Nationwide — In a society battling rising rates of loneliness, suicide, burnout, and racial inequity, one woman is leading a grassroots movement that’s reimagining wellness as a path to personal and communal healing—and liberation. Michele Paul, Founder of Let’s Get Social Raleigh (LGSR) and Creator of the Adult Recess Festival, is leading the largest adult play wellness movement in the country, proving that when communities invest in joy, connection, and economic empowerment, they don’t just survive—they thrive.
As the largest adult play-based wellness movement in America, LGSR blends play therapy, nature, and cultural healing to tackle loneliness while rebuilding social and economic strength from within the community.
Her mission is bold and deeply rooted: to end adult loneliness and build a community-driven wellness economy that centers play, nature, and equity—especially in Black and historically underserved communities.
What began as a personal struggle has evolved into a powerful national movement. After relocating to a new city, Michele found herself isolated and disconnected. Traditional networking events felt shallow and transactional. What she longed for was something deeper—a space where adults could gather, drop the mask, and just be.
That space became Let’s Get Social Raleigh — a comprehensive wellness ecosystem designed to end loneliness, reduce burnout, and uplift local economies through play, nature, and community.
Her vision sharpened during an elementary school career day when she asked students, “When do adults stop playing outside with their friends?” Their response—“When they’re grown”—revealed a quiet tragedy: somewhere along the way, adults began believing play isn’t essential to our mental, emotional, and physical health. Michele set out to change that.
Today, LGSR has grown into the largest adult play-based wellness community in the U.S., serving over 75,000 adults across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Its flagship event, the Adult Recess Festival, is the nation’s leading festival dedicated to adult wellness through play therapy. Now in its third year, it drew 6,500+ attendees from 20+ states and the Bahamas—a true “joy revolution” in motion.
But LGSR is about more than wellness—it’s also about economic justice. In just three years, the organization has circulated over $500,000 back into Black-owned businesses, supported 50+ local vendors, helped launch new entrepreneurs, and created a thriving local economy that keeps resources circulating 365 days a year. Plans are now underway to hire 30 employees in 2026, ensuring sustainable growth while staying true to its community-based model.
“We’re not just social—we’re soulful,” says Michele. “At LGSR, joy isn’t a luxury—it’s a birthright. Conversations are bridges. Play is medicine. And every time we laugh, connect, or heal, we’re creating the kind of future our communities deserve.”
LGSR stands as a bold new model for what wellness can look like when Black joy, collective care, and economic power are placed at the center. Michele is showing that joy and justice go hand in hand—and that a community that plays together, heals together.
About
Founded by Michele Paul, 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 joy, the healing power of nature, and the strength of community. Its flagship event, the Adult Recess Festival, is the nation’s leading festival prioritizing adult well-being through play therapy. Since its founding, LGSR has built a community of 75,000+ people, circulated over $500,000 back into Black-owned businesses, connected entrepreneurs with resources, and is preparing to expand its team in 2026 to meet growing demand. Learn more at LetsGetSocialRaleigh.com
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For press inquiries, contact events@letsgetsocialraleigh.com
