Events
Webinars
Commit to Connect webinars include an expert speaker or program example, with time for Q&A between speakers and participants.
Upcoming Webinars
The next webinar will be in June. Check back in for more information!
Former Webinars
The first webinar was on January 26, 2023 and provided a hands-on introduction and demonstration on the Nationwide Network of Champions Hub, an online tool for the Commit to Connect Community to collaborate and share resources, research, best practices and lessons learned. The recording of this webinar is available on the Nationwide Network of Champions Hub .
Commit to Connect’s April webinar, Supporting Independence and Inclusion through a Community Participation Measure: A University and CIL Collaboration, informed participants about the Temple University Community Participation Measure, a tool that assesses self-directed community participation interests of adults with psychiatric disabilities and autistic adults to guide community inclusion supports planning. The webinar addressed the origins of the measure, what it assesses, and findings. Key staff from the Alliance of Disability Advocates—North Carolina, a center for independent living, also presented on their partnership with Temple and use of the tool. The Alliance of Disability Advocates also shared how they use the tool to identify client needs and develop plans to support community participation. Find the recording and slides here.
2023 engAGED and Commit to Connect: Social Engagement Virtual Summit
engAGED and Commit to Connect recently hosted a two-day Virtual Summit! Taking place May 9 and 10 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm ET, the Virtual Summit brought together national, state and local leaders for interactive sessions highlighting the latest research, innovative programs, tools and resources for the aging and disability networks. The Virtual Summit highlighted the topics of social engagement in rural communities and supporting the social connectedness needs of family caregivers. View recordings and slides from the Summit to learn about creative solutions, spurring ideas for replication in your community!
To find the Virtual Summit recordings and slides, a brief agenda for each day and speaker profiles, please visit the Virtual Summit webpage. Watch a video message from the Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Vivek Murthy, below.
Peer-to-Peer Exchanges
Looking for ways to connect with peers across the nation who are interested in reducing social isolation and loneliness? Commit to Connect is facilitating virtual Peer-to-Peer Exchanges. These networking opportunities will be open forums for discussion, ensuring participants can connect with others, share ideas, and learn from each other.
Upcoming Peer-to-Peer Exchanges
More information on upcoming Peer-to-Peer Exchanges will be shared soon!
Former Peer-to-Peer Exchanges
The first Peer-to-Peer Exchange took place in February 2023 with more than 50 participants from a broad spectrum of organizations. The discussion focused on the intersection of technology and social isolation and loneliness, including the benefits and challenges of hybrid programs as well as barriers to reaching hard-to-access populations (including rural communities).
Commit to Connect hosted a second Peer-to-Peer Exchange during April focused on outreach and social engagement, specifically finding and engaging participants for social isolation and loneliness programs. During the session, attendees discussed challenges, strategies and best practices to effectively identify and reach program participants for social engagement and connection programs. Additional topics of focus included identifying and engaging hard-to-reach populations and addressing stigma with social isolation and loneliness.