A Call to Connection
This groundbreaking primer on the state of connection in our nation is now available. Combining scientific research, stories of impact, and recommended practices to help foster deeper connections in our lives, this new primer seeks to ignite a national conversation about why we need each other.
Welcome
There’s an active and committed ecosystem of actors — community organizers, educators, researchers, policy makers, thought leaders, cultural influencers, and funders — working hard to address America’s crisis of connection. Einhorn Collaborative created this hub to lift up their stories, insights, and reflections. We hope they serve you and the organizations you work in partnership with to bring the power and possibility of human connection into our everyday lives.
Reflections
Stories, insights, and reflections from our team, peers, and partners
Investing in Civic Education to Safeguard Our Democracy
The majority of Americans across the political spectrum support more funding to ensure every child receives an adequate civic education, yet over the last twenty years, 44% of school districts reduced how much time educators spend on social studies in elementary schools.
Let Us Move at the Speed of Trust
Small moments of connection are what we need to build trust, a core element in any healthy relationship, before we can come together to solve bigger societal challenges.
Philanthropy in Action: Local to Global
Our Building Strategy Lead Jonathan Gruber spoke on a panel with New Pluralists' Executive Director Uma Viswanathan and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Senior Program Officer Sharon Roerty at the Foundation for Social Connection's 2022 End Social Isolation and Loneliness Action Forum.
All the Lonely People: Why Americans’ Isolation Is a Threat to Our Democracy
In addition to toxic polarization, threats of political violence, the divisive effects of social media, and other oft-cited forces – loneliness is a lesser-known factor that subverts democracy.
Five Principles for Fostering Connection with Children During Times of Transition
During times of transition and challenge, parents and caregivers can regain a sense of calm by embracing adaptability and choosing connection rather than control.
Every City in America Needs Its Own Porchfest
On the last weekend of August, residents and visitors lined the streets in Black Rock, Connecticut swaying to the electrifying music coming from dozens of residential porches, yards, and driveways. But Black Rock Porchfest is so much more than a music festival; for many, it fosters belonging.
Five Principles for Fostering Connection with Children During Times of Transition
During times of transition and challenge, parents and caregivers can regain a sense of calm by embracing adaptability and choosing connection rather than control.
The Path to Regulation and Calming Runs Through Relationships
In a world full of conflict, stress, and distraction, human connection is more than just a pleasant change of pace; it is the biological basis for our capacity to bridge and heal.
Why Curb Cuts and Early Relational Health Go Together
Emotional expression by parents orients children and primes them both for autonomic emotional connection, even amidst distractions, stress, and trauma.
Bridging Differences in Power and Perspective to Advance Community Change
The Project Manager for Pediatrics Supporting Parents shares insights from Durham Partners for Early Relational Health about co-designing collaborative efforts to transform health care systems, with all stakeholders having a seat at the table.
Leveraging Philanthropic Collaboration to Support Child Development
Meera Mani of The David & Lucile Packard Foundation reflects on five years of collaboration in philanthropy.
Relationships Aren’t Just Good for Babies
Human relationships rooted in emotional connection build the tools of empathy, repair, and healing that are necessary for society to flourish.
Investing in Civic Education to Safeguard Our Democracy
The majority of Americans across the political spectrum support more funding to ensure every child receives an adequate civic education, yet over the last twenty years, 44% of school districts reduced how much time educators spend on social studies in elementary schools.
Celebrating New Collaborations to Promote Student Success
Higher education and national service have a critical role to play in supporting a new collaborative effort reach its goal and help students succeed.
Developing a Generation of Bridgers
Einhorn Collaborative’s evolving Gen Z strategy
City Year & Cornell: Evaluating Impact Outcomes in Partnership
How the David M. Einhorn Center for Community Engagement at Cornell University and City Year are working together to learn how their programs foster civic and community participation, collaboration, and career readiness.
Relationships: What Young People Need to Thrive
The wellbeing of young people depends on their access to relationship-rich environments
Change Research Survey
During the Spring of 2021, Einhorn Collaborative commissioned a nationally representative study of 18-26-year-olds to understand their interest in various types of service and advocacy activities.
Philanthropy in Action: Local to Global
Our Building Strategy Lead Jonathan Gruber spoke on a panel with New Pluralists' Executive Director Uma Viswanathan and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Senior Program Officer Sharon Roerty at the Foundation for Social Connection's 2022 End Social Isolation and Loneliness Action Forum.
All the Lonely People: Why Americans’ Isolation Is a Threat to Our Democracy
In addition to toxic polarization, threats of political violence, the divisive effects of social media, and other oft-cited forces – loneliness is a lesser-known factor that subverts democracy.
Bridging in Action: A Relationship Forged Through Shared Work
Our Building Strategy Lead Jon Gruber and Sarah Ruger of Stand Together, who work closely as funder co-leads of New Pluralists, recently sat down to reflect on their partnership one year into the launch of the collaborative.
Stretching towards Hope in 2022
2021 brought forth many of the same challenges we’d already been grappling with as a country, along with new ones. Social upheaval, political unrest, and the continued impact of the pandemic aggravate our existing fear, anxiety, and loneliness.
We Can Relate: A primer on why and how we should invest in connection
A Call to Connection weaves together science, ancient wisdom, vivid stories, and concrete practices.
The Hidden Tribes of America
This report from More In Common, published in 2018, explores the forces behind political polarization in the U.S. The report asserts that, rather than two overarching groups, Americans are split across seven distinct tribes based on what they believe. Four of these tribes make up the Exhausted Majority.
Let Us Move at the Speed of Trust
Small moments of connection are what we need to build trust, a core element in any healthy relationship, before we can come together to solve bigger societal challenges.
Every City in America Needs Its Own Porchfest
On the last weekend of August, residents and visitors lined the streets in Black Rock, Connecticut swaying to the electrifying music coming from dozens of residential porches, yards, and driveways. But Black Rock Porchfest is so much more than a music festival; for many, it fosters belonging.
A Summer Reading List on Belonging
A collection of books curated by Jenn that will hopefully bring you joy, awe, ingenuity, provocation, and “aha!” moments as we work to build a culture of belonging.
Welcome to the Connection Hub
We're excited to share our new Connection Hub, filled with resources, tools, and reflections to more easily find what you need to advance our shared goal of fostering deeper human connection in America.
In the Season of Gratitude
A regular practice of gratitude reminds us of all we have to grateful for every day of the year.
What We Learn from Experience and Reflection
How experience and reflection together shape human learning and connection.
Investing in Civic Education to Safeguard Our Democracy
The majority of Americans across the political spectrum support more funding to ensure every child receives an adequate civic education, yet over the last twenty years, 44% of school districts reduced how much time educators spend on social studies in elementary schools.
Through the Prism with Michael A. Rebell
Michael A. Rebell is an experienced litigator, administrator, researcher, and scholar in the field of education law. He is the executive director of the Center for Educational Equity and Professor of Law and Educational Practice at Teachers College, Columbia University. The Center seeks to promote equity and excellence in education and to overcome the gap in educational access and achievement between advantaged and disadvantaged students throughout the United States. For the 2022-2023 school year, he is also a part-time Visiting Professor at the Harvard Law School.
November Resources
PRACTICE | 10 Ways to Become More Grateful Take a few minutes each day to try out
The Effects of Community-Based Engagement in Higher Education
Findings from a recent study by the American Association of Colleges and Universities indicate that community-engaged learning and civic engagement have positive impacts on students in six key areas, including personal and social responsibility, development of positive mindsets and dispositions, graduation and retention rates, learning gains, intellectual and practical skills, and career-related skills. However, more direct assessments of students' demonstrated skills are needed to complement what we know about these outcomes based on self-reported data.
Five Principles for Fostering Connection with Children During Times of Transition
During times of transition and challenge, parents and caregivers can regain a sense of calm by embracing adaptability and choosing connection rather than control.
The Path to Regulation and Calming Runs Through Relationships
In a world full of conflict, stress, and distraction, human connection is more than just a pleasant change of pace; it is the biological basis for our capacity to bridge and heal.
Why Curb Cuts and Early Relational Health Go Together
Emotional expression by parents orients children and primes them both for autonomic emotional connection, even amidst distractions, stress, and trauma.
Bridging Differences in Power and Perspective to Advance Community Change
The Project Manager for Pediatrics Supporting Parents shares insights from Durham Partners for Early Relational Health about co-designing collaborative efforts to transform health care systems, with all stakeholders having a seat at the table.
Leveraging Philanthropic Collaboration to Support Child Development
Meera Mani of The David & Lucile Packard Foundation reflects on five years of collaboration in philanthropy.
Relationships Aren’t Just Good for Babies
Human relationships rooted in emotional connection build the tools of empathy, repair, and healing that are necessary for society to flourish.
Philanthropy in Action: Local to Global
Our Building Strategy Lead Jonathan Gruber spoke on a panel with New Pluralists' Executive Director Uma Viswanathan and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Senior Program Officer Sharon Roerty at the Foundation for Social Connection's 2022 End Social Isolation and Loneliness Action Forum.
All the Lonely People: Why Americans’ Isolation Is a Threat to Our Democracy
In addition to toxic polarization, threats of political violence, the divisive effects of social media, and other oft-cited forces – loneliness is a lesser-known factor that subverts democracy.
Bridging in Action: A Relationship Forged Through Shared Work
Our Building Strategy Lead Jon Gruber and Sarah Ruger of Stand Together, who work closely as funder co-leads of New Pluralists, recently sat down to reflect on their partnership one year into the launch of the collaborative.
Investing in Civic Education to Safeguard Our Democracy
The majority of Americans across the political spectrum support more funding to ensure every child receives an adequate civic education, yet over the last twenty years, 44% of school districts reduced how much time educators spend on social studies in elementary schools.
Celebrating New Collaborations to Promote Student Success
Higher education and national service have a critical role to play in supporting a new collaborative effort reach its goal and help students succeed.
Developing a Generation of Bridgers
Einhorn Collaborative’s evolving Gen Z strategy
Let Us Move at the Speed of Trust
Small moments of connection are what we need to build trust, a core element in any healthy relationship, before we can come together to solve bigger societal challenges.
Every City in America Needs Its Own Porchfest
On the last weekend of August, residents and visitors lined the streets in Black Rock, Connecticut swaying to the electrifying music coming from dozens of residential porches, yards, and driveways. But Black Rock Porchfest is so much more than a music festival; for many, it fosters belonging.
A Summer Reading List on Belonging
A collection of books curated by Jenn that will hopefully bring you joy, awe, ingenuity, provocation, and “aha!” moments as we work to build a culture of belonging.
Through the Prism
By asking human beings the same five questions, we remind ourselves that everyone has a powerful story that deserves to be heard.
Through the Prism with Michael A. Rebell
Michael A. Rebell is an experienced litigator, administrator, researcher, and scholar in the field of education law. He is the executive director of the Center for Educational Equity and Professor of Law and Educational Practice at Teachers College, Columbia University. The Center seeks to promote equity and excellence in education and to overcome the gap in educational access and achievement between advantaged and disadvantaged students throughout the United States. For the 2022-2023 school year, he is also a part-time Visiting Professor at the Harvard Law School.
Through the Prism with Reverend Jen Bailey
Rev. Jen Bailey is the Founder and Executive Director of Faith Matters Network where she helps equip community organizers, faith leaders, and activists with resources for connection, spiritual sustainability, and accompaniment.
Research
The science behind how human connection shapes our lives
The Effects of Community-Based Engagement in Higher Education
Findings from a recent study by the American Association of Colleges and Universities indicate that community-engaged learning and civic engagement have positive impacts on students in six key areas, including personal and social responsibility, development of positive mindsets and dispositions, graduation and retention rates, learning gains, intellectual and practical skills, and career-related skills. However, more direct assessments of students' demonstrated skills are needed to complement what we know about these outcomes based on self-reported data.
How Gen Z Sees Themselves and Their Future
Gen Z is considered to be the most ethnically and racially diverse generation in American history. So, what are their goals for the next stage of their personal and professional lives? What do they expect from older generations, institutions, and society at large? Check out the new research by Murmuration and the Walton Family Foundation to learn more about Gen Z’s values, priorities, political activity, and interests.
Civic Language Perception Project
Informed by a nationally representative survey of 5,000 Americans, PACE’s Civic Language Perceptions Project seeks to understand people's perceptions of the language associated with civic engagement and democracy work.
Watch Stories of Our Work
Tools
Here are some ways to put human connection into action
Solutions Story Tracker
The Solutions Story Tracker is a growing archive of journalism content that elevates rigorous solutions to social problems. Created by Solutions Journalism Network, the database is dynamic and searchable, with each story tagged by issue, location, journalist, and insights about what works.
Bridging – Towards a Society Built on Belonging
This animated explainer video offers an overview of bridging and breaking and of the fraught, uncertain context that’s stoking anxiety and othering. john a. powell describes how our social responses to the overlapping challenges at hand are shaped by our understanding of who we are and who belongs.
A Care Package for Uncertain Times
In the early days of the pandemic, On Being pulled together a collection of podcasts, poetry, meditations, and reflections to help people process the upheaval and uncertainty of the moment. This content is still as relevant today.
Getting Started with Community Engaged Learning
Community-engaged learning projects and programs can look very different, but they all share four important criteria. They: (1) Address a specific community interest, problem or public concern, (2) Include woring with and learning from a community partner, (3) Connect and integrate community-engaged experiences with educational content, and (4) include structured, doumented critical reflection.
Bridging Differences Playbook
The Playbook synthesizes practical, research-backed skills and strategies for bridging differences. Organized into intrapersonal, interpersonal, and intergroup skills, the Playbook offers flexible guidance on how to put these practices into action, insights on why they work, and caveats to keep in mind.
Nurture Science Program
Doing an activity together is not the same as feeling connected. The Nurture Science Program blog offers manageable ways to nurture whole-family health, by incorporating simple interaction that nurture emotional connection into the activities we do together every day, such as eating, sleeping, bathing, getting ready, going places, playing, and cleaning up.
Storycorps Connect
Developed in response to the pandemic, StoryCorps Connect is a platform that enables people to record StoryCorps video interviews remotely from the comfort of home. As with any StoryCorps conversation, the audio and a photo from these interviews gets archived at the Library of Congress.
Open Mind Platform – Difficult Conversations
These videos, articles, and research papers from OpenMind put forward practical, psychology-based techniques - e.g., listening, intellectual humility, empathy - for navigating difficult conversations and making them more productive. These resources are relevant in range of settings, from campuses to workplaces to civic organizations.
No matter who we are, how we live, or what we believe, we all share a deep need and capacity for human connection and belonging. It’s at the core of our shared humanity — and baked into every human’s DNA.
No matter who we are, how we live, or what we believe, we all share a deep need and capacity for human connection and belonging. It’s at the core of our shared humanity — and baked into every human’s DNA.
Einhorn Collaborative in the News
Cornell Plans to Expand Off-Campus Engagement
By Ariel Kaminer
"Through an initiative to be announced on Monday, Cornell University plans to transform its curriculum to make real-world experiences like these a defining aspect of the undergraduate experience. "
MacKenzie Scott Gave Away $6 Billion Last Year. It’s Not As Easy As It Sounds
By Belinda Luscombe
"Imagine for a moment being obscenely, outrageously rich. I know you’ve done it before. You probably have a list of priorities—college for the kids, new car, pay off debts. Forget that list. That list is puny."
Grant Maker Bolsters Human Connection as a Way to Take on Polarization
By Alex Daniels
"More than a year of lockdown has taught many Americans about the importance of social distancing and the effects of vaccines. But perhaps the biggest lessons are about people we’ve held close and those whose company we miss, says Jenn Hoos Rothberg, executive director of the Einhorn Collaborative."
Why We Must Prioritize Bridging Our Divides
By Jenn Hoos Rothberg
"When I tell people about our work at Einhorn Collaborative — a foundation dedicated to addressing America’s growing crisis of connection — I often receive this response."
Bridging Our Divides Begins with Building Trust and Finding Common Ground with Each Other
By Jenn Hoos Rothberg
"We are in a moment of dramatic change and re-imagining, what my friend and futurist Ari Wallach calls “The Intertidal”: a significant shift in global human culture and narrative, where what has been gives way to what will be."
Authors & Guest Contributors
Jonathan Gruber
Ira Hillman
Jenn Hoos Rothberg
Itai Dinour
Uma Vishwanathan
Uma Vishwanathan
Meera Mani
Linsey Morrison
Casper ter Kulie
Mary Ellen Giess
Karen Murphy
Lucie Addison
David Einhorn
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