Join & Thrive
Find Your Thing
Discover the people, causes, and events that make Santa Monica great.
Bahala and Santa Monica Public Library invite you to Join & Thrive: Find Your Thing, a free public screening of the critically-acclaimed documentary Join or Die followed by an outreach fair featuring plenty of fun and fulfilling things close to home.
Come curious. Leave with a thing.
Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026
12-4pm
Santa Monica Public Library
Main library, 2nd floor Multi-Purpose Room,
followed by an outreach fair in the central courtyard
What to expect
Watch Join or Die and participate in a discussion about community improvement.
Walk outside and meet people. Local organizations will share interactive ways to get involved in programs you’re interested in.
Enjoy wholesome fun and thrive!
Movie!
snacks!
Find Your thing
FAir!
Why Show up?
Across the country, people are talking about loneliness, isolation, and the decline of civic life. Join or Die tells that story through the work of Robert Putnam, author of Bowling Alone, and asks a hopeful question: what happens when people start joining again?
In Santa Monica, we have no shortage of people doing meaningful, creative, generous work. The challenge is often discovering where to connect.
FIND YOUR THING PARTNERS
Interested in SHARING YOUR THING?
Social clubs, nonprofits, civic groups, and community-building organizations are welcome to apply and participate without charge. Selected partners will be grouped by category and asked to provide interactive, welcoming ways to help people find their thing.
Be ready to share with the Santa Monica community:
How to join
When your next meeting or get together is
Bonus: have a friendly table activity or fun conversation starter at the event!
Bahala and Santa Monica Public Library want a variety of clubs and organizations to be featured at the Join & Thrive event. We will review submissions and curate participating partners by category, fit, and available space.
Nonprofit and Club Directory
Are you a Santa Monica
Group or Organization?
Share your information with us about your club, group, nonprofit, or other community-building organization so we can add you to the directory of Santa Monica organizations. Let’s help residents find you and get involved!
Please provide:
Club or organization name
Contact name, email, social media handle & website
Meeting Details
Bahala is building a directory of Santa Monica/Westside organizations, from informal groups (like dog parents who meet weekly at Clover Park to registered nonprofits. If your group meets in Santa Monica, we'd love to add you and share it with the community!
Bahala events are guaranteed fresh and full of local flavor.
Never miss out on a great local event and join a growing network of local businesses and community leaders making Santa Monica a great place to live and play.