Highlights include yoga, drawing exercises, drinks and bites, and a chance to win a bestselling, must-read book by Amelia Nagoski and Emily Nagoski - "Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle."

Experts say small changes in our neighborhoods- like where we sit, or congregate- can make a big difference in how connected we feel to those around us.

Join us as we trace Erin's path in environmental psychology and architecture, leading to her impactful work in healthcare and community design. We examine the significance of research-backed architectural decisions for promoting health and wellbeing. Furthermore, we address the pressing issue of loneliness, exploring design approaches that cultivate belonging and connection, considering the pandemic's impact on social interaction.

For decades, the healthy communities field has demonstrated that where we are live, learn, work, play, and age impacts our health. It’s clearer than ever that the way our communities are designed, maintained, and activated deeply impacts our quality of life.

American neighborhoods have declined over the past few decades, contributing to rising isolation, mistrust, and polarization. Weaker social ties are leading to greater depression, anxiety, addiction, suicide, and alienation. Moreover, during the past 50 years, the number of high-poverty neighborhoods has tripled and the population of poor people in these neighborhoods has doubled, even as spending on welfare has soared. And yet, there are few systematic efforts to bolster neighborhoods. The role of institutions is key to reviving a neighborhood. The way these institutions structure—or fail to structure—relationships at the neighborhood and interneighborhood level affects the vitality of each locale and the well-being of everyone living there.

Some topics really make you stop and say "what the f&%$ is that?" So, we made a whole series around it! Learn "WTF is design for connection" in a fast-moving, Cliffs Notes–esque format.

As design researcher and architect, Erin Peavey describes it, we don’t merely have a mental and physical health crisis in society, we have serious social health issues looming around us.

Erin details how our environment needs to be transformational, and architects need to reflect on that.  We are wired for social connection.   There is data on how the lack of social connections link to a negative health impact from loneliness, which can even include obesity and smoking.

The traits of extraversion—gregariousness and comfort with the spotlight—are often seen as synonymous with leadership, confidence, ability, and likability—especially in the United States. Author Susan Cain coined the term "extrovert ideal" to describe this well-researched preference of people in Western societies.

But where does that leave introverts or ambiverts?

Because even introverts frequently like company. According to Erin Peavey, a design leader in health and well-being at the global firm HKS Architects, shared public spaces can allow lone individuals “to feel a part of the world but not have to engage in it or feel a responsibility to perform.”

The Texas A&M College of Architecture has announced seven distinguished former students for the College of Architecture Harold L. Adams ’61, Outstanding Alumni Award. To honor their remarkable lifetime contributions to their industries and disciplines, the college will host a banquet on Nov. 15, 2024, at the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center. These individuals represent the top one percent of the top one percent among the school’s alumni.

Former students nominated the 2024 Outstanding Alumni, and a school committee selected them for their exceptional achievements. This recognition is the highest honor the college bestows, with less than one percent of its more than 16,000 alumni having received this accolade.

Each June, alongside our partners at the Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection (GILC) and Marmalade Trust, the Coalition activates local communities, policymakers, and innovators for Global Loneliness Awareness Week. Together, we share resources, identify areas of collaboration, and educate the public on the importance of connection. This year, we are excited to convene once again on June 11th in Washington, D.C. Stay tuned for more information – including our agenda and speakers!

The built environment has a role in combating social isolation and loneliness and in fostering connection.

Interconnected physical spaces shape our cities and communities, from homes, to streets, parks, and more.

Social connectedness can be boosted via design, planning, and policy, and across stakeholders.

With the growing global mental health crisis, this event is dedicated to fostering insightful discussions, exploring innovative approaches, and understanding the evolving landscape of mental wellness in our community. We will bring together diverse perspectives exploring the future of design for mental health through the lens of programs, place, and tech. We will break down silos, charting a transdisciplinary path forward to cultivate meaningful change and provide a context for future design and research.

For her career-long efforts, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has named Peavey as a recipient of its 2024 Young Architect Award, one of the organization’s highest honors.

In recognizing her, the AIA called her “a visionary leader fueled by enthusiastic curiosity and striving for a higher level of design excellence.”

I was honored to be in conversation with Evelyn M Lee on her podcast, Practice of Architecture talking about how to use architecture and design to address loneliness, promote well-being, and foster inclusive and supportive work environments

Where we live, work, play, and learn impacts our social health and how connected we are as a society

As cities invest in infrastructure, design for social and community well-being benefits everyone

Design guidelines for social health can be created with PANACHe

Learn about the link between social health and overall health outcomes, specifically how loneliness has toxic health outcomes worse than smoking and obesity, and how social connection fosters health.

Explore how the built environment is a determinant of social health, working on a systems level to help to foster social interaction and health

Understand how third places impact social health and what tangible steps we can all take to reduce feelings of loneliness in our lives and in our communities.

Share an evidence-based framework to design for social connection, examine scalable strategies that lead to social environments that promote meaningful connections.

American adults say that having close friends is essential to living a fulfilling life.

Social infrastructure in our cities and communities can foster connection.

Clubs and associations tie us to local community and support.

Being more present with others can foster connection.