Embedded Files
The Social Landscape We’re Working To Change
Modern American life is experiencing a profound shift. While people are more digitally connected than ever, communities are becoming increasingly fragmented. Social isolation, declining mental health, and instability across key life domains have created a complex ecosystem of challenges, especially for young adults and families.
This page provides a clear overview of the systemic issues Gather & Grow is built to address — supported by national data, public health research, and emerging trends.
The Loneliness & Isolation Crisis
The Loneliness & Isolation Crisis
In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory naming loneliness and social isolation as a nationwide epidemic.
This wasn’t a metaphor — it was a public health declaration.
Key realities:
Nearly 50% of U.S. adults report measurable levels of loneliness.
Young adults report the lowest sense of belonging of any generation surveyed.
People with strong social connection live longer, experience fewer chronic illnesses, and have better mental health outcomes.
Isolation is not simply a lack of company — it is a risk factor tied to:
Anxiety and depression
Cardiovascular disease
Cognitive decline
Sleep disturbance
Increased inflammatory response
Elevated risk of premature mortality
Connection is not optional for human health; it is biological necessity.
Young Adult Instability
Young Adult Instability
Young adults are facing an unprecedented convergence of stressors:
Housing Insecurity & Cost Burden
Housing Insecurity & Cost Burden
Rising rent and home costs outpace wages.
Young adults are the most likely group to experience unstable or transitional housing.
Limited Social Support
Limited Social Support
Many relocate for education or work, severing ties to community, family networks, and long-term friendships.
Traditional “rites of passage” and intergenerational mentorship are less accessible.
Elevated Mental Health Needs
Elevated Mental Health Needs
National surveys show:
Sharp increases in reported stress
Higher anxiety and depressive symptoms
Low levels of perceived support and belonging
These factors make it harder for young adults to establish stability — which in turn makes it harder to thrive.
Family Fragmentation & Community Breakdown
Family Fragmentation & Community Breakdown
Families today have fewer support systems than previous generations.
Contributing factors:
Contributing factors:
Geographic mobility
Loss of extended-family proximity
Economic pressure on caregivers
Limited “third spaces” for relational connection
Increased caregiving and work burdens without community support
The result?
Parents and caregivers experience higher levels of burnout, while children and young adults receive less consistent guidance, grounding, and communal belonging.
Declining Wellness & Regulation
Declining Wellness & Regulation
Chronic stress and social isolation have downstream effects across nearly every dimension of wellness:
Emotional dysregulation
Chronic pain and somatic symptoms
Increased inflammation and stress hormones
Lower physical activity
Sleep disturbances
Higher reliance on crisis or emergency services
Wellness isn’t just an individual responsibility — it is shaped by the environment, relationships, and access to supportive community.
Loss of Meaningful Gathering Spaces
Loss of Meaningful Gathering Spaces
Many communities have lost the infrastructure that once supported everyday connection:
Affordable gathering spaces
Creative studios
Community centers
Intergenerational hubs
Nature-based education programs
Local mentorship ecosystems
Without these shared spaces, people lose the village that once anchored emotional, creative, and social health.
Why These Issues Matter
Why These Issues Matter
The challenges above are not isolated.
They create a reinforcing cycle:
Disconnection increases stress.
Stress decreases mental and physical health.
Health challenges reduce capacity for social engagement.
Reduced engagement leads to deeper isolation.
Isolation further erodes stability and wellbeing.
Breaking this cycle requires community-based solutions that weave connection, creativity, stability, and land-based engagement back into everyday life — precisely what Gather & Grow was built to do.
Sources
Sources
Office of the Surgeon General. Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2023.
https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdfCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Health Effects of Social Isolation and Loneliness. May 15 2024.
https://www.cdc.gov/social-connectedness/risk-factors/index.htmlCDC. Katherine V. Bruss et al. “Loneliness and Lack of Social and Emotional Support, and Mental Health Issues — United States, 2022.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Vol. 73, No. 24 (June 20 2024).
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/pdfs/mm7324a1-H.pdfHarvard Graduate School of Education. Ross, Elizabeth M. “What Is Causing Our Epidemic of Loneliness and How Can We Fix It?” Oct 25 2024.
https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/usable-knowledge/24/10/what-causing-our-epidemic-loneliness-and-how-can-we-fix-itU.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). Social Connection Fact Cards. Feb 19 2025.
https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/connection/index.htmlNational Violent Death Reporting System & social isolation patterns (Walker, Rajwal et al., 2025). “Identifying Social Isolation Themes …” arXiv preprint.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.15030
Page updated
Report abuse