First Partner Siebel Newsom co-hosts summit elevating social connection as an urgent public health priority at the Vatican

The summit builds on California’s commitment to creating healthier, more connected communities through the First Partner’s California Love, California Strong initiative and comes as growing research underscores the significant impact of loneliness and social isolation on individual and community well-being.

“California is scaling service to rebuild connection in a fragile time. When people serve side by side — people who think differently, look differently, live differently — we build solidarity, trust, belonging. Imagine if every young person got the chance to serve. That’s what we are building in California — and we are inviting the world to build with us,” said GO-Serve Director and California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday.

“Strong relationships and a sense of connection are essential to our health and well-being,” said Kim Johnson, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. “When people feel isolated or disconnected from their communities, the impacts can reach far beyond loneliness and affect their physical health, mental health and quality of life. California’s Social Health Council is helping us better understand those connections and identify practical ways to strengthen belonging, connection and community so more Californians and beyond have the opportunity to live healthier, fuller lives.”

One in six people worldwide experiences loneliness, with young people among those most affected, and loneliness is associated with approximately 870,000 deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization. The World Health Organization has identified social connection as a critical component of health and well-being, alongside physical and mental health. Its Commission on Social Connection has called for greater investment in the social infrastructure, policies, and community-level solutions that help people connect and belong.

In August 2026, the First Partner, alongside co-chairs California Health and Human Services Secretary Kim Johnson and GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday, established California’s first-ever Social Health Council. The Council’s work will advance social connection as a public health priority and develop a roadmap for strengthening belonging across California.

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