Causeway invites all of Chattanooga to the fourth annual 1TABLE, a community-wide Thanksgiving potluck in the middle of Martin Luther King Boulevard on Monday, Nov. 20, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Due to construction in Miller Park this year, 1TABLE is moving down one block in front of the Bessie Smith Hall.
Over the last three years, 1TABLE has grown from 700 attendees to nearly 1,500 in 2016, in addition to being covered by The Washington Post. This year, a predicted 2,000 Chattanoogans from all walks life will join together to give thanks and share a Thanksgiving meal in the middle of MLK Boulevard.
Music from the CSAS Concert Choir and a Grand Piano provided by Summitt Pianos will fill the streets as residents, area employees, families and friends line up for a potluck lunch.
Chattanoogans who otherwise may never have met, will break bread together to connect over food and conversation.
“I had lunch with a man who is African-American and blind and lives in Patten Towers,” said one woman who attended 1TABLE in 2016. “I am white, live in the suburbs and work in the corporate world. We simply never would have met each other any other way. It was inspiring and exciting and such a good thing for our city.”
Now in its fourth year, 1TABLE has been replicated in other regional cities.
“We’re very excited to have community leaders in Huntsville working towards hosting 1TABLE for the second year,” says Chelsea Conrad, director of Creative Engagement at Causeway. “Citizens in Milan, Tn., and Florence, Al., are also hosting 1TABLE this year and a number of other cities have expressed interest in hosting their own.”
Causeway has launched a new website which showcases other participating cities and expresses the overall mission of the event.
“1TABLE is an opportunity for everyone to come together no matter your socioeconomic background or race and connect," said Abby Garrison, Causeway's executive director. "This event is our attempt to remove barriers and bring people together from across Chattanooga to build understanding and friendship. We’re looking forward to watching 1TABLE grow in other cities.”
1TABLE is made possible through corporate and individual sponsors as well as partnerships with local restaurants. Local catering company, Dish T’ Pass will provide the turkey and dressing while restaurants like Niedlov’s, Bitter Alibi, Main Street Meats, Taziki’s, The Camp House, Community Pie, and 1885 will provide large side dishes to share. Attendees are also encouraged to bring a ready-to-serve dish to share, if they are able.
To support Causeway’s community engagement work through 1TABLE, visit causeway.org/1table or donate to Causeway’s Buy Your Neighbor’s Lunch campaign.