Knight Foundation and IPCE publish On The Table 2017 National Report
The report summarizes survey responses from community members who took part in the On The Table conversations in 10 regions
Following the format of the Chicago Community Trust's yearly On The Table community conversations, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation took the discussion series nationwide. Knight, with help from community partners, held conversations in the following 10 regions: Lexington, KY; Philadelphia, PA; Long Beach, CA; Lake County, IN; Akron, OH; Southeastern Michigan, MI; Miami-Dade County, FL; Mecklenburg County, NC; Chattahoochee Valley, GA; and Silicon Valley, CA.
The Knight Foundation partnered with the Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement to carry out and analyze post- On The Table- conversation surveys in order to assess the most popular topics in the discussions in each region, as well as the overall impact of the discussions. IPCE found that the most common themes discussed during the 2017 On The Table national conversations were Equity and Social Inclusion, Economic Issues and Poverty, Education and Youth Development, Public Safety and Judicial System, Transportation, and Housing and Homelessness.
Through the post-conversation survey IPCE also assessed that 58% of those individuals who took part in the On The Table conversations reported having a somewhat-to-much better understanding of how to take action in their communities, and 64% reported that they talked with someone at the conversations that they did not already know.
In the words of Knight Heading link
“…the strength of our democracy and our local communities relies on connected action — the ability of residents to hear each other, make informed choices and shape decision-making.”
| Director for Community Foundations at Knight Foundation