From 2017: On the Table conversation in Miller

Legacy Foundation partners to promote On the Table

Contributed By:The 411 News

The Lake County Public Library and Indiana University Northwest are partners in the Legacy Foundation’s efforts to promote its community initiative, On the Table.

On the Table is a national initiative to advance greater community connection and problem-solving funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Conversations in Lake County will take place county-wide on September 26 to get residents talking face-to-face about community issues that are important to them, with the goal of generating solutions for change.

The foundation’s premise is simple: Bring residents together over a meal to encourage conversations that will lead to community problem solving.

Last year, the initiative prompted over 1,800 people to participate in conversations at 133 sites in homes, churches, schools, work places, and community centers. While the program takes place over the course of one day, it is meant to spark year-round discussion.

Now in its second year, Legacy Foundation will dig deeper into the survey results from 2017 and move more groups toward collaboration and action. Respondents to the 2017 survey identified education and youth development as the top issue they wanted to see addressed. Transportation ranked number one as the service respondents wished they had more of in their community.

Other issues raised during conversations included the economy and poverty, equity and social inclusion, public safety, the environment, and health. The data from the 2017 is publicly available on Legacy Foundation’s website at: http://www.legacyfdn.org/onthetable

How to host an On the Table conversation will be available at information sessions at local libraries and IU Northwest.

A Host Toolkit includes conversation prompts, host tips, a marketing guide, giveaways, and more. The Lake County Public Library will host four information sessions at branches in Cedar Lake, Lake Station, Merrillville, and Munster. Indiana University Northwest will host one information session.

Hosts who are already registered can pick up their host packets at these events.

Dates for the Information Sessions are:
Tuesday, August 28, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm, Lake County Public Library / Lake Station-New Chicago Branch
Wednesday, August 29: 12:00 pm-1:00 pm, Lake County Public Library / Merrillville Branch
Thursday, August 30, 5:30 pm-6:30 pm, IUN Library Conference Room 105ABC
Wednesday, September 5, 5:30 pm-6:30 pm, Lake County Public Library / Cedar Lake Branch
Tuesday, September 11, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm, Lake County Public Library / Munster Branch

For more information and to register, visit www.legacyfdn.org/onthetable.

Legacy Foundation is one of ten cities across the U.S. replicating the On the Table initiative this year with funding from the Knight Foundation. The foundation invests in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where the brothers once published newspapers.


From 2017: Gary City Councilwoman Rebecca Wyatt hosted an On the Table conversation at the Captain’s Table restaurant in Gary’s Miller neighborhood.

Story Posted:08/24/2018