The New Welcome Committee

Rebuilding connection together .

Everyone is a newcomer now.

In today’s world, many people feel disconnected—whether they just moved or have lived in the same place for years. Community doesn’t happen by accident anymore; it requires community leaders to initiate connection and gatherings.

The Welcome Committee is a modern revival of a simple idea: ordinary people, trained and supported, helping others re-enter community — one conversation at a time.

Join a national volunteer initiative to help people get started building real social connection and community — one conversation and gathering at a time.

Apply

We are mobilizing 10,000 Americans to reconnect the country, one conversation and neighborhood at a time.

The History of Welcome Committees

In the 1950s, Welcome Committees gave 10 - 15 hours each week to help neighbors find their place and feel they belonged. That quiet, human infrastructure once held communities together. It has faded, and we are all feeling the cost.

We are reviving the Welcome Committee to rebuild the muscle of social connection and welcome people back into community.

Joy, trust, resilience, and empathy are built locally.

This is how we rebuild them together.

Apply

How to Apply & the Pilot Process

We are recruiting 50 volunteers across the country to be our founding members and to design the program.

  1. Apply: Applications are open until January 30th

  2. Selection: We will select 50 volunteers and notify all applicants in early February 

  3. Virtual Onboarding: Cohort kick off in late February with training on the Six Points of Connection and three months pilot process

  4. Pilot: Participate in the first campaign (March to May) and monthly calls to learn together

Lead employee volunteering at your company?

Learn how we can partner with you to engage your employees as Welcome Committee volunteers.

Learn more

About the Volunteer Pilot

We are building a community of 50 founding volunteers who will shape this national model using their expertise and learning from piloting it in practice.

Members commit 3–5 hours per month and are expected to:

  • Have one monthly guided one-on-one conversation with a neighbor

  • Join monthly virtual check-ins with other members to share experiences and learning

  • Host one simple connection-focused neighborhood gathering during the pilot (coffee, walk, dinner, game night)

That’s it.

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