Connection Fair + Film Screening: "Join or Die"
February 27 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm | Free State High School
The City of Lawrence, in partnership with the Lawrence Arts Center, invites community members to a special screening of the documentary Join or Die. The event will be accompanied by the Lawrence Connection Fair featuring community groups, clubs, service organizations, and causes across Lawrence. It will be held at Free State High School, commons area.
Join or Die examines decades of research showing how participation in civic and social groups — such as clubs, faith communities, volunteer organizations, and neighborhood groups — strengthens democracy, improves individual health, and builds resilient communities. The film connects national data with a simple local message: Communities thrive when people are connected.
“This event is about belonging,” said Cori Wallace, Director of Communications and Community Relations for the City of Lawrence. “Strong communities with people who feel cared for and connected don’t happen by accident. They’re built when people show up for one another, join something meaningful, and then connect to care for each other. If people feel connected, they will be connected enough to care.”
The film brings research to life, examining how participation in clubs, organizations, shared activities, volunteer groups, and social circles strengthen not only individual well-being, but entire communities. It asks a simple, urgent question: what happens when people stop joining—and what’s possible when they start again?
The evening will also include the Lawrence Connection Fair, a welcoming space designed to help people discover ways to get involved in the community. The fair will take place for 30 minutes before the screening and for 30 minutes afterward, offering an easy, low-pressure opportunity to meet local groups, explore shared interests, and spark new connections. It might remind you of a school activities fair, and that’s by design. If you were ever curious about connecting with people who share an interest of yours, this event is for you.
Whether you’re new to Lawrence, returning to community life after a busy season, or simply wondering what else might be out there, this event is an invitation to learn more about the research, about your neighbors, and about the many ways people build connection across our city. Someone is waiting to meet you. If any community can drive connection and build trust among neighbors, it’s Lawrence.
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged but not required.
6:30pm | Lawrence Connection Fair
7:00pm | Film Screening: Join or Die
8:30pm | Lawrence Connection Fair