photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Lawrence City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St., is pictured on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.

The City of Lawrence and the Lawrence Arts Center invite residents to attend a community fair to learn how to get involved in local groups, along with a documentary screening.

The Lawrence Connection Fair will be held on Friday, Feb. 27 at Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive, and attendees can learn how to get involved with community groups, clubs, service organizations and causes across Lawrence, according to a press release from the City of Lawrence. In addition, a documentary, “Join or Die” will be shown at the event.

The fair will be open from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. with the documentary beginning at 7 p.m. The fair will reopen after the screening for an additional 30 minutes.

“Join or Die” explores decades of research showing how participation in civic and social groups, like clubs, faith communities, volunteer organizations, and neighborhood groups strengthens democracy and builds resilient communities.

“Join or Die is an important film to watch in a room with your community rather than at home streaming on your couch,” Marlo Angell of the Lawrence Arts Center said in the release. “At a time when isolation divides us and can foster feelings of negativity and distrust, collective experience fuels us with energy and momentum. Films entertain and educate in ways that we can experience together in a shared time and space, and I’ve seen firsthand the meaningful connections that transpire as folks leave the theatre after seeing this film with springboards of conversation and new motivations.”

Cori Wallace, director of communications and community relations for the City of Lawrence, said in the release that the event is all about belonging.

“Strong communities with people who feel cared for and connected don’t happen by accident,” Wallace said in the release. “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 event is free and open to the public. People of all ages, backgrounds, and interests are invited to join, whether people are new to Lawrence or have lived in the city for years and want to get more involved in the community. Attendees are invited to register on the city’s website.