Weave: The Social Fabric Project

“America is fractured and living a quiet crisis of disconnection. We have lost our trust in each other and our institutions. Divided, we face uncertainty, social turmoil, and political gridlock. Yet, within every community lies an answer.”

David Brooks

Weave: the Social Fabric Project invests in trust and the people who build it.

Weave: The Social Fabric Project tackles the problem of broken social trust that has left Americans divided, lonely, and in social gridlock. Weave connects, supports, and invests in local leaders stepping up to weave a new, inclusive social fabric where they live. The project was founded by New York Times columnist and author David Brooks at the Aspen Institute.

Creating a strong and caring America 

The US is living through a crisis of connection. Suicide rates have risen dramatically, especially among youth. The opioid epidemic has devastated communities. 58% of Americans say they are lonely. Violence, hatred, and political gridlock have become normal. Yet there is a way out. In communities throughout the country, in ways big and small, people are showing up for each other and building connection and trust. You probably know some of them. They are the people neighbors count on. They value everyone no matter our differences, make us feel we belong, and act to bring people together to address shared needs. We call them weavers. You may be one of them.

Neighbors transformed an empty lot into a community space

Weavers help their communities grow – and they grow, too

Weave’s Executive Director, Frederick J. Riley, shares how Weave is working to meet one of the defining challenges of our time: the erosion of trust in our communities.

Weave supports the trust builders 

Weave connects and invests in the people weaving our communities together. We work to inspire all Americans to weave. And we make it easy to take the first steps into weaving.

The Weave Newsletter

A weekly dose of weaver stories, resources to fuel weaving, and reflections from many perspectives on what it means to invest in relationships and weave a strong, inclusive social fabric from the ground up.

Weaving Us community

An online home where you will find weavers from all over the country willing to offer tools, resources, advice, and friendship to help you bring neighbors together to address shared needs.

You’ll also find a new Learning Center to help you meet a specific goal like learning how to write a grant, prepare a presentation, or design your next gathering.

Weaver Awards

The Weaver Awards unleash the power of philanthropy for neighborhoods. The Awards are a community-led model that enable foundations and corporations to find and invest through microgrants directly in the people weaving trust locally.

The Weave Speakers Bureau

The Speakers Bureau trains and places weavers on stages large and small across the US to inspire others and create a nation of weavers.

News & Ideas

We are asking the wrong questions about trust
Blog Posts

We are asking the wrong questions about trust

Rooted & Rising focuses on highlighting the innovative ways community leaders are building social trust and impacting rural education.

EasternKentucky_NoCopyright - Trey Jackson
Blog Posts

Rooted & Rising: How youth journalists are spotlighting social trust and connection in rural education

Rooted & Rising focuses on highlighting the innovative ways community leaders are building social trust and impacting rural education.

Neighbors tending to the Beloved Community Garden. Photo credit: Leila McCabe
Blog Posts

Growing a Beloved Community, One Harvest at a Time

How one neighbor turned her property into a vibrant hub for community care and connection

Neighborhood kids enjoying a run club they started together. Photo credit: Jennifer Prophete
Blog Posts

National Good Neighbor Day gives folks a chance to start building connection

How neighboring is a culture you can build

Photo captured during the filming of "The Work" documentary inside New Folsom prison during a circle. Photo Credit: Inside Circle
Blog Posts

A secret prison group transformed a prison yard and now teaches the outside world how to connect

Healing in this prison yard starts with sitting in a circle.