu/faculty/Page...

Belonging takes both personal and collective action. We can nurture it through relationships, service, and community. But we also need systems that support connection to the 4Ps of belonging: people, place, power, and purpose. #Belonging #SocialConnection

“I believe that the solution for many of the world's challenges lies in building belonging.” – Kim Samuel In this podcast, Kim Samuel shares how social prescribing and the 4 Ps—people, place, power, & purpose—can help no one be left out. 🎧 ow.ly/IyCg50WilMs

What happens when you lose your wallet? According to the World Happiness Report, most are returned, more than people expect. The takeaway? People are kinder than we think. And knowing that boosts happiness, trust, and the confidence to connect with others. buff.ly/G6jbqEx

Harvard’s Global Flourishing Study finds young adults are struggling with purpose and connection. In Psycholofy Today, our founder, Kim Samuel, explores how declining religious participation may be fueling a crisis of belonging. 🔗 bit.ly/3wM3LfA

How does Canada foster belonging for newcomers? In a new report, Soraya Amiri shares stories from immigrants & service providers to explore what helps build connections in a new country. 🔗 Read more: buff.ly/z4WzQyz

Caroline, a 2024 Social Connectedness Fellow, shares how inclusive education shaped her journey from a pivotal friendship in childhood to a life of advocacy, leadership, and community impact. Read more: buff.ly/FTaX9CD

“Supporting volunteer well-being is essential to sustaining belonging.” At #TheWalrusTalks, Vinod Rajasekaran of @futureofgood shared how burnout is affecting nonprofit workers, & why rethinking support systems is key to the sector’s future. Watch here: buff.ly/JTLpwVb

What does it really mean to be an ally to people with disabilities? In their blog, 2024 Fellow Méliss shares practical insights on allyship, inclusion & cultural competence—rooted in lived experience as a sibling. Read more + explore their zine: 🔗: buff.ly/e0GkSNg

“Volunteerism can be a bridge to belonging.” At #TheWalrusTalks, Kasandra James of Volunteer Toronto shared how volunteering supports newcomer integration — and why we must rethink traditional models to better serve marginalized communities. Watch here: buff.ly/JTLpwVb

“True inclusion means investing in the leadership of people with lived experience.” In his blog, 2024 Fellow Fionn Crombie Angus shares how CAPCA Ireland is empowering young adults with Down syndrome to lead with creativity, confidence & purpose. 🔗: buff.ly/2w5QAr7

“Volunteerism isn’t just about giving—it’s about belonging.” At The Walrus Talks, Suman Roy of Feed Scarborough reflects on building a volunteer-driven movement and the diverse motivations behind why people step up. 🎥 buff.ly/JTLpwVb

“To step into the shoes of others in order to be able to step back into our own.” – Colum McCann Narrative 4’s Story Exchanges build empathy and belonging through shared storytelling. One story at a time, people connect across divides. 🔗:

Social isolation doesn’t just harm individuals—it frays the fabric of democracy. In Scientific American, our Founder & Chief Belonging Officer Kim Samuel explores how loneliness fuels polarization—and why rebuilding belonging is key to resilience.

“Small” roles aren’t small at all. In her new blog, 2024 Fellow Samantha Luntha Chikopa honours the many hands behind healing — from nurses to cleaners to Youth Corner facilitators. Read it here: buff.ly/vUsgsdh #HealthEquity #SocialConnectedness #GlobalHealth

“Volunteering became something that gave me more than I could ever have imagined—joy, energy, and a deeper sense of purpose.” At The Walrus Talks, Darrell Pinto shared how giving back transformed his life and perspective. Watch here: buff.ly/JTLpwVb

Mark Zuckerberg sees our crisis of isolation—but his AI-based fix misses the mark. In TIME, our Founder and Chief Belonging Officer, Kim Samuel, explains why true belonging requires real human connection, not just tech. Read more:

“Home Sharing: Housing That Connects Us” is the work of Dorothy, a 2024 Social Connectedness Fellow. She spoke with homesharers and longtime advocates to explore models of shared housing. Read her full report: buff.ly/vdmJ7gE

Belonging often means making lasting commitments—but that can be hard in a culture of “Infinite Browsing Mode,” where everything feels replaceable. In Dedicated, Pete Davis shows how choosing a path—and sticking with it—can lead to deeper connection and purpose.

Dorothy, a 2024 Social Connectedness Fellow, completed her research on home sharing and aging with Help Age Canada before her passing in fall 2024. We’re honoured to share her work in her memory and with deep gratitude. More to come this week. buff.ly/LXKvhyK

The Science of Volunteering: A Path to Health and Longevity At The Walrus Talks, Susan Pinker shared how volunteering supports brain health, boosts immunity, and extends life—thanks to the power of face-to-face connection. Watch: buff.ly/JTLpwVb

"Understanding CORE – How Online Support Facilitates Independent Living for Older Adults” is the work of Ruth, a 2024 Social Connectedness Fellow. She held focus groups & interviews to explore how digital tools support aging in place. Read more: buff.ly/LXKvhyK

Belonging begins at home, but screens can get in the way. Kids build empathy and connection through presence. Screen-free time—during meals, before bed, or one day a week—can help families reclaim shared attention and build stronger bonds.

Ruth (she/her), a Master’s student at McMaster, explored how virtual platforms can support older adults’ sense of belonging. Her fellowship with HelpAge Canada built on research into independence and inclusion in aging. More on her work coming this week. buff.ly/LXKvhyK

At The Walrus Talks, Sarah Lyons of Volunteer Canada called for a new vision of volunteerism—one that moves beyond “the same ten people” and builds more inclusive, resilient communities. 🎥 Watch here: buff.ly/JTLpwVb