OVERVIEW

Although our motto is “there’s always room at the table,” it could just as well be “just do it.”  We encourage organizations and individuals to come to the table “as is” to experience fun, food and fellowship.  It is from that shared social experience, where all participants are encouraged to find common ground, that the trust necessary for inclusion is born.
 
ESTABLISHING COMMON GROUND

We all know the difficulty of establishing relationships with those outside of our individual social circles.  As Robert Putnam, author of “Bowling Alone,” so aptly describes, “social capital” is the capacity of a community to pull itself together for a concerted action. It is well-documented that most of us spend most of our lives in highly segregated existences, returning from our “professional” world to a self-reinforcing mono-cultural circle of family and friends, without expanding our own circles.  Putnam says this tendency to stay within our own groups and comfort zones creates “bonding capital,” which arises among similar or similarly situated people. 

At Marnita’s Table, we believe it is even more important to build “bridging capital,” which means establishing networks across socially heterogeneous groups. Before we can bond, we must build bridges to those whom we think of as “the other.”  When we do that, we find shared values -- and common ground.

MARNITA'S TABLE IS OPEN SOURCE

Taking your seat at Marnita’s Table is transformational. We not only provide the  “fish” upon which you’ll dine – that is, the new cross-cultural individuals with whom you can build enduring relationships – but we also teach you “how to fish.” In other words, participants learn how to build their own cross-cultural, personal and professional networks in the wider world.

We will freely share and exchange knowledge with all who are interested in accessing and utilizing this innovative model.

Marnita’s Table is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization registered in the state of Minnesota.