Community Table Talks foster connection and conversation

Recognizing that strong communities are built when everyone has a seat at the table, Tulane has introduced a new program where students can sit down together and intentionally connect with each other.

Every Wednesday following Mardi Gras break, Community Table Talks in the Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life have provided a free lunch for both registered and drop-in attendees. Over the course of the meal, Resolution Specialist Matt Wegmann guides attendees through conversation prompts, such as "What does community mean to you?" and "Identity and Community."

"If we can create a good place for community and dialogue, then we can address more challenging topics that students want to talk about," said Wegmann.

For years, Tulane has offered the Resolution and Restorative Engagement Program, which provides support for staff, faculty and students to navigate conflict resolution through individualized coaching, mediation and facilitated dialogues that encourage open discussions. But, according to Wegmann, the goal was always to expand upon this effort.

"We wanted to do more proactive work, especially for students," he said. "We wanted to have a regular time where we can have a structured and supported place for a conversation."

A grant from the Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking helped launch the new program, where students from all schools, alongside faculty and staff members, who will occasionally attend, can form friendships and learn about each other.

"They came [to Tulane] to challenge themselves, to find new ways to use their minds and their language," Wegmann said of the students. "We can set up an environment where they are comfortable doing that and a norm that in this place, we use respectful dialogue, and we allow everyone to speak."

The program goes hand-in-hand with Tulane's increased focus on strengthening opportunities for conversation and connection on campus. During the fall semester, more than 500 students, faculty and staff broke bread at The Longest Table on Berger Family Lawn as part of International Education Week. The experience earned Tulane the Collaborative Program of the Year Award from the Association of College Unions International.

Then in March, the university announced the new Center for Civil Discourse, which will centralize support for interdisciplinary collaboration, public engagement and dialogue led by faculty and students from schools throughout the university. The Community Table Talks complements larger initiatives such as these, as well as the New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University, which foster an environment of mutual respect, discussions across differences and curiosity throughout the university.

"We want it to be such a normal part of Tulane that everyone knows you can pop in there, get a free meal and meet somebody new," said Wegmann. "You can learn about a new idea or learn about a perspective different than yours."

As awareness of Community Table Talks has spread throughout campus, its positive impact has grown, Wegman said.

"The more different members of the community we have, the better conversations we're going to have," Wegmann said.