If you’re looking for others interested in yoga, knitting or dogs, wanting to make new friends, or just spent less time looking at screens, the “Connection Expo” this Saturday is for you.
In an online age of increasing isolation, the second annual expo is being put on by Pittsburgh Social Health, a group that works to “bring back the art of hanging out.”
The expo will offer clubs, organizations, and volunteer opportunities for people looking to connect, said Haley Ingersoll , founder of Pittsburgh Social Health. Groups represented range from wellness- and exercise-focused organizations, to identity groups, arts and crafts organizations, community-service organizations, and more.
The vision for the event stems from college campus fairs that feature fraternities, professional clubs and other groups for new students to join.
“But, the idea being that as adults, we could also benefit from an opportunity like that to walk through a space, talk to some of these organization leaders, maybe experience a demo of what it’s like to do shadow boxing, for instance, or look for volunteer opportunities,” Ingersoll said.
The aim is to also make it a little bit less intimidating to approach or try an organization.
“Joining a club is one of the quickest ways to make friends and connect to that sort of sense of purpose and belonging,” she said.
Ingersoll, who moved to Pittsburgh in 2020, initially connected with other transplants to the city who were looking for community, and the group evolved to Pittsburgh Social Health. The group also hosts other in-person meet-ups.
Courtesy Pittsburgh Social Health
Participants in the 2025 Pittsburgh Social Health Connection Expo.
In the wake of the loss of in-person contact during the COVID-19 pandemic and a recent U.S. Surgeon General’s report, there is increasing attention to issues of loneliness and isolation.
“I do think we’re seeing a recognition that this really is important,” Ingersoll said.
A 2023 advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General highlighted the problem and its harms to both individual health and society at large.
“Social connection is a fundamental human need, as essential to survival as food, water, and shelter,” according to the advisory.
Loneliness is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, and several other major medical issues, the report noted – similar to the health impacts of smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.
The Pittsburgh Social Health Connection Expo is scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at Velum Fermentation, 2120 Jane St., Pittsburgh, 15203. It is free to attend.