Coffee, conversation and possible change: On the Table Set for Oct. 10

MILWAUKEE__Members of the UWM community are planning to share conversation and connections at the annual On the Table event Thursday, Oct. 10, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. in the Library Conference Room on the fourth floor of the Golda Meir Library.

UWM is a “super host” in the series of citywide events led by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. On the Table is designed to forge connections and encourage people to talk about topics that matter in the community.

Last year’s On the Table MKE event resulted in gatherings in metro Milwaukee at 160 locations, spanning 61 different ZIP codes. Race, diversity, equity and inclusion were frequent topics, with 77% of tables discussing these issues, according to the GMC. Other frequent themes were education, employment/economic opportunity, health care, voting, housing and homelessness, community engagement, and connecting and collaborating.

UWM groups signed up so far plan to discuss topics ranging from neighborhood change to health partnerships to overcoming barriers to graduation.

Last year, UWM’s third year taking part in the program, the university had 21 tables, according to Angie Izard, director of multicultural projects in Global Inclusion and Engagement.

“Table hosts can invite guests to the table,” she said. “It’s awesome that campus and off-campus guests can be part of the conversations.”

“What’s so neat in this age of technology where we connect via computer, is that this can bring back the art of conversation,” she added.

And it’s not all talk. In recent years, initiatives, partnerships and collaborations have grown out of conversations at On the Table, both at UWM and citywide.

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation took proposals that grew out of last year’s conversations and funded 16 projects through its Ideas to Action program. The $25,000 in funding went to projects designed to help strengthen community, deepen civic involvement and cultivate new ideas.