ABOUT THE FILM
In this feature documentary, follow the half-century story of America's civic unraveling through the journey of legendary social scientist Robert Putnam, whose groundbreaking "Bowling Alone" research into America's decades-long decline in community connections could hold the answers to our democracy's present crisis.
Flanked by influential fans and scholars — from Hillary Clinton, Pete Buttigieg, and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to Eddie Glaude Jr., Raj Chetty, and Priya Parker — as well as inspiring groups building community in neighborhoods across the country, join Bob as he explores three urgent civic questions: What makes democracy work? Why is American democracy in crisis? And, most importantly… What can we do about it?
FEATURING
Join or Die spotlights six community groups working to revitalize American civic life.
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Odd Fellows #80
Waxahachie, TX — An old federated society chapter bucking decline trends.
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Red Bike & Green
Atlanta, GA — A Black cycling collective.
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Plainsong Farm & Ministry
Rockford, MI — An ecumenical ministry on a farm.
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Bowl Portland
Portland, ME — A thriving, modern bowling league.
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CIELO
Los Angeles, CA — An indigenous mutual aid and advocacy group.
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Chicago Gig Alliance
Chicago, IL — Rideshare drivers coming together to fight for better working conditions.
UPCOMING COMMUNITY SCREENINGS
Don't see a screening near you? Click here to host your own community screening of Join or Die
Group | City | State | Date | Location |
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Eastlake High School | Chula Vista | CA | Oct 10, 2024 | 1120 Eastlake Parkway Chula Vista, CA 91915 |
East County Citizens' Alliance | Portland | OR | Oct 10, 2024 | 705 N Killingsworth St. Portland, OR 97217 |
Clark University | Worcester | MA | Oct 10, 2024 | 950 Main Street Worcester, MA 01610 |
Unitarian Universalist Church of Studio City | Studio City | CA | Oct 11, 2024 | 12355 Moorpark St Studio City, CA 91604 |
Avaaz | Nayarit, | Mexico | Oct 14, 2024 | Mar de Jade #1 Chacala Nayarit, Mexico C.P. 63708 |
Moving To Our Center & JCC Denver | Denver | CO | Oct 15, 2024 | 350 S. Dahlia St. Denver, CO 80246 |
Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church | Washington | DC | Oct 16, 2024 | 900 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington DC 20001 |
Maybelle Center | Portland | OR | Dec 4, 2024 | 3530 SE Division Street Portland OR 97202 |
St. Paul's United Methodist Church | Kensington | MD | Oct 17, 2024 | 10401 Armory Ave Kensington, MD 20895 |
Metro State University | Saint Paul | MN | Oct 17, 2024 | 700 East Seventh Street Saint Paul, MN 55106 |
Heather Cleveland | Alameda | CA | Oct 20, 2024 | 1520 Schiller street Alameda CA 94501 |
United Way of Vermillion | Vermillion | SD | Oct 22, 2024 | 10 E Main St Vermillion, SD 57069 |
Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church | Bryn Mawr | PA | Oct 23, 2024 | 625 Montgomery Ave. Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 |
thread | Baltimore | MD | Oct 23, 2024 | 5 West North Avenue Baltimore, MD 21201 |
First Congregational Church of Hartland | Hartland | VT | Oct 24, 2024 | 10 Station Road Hartland, VT 05048 |
Piedmont Community Church | Piedmont | CA | Oct 25, 2024 | 400 Highland Ave Piedmont, CA 94611 |
14th Street Y | New York | NY | Oct 29, 2024 | 344 East 14th Street New York, NY 10003 |
Emerson | Boston | MA | Nov 6, 2024 | 559 Washington St Boston, MA 02111 |
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church | Silver Spring | MD | Nov 6, 2024 | 818 University Blvd. West Silver Spring, MD 20901 |
Chesapeake Forum | Easton | MD | Nov 7, 2024 | 100 W Dover St. Easton, MD 21601 |
Pottsboro Library | Pottsboro | TX | Nov 9, 2024 | 104 N. Main St. Pottsboro, TX 75076 |
Minnesota Freemasons | Bloomington | MN | Nov 11, 2024 | 11411 Masonic Home Drive Bloomington, MN 55437 |
Wauwatosa Health Department Screening | Wauwatosa | WI | Nov 12, 2024 | 6823 W North Ave Wauwatosa, WI 53213 |
National League of Cities | Tampa | FL | Nov 14, 2024 | 333 South Franklin St. Tampa, FL 33602 |
Congregation B'nai Israel of Albuquerque, NM | Albuquerque | NM | Nov 16, 2024 | 4401 Indian School Road NE Albuquerque, NM 87110 |
Ridgewood Public Library | Ridgewood | NJ | Nov 17, 2024 | 125 N. Maple Ave Ridgewood, NJ 07450 |
NYS Commission on National and Community Service | Lake Placid | NY | Nov 19, 2024 | 2127 Saranac Ave Lake Placid, NY 12946 |
University of Georgia | Athens | GA | Nov 21, 2024 | 45 Baxter St Athens, GA 30602 |
Canadian Human Connection Conference | Vancouver | Canada | Nov 4, 2024 | 515 W. Hastings St. Vancouver, British Columbia Canada, V6B 5K3 |
HOST A SCREENING
Join or Die is screening all over the world during 2024 and 2025 for our Join Up! Tour. If you are part of a civic group, campus, congregation, company, neighborhood (or any gathering of three or more people!), reach out using the form below to inquire about hosting a screening.
MEET BOB
Harvard professor Robert D. Putnam is America’s preeminent political scientist — and one of the most widely read and cited social scientists living today. Author of fourteen books, translated into twenty languages, his work focuses on asking big questions about American society and deploying immense, creative studies and analyses to unlock answers.
His groundbreaking “Bowling Alone” research — which demonstrated that levels of American community connections were in decline over the past half-century — rocketed Putnam to national fame in the late 1990s, earning him the moniker “the poet laureate of civil society” and the ear of presidents, religious leaders, and tech founders over the coming decades. In 2012, President Obama awarded Putnam the National Humanities Medal, the nation’s highest honor for contributions to the humanities. As more Americans turn on to the reality of our social isolation crisis, a consistent drumbeat of media interest in revisiting Putnam’s work has grown.
THE ‘BOWLING ALONE’ PHENOMENON
40% DECLINE
…from the 1970s to the 1990s in the number of Americans who attended even one public meeting on town or school affairs in the previous year
60% DECLINE
....from the 1970s to the 1990s in the amount of picnics Americans attended annually
50% DECLINE
..from the 1970s to the 1990s in the number of Americans who took any leadership role in any local organization.
35% DECLINE
…from the 1960s to the 2020s in religious congregation membership
50% DECLINE
...from the 1970s to the 1990s in the number of times Americans attended a club meeting the previous year.
66% DECLINE
…from the 1960s to the 2010s in union membership
JOIN OR DIE BOOK CLUB
For further reading on the themes touched on in Join or Die, check out the following books
MEET THE TEAM
MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF
PRESS
“Everyone should watch this movie. It’s put together in an approachable and entertaining way and it’s a conversation we need to be having.”
Rachel Wagner, March 30, 2023,
Rachel’s Reviews
“Clear and clever… leaves viewers contemplating the stark command of the title.”
Nicole M. Perone, November 18, 2024,
NCR
“The film is so convincing that you’ll likely be signing up for your local bowling league soon after the credits roll.”
Louisa Moore, March 19, 2024,
Screen Zealots
“Proves itself vital and relevant, a necessary documentary that promises the conversation will continue long after the credits have rolled.”
Stephanie Archer, March 15, 2023,
Film Inquiry
“Robert Putnam is an affable, sensitive person and a wonderful camera subject who never seems calculated, withholding, or insincere.”
Matt Zoller Seitz, March 13, 2023, RogerEbert.com
“Underlines the importance of civic engagement to our communities and each other. It shows us what is possible when people and communities pull together.”
Christopher Lane, July 29, 2024, Psychology Today