ProjectConnect
We help you build friendship, connection and community.
Loneliness is everywhere.
Fortunately, there’s a proven antidote: meaningful connection.
We help you build it.
According to the former U.S. Surgeon General, loneliness has reached epidemic levels. Half of Americans are lonely. I call this the “lonelification” of America (though it’s happening in other parts of the world too). For many of us, our living, working, and educational environments have become “connection deserts,” where access to meaningful interaction and connection is scarce.
This has serious consequences to our health and happiness. Chronic loneliness is as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day!!! Close relationships, on the other hand, protect against stress, anxiety, depression, heart disease, hypertension, dementia, premature death of all causes … the list goes on. And, just in case you’re not concerned about your health, the quality of our relationships also determines our level of happiness.
The 80+ year Harvard Study of Adult Development found that having close relationships is a better predictor of a long, happy life than fame, fortune, IQ, or even genetics.
When you take in the data, it’s not an exaggeration to say that the single most important thing you can do for your health and happiness is to invest in your relationships—with family, friends, and co-workers.
Most of us crave deeper, closer relationships, but they’ve been steadily declining.
This is 100% solvable.
Yes, half of Americans are lonely … but guess what? In the 1950s 57% of American adults smoked. Now less than 12% do. What happened? First came education and widespread recognition that smoking is harmful … this is starting to happen with loneliness now. Then came a combination of public health efforts (taxes, health warnings, smoking bans in public spaces) and individual efforts to quit.
Loneliness can be solved with a combination of individual and public health efforts too. And—in this case—our natural cravings (for connection) are working with us, not against us (for nicotine)!
Building meaningful connection isn’t a magical or mysterious process. It involves a combination of connection skills and opportunities that bring people together. Developing the right skills, and creating the kinds of opportunities that connect, can be taught (that’s what we do). They can be learned, practiced, and honed (that’s what you can do).
ProjectConnect helps people and organizations build connection by providing research-backed instruction and experiences.
With the right skills and the right opportunities, anyone can build close relationships. And close relationships transform lives.
Creating connection is simple, but not always easy. We’re here to teach, support, and guide you every step of the way.
HOW WE HELP YOU BUILD CONNECTION
1
MAKE FRIENDS: JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP COMMUNITY
Developing close friendships is one of the most important things you can do for your health and happiness … but it’s hard to make friends as an adult.
This membership community gives you guidance and support every step of the way, to help you make 5 fulfilling friendships.
2
OFFER A CONNECTION-BUILDING EVENT
Looking for a quick introduction to building connection? Book ProjectConnect Founder, Jessica Gifford for an engaging talk.
Or, invite Jessica to help build relationships in your group, department, or on your team, with a workshop, retreat, or friending event.
3
BECOME A PROJECTCONNECT
FACILITATOR
Ready to create a culture of connection in your college, workplace, or community?
Become a certified ProjectConnect facilitator so that you can lead groups that help participants get to know each other and build meaningful connections within your organization.