We Can Relate: A primer on why and how we should invest in connection

Only a few years ago, elevating the power and promise of relationships as a vision for social change felt like an idealistic goal. When members of our team described human connection as the philanthropic focus of Einhorn Collaborative, we often heard a version of, “Huh, that’s… interesting.” The subtext was clear: this work is, at best, fuzzy and, at worst, a distraction from first-order imperatives to address people’s material needs, fix systems, and reform institutions.

Fast forward to today, and those imperatives remain, yet the importance of human connection has emerged as a topic of serious discussion. That’s in part because all of us have felt the acute absence of connection during the pandemic. It’s also a product of the many ways in which the crisis of connection wreaks havoc on people’s lives—at the individual level, in families and communities, in organizations, and in our politics. At the same time, it’s clear that relationships are an active ingredient in big leaps forward on most any pressing challenge, including the work of systems change, conflict transformation, and breakthrough business performance.

In partnering with nonprofits, researchers, and storytellers in a range of fields, Einhorn Collaborative has developed a holistic view of the case for human connection: why it matters, what it makes possible, and how to design for it. Our focus is on both bonding relationships with those like us and bridging relationships with those not like us. Both are crucial as people move through life and encounter many kinds of difference. Amidst the newly heightened awareness and urgency of human connection, we commissioned a primer on the topic that could inspire and equip people in a range of settings and sectors to put these ideas into action. The result is A Call to Connection: Rediscovering the Transformative Power of Relationships.

In initially converting this from the kernel of an idea into a concrete project, I was excited to think about how the work could reflect our long-held belief in the need for both science and stories in conveying the power of connection. For one thing, it’d be odd to talk about connection in esoteric or clinical terms; it’s part of our shared humanity and something we feel and experience. It’s also true that for some people, the science of connection may be uniquely compelling; for others, encountering vivid stories is far more persuasive.

As I puzzled through how to bring this idea to life in the collaborative spirit that’s become a hallmark of our “how,” two partners with complementary strengths came to mind: Sacred Design Lab and Greater Good Science Center (GGSC). By weaving together their different strengths, the Sacred Design Lab and GGSC teams have created a document that combines intellectual rigor and emotional resonance, age-old wisdom and practical guidance. It’s a joy to share it with our community.