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- This event has passed.
GrowSmart Maine Summit: Creating Places for Connecting People
October 19, 2023, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
$25 – $100The focus of this year’s summit is “Creating Places for Connecting People.” The recent public health crisis of loneliness and our growing divisiveness have made it harder to support and maintain these personal connections. But it is possible to create buildings, communities, and transportation systems that make connections easier. GrowSmart invites community activists, local and state elected officials, municipal staff and volunteers, land use planners, public health specialists, and engaged citizens to come share strategies and inspire actions that support human connection for each community and to Maine.
The event will feature two engaging keynote speakers, Maine’s own Jane Lafleur, principal of Jane Lafleur Consultants, the founder of The Community Institute, and a Community Heart & Soul coach, and Dr. Jeremy Nobel, founder of the Foundation for Art & Healing and author of Project UnLonely: Healing Our Crisis of Disconnection. Summit attendees will receive a copy of Dr. Nobel’s book.
Dr. Jeremy Nobel, says, “Loneliness and disconnection is, quite literally, killing us. It's a growing public health crisis that requires a multi-dimensional and multi-stakeholder approach. I'm excited to share with the diverse participants of the Grow Smart Maine Annual Summit some thoughts on the epidemic of loneliness we face and how the arts and creative engagement can unlock our imaginations to help us design communities that engage, inspire, empower, and connect.”
Jane Lafleur agrees. “When cities and towns provide places for people to gather and socialize, not only does our personal health and well-being improve, but the attractiveness of our communities and their economic health improves. People want to visit, move to, and invest in these communities.”
This year’s keynote speakers will share stories from their state and national perspectives of the importance of social connections and designing and creating places that encourage human interaction and the urgent need to do so.
The program also includes Community Spotlights, the announcement of the 2023 Maine Smart Growth Award winners, City Experience Walking Tours, and a post-Summit reception.
There are discounted rates for virtual attendance, for seniors, for students, and for GrowSmart members. For membership, see growsmartmaine.org/join