We are a nontraditional team because this is a nontraditional mission. Our board members have been selected based on their ability to clearly understand and apply the mission and vision of Social Tinkering. They come from a variety of backgrounds bringing their learned wisdom from their lives, educations, and work experiences to help make our work successful.
Our Staff
Our Persistent Founder and Director
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Jeanette Langston
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Jeanette Langston has been learning about social isolation, connection, belonging, and happiness her entire life. In 2018, she began forming the concept of Social Tinkering as she continued to explore her personal experience with aloneness and embraced her natural ability to connect people. In 2020, she started Social Tinkering and in 2021, she invited the founding members of our Board of Directors to join her in her mission to empower connections and grow happiness.
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In 2000, Jeanette graduated with a degree in Recreation Management from the School of Forestry at the University of Montana. After 11 years of working in Grand Teton National Park and several National Forests around the U.S., she left her career to find a new path. She is currently working on a Social Innovation diploma from the University of Peace in Costa Rica.
Jeanette is a proud mother of 2 lovely small humans and 2 delightful fur-kids. She is a strong and loving partner to her incredibly supportive husband of over 2 decades. 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 enjoy life together.
Our Creative Assistant Director
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Marissa Arduca
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Marissa was born and raised in Vermont and briefly left to go to college in Massachusetts. Upon her return, she felt an intense need to create deeper connections in the Rutland community, and to make a difference within the community.
Marissa’s background in working with individuals with autism has inspired her to create more inclusive and accessible spaces within the community as well as her personal ties with the LGBTQ plus community. Marissa is extremely passionate about teaching people within the community about compassionate care, understanding various ways of living, and about people who don’t always have a voice to stick up for themselves.
She is grateful for the opportunity to make a difference with Social Tinkering and the incredible team here; that fosters an environment-based on belonging and happiness, and the philosophy of bringing your whole self no matter where you are.
Coming Soon...
Click HERE to meet our Rutland Belonging Collective Core Leadership Team
Our Board Members
Our Steadfast VP & Interim Board President
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Andrew Richardson
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Andrew Richardson is the Vice President and Board Treasurer for Social Tinkering. Having graduated from Castleton University back in 2018, he continues to study along the path of mental health and community building with the hope of achieving clinical licensure in the future. It is because of this passion for understanding our minds and human connection patterns that he remains involved with Social Tinkering.
"I am passionate about the greater Rutland County community and its abilities to strengthen friendship and belonging. In a world where many young people hope to leave home in the dust for a new, exciting something else, I hope to help Social Tinkering give everyone in Rutland County a new reason to stay. The mission of Social Tinkering is a lasting support for human connection and belonging in our community."
Our Shining Secretary
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Kate Tibbs
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Kate, avid gardener, book enthusiast, and lover of all things in nature, was born and raised in Rutland County, Vermont and has always known how wonderful the community is here. During her college years, Kate spent time in Troy, NY at Russell Sage College and graduated with a BA in Sociology. Kate was part of various groups and clubs such as Circle K, helping start an Animal Welfare Club, and participated in the Social Justice club. She soon found out that living the “city life” was not entirely what she wanted and missed her home state, Vermont, and moved back to begin her new life at home.
Kate met her husband, Dave, while interning with a local community action agency in Rutland in 2008, helping develop a Rock and Roll concert food drive with a local radio station. They now reside in the mountains of Vermont with their rambunctious doggo, Arlo.
Kate has been working in the human services field for over 10 years and is currently working as an Employee Life Navigator for Goodwill of Northern New England where she helps people connect with various resources that they need, and support them in all aspects of life. Kate also serves on the board of directors for various non-profit organizations in Rutland County.
Feeling connected, loved, and safe is an important part of our existence in this world, and Kate is thrilled to be part of Social Tinkering to help spread the word and importance of inclusiveness in our community and all communities.
Meet Our Team
