Our Mission
To ensure all residents of the Commonwealth feel connected to their community and enjoy a strong sense of social health. We do this by mobilizing local organizations, thought leaders, and other partners to join forces and use our collective resources and ingenuity for maximum impact.
Our Members
Created in 2019, the Coalition consists of 240+ members representing nearly 150 organizations, including state- and city-level governments, nonprofits, academic institutions, advocacy groups, thought leaders, and other partners.
Our Guiding Principals
Engaging communities through grassroots approaches.
Empowering individuals to take meaningful actions.
Mobilizing local organizations for collective impact.
Building state-wide, cross-sector partnerships.
Creating multi-generational opportunities for connection.
Driving equity for all ages and all people
Fostering relationships of trust, kindness, and belonging.
Implementing evidence-based methodologies.
Advancing and scaling promising practices.
Coalition Leadership
Sandra Harris
Former State President, AARP Massachusetts
Jennifer Raymond
Chief Strategy Officer, AgeSpan
Jean P. Bushnell
Former Director, Billerica Council on Aging
Our History
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Motivated to address social isolation and loneliness locally, Sandra Harris began recruiting partners and joined forces with Caitlin Coyle (Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston) to establish the vision for the Taskforce.
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The pandemic brought new urgency to our work. We led virtual conversations with hundreds of community members to gather insights, published a report with best practices and recommendations, hosted our first statewide summit, and launched a multimedia awareness campaign.
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Having grown to over 35 member organizations, we focused our initiatives on addressing the digital divide, promoting intergenerational connection, and engaging more community members. We also received national recognition for our work in the media, at conferences, and on federal programs.
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Propelled by four years of increased grassroots support that has resulted in 110 members, representing 68 state-wide organizations committed to ending loneliness in the Commonwealth, the Massachusetts Taskforce to End Loneliness and Build Community announces its name change and vision for the future.
Renamed The Coalition to Build Community and End Loneliness, Coalition members recommit their long-term commitment to ensuring all residents of the Commonwealth enjoy a strong sense of social health. Using the Surgeon General’s Advisory on Loneliness as its roadmap the Coalition moves boldly forward from promoting the “risk of isolation” to the “power of connection” throughout the Commonwealth.
There’s a seat on the Taskforce with your name on it.
We meet virtually each month and would welcome you to contribute your perspective and skills.