Shaylyn Romney Garrett

Shaylyn Romney Garrett is a celebrated author, speaker, and social entrepreneur whose work offers a fresh take on political polarization, social isolation, economic inequality, and culture change. She brings an energizing and deeply researched message of hope during a dark time in America’s history.

Her award-winning book co-authored with Robert Putnam, "The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago" and How We Can Do It Again", offers an evidence-based roadmap for how to reweave our tattered social fabric. Through stories and data drawn from over a century of history, Romney Garrett speaks passionately about how everyday Americans once changed the course of our nation by building a culture of “we”—and can do it again.

Her first book, "American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us", looked at the role of religion in civil society. Her commentary has appeared in various outlets including NPR, PBS Newshour, the BBC, Deseret Magazine, TIME Magazine and the New York Times.

Romney Garrett holds a degree in Government from Harvard University and served in the Peace Corps. She spent six years in Jordan working to catalyze youth social innovation there. Upon returning to the U.S., she helped found “Weave: The Social Fabric Project” at The Aspen Institute with David Brooks. She is a member of the Braver Angels Scholars Council and Citizen University’s Civic Collaboratory.

She lives with her husband and two young children in beautiful southwestern New Hampshire.