Connection Fair and
Community Film Screening
Event Details
Friday, February 27, 2026
Connection Fair:
6:30 PM and 9:00 PM - 30 minutes before and after the screening
Film Screening of “Join or Die”:
7:00 p.m.
Location:
Free State High School (Commons area)
Cost:
Free
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In partnership
Here for Each Other: A documentary screening and connection fair co-sponsored by the City of Lawrence and the Lawrence Arts Center
When people are in community around any activity or interest they share with others, something powerful happens. They know more people. They feel more connected. They show up more often. They care more deeply about where they live and the people around them.
Data tells us that communities with strong social connections—often called social capital—experience better outcomes across the board. People are healthier. They’re more civically engaged. They trust one another more. They feel a stronger sense of belonging and responsibility for the place they call home.
Or, simply put: when we know each other, we care more—and we are likely to feel better about where we live.
To explore this idea together, the City of Lawrence and the Lawrence Arts Center are partnering to host a connection fair and a community screening of the documentary Join or Die on Friday, February 27, 2026, at Free State High School.
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.