Walking School Buses Are Bringing Back a Simple Neighborhood Habit
Walking school buses give families a practical way to share school-morning routines, build neighborhood trust and help children walk together safely.
Activity Fairs Are Making It Easier for Adults to Find a Group
For adults who want more community but do not know where to start, activity fairs can offer a low-pressure way to find clubs, hobbies and local groups.
Why Saying I Do Not Know Can Build Trust
In a world full of confident opinions, admitting uncertainty may be one of the strongest ways to build trust at home, at work, and in everyday conversations.
Messaging Has Replaced the Phone Call for Many Americans
Messaging has become the default way many Americans coordinate daily life, changing how people treat urgency, manners, family logistics and connection.
Why America’s Everyday Hangout Spots Are Disappearing
Researchers and community organizations are paying closer attention to the informal gathering places that help people build friendships, trust, and a sense of belonging outside home and work.
Firefly Watching Is Becoming Summer's Oldest Outdoor Tradition Again
As families look for simple ways to spend time outdoors, firefly watching is reemerging as a low-cost summer ritual that asks for little more than patience, darkness, and a warm evening.
Why More Americans Are Choosing Hobby Groups Over Social Media
From running clubs to book groups, many people are finding that shared activities make it easier to build real-world connections than endless scrolling ever could.
The Disappearing Art of Being a Regular
For generations, people built community through the ordinary habit of showing up in the same places. As social connections change, becoming a familiar face has become less common.
Why Waiting Rooms Reveal More About Society Than We Think
In an era when many public spaces have become more private, waiting rooms remain one of the few places where strangers still regularly share time together.
Why Potluck Dinners Still Bring People Together in an Age of Delivery Apps
Long before food delivery apps and restaurant chains became part of daily life, communities gathered around shared meals. That tradition remains surprisingly durable today.
County Fairs Still Explain a Lot About American Summer Culture
Beyond rides and fried food, county fairs remain one of the few places where agriculture, youth programs, local businesses, crafts, and community traditions come together in the same space.
Pollinator Week Makes Backyard Gardening Feel Useful, Not Fancy
Pollinator Week highlights how small gardens, patios, and outdoor spaces can connect everyday households to the insects that help support food production and local ecosystems.
Americans Still Value Religion’s Role but Draw Lines Around Politics
Recent Pew findings show a public that often sees religion as a positive force, while still resisting formal church involvement in campaigns.
Pope Leo XIV Links AI, Human Dignity and Historic Accountability in First Encyclical
Magnifica Humanitas places artificial intelligence, labor, truth, power and the Vatican's role in legitimizing slavery inside one moral argument.
America at 250 Data Shows How Family, Age, and Diversity Have Changed
A new Pew essay tied to America’s 250th anniversary offers a calm look at how the country changed over the past 50 years, especially in age and diversity.
AI Data Centers Are Testing How Communities Weigh Progress and Quality of Life
Gallup polling shows many Americans oppose AI data centers in their local area, turning a technology story into a community debate over infrastructure, trust, and daily life.
Americans’ Views on Religion’s Public Role Are More Mixed Than the Debate Suggests
New Pew data shows many Americans see value in religion’s role in public life, while also drawing lines around direct political involvement by churches.