By Greg Woodman
We live in the most connected generation in history, yet many of us feel more alone than ever.
Phones buzz. Feeds scroll. Yet somehow, real connection feels rare. We see everyone’s highlight reels but not each other’s eyes. We call it connection, but it often leaves us empty.
Something deeper is missing.
We are surrounded by noise and starving for signal.
Businesses and nonprofits feel it too.
They post, promote, boost, and wonder why awareness is high but engagement flat.
Everyone is shouting, but few are truly heard.
The Villain We All Helped Build
The same social platforms that promised to bring us together have quietly pulled us apart.
Algorithms replaced community storytelling.
Neighbors became content. The feed lost its sense of place.
We’ve reached peak awareness.
From Fire Circles to Feeds
Humans once gathered around fire pits, town squares, and local mills.
Today, we still crave that connection.
You can see it and feel it at football tailgates, concerts, live music venues, cafes, and church services.
Even after five football losses in a row, the parking lots for tailgating will stay full.
Because the tailgate was never just about the game, it’s about showing up for each other.
The Connect Happy Valley Solution
Connect Happy Valley is a curated e-letter, website, and soon an app
designed to help you experience local community.
Think of it as your digital fire circle.
Each week we highlight people, places, and stories that matter, so you can spend less time searching and more time living.
The Power of Story
Since the first cave paintings, stories have helped people understand who they are and where they belong.
You’re Already Part of This
Thank you to the 7,200+ subscribers who read this every week.
And to the early “Connectors” who have already raised their hands to help build something meaningful.
You’re the spark keeping this fire circle glowing.
A special thank-you to the local businesses and organizations who get what we’re doing and have allowed us to tell their stories.
By connecting their hearts with our growing audience, they’re helping bring this vision to life.
But we could use a few more.
If this message resonates with you, share this e-letter with a friend. Forward it to someone who cares about this place.
And imagine with us for a moment:
What if this experiment really works?
What if, together, we became a catalyst to reconnect and help deepen the kind of community we all long for?
What if Happy Valley became a national example of how local connection can thrive again?
Not through algorithms or endless scrolling, but through real stories, shared values, and genuine relationships.
This vision isn’t new.
It’s how co-ops work.
It’s how the Amish live.
It’s how tribes and early communities gathered around fires to share, support, and belong.
What if Connect Happy Valley is our version of that?
A local, people-powered platform that replaces noise with meaning.
A movement that reminds us of who we are, and how good it feels to be together “in person”. Our early business “advertisers” report “this approach” has put more heat in their seats and more interested customers into their service and products. Maybe we can validate that shouting fills feeds, Heart fills seats?
Want to get involved?
If you’re a business owner, nonprofit leader, student, alum, or someone who simply loves this region…
Just email Greg@affinityconnection.com to learn how you can invest your time, talent, or/and treasure in Connect Happy Valley, our Grand Local Social Experiment.
Let’s gather.
Let’s connect.
Let’s run with heart.
