Two local organizations are calling for the LGBT community’s participation in mealtime conversations focused on ways to create an engaged population next month.
The Philadelphia Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation launched On the Table Philly, a new pilot initiative to be held throughout the Philadelphia area May 23 to engage residents in an open dialogue and report back to the organizations on their experiences.
“The LGBTQ community is a vital part of our region and its social fabric,” said TPF President and CEO Pedro Ramos. “I think it’s not just about having participants who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender but also making sure that issues pertinent to the LGBTQ community are a visible part of our civic landscape. The opportunities and challenges of the LGBTQ community are the opportunities and challenges of the greater Philadelphia community.”
The May 23 event will allow participants to share a meal during any time of the day with eight to 12 people. The invite list is entirely up to the host, with the option to partner with local nonprofits and religious groups. On the Table Philly also encourages larger gatherings, which can be broken out into smaller groups. Guests will focus on the question, “What can we do together to create a stronger and more engaged community?” Additionally, they have the option to share their thoughts on social media while using the hashtag, #LetsTalkPhilly.
After the conversation, guests over the age of 18 can complete the Knight Foundation and TPF’s short survey, either online or through a hard copy, so On the Table can collect stories coming out of the conversations. The organization will share this data publicly and with key community leaders to help understand and address the community’s needs.
The Chicago Community Trust, a foundation dedicated to civic engagement, grantmaking and philanthropy, started On the Table in 2014. There were more than 10,000 participants the first year, which later expanded to more than 55,000 participants, according to the On the Table 2016 Impact Report.
The Impact Report also noted several issues that rose to the top in 2015 and 2016, including “economic issues and poverty,” “equity and social inclusion,” “education and youth development” and “the judicial system and public safety.”
DVLF, an LGBT grantmaking organization, will be one of the host organizations for On the Table Philly. DVLF Executive Director Samantha Giusti said she will host, along with DVLF grantees.
“I think so frequently when we meet with folks, we have an agenda. This is just idea-sharing,” she said about On the Table. “I don’t know that, in our day-to-day lives, we get this kind of luxury where we get to sit together and just share ideas and dreams to make Philadelphia a stronger, better place to live and work and play. I think that’s exciting: an opportunity to build community and share ideas.”
Giusti noted that participants may talk about issues related to the LGBT community, which may help direct DVLF’s grantmaking in the future. However, she also said she is open to discussing other ideas outside of DVLF and the LGBT community.
“I’m curious to see where the energy is and what folks choose to talk about,” Giusti said.
Interested hosts can register at onthetablephl.org.