Kellen Haile (far right) at a YPOC event
When Kellen Haile moved to Harrisburg from Houston, where he lived for two years, it was a little disorienting.
“Coming from Houston, the fourth largest city, to Harrisburg, which was much, much smaller, was a bit of culture shock,” he said.
He wasn’t a stranger to Pennsylvania, as he had attended Bucknell University in Lewisburg for college. But when a job brought him to Harrisburg in 2021, the city was new to him.
Other than a college friend who lived in Mechanicsburg, Haile had no sense of community here, wasn’t familiar with the city, and didn’t have connections. On top of that, he made the move during the pandemic, which didn’t help him to get plugged in.
It took nearly six months for Haile to really start to feel comfortable in his new city, he said. And there were times during his first winter in Harrisburg that he felt isolated. But fast-forward to this winter, and Haile has a close group of friends, has joined several organizations and social groups, and feels like he belongs in Harrisburg.
Like Haile, lots of people have moved into the city in the past few years, whether for work, for the affordability, or because they just think Harrisburg looks like a great place to live. But moving to a new city can be challenging, and getting connected takes effort. Even for those who’ve lived in Harrisburg for years, making friends as an adult can be a challenge.
And while statistics on loneliness have decreased post-COVID, some reports still show that nearly a quarter of adults around the globe are experiencing loneliness.
The good news is, in Harrisburg, there are plenty of ways to get to know your neighbors, and others, who have already done it, have lots of tips to help out.
Common Goal
For Haile, an engineer at TE Connectivity’s Harrisburg office, one of the first logical places to start plugging in was at work. He joined the company’s young professionals group and the African heritage group for employees, both of which include social gatherings, community service and professional development.
“I knew from my previous job that these type of groups do help you get more connected socially, but also it’s a great place to network,” he said.
Around the same time, he also started attending events held by Young Professionals of Color-Greater Harrisburg (YPOC) and, this past year, became an official member. And if that wasn’t enough, he also connected with Harrisburg Young Professionals (HYP) and participated in their kickball league this past summer.
“Definitely moving here was kind of daunting and especially since it was in the midst of the pandemic,” Haile said. “After I started to meet more people and make more friends, I feel like I’m able to navigate the city better.”
Like Haile, Olivia Edwards-Rindfuss connected with HYP soon after moving to Harrisburg in 2017. She quickly started building relationships that she’s maintained to this day.
“You can spend your time doing just about anything these days, and that’s why I think the plague of loneliness is so stark because we can spend our time on our own,” she said. “But there were so many people at HYP saying, ‘this gave me my start and helped me build friendships.’”
For 2023, she served as the board president of the organization, which has around 450 members and several thousand people who participate in its sports leagues.
One of her favorite aspects of the organization is the way that the members participate in community service and engage in making Harrisburg a better place. Working with others in a service role is also a great way to meet people and bond over a common goal, Edwards-Rindfuss explained.
Over at YPOC, co-founder Dr. Kimeka Campbell recommends starting small—finding one friend who you can do things with, ask questions of, and who can show you the area.
With YPOC, her goal has been to provide a safe place to meet people. The group, like HYP, provides a mix of networking, service and social gatherings catered specifically to Black and brown residents—although everyone is invited.
“We needed to create community in a specific way,” said Campbell of when she and her husband Basir Vincent started the group eight years ago. “We were extremely intentional about serving the Black and brown community.”
Once you find that one person, Campbell said, explore.
“Harrisburg is beautiful,” she said. “The area and the parks are gorgeous.”
Or maybe, check out one of YPOC’s movie nights at Midtown Cinema, which have become very popular and are a low-pressure way to make connections.
Discover Your Interest
Stefanie Bevins has lived in the area for about 11 years, but recently was looking for a way to push herself out of her comfort zone and meet people. She saw that the Harrisburg chapter of Gals That Brunch, a national organization dedicated to helping people make friends over brunch, had an opening for a leader.
“Sometimes as an adult, it is hard to meet people,” Bevins said. “But very rarely, in my experience, have I put myself out there and walked away being totally disappointed.”
Bevins suggested finding somewhere to get plugged in that aligns with an interest, hobby or passion you have, so that you’re more comfortable getting involved.
If brunch is up your alley, she may have just the right group for you. However, Gals That Brunch also hosts outings to do yoga, candle making and facials, among other activities.
Also for the gals is the Harrisburg Babes Walking Group, which Harrisburg-area residents Kristin Kellum-Shearer and Alyssa Shaffer started this past summer.
“Our goal is to empower women to come together and meet new people,” Kellum-Shearer said. “It’s also an opportunity to keep moving.”
The group hosts monthly walks around the city, sometimes ending at a local restaurant for a meal or trivia or at Midtown Cinema for a movie. Ladies of any age are welcome.
If you can’t find a group that fits your interests, maybe do like Jonathan Dunkleburger did and create one.
In 2022, he started the HBG Bike Crew, which holds weekly rides around Harrisburg. Anyone is welcome, no matter their skill level. Trying something new is also a great way to find a new hobby, he added.
“In the beginning, it was just me and one or two other people, but I kept at it,” he said. “I wanted to make sure people knew that I was sticking around. I wanted to build a group of friends for myself, but also create a space for others to do the same.”
Now, Dunkleburger shared, over half of his close friends are people he met through the group.
If you’re not ready to commit to a group, Haile recommends spending time in “third spaces,” coffee shops, bookstores, the gym, an art museum, etc., and be aware of who is around you. Say “hi” to that person you see frequently; start a conversation.
“That third space can be a good social plug,” he said. “Whether you’re extroverted or introverted, I feel like you can find something that fits you.”
For Haile, it took time and work to build the network he has now, but the effort has been worth it.
“I just feel more comfortable and confident in myself in the city,” he said.
Get Social
If you’re feeling friendly, here are a few places to start:
Young Professionals of Color-Greater Harrisburg
www.ypoc-hbg.org
Harrisburg Young Professionals
www.hyp.org
Gals That Brunch
@galsthatbrunchhbg on Instagram
Harrisburg Babes Walking Group
@hbgbwg on Instagram
HBG Bike Crew
@hbg.bike.crew on Instagram
HBG Sketchers
@hbg_sketchers on Instagram or visit Facebook page
Harrisburg Beer Runners
Visit Facebook page
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