From Distanced to Connected

As the pandemic forced individuals into isolation, Weave: The Social Fabric Project leaned into its work to create community.

Give NowCrises are times of pain and possibility. When Covid hit, Aspen’s Weave: The Social Fabric Project joined with the Listen First Project in April 2020 to launch a public engagement campaign to create deeper social trust and connection even as the world had to physically distance and as many retreated into isolation.

The #WeavingCommunity During Crisis campaign offered people ways to join virtual conversations with isolated neighbors and inspired small acts of bravery, kindness, and connection. The Weave Project fielded a social team to collect examples of connection from around the nation and to share several posts a day across 120 partner organizations highlighting stories of everyday Americans—from children and teachers to bankers and restaurant owners—finding ways to support their neighbors. One popular post showed neighbors turning their little front-yard libraries into small pantries for those who couldn’t find the supplies they needed.

The campaign reached 21 million people in 2020 with its website and posts, and 461,000 people engaged with the stories and actions. Many continue to use the #WeavingCommunity tag to promote a way of living that is brimming with deep, healthy connections, where mutual trust and affection is the standard, equity is implicit, and all people find joy and meaning in daily life.