Motivated to address social isolation and loneliness locally, Sandra Harris (State President of AARP Massachusetts) 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.

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.

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.

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.