Connective Tissue
Big ideas and practical actions for our generational moment of civic renewal.
A reinvigorated commitment to community is emerging across America. It’s showing up in our cultural narratives, our institutions, and our lived practices in civic life. But the nascency of this movement — coupled with generations of lost communal wisdom, forgotten civic practices, and eroding civic infrastructure — has left many asking: where do we begin?
Connective Tissue is an evolving collection of projects that offers a starting point for answering that very question. Our policy framework provides policymakers with an actionable set of policy opportunities to regenerate connection within communities. Our newsletter surfaces ideas and practices to inspire and deepen action in local civic life. Our membership supports practitioners, neighbors, funders, and thinkers committed to realizing our generational project of renewal. We invite you to explore these initiatives further and join us as we build upon this work.
The Framework
A framework for reimagining the role of policy in regenerating connection within American communities.
With 150+ specific policy opportunities featured across 13 policy priorities, Connective Tissue offers a holistic policy vision for regenerating connection within communities and tangible entry points for taking action.
The Newsletter
Exploring the connections, communities, and commitments that bind us together.
What will it take to seed and cultivate our generational project of civic and communal renewal? The Connective Tissue newsletter is our attempt to learn out loud in search of answers to this question — we encourage you to join us.
The Membership
A self-sustaining membership network to realize our generational project of civic and communal renewal.
Imagine, experiment with, and work toward new possibilities for strengthening the connective tissue of our communities. Connect with and be inspired by fellow practitioners, policymakers, neighbors, and thinkers along the way.
Who We Are
An interdisciplinary, translocal group of practitioners, researchers, and policymakers.
Sam Pressler here - I’m an entrepreneur turned researcher and writer focused on connection and meaning-making in American life. I was the founding executive director of the Armed Services Arts Partnership — the nation’s largest veterans arts organization — and I currently hold affiliations with the UVA Karsh Institute of Democracy, Harvard Human Flourishing Program, and Survey Center on American Life. I was fortunate to create the framework with the generous support of the Einhorn Collaborative and Omidyar Network, in collaboration with dozens of advisors, and following interviews with 70+ policymakers, community practitioners, and researchers. I also receive support on the newsletter from Eric Kotin, Margo Miller, Sam Wolf, Evan Vahouny, and David Vasquez II. So, when I say “we” or “us,” I’m referring to the village of support it took to develop this collection of projects.