Walking into the silence of the library, I wasn’t sure where to find the room but I saw stairs and hoped for the best. When I got to the top of the steps I was already trying to pick out a table and seat so that I didn’t look confused. To my surprise, greeters in bright blue t-shirts welcomed me, offered me water, told me I could sit anywhere, and asked me to make a name tag.

I was assigned to cover the event hosted by Age-Friendly Oxford (AFO), which is a community improvement initiative that believes in building a livable community for all ages. We started off the conversation by introducing ourselves to our table with some basic information and some fun facts. From there, we were asked what we think causes loneliness and social isolation in Oxford. We had a range of ages at our table so it was interesting to hear the responses that everyone came up with. Later we talked about personal experiences that we had with loneliness or social isolation.

During our conversation, someone mentioned a story about a meeting for single moms that had happened in the same room. The moms met as an opportunity to get together with people who understand them best, other moms. The coordinator said they didn’t even do any of the planned activities. These moms were able to hug, cry, and hang out while their kids played. This was exactly what they needed to not feel alone, they just needed space. 

The Community Conversation opened my eyes to ways that the Oxford community is struggling with loneliness. As a student, I don’t have much to do with the community so, honestly, I never thought of loneliness in Oxford. The Community Conversation makes me more aware and I realize that even saying, “Hi!” to someone could make a difference in their day. It is something that takes no money and very little time out of my day to do. 

The next Community Conversation will be on volunteerism. All Oxford area community members are welcome to join on April 24 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. in the Havighurst room at the Oxford Lane Library.