UPCOMING EVENTS
Kim Samuel is currently on tour for the launch of On Belonging: Finding Connection in an Age of Isolation.
If you are interested in attending an upcoming event, you can learn more below.
PAST EVENTS
July 26, 2023
Resurgence Talk: Kim Samuel, 'Belonging in the Age of Polycrisis'
Humanity is facing an astonishing array of historic challenges at the same moment – from climate to war, to social isolation, to the uncertainties of Al, and extreme political polarization. Yet we're not just facing a barrage of problems across different issue areas. Today's crises are amplifying and exacerbating each other in complex ways. In this Resurgence talk, Kim Samuel argued that the common denominator to the modern "Polycrisis" is isolation: people are alienated from each other, from the earth and their ecosystems, from inclusive and accountable systems of decision-making, and from a shared sense of meaning in life. The Polycrisis is fundamentally a global deficit of connection in terms of people, place, power, and purpose. This talk made the case for how we can address today’s converging crises through a framework of belonging.
June 17, 2023
Special Olympics World Games
Kim Samuel's panel discussed how athlete and family involvement and advocacy impact local program development and strengthen communities. The goal was to inspire leaders to actively involve athletes and families in their sphere of influence, promoting access for all through inclusive communities.
June 6-8, 2023
Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) Conference
The Tamarack Institute's Learning Community convened to discuss how we put people at the centre of our work and build plans that are community-led and municipally supported.
Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) fosters belonging by promoting local ownership, expanding inclusivity, cultivating shared vision, encouraging participatory governance, and cultivating local culture and identity. In this talk, author and educator Kim Samuel will explore how ABCD practitioners can partner with a growing global movement that is working to enshrine the Right to Belong in public policy, education, health care, urban planning, and other disciplines.
June 7, 2023
Creating Health and Harmony in the Community, 2023
Exploring the importance of harmony with our inner and outer landscape, and the symbiotic relationship that communities have with our health.
May 25, 2023
Deinstitutionalization and the caring community: building belonging to counter social isolation and uphold the rights of older people.
Part of a series of events hosted by the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing. This series explores how the health and wellbeing of older people may be supported through networks of caring relationships and locally-based assets. The speakers highlight a range of contextual factors that might facilitate healthy ageing in place, defined as living well in one’s chosen home and minimizing transitions to higher-intensity care needs.
May 17, 2023
Loneliness and Social Isolation Mental Health Research Network: Annual Research Webinar
Kim Samuel's talk explored how we can combat loneliness and the mental health crisis through the power of belonging.
May 11, 2023
Guernsey Literary Festival
An activist and thought leader on questions of social connectedness, Kim Samuel introduced readers to leaders around the world who are doing the work to cultivate belonging. Whether through sports, medicine, music, business, culture, or advocacy, the people and programmes in this book offer us meaningful lessons on building a world where we all feel at home. Chaired by Bella Farrell.
April 30, 2023
2023 WASA Superintendents Conference
Kim Samuel delivered a keynote speech at the 2023 Washington Association of School Administrators Conference.
April 6, 2023
Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons at the United Nations
Kim Samuel spoke at this United Nations event hosted by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Ecuador in support of an international instrument to protect the right of older persons.
March 14, 2023
Cumberland Conversation with Kim Samuel
Kim Samuel was in conversation with Canon Dr. Edmund Newell about how she has dedicated her life to helping people who feel isolated and the lessons she has learned from her discussions with a remarkable range of people with wisdom to impart, including Nelson Mandela, on how to build a world in which everyone feels at home.
March 8, 2023
Rounding the Circle in Health
The pandemic highlighted stark gaps in our healthcare systems. Kim Samuel spoke with Catherine Pope, Professor of Medical Sociology at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, about leveraging social relationships to improve the quality of care and the wellbeing of healthcare workers.
March 5, 2023
'Discovery of Belonging'
Technological advancements are making our world more connected than ever before, yet feelings of isolation and disconnection have never felt more rampant. At a time when our disability and aged care systems are overstretched, our physical environment is rapidly degrading, and our legal systems bring about further injustices, how do we build belonging? Kim Samuel was joined by +Father Erik Varden, Bishop of Trondheim. Moderated by Matthew Bishop, the discussion explored how belonging is not a need but a right for all, and how it is vital to continue finding a way to each other in a fractured world. This event was hosted by OPHI, the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, and took place at the historic Sheldonian Theatre at Oxford University. Watch the recording here.
February 24, 2023
Zero Project Forum on Ageing and Disability
The ageing population and people with disabilities face similar challenges and discriminations, but are rarely discussed in context with each other. In this Session, chaired by H.E. Luis Gallegos, new approaches are introduced and discussed to build bridges between those two growing communities, including a new Convention of the United Nations. Watch the recording here.
February 5, 2023
The London Library
A conversation between Kim Samuel and Matthew Bishop, founder and board member of the Social Progress Imperative.
February 2, 2023
The Big Lunch on Belonging
An event celebrating the UK launch of On Belonging, hosted by The Eden Project.
January 12, 2023
Hummingbird Bookstore
A book signing and reception at Hummingbird bookstore in Boston, MA.
January 11, 2023
Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Kim Samuel sat down with Dr. Sarah Kaplan, Distinguished Professor and Director of the Institute for Gender and the Economy, for a talk about belonging and social isolation in today's modern world and workplace. Watch the video highlight of the conversation here.
January 10, 2023
Noblis
A private event for employees of Noblis, a think tank whose sole client is the US federal government.
November 30, 2022
Tamarack Institute Webinar
Kim Samuel joined Heather Keam, Director of Deepening Community at the Tamarack Institute, for a virtual fireside chat about the intersectional work of realizing the Right to Belong.
Virtual | Watch/Listen
November 18, 2022
Book Signing and Reception, More Than Words Bookstore
This in-store event was hosted by Jennifer Hanks-Allaire, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Grandmother Collective at More Than Words. More than Words is a nonprofit that embodies the work of building belonging—empowering young people to overcome serious challenges and take ownership in a successful socially-conscious business.
November 17, 2022
Combatting Social Isolation: The Idea of a Right to Belong
Harvard Law School Project on Disability, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
The Harvard Law School Project on Disability (HPOD) hosted a panel discussion with experts and advocates for disability rights. Kim Samuel delivered a speech about how the right to belong impacts people with disabilities and older people.
October 22-25, 2022
2022 Global Symposium
Hosted by the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness, the bi-annual Global Symposium brings together stakeholders from around the world who are working to build social connectedness. The event featured uniquely intersectional conversations and had a keen focus on practical solutions to building social connectedness and belonging in our communities.
October 18, 2022
Ramsay Talk Breakfast
Kim Samuel delivered a Ramsay Talk about belonging as a fundamental human right and how social connectedness can be built into workplaces and corporate culture.
October 11, 2022
Indigo Book Talk and Signing
Indigo Bay and Bloor Bookstore, Toronto, Ontario
Kim Samuel in conversation with Jennifer Johnson, Editor-In-Chief, The Walrus.
October 6, 2022
Grace Under Pressure, Linkedin Live
John Baldoni, one of Top Ten Executive/Leadership Coaches Worldwide, interviews Kim about belonging and social connectedness.
Virtual: Linkedin Live
October 3, 2022
Eva Haller Salon
Kim Samuel delivered a talk at the virtual Eva Haller Salon series, which brings together artists, scientists and media makers from around the globe. Eva is a 91 year old activist, philanthropist and holocaust survivor.
September 27, 2022
On Belonging, a Conversation on Inclusion, hosted by Synergos
Rubin Museum of Art, New York, NY
Kim Samuel sat down with Peggy Dulany, Chair of Synergos, to talk about Right To Belong. Discussion moderated by Marlene Ogawa.
September 27, 2022
Special Olympics International Webinar
Kim Samuel, board member of Special Olympics, spoke at the Special Olympics webinar alongside her partners in the movement.
September 23, 2022
United Nations General Assembly High-Level Side Event
Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza, One UN Plaza, New York, NY
This high-level event addressed the use of Multidimensional Poverty Indices (MPIs) as a policy tool to eradicating poverty in all its dimensions and securing well-being for all. Joining global leaders, Kim Samuel gave a speech about the role of belonging in poverty eradication.
September 22, 2022
The Jane Club Live
Kim Samuel joined as a guest on the Jane Club, a curated community platform that offers live gatherings and social connection that is educational, inspirational and transformative.
September 19, 2022
Belonging in the Workplace, Fishbowl Live
Politics and Prose, Washington, DC
Caroline Potter Shriver, Executive Director of The Village, interviews Kim Samuel about how to foster belonging in the workplace.
September 2022
Rizzoli Book Signing
Rizzoli, 1133 Broadway, New York City, NY
Kim Samuel celebrates the launch of her book by signing copies at Rizolli bookstore in NYC.
August 16, 2022
Treasury Executive Institute Roundtable
Kim Samuel joined a roundtable discussion with senior executives in the Treasury Executive Institute Network. She delivered the event’s opening remarks and guided a conversation about belonging in the workplace for public servants.