Carrie Parsons left invitations around to buy a stranger a cup of coffee in exchange for conversation when she had a realization: “I was learning so much about myself; I really wanted to take this personal project and make it public and let other people learn as much about themselves and others as I’m doing.” She launched Meet a Stranger in July 2024 that attracts about fifty people to each gathering. Cafes and coffee shops use three different methods: monthly events, buttons, and table signs that signal a person is open to a chat. “Ninety to 95 per cent of the people who came were introverts,” she said. “They were all saying the exact same thing: I want to connect with strangers. I just feel like I need permission or an invitation to connect.” “People are lonely. Once you see the problem and the simple, organic solution, you can’t not do it.”
