Save your seat: Longest Table returns to Grand Forks
Meeting new community members for discussions on connectedness is on menu for the Sept. 14 event
The Longest Table dinner and discussion event is making its way back to Grand Forks, and several UND leaders are set to help make connections among community members.
The community-building event is scheduled to be held on Thursday, Sept. 14, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. near Sertoma Park. This year, the Longest Table will welcome 1,000 community members to sit down to dinner with people they may not know, in order to have discussions about building connections among residents and promoting daily health habits.
“Table captains” will help facilitate discussions among attendees. Among those captains is Meloney Linder, vice president of Marketing & Communications, who has served as a table captain at a previous Longest Table event in Grand Forks.
“President Armacost has named this academic year at UND as The Year of Connection, and as a table captain I’m looking forward to having many conversations that explore how we can better connect as a community. I hope to see you there!” said Linder.
Other table captains from UND include administrators, faculty and staff, and students. Table captains include Art Malloy; Laura Link; Manuela Gabriel; Melissa Gjellstad; Soojung Kim; Carolyn Broden; Ashley Fansher; Bobbi Carrlson; Nichole Dumlao; Ella Nelson; Andrew Schesso; Mohamad Chouman and Brian Larson.
Sept. 14 will mark the first time the event has been held in Grand Forks since 2019. According to the Longest Table event website, organizers are hoping to promote “the importance of connection, discussion, relationships, and community,” as the nation continues to emerge from the global coronavirus pandemic.
Registration is required for the free dinner event. Information about registration, as well as where to park (and parking is free), seating and meals (choices include a regular and vegetarian option) can be found at longesttablegf.com. Guests should expect to arrive between 5:30-6:00 p.m. to check in and get their seats. A map of the event and FAQ are also available on the website.
The Longest Table is organized by the Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Region and the Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals.
Meals will be provided by Skies 322.
