The Longest Table – Continuing the Tradition

Community Conversation Continues in Homes on June 11

May 03, 2017

Through The Longest Table, Tallahassee and Leon County residents have come together over the past two years to share a meal and engage in heartfelt conversations aimed at breaking down community divides and building relationships. The initiative will return on Sunday, June 11, at 5:30 p.m. with the Longest Table In-Home Edition. Small groups of six to eight people will share dinner and their experiences in homes, restaurants and public spaces around the community.

If you’re interested in hosting or attending, reserve your seat at The Longest Table by visiting LongestTable.com or calling 891-8533 by May 31. Once registered, citizens will receive follow-up emails to help determine where they will be placed. Churches, civic groups, businesses and other agencies may also register as host locations.

“Since we launched The Longest Table in 2015, we have seen it spread across the state and the nation – allowing people to connect with each other on a human level,” Mayor Andrew Gillum said. “We are excited to bring it home once again as friends and neighbors across Tallahassee set the table to continue these important conversations.”

The Longest Table aims to provide a safe, welcoming setting for a diverse group of residents to discuss community issues and foster stronger connections. These events inspire residents to host similar opportunities on their own to improve racial, cultural, economic and other social differences that impact citizens’ quality of life.

"The County looks forward to continuing the conversation we helped start nearly two years ago," Leon County Commission Chairman John E. Dailey said. "Many great relationships have been made while sharing a meal, and we proudly support events like The Longest Table.”

The Longest Table is hosted by the City of Tallahassee and Leon County Government in partnership with The Village Square and Leadership Tallahassee – a program of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce.

In 2015, the first Longest Table event drew more than 400 people to one uninterrupted table in downtown Tallahassee on Park Avenue. The following spring, the Longest Table expanded to include smaller, more intimate dinners in more than 100 homes around the community. Most recently, the Longest Table took place in October 2016 on FAMU Way where more than 1,000 neighbors and friends came together to join the conversation.

While taking part in the Longest Table In-Home Edition, attendees are encouraged to share their insights, group discussions, photos and bits of wisdom on social media using #TheLongestTable. For more information, visit LongestTable.com or call 891-8533.

Contact Information

Alison Faris, City of Tallahassee Communications, 891-8533; or
Mathieu Cavell, Leon County Community and Media Relations, 606-5300

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