When I was young, the church I attended had regular pot-luck dinners. People would bring their “signature dish”; an old favorite such as fried chicken, scalloped potatoes, brownies or waldorf salad. Some of the adventurous would spring a new recipe on the group (I seem to recall a Thai noodle salad being particularly controversial at the time). When the tables were set we would make our way down the buffet, piling our plates high with a smorgasbord of mismatched food; which always seemed to pair perfectly in the end. At these dinners, the fellowship hall was filled with a harmony of voices and laughter. 

As I look back on these dinners now, I think I understand what made them special. They were opportunities for people to express their creativity or to show off a little, to be with friends, talk about problems and issues that were important to the church, and to give a little of themselves to others.

I understand now that when we created the Create Huntington Chat ‘n Chews over a year ago we were trying to recreate the community of these pot luck dinners.

We wanted to create a place where everyone could sit at the table: where anyone’s idea was valid, where people found support instead of negativism and everyone was given the opportunity to be part of the solution. We wanted to create a place that was friendly and filled with talk and laughter.

We hoped that by bringing people with different interests and from different backgrounds together, we could build a community of creative people who would affirm, support and help each other.

Our goal was to provide a way for people to transform their ideas, hopes and desires into action and reality. We wanted to create a way for regular people to be part of making Huntington a great place to live; where they could present an idea they thought would improve the community, recruit support and bring their initiative to life.

In many ways, we’ve accomplished these goals. We’d like for you to join us “at the table.”

Among the items on the buffet at the Chat ‘n Chew this week, we will have a group working on a project to establish a “culture center” where people from different backgrounds, nations and cultures have a space to celebrate their heritage and share it with others. Another group is creating a menu of training and other services for parents. Teams will also be there to recruit volunteers for beautification projects and learn how they can help stimulate downtown development. Importantly, we will have a few surprises: new people, bringing new ideas and energy that none of us had considered before.

You are invited to and add your ideas and energy to the smorgasbord. The Create Huntington Chat ‘n Chews meet every Thursday, 5:30 – 7:00 in the lobby of the Frederick Building, 940 Fourth Avenue. The forums are free and open to everyone. For more information, go to www.createhuntington.com.