'On the Table' Event at UK's Boone Center Wednesday Morning, March 15

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 14, 2017) — Wednesday, March 15, has the potential to be a special day for Lexington, as some 11,000 people are signed up to participate in an 'On the Table' mealtime conversation about the city — what's good, what needs changing and ideas on how to make it better.  More than 1,000 conversations are happening all over Lexington, including at the University of Kentucky. 

While many of the conversations are small groups, UK is acting as a super host for a larger On the Table event from 7 to 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Hilary J. Boone Center, located at 500 Rose Street. Anyone is welcome to attend and can register at bgcf.org/onthetable/register.

On the Table, launched by the Blue Grass Community Foundation in partnership with the city of Lexington and its Division of Planning, Fayette County Public Schools. Leadership Lexington, the Knight Foundation and The Kresge Foundation, involves discussions on quality of life in Lexington.  Among the questions that may be asked are: What do you love about Lexington? What needs to change? What are your ideas to solve Lexington's most pressing challenges?  How can we help make our community more vibrant, safer, sustainable and equitable?

Comments, feedback and ideas will help inform Blue Grass Community Foundation’s priorities and grant making as well as inform Imagine Lexington, the city’s comprehensive plan. 

Although this is Spring Break at UK, students are still being incorporated into the On the Table discussions.  Lori Garkovich, a faculty member in the Department of Community and Leadership Development in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, is one of a number of professors who is bringing the discussion to their classes. 

Garkovich says critical questions for students are: What do you like about Lexington? What are the challenges of being a student in Lexington?  What does Lexington need to make you consider staying here after graduation?

"Graduates often leave the state for career opportunities, but feedback from questions like these will help city leaders determine what they can do to keep graduates here," Garkovich said.

Faculty members interested in the concept for their classes can get more information and host toolkits at https://www.bgcf.org/onthetable/toolkits.