Imani Hartfield, Collectively student intern, explores how political division impacts emotional safety, connection, and well-being among young adults.
Sometimes trying to build meaningful connections feels awkward, uncertain, or like you’re putting yourself out there without a guarantee that anything will come from it. But then you find yourself surrounded by people who understand you—people who share your excitement, your emotions, your stories—and suddenly the discomfort feels worth it.
That’s the everyday magic of the Swiftie community.
Maintaining friendships can feel like cooking a meal, time-intensive and challenging, but the reward is a nourishing bond. Craving deeper connections? This guide from Collectively blends 9 science-based elements, Intentionality, Proximity, Dependability, Positivity, Flexibility, Vulnerability, Commonality, Reciprocity, and Connectivity, into a recipe for lasting happiness. Gather these “ingredients” through effort, presence, and support, then simmer with care.
Loneliness isn’t just emotionally painful, it’s a serious threat to your health. In Making the Case for Connection, Emma Green explores why human connection is essential and offers simple, meaningful ways to strengthen your social ties. Your health depends on it.
Grace Hogan, Collectively student intern, shares how summer’s warmer weather can help us bolster our mental health and strengthen our social connections.
In “The Power of Social Connections,” Abbi Gilchrist, Collectively student intern, reflects on the impact of social isolation during the COVID pandemic and the essential role that relationships play in our overall well-being. As a member of Generation Z, Abbi shares her journey of rediscovering the importance of emotional support, belonging, and mental health through social connections.
