These days, building community as a Black adult often feels like swimming upstream, and in many ways it is. Social isolation is at an all-time high: a recent Gallup survey found that 20% of U.S. adults feel loneliness “a lot of the day yesterday.” Among older adults (50-80 years), about one in three report feeling a lack of companionship sometimes or often.
Reasons for Social Isolation
It’s easy to see why social isolation can happen. As adults, we lose many of the built-in social spaces that once brought us together, such as schools, extracurricular activities, and neighborhood circles, making it harder to know where to turn to build community. Moreover, Black neighborhoods are increasingly disrupted by gentrification and displacement. Workplaces are becoming more remote. And third spaces like community centers and local cafes are being replaced with chain retailers. Many of the formal and informal spaces to make new friends and maintain existing relationships have disappeared.
The opportunities for community building have shrunk, but the need for it has not. For Black adults, community isn’t just nice; it’s essential. Strong social ties protect mental health and can reduce the risk of chronic illness. They also support resilience against burnout, economic stress, and racial health disparities.
Three Ways to Build A Strong Community
Despite the barriers to growing new communities as a Black adult, there are still ways to build relationships and cultivate new friendships. Here are three tips to building a strong community:
1. Re-engage old friends:
Old friendships often fade from distance, timing, or life changes, not lack of care. To reconnect, try reaching out with a low-stakes invitation like a cup of coffee, a walk, or sharing something that reminded you of them. Be honest about missing them: vulnerability is often the bridge to rekindling trust.
2. Join Meet-up Groups:
Joining community groups centered around shared interests is one of the most effective ways to expand your circle. Whether it’s a running club, wellness group, or dinner gathering, engaging in shared activities helps break the ice and build camaraderie.
Websites like meetup.com and local Facebook groups can help you find social networks specific to your interests. And if you do join, try attending regularly; your repeated presence will help deepen your connection to the other attendees.
3. Visit Senior Centers:
For older Black adults, senior centers offer lifelines for social interaction. They provide structured, social settings with built-in support and cultural familiarity. These spaces reduce isolation, allow for shared experience, and often provide wellness resources. The Area Agency on Aging provides resource guides, referrals to senior centers, and help navigating opportunities to connect.
Meeting new people can be awkward, especially as an adult. But the rewards of overcoming social isolation are immeasurable. Building stronger Black communities helps us heal together, sustain one another, and create a foundation for healthier families and futures.
