Program Director of Research and Practice
Frances Kraft (she/her) serves as Program Director, Research & Practice, for the Foundation for Social Connection. In her role, she works closely with the Scientific Leadership Council and manages efforts to drive adoption of innovative evidence-based models across local, state, and national settings.
Frances comes to F4SC from Weave: The Social Fabric Project at The Aspen Institute, where she led the development and execution of a portfolio of engagement activities, tools, and resources to support the growth of trust and social connection for in-person and online communities. Before joining Weave, she spent a decade in education, first as a classroom teacher, and later as the founder of a non-profit coalition of families, students, and teachers prioritizing relationship-based programs and advocacy to achieve equitable access, experiences, and outcomes children.
A passion to connect people to change systems came after discovering the power of community organizing. A graduate of the University of Florida, Frances first worked in communications in the financial services industry until she became aware of the disparities in outcomes for students by race and income. She returned to graduate school to earn a master’s in teaching from Chicago’s Dominican University. She left the classroom to earn a master’s in education policy from Harvard University and is currently completing a doctorate degree at the University of Pennsylvania, where her research focuses on the effects of relational dialogue on civic empathy and its connection to building social trust, solidarity, and a more inclusive democracy.
What drives you to work on addressing social isolation & loneliness / fostering social connection ?
I first became aware of the importance of social connection while teaching fifth grade in a Chicago suburb. When students and their families had strong networks, they had better outcomes – not only academically, but in the areas of health, economic mobility, and prosperity. I’m excited to join the F4SC because of its dedication to connecting evidence-based research to practice so action can be taken to best respond to the crisis of isolation and loneliness across our country and the world.