Embedded Files
Browse short reads that explore timely insights and real-world examples of social capital and connection. Each entry includes the author, publication date, organization (if applicable), source, and is organized into sections (click on the arrow to the right to expand sections) as well as alphabetized for easy reference.
Building Social Connection
Building Social Connection
Included in this section: awe-inducing experiences, climate change, in-person, journalism, love, national division, and relational wealth
5 Proven Ways to Build Social Connections in Your Community
Risa Wilkerson (Healthy Places by Design), May 30, 2025 (National League of Cities)
A 3-Part Playbook to Build Connection and Community
Kate Carney (More in Common US), April 2, 2025 (The Chronicle of Philanthropy)
Building Relational Wealth Will Help Us Survive Climate Change
Todd Khozein (SecondMuse), January 24, 2022 (Forbes)
Civic space is closing: How local journalism can open it up
Jennifer Brandel (We Are Hearken), May 29, 2025 (Medium)
Connection Is Our Lost Superpower
David Jay (Relationality Lab), December 3, 2024 (Stanford Social Innovation Review)
Do you often complain about the state of our country? Here's how to change it.
Frederick Riley (Weave: The Social Fabric Project, Aspen Institute) and Rebekah Shrestha (92nd Street Y) June 5, 2025 (USA Today)
Celia Brocker, (Spencer Reporter)
Mind the Gap: How to Connect With Others
T. Ryan Byerly, August 12, 2025 (John Templeton Foundation)
The Pillars of Social Connection
Julianne Holt-Lunstad Ph.D., July 12, 2025(Psychology Today)
‘We Are All In This Together’: Humboldt Homeless Man Becomes Heart of Documentary
Ryan Hutson, August 7, 2025 (Redheaded Blackbelt)
What Lies Between Us: My Journey in Pursuit of a "Good Society,"
Stuart Gill (SecondMuse), April 20, 2022 (Medium)
Stuart Gill (SecondMuse), May 22, 2024 (Medium)
Business/Workplace
Business/Workplace
Included in this section: remote work and workplace culture
Five years on: why social isolation and loneliness still haunt Canadians working from home
Sarah Dobson, August 6, 2025 (Canadian HR Reporter)
Loveless Business Culture is Hamstringing Innovation's Transformative Potential
Carrie Freeman (SecondMuse), December 7, 2022 (Forbes)
The Positive Side of Social Connections in the Workplace
Wendy C. Birmingham, PhD, Julianne Holt-Lunstad, PhD, Raphael M. Herr, PhD, and Abigail Barth, MPH, August 7, 2024 (American Journey of Health Promotion)
Economic Mobility
Economic Mobility
Included in this section: intergenerational friendship and network diversity
Mixing matters: why diverse social networks fuel mobility
Marnie Freeman (Neighbourly Lab), July 9, 2025 (RSAJournal+)
The Social Spending Paradox: How Friendships Impact Financial Health in Millennials and Gen Z
(TrendPulse Finance), August 2, 2025 (AInvest)
AJ Calhoun (Leading on Opportunity), 2025 (Bridge Builder)
Education
Education
Included in this section: college, first generation, literacy, peers, and scaling
Americans are Losing Faith in the Value of College. Whose Fault is That?
Paul Tough, September 5, 2023 (New York Times)
Elevate Leadership Academy emphasizes the power of connection
Matt Windsor, August 11, 2025 (UAB Reporter)
Half of College Grads Are Working Jobs That Don't Use Their Degrees
Vanessa Fuhrmans and Lindsay Ellis, February 22, 2024 (Wall Street Journal)
Peers over pedagogy – Palo Alto High School course sets out to tackle opportunity gaps
Lisa Moreno, December 19, 2024 (Palo Alto Online)
Matthew Rascoff, April 7, 2025 (Stanford Digital Education)
Social Capital: The Key to Thriving in Uncertain Times
Edward DeJesus (Social Capital Builders), February 19, 2025 (LinkedIn)
Who You Know: Social Capital is Key for First-Gen Students' Career Success
Lauren Wagner, May 7, 2024 (The74)
Health
Health
Included in this section: compassion, physical activity, and self-care
Lee Tomlinson, August 8, 2025 (FOX 5 San Diego)
Fangbing Zhou, Wenlei Wang, Jie Wu, Yuyang Nie, Chunxue Shao, Wentao Qiu, Cong Liu & Jinchao Gao, August 21, 2025 (Scientific Reports)
How the self-care industry made us so lonely
Allie Volpe, June 3, 2024 (Vox)
Social connection linked to improved health and reduced risk of early death
June 30, 2025 (World Health Organization)
Places & Gatherings
Places & Gatherings
Included in this section: ancient urbanism, convenience stores, festival, philanthropy, pub, and shops
Behind the Glitz of Cannes: Human Connections Drove This Year’s Festivities
Isabella Rodriguez, August 13, 2025 (Informa Connect Limited)
Connected by Cause: Reflections on Loneliness Awareness Week and Beyond
Aba Amihyia, June 2025 (Neighbourly Lab)
Gautam John (Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies), January 16, 2025 (India Development Review)
Inside the UK’s first Reform pub with beer, black pudding baps and Belinda Carlisle
Barney Davis, May 24, 2025 (Independent)
Opinion: Why social capital matters to Utah
Shawn Teigen, August 14, 2025 (Yahoo!news)
The Role Shops can have in Addressing Loneliness and Supporting Social Connection
Annette Holman, June 2025 (Neighbourly Lab)
Seoul's 'convenience stores' fighting loneliness
Jake Kwon, August 8, 2025 (BBC News in Seoul)
Unforgotten Cities: What Ancient Urbanism Teaches About America's Crisis of Place
Samuel J. Abrams, August 14, 2025 (New Geography)
Spotlighting Social Connectors
Spotlighting Social Connectors
Included in this section: bridging, DEI, executive functioning, human-centered, international development, mentoring, and storytelling
Lesley-Anne Long (Wonderfuture), March 20, 2025 (RSA US)
Building inclusive communities
Dr. Rassheedah Watts The Inclusive Community Architect, March 6, 2025 (RSA US)
Creating the conditions for connection
Daisy Carter (RSA), June 11, 2025 (LinkedIn)
Emily Weiner (The Connectors), March 27, 2025 (RSA US)
Elana Campbell (Intentional Students), March 13, 2025 (RSA US)
Shaping stories and amplifying voices
Christabel Nsiah-Buadi (Your Podcast Pipeline), March 18, 2025 (RSA US)
Aimée Eubanks Davis (Braven), January 31, 2025 (Forbes)
Technology
Technology
Included in this section: AI, humanity
AI helps students explore topics, but human connection brings them to life
Jaycie Homer, August 9, 2025 (Santa Fe New Mexican)
Algorithms and the Erosion of Humanity
Faisal Hoque, August 12, 2023 (Psychology Today)
If you have resources to share—or know of any we should include—please email them to our team at general.us@thersa.org.
Page updated
Report abuse