The research is clear - people in modern America are largely lonely and isolated. We are participating less in activities that strengthen social bonds (faith communities, service clubs, and sports leagues to name a few).
Olympia can play a key role in supporting opportunities for our residents to come together to find shared joy, purpose, and a sense of belonging. Third places are key in the city, places where people can connect, share interests, and learn from one another. The City plays an important role in providing these spaces throughout our community, and working to combat isolation among our residents.
There are so many people in our community doing incredible work every day to build critical social connections - non-profit groups, social clubs, faith communities, sports groups, neighborhood associations, support groups - and I will advocate for ways that the city can lift up this work and elevate their stories so that everyone can find the people and places that make them feel safe in Olympia.
Olympia has repeatedly committed to being a Sanctuary City. Living up to this commitment needs to mean not just protecting our most vulnerable residents from harmful policies and practices, it needs to mean working extra hard to be a city where people find a sense of belonging and support, especially our most vulnerable folks.