Tools for Families – Partner

WELCOME TO THE TABLE

At the Table Colorado (ATTC) is an annual gathering designed to take people places – to offices, schools, libraries, restaurants, museums and other spaces where they meet others, share ideas and explore ways to improve our neighborhoods, communities and state. The results are empowering conversations, exciting new relationships and genuine pathways toward collaborative action – outcomes that connect our communities, making them more resilient and resourceful.

Everyone is welcome…literally everyone, because Your Voice Matters Colorado!

There is a lot of information on this page. The links below can be used to move to each section:

ATTC Toolkit

Connect with At the Table Colorado on Social Media

Tools for Families

Share Your Experiences

Sharing Ideas through Social Media

Take Action

ATTC TOOLKIT

The ATTC Toolkit has resources to enrich your Table experience and like any other toolkit, it has some things you will use and others you won’t; take what works for you and leave the rest. We have created templates of posters, invitations, placemats for taking notes, and much more. Browse our tools for Hosts, Guests, Families, School/Youth or download and share our one-page Fact Sheet.

In addition to this toolkit, there will be online training webinars and Facebook live discussions. As a registered Host/Guest you will receive email updates as plans develop. We will also post the information on our website: atthetablecolorado.org and our social media as well.

Tools for Hosts | Tools for Guests | Tools for Families | Tools for School/Youth | Templates | ATTC Fact Sheet

CONNECT WITH AT THE TABLE COLORADO ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: facebook.com/atthetablecolorado

Twitter: @AtTheTableCO

Instagram: @AtTheTableColorado

Hashtag: #AtTheTableColorado #YourVoiceMattersColorado #ATTCYouthVoices #InItForGoodColorado #ColoradoConversations #ATTCSelfie

When posting news of your event on social media please use the hashtags #AtTheTableColorado and #YourVoiceMattersColorado.

TOOLS FOR FAMILIES

CONVERSATION GUIDELINES

During your At the Table Colorado conversation, share what inspires you, the causes you care about and the ways your family can play a role in making the region better. Your family’s conversation will depend on your interests, the ages of the children involved and your family situation. No matter the conversation, the goal is to give everyone a chance to voice their opinions about how to improve our communities together.

Before your discussion, prepare your children for At the Table Colorado by letting them know you will be having a conversation about your community. You may even take a walk around your neighborhood to help them understand and define its boundaries and characteristics. Let your children know they are part of a larger conversation, where people across the region are gathering to discuss their hopes, dreams and desires for our communities.

Here Are Five Tips To Encourage Open Dialogue:
  1. Listen carefully and treat each other with respect.
  2. Each person gets a chance to talk one at a time. Make a plan to ensure everyone has an opportunity to respond. Don’t cut people off or interrupt.
  3. Speak for yourself. Don’t try to speak for others.
  4. If you feel hurt by what someone says, say so and say why.
  5. It’s okay to disagree.
CONVERSATION STARTERS

To help get your conversations started, we’ve compiled a list of sample conversation prompts. There’s no need to start with the first question or to take them in order. Here are a few examples to consider:

  • Share the reasons you care about your community. Start by asking everyone to tell one positive memory or story about your community coming together – such as a picnic at your place of worship, a family reunion in a local park or a neighborhood festival. What are the key characteristics of a great neighborhood? What are the positive characteristics or qualities of your community? What are the needs of your community?
  • Develop your child’s understanding of civic responsibility. Ask your child to think about and discuss what duties and obligations come with belonging to a community. What does it mean to work for the common good? What actions can a person take to help improve her community?
  • Ask your family members what they care about. What cause matters to you – and why? Are there issues or problems in your neighborhood that worry or concern you? Do you have an idea to help your school, community or neighbors? What can you do alone or as a family to make a difference?
  • Who is responsible for creating and sustaining great communities? What is your role as a parent, child, student, teacher, etc.? What could you do to be more civically involved in your community or neighborhood (volunteering, donating to a non-profit or civic cause, voting in local elections, helping a neighbor, etc.)? What is one thing you could do to help another person? What things might you do to connect with people outside your neighborhood?
  • The poet Maya Angelou once said, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” What do you think she meant by this? Have you ever had to do this?

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES

After Your At the Table Conversation

At the Table Colorado is about giving everyone who cares about their community a voice and an opportunity to share their ideas — big and small. For At the Table Colorado to have the greatest impact it is vital that you and your guests share your feedback with us. We want to continue the forward momentum and build on the collaborations the conversations have generated, so we have a brief survey we would like you to complete before you leave the Table.

If you registered your Table with ATTC you received a digital link and printable hard copy of the survey via email before your Table conversation. If you did not register, please do so now and you can download a printable version of the survey from the At the Table Colorado website.

If you use the printed surveys, please return as soon as possible to:

At the Table Colorado
c/o Trailhead Institute
1385 S Colorado Blvd, #A622
Denver, CO 80222

Thank you for coming to the table – we’re excited to have you as part of this important conversation, because…Your Voice Matters. We want to hear from you!

Feel free to share any ideas and suggestion additional information not requested by the survey via email to ideas@atthetablecolorado.org

SHARING IDEAS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

SOCIAL MEDIA IDEAS:
  • Post a fun photo with your family gathered around your table #ATTCSelfie.
  • Capture a powerful quote from the conversation and share it with a picture of the person who said it.
  • Share the general topic of your conversation and your group’s top idea for making the community stronger and more connected.
  • Share your family’s thoughts on how to make a positive impact in your community #InItForGoodColorado.
  • Be sure to include #AtTheTableColorado and #YourVoiceMattersColorado with all your social media posts!
CONNECT WITH AT THE TABLE COLORADO ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook: facebook.com/atthetablecolorado

Twitter: @AtTheTableCO

Instagram: @AtTheTableColorado

Hashtag: #AtTheTableColorado #YourVoiceMattersColorado #ATTCYouthVoices #InItForGoodColorado #ColoradoConversations #ATTCSelfie

TAKE ACTION

After your At the Table Colorado conversation, you may want to develop a plan for taking action to address the things your family discussed. To get started, here are two ways you can focus your efforts on a specific cause or issue that everyone cares about.

What organizations are you involved with?

Consider volunteering for or donating to a place where your family is already connected – like your child’s school, your place of worship or a favorite museum or park. This will allow your children to directly observe the real impact of your family’s efforts.

What activities do you already enjoy?

Brainstorm activities your family already enjoys. There are many community service activities that you can do together. For example, you may decide to volunteer at a local community garden, participate in a charity fundraiser, foster an animal from a local shelter or sign-up for a local community service project.

For more ideas about hosting your At the Table Colorado event, including additional conversation starters, lesson plans and other resources, please visit At the Table Colorado.

ABOUT THE FAMILY DINNER PROJECT

If you are looking for additional ways to connect as a family, the Family Dinner Project is a growing movement of food, fun and conversation about things that matter launched at Harvard University. For an expansive guide with suggestions and resources to help you with the three essential elements of a meaningful meal – food, fun and conversation about things that matter – visit The Family Dinner Project.

These ideas can be used not only to support you in your At the Table Colorado efforts, but also to help your family create a lasting ritual of shared meals that are good for the body, mind and spirit. Enjoy!