Community conversations to start again

The Big Table, a collection of grass-roots conversations on strengthening central Ohio, has begun serving up results after only one year.

A second set of gatherings, hosted by people in their homes, restaurants or wherever they choose, will be May 17. The first, in August, drew more than 478 hosts and 5,000 participants.

The Columbus Foundation

sponsors The Big Table to encourage face-to-face conversations where people can learn from each other and hopefully come up with ways to improve their communities, said Kelley Griesmer, a foundation senior vice president.

“We don’t tell people what to talk about,” Griesmer said.

Leigh Ann Simms wanted her table of guests to focus on children.

“I wanted something to come out of it,” said the Miranova resident, whose guests included many people involved with various nonprofits.

After the initial Big Table gathering, a core group of six to 10 people met three more times, looking for ways to help.

Simms said they were struck by the recent Dispatch series “Dividing Lines,” which focused on the city’s economic segregation and wage disparity. One story mentioned that Columbus was one of the least-promising places in the nation for kids who start near the bottom of the financial ladder.

“That was shocking to us,” said Simms, who calls herself a “serial entrepreneur.”

Simms said one guest, Columbus school board candidate Amy Harkins, suggested the group adopt a school.

Fellow guest Kameron Bray, a life coach for New Albany Home Health Solutions, has a young client at East Linden Elementary on the Northeast Side. Bray, who helps the child deal with anger management and issues at home, suggested adopting the school.

The group is meeting with East Linden’s principal on Tuesday, Simms said.

“We’re all in,” she said. “We’re prepared to mentor, tutor, to do supplies, food pantries, nutrition, counseling, whatever the school and children need.”

Bray said The Big Table concept succeeded for Simms’ group because it brought together people from diverse backgrounds who focused on what they could do to make a difference.

“I love the fact we were able to keep the conversation going,” said Bray, who lives on the North Side.

The tangible outcome of Simms’ Big Table is the ideal that the foundation is looking for, Griesmer said.

“But any conversation is a great conversation,” she said. “It’s a great time to meet new people to expand your perspective and learn new things.

“As technology has taken over, we’ve become more segregated. We’ve forgotten the art of sitting down and learning from each other.”

Those wishing to get involved in The Big Table can register to host a conversation at a location of their choice, host a conversation at one of the new public partner locations, or join a public conversation.

For those hosting a gathering, the foundation suggests enlisting eight to 12 participants. Friends and neighbors are fine, but go for a diverse group, Griesmer said. For example, you can invite five people you know and have a friend invite five people they know, she said.

The conversation should last for at least an hour so participants have a chance to learn about each other. Hosts are encouraged to provide food, a full meal or something simple.

Breaking bread helps break the ice.

The public conversations will be held at libraries and businesses, such as Donatos Pizza and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. “We want to help people meet people they don’t know,” Griesmer said.

The foundation is pushing to include more voices, such as suburban residents and young people this year. Last year, immigrant and refugee organizations were among the participants.

Of hosts and participants who responded to a survey after last year’s event, 97 percent said they would likely participate again.