The Greater Milwaukee Foundation wants more people breaking bread to spark big ideas

Ellen Gilligan wants to get people talking. 

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation CEO and president announced the launch of the organization's newest project Thursday, a regionwide forum called "On the Table." 

The premise is simple. On Oct. 17, groups of eight to 12 people will meet for dinner, breakfast or coffee to talk about their community and ways it could improve. 

“It’s clear that people want to make a difference in their community," Gilligan said. "They want to figure out how to plug in, how to have a conversation, how to move ideas forward."

Cities such as Chicago and Lexington, Ky., have held similar events. 

The foundation will work with partner organizations in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties. Organizers envision the meals and conversations taking place just about anywhere: schools, libraries, restaurants, homes, churches and community centers. 

“We think that there’s an opportunity for people to connect in ways that they haven’t," Gilligan said. “Sharing a meal is always different than going to a meeting.” 

Organizers wanted to keep the program open-ended. Conversation topics can be as broad or narrow as a host wants, Gilligan said. 

Strong political and social divides underscore the need for more conversations, she said. The project would allow people to sit down and interact with someone they don't know. 

"You don’t have to be part of a particular religious congregation or organization or fraternity or sorority or civic organization," she said. "This is an open invitation to everyone who lives in this region." 

The program doesn't have a determined goal. Instead, organizers hope the conversations will inspire residents to come up with new ideas and take action in their surrounding community.

"On the Table is not the solution to our community's challenges," said Marcus White, vice president of civic engagement for the foundation. "But we believe it can be the spark that leads to solutions." 

The foundation plans to collect feedback from hosts and participants, though the event isn't intended to help guide the organization's decisions or gauge public opinion on certain topics. 

The foundation launched the program by hosting a short round-table conversation on the roof of 88Nine Radio Milwaukee Thursday afternoon. Gilligan was joined by city leaders such as NAACP Milwaukee President Fred Royal and Mary McCormick, the executive director of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee. 

Cecelia Gore, executive director of the Brewers Community Foundation, said the program is a great way to form new relationships. But to truly be effective, the discussions need to be inclusive. 

"I hope that with these conversations we don't lose sight of the people that have the greatest need," she said. "We can't leave out the voices that are suffering." 

Griselda Aldrete, president and CEO of Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee, echoed Gore. The event will require input from a wide range of people, she said. 

"We can't forget to invite others who might not be ... what people see as leaders," she said. "Leadership isn't a title or how much you make." 

Hosts can register at onthetableMKE.org. Organizations can register as "super hosts" by pledging three or more tables. The foundation has a host "toolkit" with conversation do's and don'ts and suggested conversation prompts. 

Conversation prompts include: 

• Share something you love, or are most proud of, about where you live.
• What can we do, as individuals, and together with organizations we are part of, to make our region more vibrant? 
• If you could have all the resources and all the people needed to accomplish something to improve your community or our region, what would you undertake?