Social Roots Studio is a social enterprise, a mission-driven business that blends profit and public service. We strive to grow meaningful connection to sustain both people and communities. This isn't just a paycheck to us, although we strongly believe that community service that elevates our collective social success is valuable and worthy of compensation. We believe in service to each other, reciprocity, and that through this we build stronger and more resilient and sustaining communities. We give back whenever we can, which then returns and supports growth of communities grounded in compassion and belonging.
We are dedicated to fostering authentic and regenerative connections that enhance personal and professional lives and communities.
Our approach
Who We serve
Getting to the root cause
and regrounding in meaningful connection
At Social Roots Studio I focus on identifying and reducing the systemic, cultural, and relational disconnections that are leading to long-term social isolation and loneliness and their many impacts.
Many social isolation and loneliness resources tend to blame individuals for their experiences of social isolation and loneliness, offering oversimplified solutions: 'You are feeling isolated and alone? Get out and socialize more.' If these complex experiences were that easy to solve we would not be experiencing a global epidemic of loneliness.
Alternatively, consider that there are disconnections occuring in our relationships - with ourselves internally; with others, and in our communities; and in our social structures and systems. These disconnections are leading to people feeling isolated and/or lonely. Some of these may be the result of a person's own behavior, but most are from much more complicated sources. From this perspective, you can then only reduce isolation and loneliness by identifying and reconnecting the disconnections.
When you work with me, you work with someone who not only studies the global research and recommendations on these topics, but who also has personally lived through long-term isolation and loneliness and their healing and recovery. I understand the nuances of this complex issue and know that solutions need to be as complex as our human experience if they are to truly be regenerative.
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HOW we are in relationship matters.
Meaningful social connection heals us, and our communities, and creates opportunities to thrive.
Individuals * Organizations * Businesses * Community Leaders
Events and groups are for people who...
* are looking for social spaces to gather & meet others
* perhaps haven't always felt seen and heard
* are super connectors already and want to foster connection in their community
* want to have interesting and thoughtful conversations
* believe in respect, empathy, compassion, & dignity for all
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Consultation and project support is for...
* organizations/businesses who want to proactively learn about and grow meaningful connection to increase sustainability
* organizations/businesses who serve folks who are most likely to experience disconnection, isolation, and loneliness. Research shows these folks are: younger and older adults, people living with disabilities or health challenges, LGBTQIA2S folks, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, veterans, new & immigrated residents, people going through major life transitions, people using and in recovery from harmful substance use, and people living through financial insecurity.
* organizations and businesses whose mission and purpose is to reduce an impact disconnection. (food insecurity, housing, transportation, addiction/recovery)
* government and community leaders who wish to strategically plan for increased social connection, who want their economies, local environment and residents to thrive.
multi-level impact
internal connection
Growing connection inside our own hearts and minds. Developing skills to sustain internal connection for resilience & peace.
interpersonal
connection
Enriching connection in our relationships with each other - our families, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and beyond. Strengthening bonds to share the joys and the challenges.
community connection
Reconnecting neighbors and community resources. Service with dignity and empathy. Resilience during challenging times and increased community engagement.
societal connection
Healthy and regenerative economies. Caring and sustainable natural ecosystems. Cross-cultural thriving in diversity, equity and belonging. Collaboration in response to crisis and sharing of resources. Strength and engagement in democracy.
About
Jeanette Langston
Owner. Connector. Innovator.
I am a creative, innovative, and persistent social entrepreneur. Over the last eight years I founded, developed, and directed Social Tinkering: A Human Connection Project, a nonprofit organization based in Rutland, Vermont. Through that first exploration of how we might collectively grow meaningful connection, I learned many lessons, developed skills, and gained years of unique expertise in the field of social connection, isolation, and loneliness. After re-organizing capacity, I now lead this work through Social Roots Studio, continuing to partner with many diverse groups, and giving back to the communities and people I serve. I invite you to join me in expanding the global Connection Movement that is growing healthier and more regenerative communities.
Qualifications
U.S. Regional Ambassador
Global Social Connection Collective
(In coordination with the World Health Organization, Commission on Social Connection)
Diploma in Social Innovation
Centre for Executive Education
University for Peace, Costa Rica
established by the General Assembly of the United Nations
Certified Chief Wellbeing Officer
World Happiness Academy
Founder/Director
Social Tinkering: A Human Connection Project
Recreation Management
U.S. Forest Service
Bachelors of Science
University of Montana
Who I am
My values lead how I do my work and I bring my whole self to all my endeavors. I do this work because I believe there is a better way to be in relationship with each other and I know from experience and research that it is possible to thrive together through meaningful connection.
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GRACE and HUMOR - We are all only human and mistakes are for learning and growing. I work hard to be mindful to not use shame to divide, and empathy and compassion to connect. And, I am only human as well so will give GRACE and hope those I work with return the same. I believe HUMOR infuses our humanity into our work, and enables us to show up authentically.
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HONESTY, INTEGRITY, & RECIPROCITY - I believe in being honest and living in integrity and ask the same from those I work with. I do not shy away from challenging or uncomfortable situations, seeing respectful conflict as an opportunity to understand each other more clearly, and to learn and grow. Communication is one of the most challenging skills to master and I am willing to show up for those challenges to meet and shift our growing edge together. I believe in reciprocity, which ensures balanced and healthy relationships, rather than extractive and dismissive interactions.
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PERSISTENCE with WELLBEING - Taking care of ourselves in this hard work is critical to getting the work done. I am flexible, understanding, professional, and able to pivot as needed within respectful bounds. I strongly believe in real and healthy boundaries in all aspects of life.
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EQUITY - I believe every person should have access to the necessary resources to ensure human rights are sustained and thriving. Equity is crucial to experiencing sustainable meaningful connection. Diversity is what makes our world a beautiful place and includes how we see and move through the world. Inclusion is primary to a thriving society and ensuring access to connection begins with a mindful understanding and application of inclusion.
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COMPASSIONATE BELONGING - Compassion, because we are all human and should each have access to experiencing belonging that is sustained first and foremost with love, respect, and dignity. Belonging is a deep and basic human need, as crucial as food, water and shelter. Every person should have the minimal human right to feel seen, heard, valued, and cared for.​
Our mission, Vision, And Experience
The Mission​ of Social Roots Studio is to raise awareness and deepen understanding of the power of meaningful connection by supporting co-generated social connection projects that help communities get to thriving.
Our Vision is a world where everyone has access to grow meaningful social connection for themselves, where they can be their authentic self, feel supported in their growth, and experience and share compassionate belonging with others.​
A Note on ​Experience-Based and Evidence-Based Social Connection Interventions
Research and data are extremely important and helpful to doing this social connection work.
AND, the social connection field of study is relatively new and there are very few evidence-based interventions to recommend.
1. Too often, oversimplified solutions place the blame of isolation and loneliness on individuals rather than focusing on the root cause of the disconnection that is leading to the experience of isolation and loneliness. Instead, we must look to our disconnected relations, structures, and systems to investigate, strategize, and build regenerative solutions.
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2. "Get out and socialize!" Over-simplified solutions do not sustainably solve disconnection. There are many complex reasons why people are not feeling socially connected. We must ask:
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WHO is NOT getting out to socialize?
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WHY aren't people socially connecting with others?
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WHAT is preventing people from feeling socially connected - what are the barriers?
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Do people feel safe or not in social spaces and if not, why not?
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How can we remove or reduce those barriers that are preventing people from connecting with others?
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Until we identify who is feeling disconnected, what their barriers are, and then remove or reduce those barriers, no intervention will be sustainably successful.​
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3. Social Connection work should always be done WITH the people you are serving, not for and especially with those MOST impacted by disconnection. It is crucial to center lived experience in guiding long-term solutions. Anything else, even with the best intentions, could end us being stigmatizing, condescending, elitist, or othering, and create more disconnection, division, and distrust with the people you are working to grow connection with.
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4. It is extremely difficult to measure meaningful connection. Connection is not just about getting people in a room together. Feeling connected is very qualitative and there are so many factors going on in a person's life that could impact their perception or quality of social connection experiences. Numbers and frequency of attendance are not sufficient since a person can feel alone in a crowded room. There is a need to develop more effective measurement tools.​
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5. Social connection in and of itself is not necessarily an effective solution to disconnection. Interaction alone does not mean a person feels connected, (example: social media or unhealthy workplaces or family spaces). The connections need to be meaningful in some way to create connection that heals disconnection. People need to feel seen, heard, valued, and cared for or impacts will not be sustainable or regenerative in nature.
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6. Finally, we have to make the implicit explicit. We have to talk about what makes social connection meaningful and learn how to sustain that. Experience is critical and naming it glues in the meaning and helps us hold it in our hearts to foster it into the future. Consistency, repetition, and practice are necessary to long-term growth.
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At Social Roots Studio our work is Experience-Based and grounded in global research. Our real life experience with long-term loneliness and isolation and what has worked to heal and recover, deeply informs our solution-building with the people we serve to create regenerative impact for generations to come.
who we're following, reading, listening to, and learning from...
​​World Health Organization, Commission on Social Connection
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Dr. Vivek Murthy, previous U.S. Surgeon General
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Foundation for Social Connection, U.S.
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Co-Generate (2025 social connection cohort member)
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Dr. Marc Cecil, PhD Psychologist, The Light of Invisibility on Substack
Social Connection Collective
As a United States Ambassador to the new global professional network, Social Connection Collective, I am excited to bring my professional and personal life experience in this connection work to co-support peers and our collective impact around the world. Working on loneliness is ironically very lonely-making at times in this new field of work that is often misunderstood and dismissed as a "nice to have". My goal with the SCC is to share and expand our ideas and support so that those of us leading these social connection efforts are sustained ourselves through our own connection network, ensuring regenerative service to people and our communities.
* Are you a leading Connection efforts in your community? Find the group on LinkedIn and join the Connection Movement!
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Next U.S. Regional Connect: (coming soon!)
photos & Videos
Photo Credit: Daria Bishop
Photo Credit: Daria Bishop
Photo Credit: Daria Bishop
"Speed Friending" with Social Tinkering, 2025
Led by Jeanette and her colleague, attendees of 2025 Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility annual convening enjoy practicing social connection tools to make their networking more fulfilling.
Jeanette speaking at the Gross Global Happiness Summit in 2023
Jeanette speaking on belonging and happiness at the 2023 Gross Global Happiness Summit at the UN Mandated, University for Peace in Costa Rica. 2023
Let's get back to our roots and thrive together!