Tallahassee is home to yet another Knight Foundation award project. The City of Tallahassee’s “longest table” community conversation is a winner this year. Now the city is working to bring that conversation closer to home.
Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum says the city will use a $57,000 grant from the Knight Foundation to help families who want to participate, but can't afford to purchase dinners for the 6-10 guests that will be at their table.
“We’ll come in and sponsor the meal. Whether you want to do groceries and cook yourself, or you want someone to come in and cater a small dinner at your home, it allows us to get across cost as a barrier to participate in this event. And that’s what’s so great about this designation," said Gillum.
This summer hundreds of volunteers will host mini-community conversations around their dinner tables. It's strangers meeting strangers at a very intimate and personal level—in each others’ homes.
“There are folks living in our community just going about their daily lives, trying to make a way for themselves and their families," said Gillum. "They don’t have the time to plug into our community in ways they’d otherwise want to. We’re trying to reach those individuals as part of this effort.”
Tallahassee is one of 19 cities that will split $5 million for projects. Last year, the city hosted 400 people at a massive table spanning three city blocks in downtown Tallahassee with a goal of uniting communities and people who wouldn’t normally come together.
The city has signed up 55 people to host the dinners. They're looking to 100 volunteers. Dinners will be held Sunday, June 26th at 5:30 p.m.
Information can be found at www.longesttable.com