About Social Connectedness - Samuel Centre For Social Connectedness — Samuel Centre For Social Connectedness
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About Social Connectedness

SCSC supports a global movement for social connectedness and belonging — one that brings together diverse people, empowers individuals and communities to know their worth, and transforms social systems to become more inclusive, resilient, and connected.

What is social connectedness?

Achieving social connectedness means working towards a society where everyone is valued, seen and heard; where everyone can exercise their agency and basic human rights; and, where solidarity, trust and cooperation pave the way for community. Social connectedness is grounded in three values: respect, recognition, and reciprocity. These values guide us in building a society where everyone—no matter their age, race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or political affiliation—has the opportunity to belong.

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What is social isolation?

Social isolation refers to a lack of connection to people, place, purpose, and power. Social isolation impedes a person from forming meaningful relationships, exercising agency, engaging in authentic expression, feeling a stake in collective outcomes, or realizing a sense of mission as part of the bigger whole. These barriers can be explicit or implicit, formal or informal, legal or cultural, and in some cases, they can impede whole groups of people. Structural issues like discrimination, racism, ageism, poverty, censorship, the suppression of cultural traditions, and the denial of access to vital social services illustrate how social isolation reaches beyond the individual sense of being alone. 

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The 4 Ps

The Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness is founded on the idea that belonging isn’t just a human need, but a right. Drawing on more than 20 years of research by its founder, Kim Samuel, the Centre approaches the definition of belonging as connection to 4 Ps: people, place, power, and purpose. This is to say that belonging comes through our relationships with other people as well as through our rootedness in nature, our ability to influence social, political and economic decision-making, and our capacity to find shared meaning and purpose in our lives. 

Building on this understanding, SCSC supports a global movement for belonging — one that brings together diverse people, empowers individuals and communities to know their worth, and transforms social systems to become more inclusive, resilient, and connected. The Centre builds safe spaces — including symposia and fellowship programs — where people with direct lived experience can come together to share their ideas and take leadership in the movement.