Brunch Meeting
The Other Significant Others:
Rethinking Friendship’s Potential
When the child finally finds a chum—somewhere between eight-and-a-half and ten—you will discover something very different in the relationship namely, the child begins to develop a real sensitivity to what matters to another person:
Harry Stack Sullivan on the importance of friendship in human development.
Presenter: Rhaina Cohen
Date: Sunday, October 5th, 2025
Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm
Location: Maggiano's Little Italy, 5333 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC
No CEUs for this event
Program Description:
In this meeting, join NWSP colleagues at Maggiano's for brunch and a talk by author and NPR reporter, Rhiana Cohen elaborate on the importance of friendships and share insights from her recent book “The Other Significant Others: Rethinking Friendship’s Potential”. Based on years of reporting, Cohen tells the stories of people who have chosen friends as life partners — taking on roles typically reserved for romantic relationships, including co-homeownership, caregiving, and co-parenting. This talk will explore how these platonic partnerships can help us better understand the nature of intimacy, commitment, and family. By examining this alternative relationship model, we can gain fresh perspectives on what constitutes meaningful partnership.
Cost: NWSP Members: $40; Non-members: $50, Students: $25
Speaker Bio:
Rhaina Cohen is an award-winning journalist who tells deeply reported, intimate stories. She’s the author of the national bestseller The Other Significant Others and a producer and editor for NPR’s documentary podcast Embedded. Rhaina also contributed to a forthcoming anthology about shared living, A Home For Tomorrow (Beacon 2026). Her writing, which often focuses on social connection, has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post and elsewhere.
Seating is limited: Register before September 27, 2025.
