DLE ANSWERS THE SURGEON GENERAL’S CALL FOR ACTION WITH CRUSADE FOR CONVERSATIONS

What started with a call to action in a podcast last month with DLE Founder Linda Dulye skyrocketed in significance on May 2 when the U.S. Surgeon General issued an Advisory declaring the disintegrating state of human connections a crisis.

The Crusade for Conversations campaign introduced by Linda in the popular It’s About to Go Down! podcast has become a catalyst for action in the Surgeon General’s National Strategy to Advance Social Connections. The Crusade spotlights simple, yet significant, actions that revive the vibe of connections with encouraging advice on how to start new communication practices and keep growing.

“Creating meaningful connections has been core to programming since the DLE’s inception in 2008. We’ve evolved through the years from in-person only experiences to exclusively virtual during the COVID era–and now, to a combination of both. Amidst all the change, we have preserved an open, safe and supportive culture to inspire thousands of motivated professionals to make connections,” attests Linda.

Always exploring new ways to bring people together to share ideas and perspectives about career development, the DLE introduced DLE Meetups in January. Since then, they have rapidly gained in interest and popularity. These informal, in-person gatherings were designed to increase connections between DLE members, build relationships and stimulate conversations–key goals outlined in the National Strategy to Advance Social Connections. “We start conversations that our members can bring back and introduce in their workplace,” notes Linda.

15 DLE members shared their perspectives on the topic of psychological safety in the workplace at the May 8th DLE Meetup. These intimately-sized, in-person exchanges promote open, engaging conversations about trending topics in today’s work environment. The next Meetup is set for June 26.

The consequences for failure to build human connections are life threatening, as evidenced in the Surgeon General’s Advisory. Consequences include a 29% increased risk of heart disease, 32% increased risk of stroke and increased risk of premature death by more than 60%.

“We want to motivate our members to initiate more conversations and connections with colleagues at work, neighbors, family members and other social communities,” says Linda. “As leaders of the Crusade for Conversations, DLE members can be role models for all generations, especially our youth, whose social and communication skills were significantly stunted by the disruptions and isolation of the pandemic.”

The Surgeon General’s research confirms that “social networks are getting smaller, and levels of social participation are declining, distinct from whether individuals report that they are lonely. This decline is starkest for young people ages 15 to 24. For this age group, time spent in-person with friends has reduced by nearly 70% over almost two decades, from roughly 150 minutes per day in 2003 to 40 minutes per day in 2020.”

Future issues of the HUB will provide concrete actions for leading the Crusade for Conversations in support of the National Strategy to Advance Social Connections. We encourage members to swap their ideas and techniques by emailing dle@dulye.com. Even better, have a conversation with DLE Founder Linda Dulye by calling her at (201) 532-0118.