Each of us plays an important role in shaping safer communities. Wherever you are – your home, community, or school – here are simple things you can start doing today, tomorrow, and beyond to end social isolation in your community and help others feel respected, safe, and included.
How to Break the Cycle
Inclusion Strategies to End Social Isolation
1. Foster family conversations. Integrate discussions about values, inclusion, and empathy into your dinnertime routine. Encourage your kids to be leaders at school by reaching out to those who might feel isolated.
2. Share resources with friends. To raise awareness, share this post with five friends and watch the accompanying video. This will help spread the word about combating social isolation.
3. Offer emotional support. If you suspect that a child, friend, or family member is feeling emotionally isolated, approach the topic with a non-judgmental attitude. Be willing to talk openly and provide a listening ear.
4. Lead by example. Set an example of inclusion by demonstrating inclusive behaviors with your own adult peers.
5. Spread the word in your networks. Use social media to share your experiences with promoting inclusion with the hashtags #StartWithHello and #ProtectOurKids. Use the social media action kit to help.
6. Organize a local gathering. Host a meeting with parents, teachers, or community members to discuss the impact of social isolation. Consider asking questions like:
- What are the root causes of social isolation, and how does it affect youth?
- What steps can we take to create meaningful change in schools and communities?
7. Engage with local schools. Meet with local middle and high schools to learn about existing efforts to combat isolation. Encourage schools to adopt the Start With Hello program, designed to teach students empathy and inclusion.
8. Collaborate with schools and teachers. Work with educators to establish a local SAVE Promise Club. Student-led clubs work together to organize activities to foster inclusion in schools, neighborhoods, and other community spaces.
9. Encourage Classroom Conversations. Incorporate discussions about values and inclusion into weekly classroom meetings. Ask students how they would “start with hello” to include those who may be feeling left out and practice those scenarios.
10. Use a Quick Conversation Starter Kit. Use the Start With Hello Quick Conversation Starter Kit to guide discussions about inclusion and to promote a more welcoming environment.
