What is the Social Innovation Lab?
The Social Innovation Lab is where Social Creatures integrates scientific insight with lived experience to design and test new ways to strengthen social health. By bringing together researchers, practitioners, and people most affected by loneliness, isolation, or exclusion, the Lab develops evidence-based, real-world solutions that foster connection and belonging, improve mental and physical well-being, and help close health disparities.
Launched Programs
62% of new parents report feeling lonely.
A postpartum health program that embeds social and emotional care into routine healthcare, ensuring every parent has access to the support networks and connection they need to thrive. Designed especially with and for parents navigating systemic inequities that can limit access to care and support—such as poverty, racism, language barriers, and disability—Bonded by Baby strengthens new parents’ social health and well-being to improve outcomes for both parent and child.
A free, seated fitness and community-building program co-designed with wheelchair users to make movement, inclusion, and belonging accessible for all. Led by world-class trainers—including Paralympic athletes and performance coaches—SitGrit strengthens both physical and social health, removing barriers like cost, transportation, and inaccessibility so everyone can move and connect together.
People with disabilities are 4X lonelier than those without disabilities.
In the Lab
Young adults (ages 18–24) report the highest rates of loneliness of any age group.
Young Adult
Loneliness Project
Seed-funded by Pinterest Impact Lab, this community-based research and design initiative is co-led by young adults to uncover the root causes of loneliness in their generation and create new pathways to stronger social health and belonging.
SitGrit Kids
An inclusive physical education program that helps children of all abilities move, connect, and learn together—teaching empathy, cooperation, and respect for differences through fun movement-based video episodes and classroom activities. SitGrit Kids helps ensure children with disabilities can fully participate and belong in school-based physical activities, to build more connected, inclusive classrooms from an early age.
Children with disabilities are 4.5x less likely to be included in physical activities.
Past Programs & Projects
NABU Learning Labs
A research partnership between Social Creatures and NABU to explore how literacy can foster social connection and belonging. Together, we created NABU Learning Labs to generate inclusive, cross-cultural research on child literacy and social-emotional development—ensuring literacy programs not only build reading skills but also strengthen empathy, belonging, and connection among children globally. Funded in part by the Schmidt Futures Forum on Learning Tools Competition, the collaboration produced open-access research shared with NYU and Mount Sinai to drive more equitable global learning and connection outcomes.
Generational Youth Mentors (GYM)
Created during the COVID-19 pandemic amid school closures, GYM provided K-8 students with academic and social-emotional support through one-on-one virtual mentoring from high school and college students. Launched in partnership with the Charles Lazarus Children’s Abilities Center at Mount Sinai and STEAMPark, the program ensured equitable access to learning and connection for children most at risk of isolation and learning loss.
Digital Safety Nets Initiative
During the pandemic, our Digital Safety Nets initiative provided 953 digital devices to low-income families and individuals with disabilities who lacked access to technology—ensuring social isolation wasn’t compounded by digital exclusion. By offering devices, connectivity, and tech support, the program helped families stay connected to care, learning, and one another. Students who received devices reported greater participation and productivity in online learning and found it easier to connect with teachers and peers across all grade levels.
We are a collective of scientists, creatives, and activists united by a vision of a world of togetherness.