☀︎ Most listings are $30 or less — and many are totally free.

Want to meet positive people in NYC?

Hey, you! Want to make friends in NYC?

The Joy List features events that you can attend alone and leave with a new friend.

Together we can make this city less lonely!

Trusted by voices on connection

The Joy List is a resource for people to find NYC-based events that they can go to by themselves, and leave with a new friend.
Esther PerelNew York Times bestselling author
I am a fan of Jillian Richardson's Joy List. She has bravely taken an individual pain — her own loneliness and search for meaningful community — and addressed it by generously including the rest of us in this journey as well.
Priya Parkerauthor of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters

Why does The Joy List exist?

Watch the video that tells our story — an envelope with a golden heart

Shoutout to Kiran Patel for putting this glorious short film together.

Americans are lonely. The average person here has just one close friend, and 75% of people say they're unsatisfied with their friendships. Religious gatherings are on the decline, and new ways to gather feel hard to find. So how do we fix it?

Our mission is to reduce loneliness across the US — starting with New York City. We compile events built around a facilitated moment of connection. Most cost $30 or less, and many are free. It's the little nudge you need to step outside your comfort zone and into a moment where you can make a new friend.

We lift up other community organizers, remind people they're not alone in feeling lonely, and prioritize getting off our devices and into real life.

People kinda like us

Cannot love this enough. Give me all the stars to throw to this fantastic compendium of events, links, ideas, and general wonderful joyful spirit in every newsletter. They should hand this out to new to NYC folks along with their first MTA card. A joy in every inbox.
— Rachel
I so appreciate the spirit of this newsletter. As a native New Yorker, I have had periods of loneliness where it is hard to meet like-minded people. Loneliness has been a painful struggle for me, but I am determined to get out there and organically meet like-minded people.
— Tracy

They're not the only ones! Check out more reader love here.

Together we can make this city less lonely.

Get one warm, joy-packed email every Monday morning. It's free.

I want more joy!

See you on Monday morning! Big hug