In an era of fractured communities and ever-increasing loneliness, local storytellers are coming together to highlight the everyday stories that form the foundation of cities like Spokane, WA. Read more at https://thefacesofspokanewa.com/
Americans are experiencing an unprecedented social crisis; the so-called loneliness epidemic now impacts half of all Americans according to the HHS Department, and that number is steadily rising year over year. Loneliness can have serious implications for those who experience it, including depression, anxiety, and isolation. Some are now suggesting, however, that by repairing the rifts in fractured communities, this crisis can be mitigated, leading to the launch of local, grassroots projects such as The Faces of Spokane, WA.
The project and others like it were inspired not only by the loneliness crisis, but by a general erosion of community values as well. The Pew Research Center recently found that nearly 60% of Americans don't know their neighbors, which other experts, such as project creator Lynn Sebert, suggests is at least partially responsible for the crisis the nation now faces.
While the solutions to this problem are just as complex as the causes behind it, many experts suggest that a ground-up approach is the only real way to reconnect and repair disconnected communities. Author and teacher Hiro Boga, for instance, shared a model of community that closely resembles the one Sebert advocates for: one in which neighbors support one another, and in which individuals can live their lives authentically.
In that way, as Sebert alludes to, Spokane may be an ideal model as the rest of the nation addresses this crisis. Though she has since relocated to Nordman, Idaho Sebert was born and raised in Spokane, and still maintains a deep reverence for the community and its unique culture and runs her wholesale distribution from there.. Most notably, she celebrates the fact that even in the face of widespread social fragmentation, Spokane still boasts a lively community, and by highlighting those stories, she hopes to inspire the same level of connection in other cities across the country.
To quote Sebert directly, “The Faces of Spokane is a celebration of all the people who live here and positively impact our community in some way. It may be by their positive attitude and energy. It may be by the business they’ve brought to our community. It may be their role directly serving our community. The reality is, we have a great community because of the people who live here and it’s my desire to highlight the great people here and introduce you all to each other.”
While Spokane may be taking measures to cure the loneliness epidemic on a local scale, there is still a great deal of work to be done nationally. However, as a recent NPR report explains, a national strategy modeled on the kind of initiatives that Sebert and others like her are launching might be the answer.
Their report points to the very foundation of American society as being inherently isolating due to factors such as a Lack of access to public transportation, a widespread Cultural embrace of extreme individualism, Deficient mental health support systems, and a General lack of research on the issue. Until these problems are addressed in a meaningful way, projects like The Faces of Spokane, WA will have to stand as a stopgap measure, addressing the epidemic on the small-scale. Given the persistent failure of the Federal government to handle this issue, however, grassroots efforts like Sebert's may be the only effective option after all.
Here's a bit more about the project. The Faces Of Spokane is a weekly interview publication built on a foundation of community connection and understanding. Host Lynn Sebert is currently accepting nominations for interviewees; those who wish to submit the name of a friend or family member can do so by clicking the link in the description. The Faces of Spokane City: Nordman Address: PO Box 448 Website: https://thefacesofspokanewa.com/