Grandmillennial Networking: Redefining Community Post-Pandemic

Millennials' reaction to the pandemic was, in the eyes of this casual observer, to move home. Many millennial parents, needing assistance with remote learning or lengthy "close contact" quarantines, moved closer to family in an attempt to navigate the additional stress. Many of us who didn’t relocate, or couldn’t, found loneliness and disconnection replaced morning coffee chats and water cooler discussions; the sense of identity and purpose that came from our careers and livelihoods fell hollow.

With the pandemic waning, how can we incorporate the community we've missed into our lives, particularly where remote work or relocation back to the communities we’ve previously known aren't possible? How can we move beyond profession as identity and build community?

As I sat this morning at our quarterly meeting of Society of Mayflower Descendants in the District of Columbia and reflected on those we'd lost to illness or old age with our Chaplain, I also contemplated being the youngest person in the room despite also being a member longer than half the people in it. My participation in this organization was initially a networking tool as I entered the workforce post-2008, but I appreciate them more now than I did then for the sense of community and connection they've provided.

My engagement with Daughters of the American Revolution increased during the pandemic when Zoom meetings, DIY or outdoor community service projects, and streaming author talks were these organizations' reaction to stay-at-home orders. Friends who moved to Pittsburgh just a few months before COVID joined a country club to enjoy socially-distanced amenities like golf and tennis, which was popular with travel restricted and restaurants closed; country clubs saw membership boom during the pandemic. My cousin joined her local Elks Lodge (#794) as she began to socialize when her community reopened; she appreciated the casually-structured events and convenience.

Despite baby boomers retiring and having more time to dedicate to these organizations, news stories abound about America's waning interest in institutions from the VFW and American Legion to the Elks Lodge and Kiwanis. These are organizations that enhanced our grandparents' and parents' community ties and were a bedrock in many cities and towns across the United States. Our generation has replaced them with Facebook and Instagram, SoulCycle and Peloton, binge-watching television -- and work... coterie and superficial connection, not community.