Reading: Lisa Kentgen: The Practice of Belonging

Annie Bloom's welcomes local author Lisa Kentgen for the in-store launch of her new book, The Practice of Belonging: Six Lessons from Vibrant Communities to Combat Loneliness, Foster Diversity, and Cultivate Caring Relationships.

About The Practice of Belonging:

An inspirational guide to the 6 core qualities of healthy communities, for anyone looking to build community as a source of connection and a vehicle for social change. After two years meeting with different communities in the US, psychologist Lisa Kentgen identified 6 key traits of vibrant, healthy communities that we can all apply to our own lives and networks: commitment to care, acceptance, diversity, skillful conflict resolution, bonding rituals, hospitality. Each chapter focuses on one of these traits, highlighting a particular community as a case study of how it can be put into practice. With intention and practice, we can transform our social relationships and build communities that appreciate difference, encourage authentic expression, and foster an environment of belonging and mutual care. This book will inspire you to make the transformative leap from "me" to "we," creating communal, loving spaces in which to connect––and thrive––together.

Lisa Kentgen is a psychologist with a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and has worked as an educator and clinician for over three decades. She has served on faculty at Columbia University Teachers College and as clinical director within a research center for childhood mood and anxiety disorders at New York State Psychiatric Institute. She is the author of two books and numerous scientific articles. Her scientific interests have included topics such as the development of conscious awareness, the biological correlates of depression and anxiety, identifying mental health needs of children, and communal models of health and well-being. https://www.lisakentgen.com/