The Clark County Community Foundation is taking the conversations about inclusion and belonging to the table.

On March 27, the community will come together for On The Table 2019, which will feature food, fun and open conversation.

This year’s theme is “Fostering Belonging in our City.”

Halee Cunningham, gift planning officer and deputy counsel at BGCF, said the theme follows several other 2019 events focused on inclusion such as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion talks and the “I Was Here” project.

“These conversations about inclusion and sense of welcome … is something that needs to be discussed,” Cunningham said.

Bluegrass Community Foundation launched “On the Table” events in Lexington in 2017 and expanded it to Clark County last year.

Last year’s conversations centered on school violence; it also led to a CCCF granting funds to Clark County Public Schools for safety initiatives.

On The Table is a national initiative supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, according to a news release.

Cunningham said the theme was also a natural progression from last year’s result, which revealed students didn’t always feel safe at school and they were worried about the future.

On The Table 2019, organized by the Clark County Community Foundation, is at 5:30 p.m. March 27 at the Winchester Opera House.

“We’re excited,” Cunningham said. “We think the first year went well for what it was. We hope to expand on that this year.”

Every student at Baker Intermediate School and Campbell Junior High School will participate in a table discussion.

Clark Countians and local groups can host tables as well.

Each table will have a facilitator who will lead the conversation with a prompt.

“This is a great opportunity to have your voice heard and to be part of potential solutions and positive change,” Cunningham said.

The event is open to anyone. Cunningham said she hopes to have more than 100 attendees.

“We hope to have a diverse audience that can provide different perspectives,” Cunningham said.

Following the talk, attendees will fill out a survey which could serve as data for potential grant funds in the community. Marjorie Guyon, an artist for the “I Was Here” project, will also attend the talks to gather information and inspiration for phase two of the project which will focus on the stories and people of Clark County.

If attending the CCCF public event, RSVP to halee@bgcf.org, or if interested in hosting a table, register at bgcf.org/onthetable.

“A lot of times people complain about Winchester, say there’s nothing to do, nowhere to go,” Cunningham said. “We want to provide an outlet for those voices to have true, open, honest conversations that will result in significant positive change.”