Creating Spaces Where Mental Health & Social Connection Thrive
Outside the Box Institute presents We Knead Connection™
We Knead Connection™ is about more than baking.
It’s about slowing down, creating together,
and remembering how good it feels
to be human — side by side.
Through hands-on creativity and shared experience,
we build real connection, reduce social anxiety,
and gently chip away at loneliness.
No pressure. No phones.
Just presence, curiosity, and community.
We Knead Connection™ takes the pressure off perfection.
Why This Works Matters Now
Across the country, troubling trends are affecting today’s youth:
rising rates of loneliness, anxiety, and depression,
increasing suicide rates, and more young people forming
emotional attachments to chatbots and online platforms,
instead of real human connections.
While technology can be useful, it cannot replace the warmth,
safety, and belonging that come from genuine, in-person relationships.
Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has spoken powerfully about social isolation as a public health crisis, noting that something
as simple as shared meals and potlucks can be a powerful antidote
to loneliness; this insight aligns directly with the heart
of Outside the Box Institute’s work.
At Outside the Box Institute, we believe connection is built through presence, creativity, and shared experience. Our signature program,
We Knead Connection™, brings people together in the kitchen to slow down, work with their hands, and connect face-to-face
in a way that feels approachable and human.
A Personal, Pressure-Free Experience
There is no expectation to perform, impress, or create something flawless. The experience is personal, process-oriented, and welcoming to all skill levels. Participants are encouraged to experiment, make mistakes, and enjoy the act of creating together.
Through baking and cooking, participants walk away with:
- New knowledge and practical life skills that last a lifetime
- Confidence and self-expression in a supportive environment
- A sense of community rooted in shared experience
Benefits for Schools, Universities, Workplaces,
Clubs, and Organizations
- Strengthens relationships, teamwork, and social-emotional skills
- Encourages creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration
- Reduces social anxiety in a welcoming, low-pressure environment
- Teaches practical baking and cooking skills that last a lifetime
- Enhances team-building, morale, and engagement across groups
- Inclusive and adaptable for all skill levels and group sizes
We Knead Connection™ – More Than Baking. It’s Belonging.
A Batch of Belonging
"The Bread Making Party was a very fun environment to be apart of because we were able to learn step by step the process of making bread and bagels! I highly recommend this to other people and even got so many comments about how my friends want me to teach them how to make bread now! Not only was it a place where I could socialize but I was able to meet new people and build stronger connections with friends!"
Where Connection Rises
"I had the best time at the first bread party!!! It was so fun to be social while all learning to make something and bonding over delicious bread we were able to sample together. It made me feel very connected with others so I would definitely recommend this to others who would like to connect through a fun new activity which was surprisingly easy to try which you can then do at home! I had such a great time and would love to learn more next time! Can’t wait for the next event!!
Thank you again for putting on that event!!
It was a lot of fun (and delicious) 😋!
Warmth You Can Feel
"I was surprised how much I enjoyed making the
bread and bagels because I would not consider myself a creative chef. The opportunity to see the demonstration in person was so helpful when it was time to create our own. Community events like this that bring people together towards a common human necessity such as food are so crucial and effective in combatting the loneliness epidemic this country faces. I would 1000% recommend an event like this to people of all ages and backgrounds. Cant wait until the next one!!"
Comfort Food for the Soul
"For someone who experiences social anxiety and battles introversion, this was a very special event for me. I loved the fact that the bread didn’t have to come out perfect, and we were given creative freedom to express ourselves in a unique way.
I would 100% recommend this event to others, and I feel that this bread making class is unique in so many ways. I haven’t had an experience like this and it really brought the people in our group together. I believe this is an amazing way to form friendships and connections with people! It really bonds people together, and people who are complete strangers in the beginning of the workshop can walk out having formed the most beautiful friendships."
We Came, We Kneaded, We Connected
"The bread-making lesson was so much fun. It felt relaxed
and welcoming and I loved learning something new while spending time with everyone. It was simple enough to be approachable but also engaging. Having tasks to do made it especially nice because you could chat while working
or just focus on your bread/bagels if you wanted,
which created a very comfortable and social atmosphere.
Talking about the baking process and how we each wanted
to customize our bread also made for an easy,
natural way to connect."
Together Is the Secret Ingredient
