About Us
At Social Tinkering we are social connectors, innovators, and facilitators of positive social change. Each of our team members courageously brings their unique knowledge and life experiences around isolation and loneliness to help achieve our mission. We ground our work in extensive global research, integrating guidance on measurement and evaluation to ensure we are making an impact.
With our partners, we are building a model of how to intentionally grow meaningful connections as a community. Once refined, we plan to share our model with many other communities, helping them to adapt it to their own needs and culture.
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We work hard to practice internally what we are working to create in our communities. We are practicing healthier models of being in relationship, centering being human, learning from mistakes, and growing together. Through this, we are helping each other to feel seen and valued at multiple levels and are reweaving our cultural foundations to ground them in wellbeing and compassionate belonging. We invite you to join us in your own unique way to grow this connection movement.
Meaningful Social Connection = Trust = Belonging = Happiness
Mission
To heal and reduce social isolation and loneliness by intentionally growing meaningful connections and compassionate belonging.
Vision
A world where people mindfully connect with each other and everyone has the opportunity to feel true belonging.
Meet the Team...
Social Tinkering's team is made up of passionate individuals who generously bring their unique experiences and skills to this work. We can't fight loneliness alone and we are so grateful to have a wide range of volunteers and partners working together to support our efforts.
Jeanette Langston, she/her
Founding Director
Our resourceful and persistent Founder & Director often says that she has been working to create Social Tinkering her entire life. She established Social Tinkering after realizing how powerful having a consistent, trusting, and compassionate group of people in life can be and how few people actually have access to this. She decided to create new ways for people to gather and build community, where people could encourage each other to share their learned life wisdom to champion change.
​Jeanette holds a B.S. in Recreation Management from the University of Montana and worked for over 12 years in public lands management in a variety of positions from a Lead River Ranger on the Snake River in Wyoming to the Chugach National Forest in Alaska and the Lolo National Forest in Missoula, Montana. After leaving her first career to explore social services, she received a diploma in Social Innovation from the UPEACE Centre for Executive Education, located in the University for Peace, established by the General Assembly of the United Nations. She is a passionate and determined woman who believes that self worth and self love, compassion, and service to each other and our communities, all lie at the heart of a thriving world. She knows that just as one person's healing goes through many ups, downs, and complex challenges, so too does healing entire communities. She holds the hope that together, with understanding, empathy, and respect, we will build stronger foundations of well-being and connection for current and future generations.
Jeanette is the proud mother of 2 lovely humans and 4 delightful fur-kids, and moves through life with her biggest champion, loving partner, & husband Shawn. She grew up in western Montana, has lived in 6 different states, has traveled all over the U.S. and a bit internationally. She sees herself as an unconventional kind of creative and loves to sing, hike, play, and have adventures exploring new places with her family and friends. She greatly values her friendships and enjoys meeting up with friends to listen to their stories, to laugh and cry, and to simply do life together.
Our Staff
Ella Kenney, she/her
Research Assistant
Ella is a lifelong Vermonter, public health advocate, and soon-to-be MPH student at Mount Sinai in New York City. She graduated with a Bachelor's in Public Health Sciences from the University of Vermont in May 2025 and has spent the past several years immersed in research and advocacy focused on systems change and health equity. Ella is involved with Social Tinkering because she is passionate about building social connection in a world that can often feel increasingly isolating. Outside of academics, she finds joy in baking, photography, making hand-lettered cards, and spending time outdoors.
Our Awesome Lead VolunTinkers
Keshia Anderson, she/her
Marketing & General Support
Born and raised in VT, Keshia entered the Air Force in 2015 as an intelligence officer and has lived in several states since then. Now she is back and adding her experience in research and communications to Social Tinkering's initiatives. She is a kind, curious, and creative soul, who enjoys applying her artistic talents to share our programs and events with all Vermonters.
Keshia has a BA in Psychology from the University of New Hampshire and a MS in Biomimicry from Arizona State University. She is a passionate community member, participating in social justice causes and volunteering to help friends. She is an incredible artist, creating whimsical, colorful, and inspiring paintings, ceramics, and jewelry. Keshia is a naturalist at heart and loves exploring, traveling, and learning about different areas of the country, the natural world, and especially geology. Her dog Cricket shares her passion of hiking and camping wherever their paths lead them.
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Kris Harmelink, she/her/he/him
Program Lead for Gather Together
Kris is a professional home organizer, the volunteer manager of reMake Creative Reuse Shop, a peer counselor, and an artist.
She's passionate about community organizing, conflict resolution, upcycling trash, and bringing people together in joy and volunteering.
Social Tinkering allows Kris to pursue her dream of a community space in Downtown Rutland, as well as meet and collaborate with amazing people! Kris wishes she had Gather Togethers to attend throughout her whole life but is just grateful to be able to be a part of it now.
Sam Abatiell, she/her
Outreach and Fundraising
Sam Abatiell is a community outreach and workforce development professional who believes strongly connected communities are essential for individual success. With over a decade of diverse experience connecting individuals to opportunities and organizations to solutions, she thrives at the intersection of connection and impact. A community matchmaker at heart, she brings curiosity, determination and a creative spirit to everything she does. Sam volunteers with Social Tinkering because she believes in the magic and lasting impact of authentic human connection.
Sam lives in Rutland city with her husband, step daughter and a majestic tripod German Shepherd, who always manages to insert himself into virtual meetings.
Melissa Thurston she/her
Strategy & Community Engagement
Melissa is a Vermont native who has returned to Rutland after 25 years, including 12 years overseas. The need for social connection is universal. In our modern world we have more means for communication and travel than at any time in history, yet we are individually lonelier and more isolated than ever. Melissa wants to help create inclusive spaces where people can simply be themselves in the presence of others. Her aim in working with Social Tinkering is to help cultivate thriving communities built on the foundations of compassion, collaboration, and respect.
Brianna Arduca, she/her
Development & Marketing Strategic Support
Bio coming soon...
Our Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors are the backbone of our organization, helping to ensure we stay focused and sustainable in this endeavor and connecting us to people and resources that support us in growing our impact. These kind and courageous leaders strengthen our Social Tinkering community and bring a wide array of support to our mission. Click on their photos to learn more about who they are and why they are committed to our vision.
Kate Tibbs, she/her
Interim Board President
Born and raised in Rutland County, Vermont, Kate has always known how wonderful the Rutland community is. She is very passionate about contributing time and energy to help her fellow Vermonters and our communities to thrive. With her BA in Sociology, she has worked in the human services field over 10 years. Through this work she has seen firsthand how isolation and the feeling of not belonging effects people's mental health and overall wellbeing.
During the last few years, Kate has been on the Board of Directors for Social Tinkering as the Secretary and now as Interim President. She greatly values the work and education that our organization provides to our community. Kate currently works as a case manager for the Adult Behavioral Services department at Rutland Mental Health Services, and also volunteers her time on the Board of Directors for the Chaffee Art Center, Rutland County Parent Child Center, and the Rutland County Restorative Justice Center.
Reading books with dragons and magic, planting veggies and flowers, starting (and hardly finishing) crochet projects, and going to concerts with her husband are some of her favorite things.
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Steve Harrington, he/him
Board Treasurer
​Steve is a passionate social change maker who enjoys working with individuals and organizations to realize their potential and build stronger communities. He brings his honesty and quick wit to support Social Tinkering's mission and staff.​
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Steve is currently a Group Facilitator at Divided Sky Recovery Retreat in Ludlow, Vermont. His current position focuses on supporting people in recovery from alcohol and substance abuse, with an emphasis on emotional sobriety: this is an approach that he believes has much to teach in the area of addressing social problems in the wider community. In particular, Steve enthusiastically supports efforts to create “recovery-friendly” communities and intergenerational connections between older folks and youth in the Rutland area.
Steve holds a Master’s Degree from Yale School of the Environment and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and International Relations from Tufts University. He is the former Director of Grants & Communications at Rutland County Parent Child Center and is currently serving as Chair of Middletown Springs Planning Commission and Traffic Safety Task Force, and as a member of Trustees of Public Monies and Conservation Commission.
Steve has lived throughout the country and world and calls Vermont and Rutland County his home. He enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, relaxing and traveling.​​
Marsha Cassel, she/her
Interim Board Secretary
Marsha Cassel is a kind and loving person who brings her calm and thoughtful presence along with many years of experience in human and social services to the Social Tinkering mission. She believes that, collectively, we can arrive at solutions to the interconnected and complex problems we face.
She is a mediator, a facilitator, and a retired teacher who finds community-building deeply rewarding. While a Vermont public schools World Languages and Civics & Economics & Global Studies Teacher, she also co-advised the Mock Trial and Speech & Debate clubs and National Honor Society. In addition, for 10 years she produced a regional Global Issues Network conference at Rutland High School, is a Rowland Foundation Fellow (2014 cohort); and Vermont Humanities Council Victor Swenson Educator 2017. These years of service to her community provide her with unique insights into the subject of social connection, especially in regards to youth in Vermont.
In addition to Marsha's teaching background, she is also a Mediator (Vermont Family Mediators); a Facilitator for UVM/ VT Family Court’s “Coping with Separation and Divorce” class; and a Co-Producer of the Peg TV program (broadcast in the Rutland region) “The Relationship Toolbox.”
Marsha volunteers in many spaces throughout the Rutland region and Vermont as a passionate human rights advocate. And last but certainly not least she enjoys exploring the outdoors, spending time with friends, and quilting with the Maple Leaf Quilters.​
David Trenor, he/him
Board Member at Large
David Trenor is currently the Divisional Volunteer Coordinator for Bayada Hospice covering all of Vermont and New Hampshire. He and his family are new residents of the Rutland region as of 2024. He says they "attended a few of the Social Tinkerers’ activities and it has helped them greatly to make this new place home." David's cheery demeanor and friendly sense of humor greatly spreads the Social Tinkering mission far and wide as he helps to grow partnerships, connect new volunteers, and greet people as they enter our Gather Together events.
David has always had a strong dedication towards making a social and environmental change that betters society. In the past he spent two amazing years as an Americorps Vista at the Cooperative Wilderness Handicapped Outdoor Group in Pocatello, Idaho. CWHOG focused on peoples with disabilities in the wilderness and assisting their push for a better life. David led adaptive trips, taught adaptive recreation, and created/ran weekly social activities and felt it was a perfect job. Prior to that he spent many years as a park ranger in Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina, and ran a senior center in Illinois. He has managed and trained volunteers in multiple states in a variety of nonprofit or governmental organizations. David holds a BA in Natural Resource Management from the University of Florida.
David has lived a crazy nomadic life to follow his crazy belief that people want to do good. Sometimes they just need a little direction in how to find their best fit.
