The Big Table® returns Thursday, October 6!
Everyone has a seat at the table during this day of community-wide conversations. Join The Big Table and imagine what the central Ohio region can look like when we move forward together toward a brighter future.
Sign up below to host your own conversation or join a public conversation near you!
Together, we can inspire a culture of connection and kindness, one conversation at a time.
Host a Conversation
Bringing together your own Big Table conversation is easy and rewarding! Check out the Host Guidebook for everything you need to know about hosting your conversation.
Join a Public Conversation
The Big Table is about giving everyone an opportunity to share their voice and be heard. Help us build a kind, connected community by signing up to participate in a public Big Table conversation near you!
Launched in 2016, The Big Table is a day dedicated to community-wide conversations. Through open, intentional dialogue, participants are empowered to imagine what the central Ohio region can look like when we move forward together toward a brighter future where everyone has a seat at the table.
Download The Big Table Fact Sheet for more information.
All throughout the central Ohio region! Conversations can take place anywhere – at a coffee shop, school, community center, library, house, place of worship, office building, parks, and even virtual spaces. There are many public Big Table conversations throughout central Ohio, including at Columbus Metropolitan Library branches, YMCA of Central Ohio locations, and more. Click here to find one near you!
After more than two tumultuous years, The Big Table is an opportunity to reconnect with our neighbors and remind one another of what our community can accomplish when we work together.
Overcoming social isolation, division, and a lost sense of community requires deliberate action and effort. Meeting new people, sharing our experiences, and spending time listening and learning from one another are crucial steps toward building a kind, connected central Ohio region where everyone has the opportunity to flourish.
Watch this video featuring Donte Woods-Spikes, previous Big Table host and local creative, on why you should take part in The Big Table!
Anyone can participate in The Big Table and everyone has a seat at the table! The more voices, experiences, and perspectives, the better.
For hosts, view the Host Guidebook (available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Somali, Dari, and Pashto) for more information on how to prepare for your Big Table conversation!
There are several ways you can take part in this community-wide effort. See below for more information on how you can host a Big Table conversation, register to participate in a Big Table event, and promote your involvement on social media using the hashtags #TheBigTable and #ForwardTogether.
Participate in a Public Conversation
If you have additional questions, please contact us at bigtable@columbusfoundation.org.
As a host, you are committing to bringing together a group of people to collectively explore issues important to our community. Hosts believe in each person’s power to make a difference. Your conversation can happen any time on Thursday, October 6, and in any place where guests feel comfortable.
As a host, you will:
- Identify and secure a location and time for your conversation
- Register as a host to reserve supplies for your conversation
- Recruit 6-10 people for your Big Table conversation on Thursday, October 6, and coordinate RSVPs
- Pick up your Big Table conversation materials at The Columbus Foundation a week before the event
- Serve as your group’s conversation facilitator to create connection and ensure all voices are heard
- Complete a brief survey after your conversation and encourage your guests to do the same
View the Host Guidebook (available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Somali, Dari, and Pashto) for more information on how to prepare to be a host!
Questions? Contact us at bigtable@columbusfoundation.org.
Public Table Partners
