Takeaway #1: Trust and partnerships (internal and external) are the cornerstones to meeting goals, addressing equity, and sustaining the work.

• Make a commitment to cultivate new and strengthen existing partnerships on an ongoing basis; focus on creating a space for local voices and groups of people that have been and continue to be underrepresented and excluded.
• Continue to develop cultural competence, cultural humility and listening skills to enhance understanding of partners’ work.
• Identify new ways to collaborate and integrate work across agencies and sectors to build coalitions and achieve sustainable policy, systems, and environmental changes.
• Be diligent with follow through and closing communication loops.
• Be practical in your approaches: invite others to meetings, schedule a coffee chat, volunteer to sit on a committee, and always remain curious.
• Think beyond diversity and equity to move towards inclusion and justice.

Takeaway #2: Storytelling is a powerful communication tool to share and sustain the work.

• Demonstrate the progress, achievements, and impact of your work within your community/state and to partners and funders alike.
• Leverage stories to cultivate and motivate new partners and funders.
• Celebrate the early wins to enhance and sustain internal team/coalition motivation.
• Combine data, narrative, and visuals to evoke emotions from the audience.
• Create different story formats for different audiences and purposes, from short elevator pitches to infographics or multi-page reports.

Takeaway #3: Leverage existing state and national programs, strategies, and policies to make progress towards goals.

• Talk with colleagues and partners about what tools and resources can be leveraged to sustain the work. Examples include Medicaid 1115 demonstration waivers, Public Health AmeriCorps volunteers, worksite wellness initiatives, SNAP-Ed funding/programming, and more.
• Align work with The White House National Strategy for Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community, and other national plans.
• Join a national network of professionals seeking to advance social connectedness such as the Administration for Community Living Network of Champions or Healthy Places by Design Local Leaders Creating Socially Connected Communities Network.