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On The Table Discussions Could Give A Voice To 50,000 People In Chicago

By Kelly Bauer | May 6, 2016 4:01pm | Updated on May 9, 2016 8:17am
 Residents will be able to discuss the obstacles facing their neighborhoods at On The Table discussions as part of a series led by the Chicago Community Trust.
Residents will be able to discuss the obstacles facing their neighborhoods at On The Table discussions as part of a series led by the Chicago Community Trust.
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Courtesy Chicago Community Trust

CHICAGO — A series of community discussions could give more than 50,000 people a voice in talking about the future of their neighborhoods.

The group discussions, part of the On The Table series led by the Chicago Community Trust, will be held throughout the city and in the suburbs and will be hosted by community members, said Maritza Bandera, the manager of Civic Engagement and Partnerships for the Chicago Community Trust.

All of the discussions will be held on Tuesday May 10. Volunteer hosts will determine the location and meal for each event and will invite neighborhood residents.

Community members will lead the discussions at On The Table meetings, addressing the obstacles their communities face but also offering solutions, Bandera said. This year's theme for the discussions is "unity," prompting residents to discuss how to "make Chicago a more unified city," Bandera said.

"It's an opportunity for our residents to connect with one another but also to challenge one another," Bandera said.

The Chicago Community Trust hopes to have 50,000 people participate in this year's round of discussions. More than 40,000 people have participated in past On The Table discussions.

Bandera said the Chicago Community Trust hopes the discussions can "empower" residents. They'll be able to submit a two-minute video that explains an idea they have for their neighborhood — be it setting up a community garden, raising money for school supplies for kids or something else — and some participants will receive $1,000 to make that idea a reality, Bandera said.

"It gives the residents the opportunity to voice their opinions ... and also their solutions," Bandera said.

After the discussions, participants can take a survey from the University of Illinois at Chicago, which will analyze the responses from On The Table meetings.

More information about On The Table is available online.

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