Meet Dr. Ira Silver from the Sociology Department at Framingham State University! Currently on sabbatical in Argentina, Dr. Silver is teaching Society, Technology & the Future at the Provincial University of Córdoba and continues to engage students in meaningful conversations about community, connection, and civic life.

Through the Social Connection course last fall, students extended their learning beyond the classroom by attending a community screening of the documentary Join or Die at First Parish Framingham. Students contributed to a community potluck, watched the film, and participated in a discussion about the decline of social connectedness and civic engagement in the United States.

Inspired by the experience, one student attended a second screening facilitated by Dr. Silver at Congregation Beth El of Sudbury, where nearly 200 community members gathered to explore the film’s themes. The student also participated in a follow-up conversation with renowned sociologist Robert Putnam, in which they discussed how faith-based communities can work together to strengthen social bonds and address the erosion of communal life.

Dr. Silver's work helps students connect academic learning with real-world community issues while exploring the power of relationships, civic participation, and collective action.