Reaching Across Generations
United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a new Surgeon General Advisory calling attention to the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our country. Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately half of U.S. adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. Disconnection fundamentally affects our mental, physical, and societal health. In fact, loneliness and isolation increase the risk for individuals to develop mental health challenges in their lives, and lacking connection can increase the risk for premature death to levels comparable to smoking daily.
The physical health consequences of poor or insufficient connection include a 29% increased risk of heart disease, a 32% increased risk of stroke, and a 50% increased risk of developing dementia for older adults. Additionally, a lack of social connection increases the risk of premature death by more than 60%.
This Surgeon General’s Advisory lays out a framework for the United States to establish a National Strategy to Advance Social Connection based on six foundational pillars. One of the pillars relates directly to our current project, Generations Over Dinner.
Cultivate a Culture of Connection: The informal practices of everyday life (the norms and culture of how we engage one another) significantly influence the relationships we have in our lives. We cannot be successful in the other pillars without a culture of connection.
Generations Over Dinner is a unique solution designed to cultivate a culture of connection between different age groups and foster connections that transcend generations. We are excited to bring this initiative to the San Antonio community and beyond.
Our vision is simple yet powerful: we bring together 8 to 10 individuals from various generations, each representing a diverse spectrum of experiences and viewpoints. These individuals gather around a table for a moderated discussion on current topics while sharing a meal. The magic of Generations Over Dinner lies in the safe and respectful environment we create, where every voice is heard, appreciated, and valued. This initiative enables people from various backgrounds to learn from each other, gain new perspectives, and break down barriers that often divide us.
To give you a glimpse of this heartwarming experience, I invite you to watch our one-minute video:
and a short video of some of the participants in our recent G.O.D. event in October
Our goal is to take this event to all of the Senior Centers in San Antonio impacting over 100 people over the next year. We’re financing it with donations to my nonprofit organization, Breaking Age. If you would like to help us with this important initiative, we would be grateful for a small donation. Just $15 will cover one meal. If you’re in San Antonio and would like to attend a dinner, we would be honored to have you at the table.