UMass/NN Storytelling Project: Connecting Across Generations

Northampton Neighbors is once again partnering with public health students at UMass on a storytelling project. Hear StoryShares here.

Throughout the course, students will learn about different ways to build connections, including through storytelling. Volunteers are matched one-on-one with a student in the class. Pairs meet about weekly for about 8-10 weeks between February and May. Volunteers can expect to spend a minimum of 10 hours over the course of the semester. See below for the detailed Project Schedule.

The Epidemic of Loneliness: On Connection, Belonging, and Public Health is taught by Professor Gloria DiFulvio PhD, MPH. 

Join Professor DiFluvio's virtual information session on February 2, 2026 at 4:30 pm to learn more about the project. Join the session here. 

Sign up to volunteer for the project by February 5, 2026.
Click
here to complete the online sign up.

Volunteers will be matched on a first-come-first-serve basis, and we’ll keep a list for future classes. Professor Gloria DiFulvio PhD, MPH, will confirm all participants by February 9, 2026.

The Project Schedule

Thursday, February 12 – First Meeting with NN

Thursday, March 12 – Book Club Part I

Thursday, April 16 - Book Club Part II (virtual meeting)

Thursday, May 5 – Celebration of Stories 

First, participating NN members will join the class in person or via Zoom.

You will:
Receive an overview of the class and project;
Hear directly from some students;
Meet your student partner and begin your journey together! 

You’ll have an initial conversation with your student partner, and establish a timeline together for future meetings. Students and volunteers then reserve time for their first “meet-up” (live or on zoom). As you get to know each other, you’ll decide on the topics you’d like to discuss during a culminating interview.

Next, we'll discuss Dr. Vivek Murthy’s book: Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World. In this book, Dr. Murthy talks about the crisis in public health spurred by disconnections and displacement of people around the globe. His book sparked the idea for the class and the project. Book discussions will happen in person and on Zoom, with volunteers and students placed in small groups for ongoing conversations.

In mid-April, your interviews will be recorded using the StoryCorps format (click here for examples). You’ll receive your recording and you can decide if you would like to share your story more widely. 

Finally, on Thursday, May 5th, there will be a celebration at the end of the class when volunteers and students will come together. We’ll have time to share some stories and discuss the process together.