West Shore Community College is pleased to announce the kickoff event of the 2024-2025 HumanKind Series, “Loneliness and Public Health: How Connection Can Heal Our Community,” a presentation by Katie Miller, Community Health Supervisor for District 10 Health Department on Thursday, Sept. 5, 12:30 p.m. in the WSCC Center Stage Theater and live streamed on WSCC social media. The event is free and open to everyone.
The 8th annual HumanKind series theme is “Overcoming Loneliness: Togetherness, Connection, Community.” Loneliness is now considered a major public health issue. The World Health Organization has convened a special committee on loneliness and the United States Surgeon General has diagnosed the U.S. as suffering from an epidemic of loneliness. Experts in higher education say that loneliness is a significant cause of increased rates of mental health issues in college students today.
This year’s HumanKind series seeks to explore strategies for overcoming loneliness and fostering a greater sense of togetherness, connection, and community among West Shore students and in the college’s service district.
The event on Sept. 5 will explore overcoming loneliness from the public health perspective. Miller, a Ludington native, has over 10 years of experience in public health with District Health Department #10. She earned a Master’s degree in public health from Grand Valley State University.
“This event will be the perfect way to kick off this year’s HumanKind series on overcoming loneliness,” said, Dr. Matt Sanderson, chair of the HumanKind planning team, and professor of philosophy and ethics. “We look forward to learning from Mrs. Miller’s extensive experience working on this issue from the standpoint of public health.”
HumanKind is West Shore Community College’s arts, culture, and lecture series that includes presentations, workshops, films, performing arts events and more. To learn more about the HumanKind series, click here or email humankind@westshore.edu.