On the Table explained

On The Table is an initiative started by The Chicago Community Trust.[1] On a single day individual hosts invite a small group of people (6-12) to a conversation over food. Hosts have included civic leaders and community organizations, but anyone can register to host, and who is invited is entirely up to the host. Ideally those invited do not know each other well except for their connection to the host. There is no agenda or pre-determined outcome of the conversation except to catalog what was discussed and what actions were suggested to address the concerns of participants. The results of the conversations are summarized and reported back to the community in a formal report.

The Chicago Community Trust created and organized the first On the Table event in 2014 and since then more than 30 communities have held On the Table events. More than 250,000 people have participated.[2]

History

The Chicago Community Trust held a series of “Chicago Dinners” in the late 1990s and early 2000s in partnership with the Human Relations Commission, bringing together area residents from different races and ethnicities to talk about race relations. In 2014, the Trust organized the first ever On the Table to engage everyday residents in discussing ways to improve the community. More than 11,500 people participated and it has continued in Chicago every year since.

In the following year 25,000 participated, then 55,000 in 2016, and 100,000 in 2017 roughly doubling every year. In 2016, the Trust added a new component, the Acting Up awards – small financial awards to sponsor ideas discussed during On the Table conversations.

Expansion and replication

In 2017, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation provided $2 million in new funding to expand the program to a dozen other cities.[3] In 2019, The Chicago Community Trust and the Knight Foundation partnered to launch the National Learning Network, a virtual learning community for foundations, civic institutions, and nonprofit leaders who have implemented or have shown interest in replicating the On the Table model.[4]

Events

Location Organization Initiative Name (If not On the Table) Affiliation201420152016201720182019Website
Akron, OH Akron Community Foundation Knight CityOctober 3, 2017 October 3, 2018October 3, 2019 https://www.onthetableakron.com/
Bedford, MAAHA! (Art, History & Architecture)Our StoryFebruary 9, 2017http://www.ahanewbedford.org/ourstory.php
Birmingham, ALBirmingham FoundationKitchen TableApril 8, 2014 April, 7, 2015http://www.birminghamkitchentable.com/
Bozeman, MTBozeman Community FoundationA Seat at the TableOctober 25, 2018https://www.atthetablegv.org
Charleston, SC The Library FoundationOctober 4, 2018https://www.lowcountryonthetable.org/
Charlotte, NC Foundation for the CarolinasKnight CityOctober 25, 2017October 24, 2018https://www.onthetableclt.org/
Chicago, IL Chicago Community TrustMay 12, 2014May 12, 2015May 10, 2016May 16, 2017May 8, 2018May 14, 2019http://onthetable.com
Cleveland, OHCleveland FoundationCommon GroundJune 30, 2017https://www.clevelandfoundation.org/news/common-ground/
Columbia, SCCentral Carolina Community FoundationKnight CityOctober 24, 2018https://onthetablecola.org/
Columbus, GA Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee ValleyKnight CityNovember 7, 2017October 23, 2018http://www.onthetablechatt.com/
Columbus, OHThe Columbus FoundationThe Big TableAugust 1, 2016May 17, 2017August 29, 2018August 28, 2019https://columbusfoundation.org/the-big-table
Denver, COUniversity of DenverA Community TableSeptember 17-20, 2018April 10, 2019https://www.du.edu/ccesl/ourwork/grand-challenges/act.html
Detroit, MI Community Foundation For Southeast MichiganKnight CityOctober 4, 2017https://cfsem.org/initiative/on-the-table/
Franklin, TNFranklin TomorrowOctober 30, 2018https://franklintomorrow.org/onthetable/
Gary, IN Legacy FoundationKnight CitySeptember 26, 2017http://www.legacyfdn.org/onthetable/
Georgetown, TXCity of GeorgetownOctober 2, 2018https://2030.georgetown.org/how-do-i-get-involved/ott/
Jefferson Hills, PAJefferson Regional FoundationAround the Table SouthOctober 15-19, 2018https://aroundthetablesouth.org/
Lancaster, PALancaster County Community FoundationAt the TableMay 20-21, 2016https://atthetablelanc.com/es/indice/
Lexington, KY Blue Grass Community FoundationKnight CityMarch 15, 2017March 28, 2018https://www.bgcf.org/onthetable
Long Beach, CA Long Beach Community FoundationAround the TableKnight CitySeptember 27, 2017December 3-4, 2018https://www.aroundthetablelb.com/
Macon, GACommunity Foundation of Central GeorgiaKnight CityOctober 17, 2019https://onthetablemacon.com/
Marshall County, KYLexington Public Library FoundationThe Community TableSeptember 12, 2018https://www.marshallcolibrary.org/resources/community-table
Miami, FL The Miami FoundationMy Miami StoryKnight CityOctober 28, 2016October 17, 2017October 23, 2018https://miamifoundation.org/mymiamistory/
Milwaukee, WI Greater Milwaukee FoundationOctober 17, 2017October 9, 2018http://onthetablemke.org/
NationalIndependent SectorThreads: Community ConversationsMarch – August 2015Independent Sector did a series of OTT's 2018https://independentsector.org/resource/threads/
National SAGE FoundationSAGE TableMay 18, 2017April 26, 2018http://www.sagetable.org/about-us/our-team/
Orlando, FLSouthwest Florida Community FoundationOctober 17, 2019https://floridacommunity.com/on-the-table/
Philadelphia, PAThe Philadelphia FoundationKnight CityMay 23, 2017November 8, 2018https://www.philafound.org/OurWork/Updates/OnTheTablePhilly.aspx
Pittsburgh, PA Jefferson Regional FoundationAround the Table SouthOctober 15-19, 2018https://aroundthetablesouth.org/about/
Silicon Valley Region, CASilicon Valley Community FoundationKnight CityNovember 15, 2017October 25, 2018https://www.siliconvalleycf.org/onthetable
State of ColoradoColorado FoundationAt the TableSeptember 17-20, 2018http://atthetablecolorado.org/
Toronto, ON, CanadaToronto Foundation1000 Dinners TOOctober 14, 2014https://rexdalelab.wordpress.com/2015/07/30/1000-dinners-toronto-2014-final-report/
Vancouver, BC Vancouver FoundationSeptember 13, 2018https://onthetablebc.com/
West Palm Beach, FLCommunity Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin CountiesKnight CityOctober 24, 2018https://www.yourcommunityfoundation.org/onthetable

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Where Chicago meets up on a single day. On the Table.
  2. Web site: On the Table History. On the Table.
  3. Web site: Knight Foundation Renews 'On the Table' With $2 Million Grant. March 3, 2018. Philanthropy News Digest.
  4. Web site: About. On the Table.

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