Frantzy Acluche

The rise of social networking platforms contributes to feelings of being overwhelmed by the choices available for social connections, which rarely promote more meaningful and consistent interactions with communities that genuinely invigorate us. This trend is evident in annual national reports showing that many adults still experience loneliness, alongside a cultural shift towards using the term "parasocial" (one-sided) to describe the common connections formed in the age of social media. Specifically, these relationships are perceived as lacking deep bonds, even as opportunities for connection across interests, regions, experiences, and relationship types increase.

There is an opportunity to foster deeper bonds within community, through a better understanding of our underlying motivations to build community, the barriers that prevent connection, and skills that will maintain habits around co-creation (e.g., sharing experiences, interests, emotions, and ideas).

RConnectFor's motivating principles are that the driving factors that maintain a lack of deep connection and community are: 1) not knowing why we seek community in the first place; 2) interruptions to connecting with communities that make you come alive; and 3) lack of habits and support to overcome those interruptions.

RConnectFor, is a community-building platform that provides the building blocks of behavioral habits and knowledge into why we want to build community, as a path to reconnect with friendships and community in a more meaningful way.

RConnecFor's compassionate support for building deeper bonds within communities including: 1) setting goals for reconnection, 2) an activity inventory to never run out of ways to connect more meaningfully, 3) scheduling and planning tools, 4) organizing friend groups to maintain social circles, and 4) a community space to share stories and get inspired.