How to Host A Conversation
A Seat at the Table
Hosting Meaningful Conversations on Race
Sharing a meal has long been one of the simplest and most powerful ways to bring people together. Hosting a mealtime conversation focused on race can create space for deeper understanding, honest reflection, and meaningful connection, especially when discussions are thoughtfully structured and grounded in mutual respect.
For many people, talking about race can feel uncomfortable or intimidating. The good news: you don’t have to start from scratch. A number of organizations and initiatives have developed conversation frameworks, facilitation tips, and discussion guides designed to help hosts create environments where participants feel heard, challenged, and supported.
Below are several well-regarded resources to help you plan and host a dinner conversation about race. Whether you’re gathering friends, neighbors, colleagues, or community members around the table.
One Bexley Gathering
No Bexley-centric guide to hosting a conversation around mealtime would be complete without mentioning the annual One Bexley Gathering. This annual community dinner offers a unique opportunity to gather with neighbors for a delicious meal, new connections, and unforgettable conversations centered around the mission of One Bexley. One Bexley Steering Committee Members help guide conversations, while community members volunteer to host tables (helping to provide food or deserts).
Race to Dinner
Founded by Regina Jackson and Saira Rao, Race to Dinner brings white women together for candid, facilitated conversations about racism and white supremacy. These dinners are intentionally designed to move beyond surface-level discussions, encouraging personal reflection, accountability, and action. The model emphasizes listening, discomfort as a catalyst for growth, and an honest examination of lived experience.
Civic Dinners – Bridging the Racial Divide
Civic Dinners offers structured, easy-to-use guides for hosting conversations on complex civic and social issues, including race relations. Their “Bridging the Racial Divide” resources include conversation prompts, suggested group norms, and facilitation strategies to support respectful, productive dialogue—making them especially helpful for first-time hosts.
Imagine Fox Cities – Conversations on Race
This initiative provides free, thoughtfully designed conversation guides for structured 90-minute discussions focused on race, racism, and antiracism. The guides emphasize active listening, storytelling, and reflection, helping participants engage across differences while building empathy and understanding.
National Day of Racial Healing – Conversation Guide
Created to support meaningful dialogue as part of the National Day of Racial Healing, this guide offers conversation starters, reflection questions, and facilitation tips. It centers on creating a safe and open environment where participants can share experiences, listen deeply, and explore paths toward healing and connection.
A Dinner Project – Topic: Race
A Dinner Project encourages hosts to bring together diverse guest lists and engage in guided conversations around timely topics, including race. Their framework helps participants share personal stories, ask thoughtful questions, and build understanding through structured yet flexible discussion.
Together We Dine
An initiative of Project Unity, Together We Dine brings community members together over a shared meal for guided conversations about race relations. These dinners are typically facilitated by trained professionals and focus on fostering trust, empathy, and constructive dialogue across racial and cultural lines.
Exploring Race to Dinner: Insights and Perspectives
For those interested in learning more about the Race to Dinner approach and the conversations it sparks, the following videos offer additional context and perspectives:
