May 31, 2026 – A new free community event aimed at helping people build real-world connections is coming to the Decatur Civic Center on Thursday, June 11, from 3 to 7 p.m.
The event, called “The Social Project,” is sponsored by the Macon County Mental Health Board and is designed to make meeting new people easier, more comfortable, and more engaging through shared experiences and small-group activities.
Organizers say the effort responds to a growing decline in in-person social connection, with research showing fewer Americans maintaining close friendships compared to previous decades, along with rising concerns tied to loneliness and mental health.
Attendees will be able to enjoy food, drinks, prizes, and sign up for a variety of free group activities and experiences based on shared interests. Options include golf outings at Red Tail Run and Hickory Point Golf Courses, Chicago Cubs tickets, shows at the Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater, nature walks and birding with the Macon County Conservation District, fitness and climbing activities at The DISC, pickleball sessions, yoga, animal encounters at Scovill Zoo, and more.
Organizers say the goal is to remove the awkwardness often associated with meeting new people and replace it with structured, fun experiences.
The event is free and open to the public at the Decatur Civic Center. More information is available through The Social Project on Facebook.
