Periodic Tables Fall Line-Up is Here!
It’s back-to-school season in Oak Ridge, which means summer travel and activities are winding down. We took the summer to strategize and plan and are happy to reveal our fall line-up of Periodic Table opportunities!
All month long in September, we will be hosting our “Racial Bridging Table Series” with a smaller group of Oak Ridgers interested in taking a healing journey meant to recover and reclaim some of the hidden stories around race relationships in Oak Ridge. With so much happening in and around the Scarboro 85 and establishing their rightful place in Civil Rights history, the question comes to us with seriousness: “What Other Stories Remain Untold in our History?”
We will unpack that question, and others, around good food with a focus on healing and with a spirit of joy and togetherness. There will be a very limited number of spots to participate in this innagural round of story-sharing, but don’t worry, we will be returning early in 2024 with a second, much larger round of meals and conversations.
On September 6, Oak Ridge Periodic Tables will be a major sponsor for the Scarboro 85 celebration day at Bissell Park. We will have speakers, singing, and food on the actual grounds where many are working diligently to put a monument dedicated to remembering our past, celebrating our present, and unifying hope for our future.
In October, we are humbled by the opportunity to come alongside the Oak Ridge Disability Advisory Board for building an Oak Ridge that works for people of all abilities. On Saturday October 7th the Civic Center gym, Senior Center, and surrounding area will be stock full of activities, vendor booths, food, and so much more as we celebrate our community’s commitments to people of all abilities. We will follow that up a week later with a Periodic Table discussion about healing, story-sharing, and envisioning ways to educate our broader community on some of the challenges that still remain in creating equitable and caring spaces for our neighbors. The RSVP form for this upcoming Periodic Table discussion will appear here soon, so check back when you can — or subscribe to stay in the know!
Thursday October 5th, Oak Ridge Peroidic Tables is pleased to be a sponsor for the YWCA’s Trunk or Treat event. We will be hosting table conversations about domestic violence and survivor resources in our community. The food is free, the connections are priceless! Please come support the YWCA. October is domestic violence awareness month, and support from our Oak Ridge community means everything when it comes to addressing this vital issue.
Also in October, Oak Ridge Periodic Tables is partnering further with Friends of the Grove Theater to host a dinner conversation about the value of the Performing Arts in our city. We will sponsor a nice meal and talk about the value of the Arts in building community. After the meal, the community is invited to a concert with Andrew Finn Magill, a North Carolina violist and composer whose ambitious “Polaris Project” tour is making waves in the jazz and performing arts scene. We will be including a link for ticket purchases in the coming days, but the meal and conversation will be free. Pencil in October 25th and plan to join us for this very special event.
In November, look for the return of our traditional Community Thanksgiving meal offered on Thanksgiving day from 11:00 to 1:00 PM which is an excellent opportunity for the comunity to connect and spend time getting to know one another. We love seeing people who perhaps are new to our city, or who are without family in town, come in for a meal and a chance to meet their neighbors. Last year we fed over 250 people and this year we expect even more! Opportunities to volunteer, donate, or serve will be forthcoming.
We’ll check back in soon, but in the meantime, enjoy this clip from the Polaris Project and Andrew Finn Magill!