Our Story

Attendees of our very first meetup at Kickback Jacks for the start of preseason football. The Panthers lost :(

What began as a small Facebook gathering has blossomed into one of North Carolina’s most dynamic wellness communities. Since July '22, Let’s Get Social Raleigh has brought over 67,000+ people together in person while recycling over $635,000 into primarily Black-owned businesses.

Our events offer a KID FREE escape from the pressures of everyday life, helping adults combat exhaustion, stress, and feelings of isolation in a way that feels easy and effortless. Whether you come to relax, reset, or for meaningful connections, you'll always get exactly what you need on your own terms. At LGSR, we call each other “cousin” as a reflection of the deep bonds we cultivate and our commitment to building a happier, healthier, safer, more united North Carolina.

The Positive Impact That LGSR “PLAYS” in NORTH CAROLINA

In today’s fast-paced world, adults are facing unprecedented levels of stress, loneliness, and burnout as they navigate the relentless pressures of “adulting.” The weight of careers, caregiving responsibilities, and social obligations often leaves little space for self-care or moments of joy. This constant grind fosters feelings of loneliness, exhaustion, and disconnection — not only from others but also from our true selves.

Let’s Get Social Raleigh (LGSR) offers a unique and holistic solution. Through an intentionally designed ecosystem of events — from playful festivals and mixers, to reflective conversations, hikes, book clubs, and game nights — we create space for adults to reconnect with themselves and others. Our mission is to help both introverts and extroverts prioritize wellness through the transformative power of play, connection, and community. Across every event, LGSR fosters joy, authenticity, and belonging — helping adults build the resilience and relationships they need to thrive.

How LGSR Strengthens Community and Safety Across North Carolina

At the heart of LGSR is a culture that fosters trust, unity, and a deep sense of connection across North Carolina. In a time when so many adults feel isolated and detached, our spaces act as bridges — connecting people across backgrounds, neighborhoods, and life stages.

As these bonds grow, they cultivate more than friendship — they foster a sense of safety and community that extends beyond our events. The trust built through LGSR’s gatherings empowers people to explore new environments, meet new faces, and engage more fully in their communities. In this way, LGSR is helping create a North Carolina where adults feel supported, welcome, and connected — wherever they go.

The Joy of Rediscovering Balance: A Lesson from Christopher Robin

Adults often find themselves caught in a cycle of sacrificing self-care and joy in pursuit of drive and ambition, believing they must choose one or the other. This mindset can leave people feeling drained, disconnected, and without a sense of balance in their lives. But in reality, it is possible to nurture both ambition and joy—something beautifully illustrated by the story of Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh.

In A.A. Milne’s beloved tale, Christopher Robin, a young boy full of imagination, spends his days exploring the Hundred Acre Wood with his friends, including Winnie the Pooh. Together, they embark on playful adventures, laughing, dreaming, and experiencing the simple joys of life. However, as Christopher Robin grows older, he is called away to the responsibilities of school and adulthood, leaving behind the carefree days with Pooh and the others. The burden of “growing up” draws him away from play, and his focus shifts entirely toward the seriousness of life.

Yet, Christopher Robin’s return to the Hundred Acre Wood later in life reminds him—and us—that the joy of play, connection, and imagination never truly leaves. These aspects of life are not distractions from success but essential parts of it. When he reunites with Pooh, Christopher Robin rediscovers the balance between ambition and joy, realizing that both can coexist in harmony.

Let’s Get Social Raleigh (LGSR) embraces this idea. We remind adults that joy and success aren’t mutually exclusive, and that reconnecting with their inner child through play, laughter, and community can actually enhance their drive and ambition.

By creating events where adults can step away from their stresses and rediscover the happiness they’ve put aside, LGSR helps people realize that play is not only rejuvenating but necessary for living a full, successful, and balanced life.

Like Christopher Robin’s return to the Hundred Acre Wood, LGSR offers a place where adults can reclaim the joy they once knew, blending it seamlessly with the goals and responsibilities of adulthood. You don’t have to choose between ambition and joy—you can have both, and LGSR is here to show you how.

How LGSR Attracts & Connects People Across North Carolina & Beyond

As a beacon of joy and wellness-forward community, Let’s Get Social Raleigh attracts adults from across North Carolina and beyond who seek more than just social events—they want soulful, intentional spaces where authentic connection and playful experiences nourish the whole person.

Rooted in heart-centered values, LGSR creates environments that heal isolation, soothe burnout, and invite adults to reconnect deeply with themselves and others. This soulful approach transforms each gathering into a restorative experience that goes beyond surface-level fun, fostering belonging, emotional renewal, and genuine well-being.

It’s this unique blend of joy, play, and soulful community that turns Raleigh into a sought-after destination, where adults come to reset, recharge, and rediscover their inner light in ways they can’t find anywhere else.

Our Commitment To Equity and Strengthening Local Economies

One of our long-term strategic goals is to intentionally support and amplify Black-owned businesses, recognizing economic empowerment as a vital part of community wellness.

We aim to position LGSR as a major economic driver for small business owners and entrepreneurs across North Carolina. Through intentional programming, we create opportunities for local business owners to reach new audiences, build lasting connections, and grow their brands.

By centering Black-owned businesses, we’re celebrating the richness and diversity of our communities while fueling a more inclusive and thriving local economy.

We believe true wellness includes equity, representation, and collective uplift.

Transforming the Future Through Play

We see play as a healing practice and a powerful catalyst for a more complete vision of wellness. In a world where adult well-being is often confined to individual and solitary practices, we’re creating spaces where healing happens together — through joy, connection, and the simple magic of play.

Let’s Get Social Raleigh is leading this shift. We integrate the best of traditional wellness while expanding it to embrace what’s been missing: opportunities for adults to reset, rediscover their inner child, and build authentic community.

The future of well-being won’t be built on isolation and burnout, it will be built on belonging, joy, and shared human experience. And we’re creating it, one joyful connection at a time.

Our Mission

Let’s Get Social Raleigh (LGSR) is a grassroots, wellness-forward organization on a mission to end loneliness, reduce burnout, and relieve stress by helping adults rediscover the joy of play, healing power of nature, and strength of community.

Our Vision

A world where no adult feels alone, where belonging is actively cultivated through play, nature, and intentional connection, and where LGSR bridges the gap between gathering and genuine connection, creating safer, healthier, and more resilient communities.

Our Commitment to Equity

We intentionally uplift and amplify Black-owned businesses at our events because economic empowerment is an essential component of community wellness. Equity is not separate from outcomes — it is integral to creating inclusive, sustainable, and thriving communities.

Join Now

ABOUT THE FOUNDER & CEO

Michele Paul is a retired Marine, community builder, and the founder of Let’s Get Social Raleigh.

Her work focuses on bridging the gap between isolation and community by creating low-barrier, non-clinical spaces where adults can step away from the pressures of daily life and build meaningful relationships through play, nature, conversation, and shared experiences, pathways that allow people to reconnect, heal, and rediscover the restorative power of community.

Drawing on the leadership and discipline developed during her military service, Michele brings a unique blend of structure, empathy, and intentionality to the communities she builds. Her work is also informed by her professional background in corporate recruiting and organizational culture, where she developed a deep understanding of how diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and unique ways of thinking contribute to stronger teams, relationships, and communities.

What began as a personal journey to prioritize well-being has grown into a movement that helps adults combat loneliness, relieve stress, and rediscover the importance of connection and belonging.

As a community and belonging architect, Michele is committed to building intentional spaces, experiences, and social ecosystems that help people move from isolation toward connection, relationships, and collective well-being.

Through Let’s Get Social Raleigh, Michele curates experiences that activate parks, public spaces, and everyday environments as places where community can naturally form. From outdoor hikes and social mixers to deeper community dialogues and signature gatherings like the Adult Recess Festival, her work demonstrates how thoughtfully designed social experiences can strengthen the fabric of a community.