Episode 9: Lauren Grossman-Across the Table
In this episode, we sit down with Lauren Grossman from Across the Table. Across The Table is a nonprofit organization that brings together diverse guests for group discussion over delicious food. They break bread, build bridges and connect over a group meal with facilitated conversation with ten-twelve new people whose backgrounds and perspectives are different from their own. They have dynamic, meaningful, topic-focused dialogue, while sharing food and ideas in a relaxed atmosphere.
Gatherings take place in beautiful and inviting spaces in community organizations, arts organizations, schools, outdoor space or private rooms in restaurants in Evanston, Illinois. When they dine in non-restaurant spaces, Across The Table partners with local catering companies. The cost is $30 per person and includes a multi-course, family-style meal. The meals are generally for people ages 21 or over.
Lauren grew up in the Detroit area, in a very diverse community, After graduating Indiana University, she moved to Chicago into the Lakeview community. While living there she taught high school at Kelvyn Park High School in Chicago and was consistently inspired by the open, honest and direct conversations she had with her students. Lauren's background was different from her students' but despite this difference, they connected very deeply. Lauren and her students had profoundly honest conversations around many issues that touched all of their lives, including issues of race, gender, socio-economics, and privilege. At the same time she felt that her personal life was confined to a more homogenous socio-economic community. Lauren wanted to give adults from all walks of life the opportunity to connect through these same kinds of honest, important conversations.
Lauren started Across The Table in 2008. She successfully ran Across The Table in Chicago for three years until her oldest son was born in 2011, at which time she decided to put Across The Table on hold and focus on her family. However, she restarted Across The Table in March of 2017 in Evanston.
The conversations are led by Lauren and two facilitators. There is one large conversation and it is very structured. At the beginning everyone receives a questionnaire with 5 personal questions like when was the last time you had an adventure, or what’s something you have done that has made you proud. These are used as ice-breakers. Meals are approximately 2.5 hours long. There is always time at the end where people can have private conversations with the other participants.
You can learn more about upcoming events, sign up for meals, or follow them on social media on the Across the Table website at https://acrossthetable.org/
I’d like to thank several people for help with today’s show. This includes my real estate brokerage, Dreamtown Realty in Evanston for helping me with my graphics for the show. I’d like to thank Industrious in Evanston for use of their space to record follow them on Instagram at @industriousevanston. And if listening to this podcast gave you the bug to buy or sell real estate, give me call or go to my real estate website at http://www.aaronmasliansky.com And don’t forget to subscribe! Thank you.
