We envision a world where everybody feels cared for, deeply connected, and loved. We match people into small groups of 6-7 people for soulful conversations on themes like "Navigating Retirement" and "Connecting with Nature."
Our ten-week programs take place as a series of Zoom calls, during which participants walk through conversation starters, readings, and exercises that have been developed by experts in psychology, spirituality, and human connection.
Founded in 2022, Nearness has hosted thousands of programs with participants from across the world.
Alec Gewirtz is the co-founder of Nearness. He's led the design and execution of thousands of small-group conversations, and his work has been featured on BBC and in The Atlantic. A graduate of Princeton University and a former Fulbright Research Scholar at The University of Toronto, he lives in New York City.
Community Administrator, Carolina Pissarro, is a regenerative coach who is deeply passionate about weaving context and culture to amend soils for a thriving and interdependent social ecosystem. She has expertise in administering and facilitating transformational experiences and educational trainings across social and environmental justice sectors. She had been living for the past 12 years in Chile and now resides in Burlington, Vermont.
Co-Founder Casper ter Kuile brings deep expertise on the evolution of community. He’s the author of The Power of Ritual (HarperOne, 2020), a former Harvard Divinity School Innovation Fellow, the co-founder of research and design firm Sacred Design Lab and the co-creator of podcasts Harry Potter and the Sacred Text and The Real Question. He lives with his husband in Brooklyn, NY.
EJ Baker is a visual designer and co-founder of Maybe Ventures, a creative collective that builds brands and strategies for culture-shifting organizations. Previously, they spent five years at IDEO, telling stories and inspiring empathy for organizations ranging from nonprofit startups to governments to Fortune 50 companies. They live in western Massachusetts.
