About On the Table
When we come together as a community to listen to and learn from each other, we have the power to impact neighborhoods, communities and lives. That’s what On the Table is all about.
New to On the Table? Watch our most recent video or listen to a sample conversation!
At the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley, we know big ideas can spring from small conversations and that people invest in what they help create. That's why On the Table began. On the Table served as a one-day opportunity to gather around a table with friends, neighbors, colleagues and maybe even a few new folks to talk about the issues, big and small, that impact our quality of life. When we talk about our experiences and listen to others, we connect and learn about what matters to all of us.
Residents of Columbus and the surrounding areas came together on a single day each year from 2017 to 2019 to discuss not only what’s great about our community, but also ways to make it even better — more sustainable, just, safe, strong and vibrant.
We came together to talk, collaborate, and become more civically involved and committed to our community. The issues we face today don’t often offer quick fixes. On the contrary, progress will only result when residents, organizations, businesses and government work together to make contributions that add up to a greater solution than we can achieve on our own. On the Table was simply a starting place for meaningful conversation. What happens next is up to you.
We hope you'll use this website as a resource to continue having meaningful community conversations on your own. Conversation and host resources are available, and the survey data from all three years will remain here permanently for you to explore.
The Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley, Inc., is one of ten community foundations across the U.S. that participated in On the Table, a national initiative funded by Knight Foundation, following a successful pilot in 2017. On the Table replicated an annual civic engagement initiative of the same name developed by The Chicago Community Trust in 2014.
Support for On the Table advances Knight Foundation’s work to help cities attract and keep talented people, expand economic opportunity and create a culture of civic engagement. Knight Foundation believes that successful communities are equitable, inclusive and participatory. Additional support for the local project is being provided from the Community Foundation’s Community Endowment Funds.