The Longest Table, hosted by Sheyenne Valley Community Foundation. Community members gathered for a meal and conversation at an uninterrupted table on Central Ave, Valley City. (Image shared by the client.)
Building the Longest Table
It was critical that this project was organized and conducted with great thought and detail. I didn’t feel confident that I would be able to get there without Reach Partners. They did what I wasn’t capable of doing: Teaching, mentoring, guiding, organizing my thoughts and keeping the game plan moving forward. They provided accountability."
-Andrea Nelson, Sheyenne Valley Community Foundation
-Andrea Nelson, Sheyenne Valley Community Foundation
Strategic plans turn good ideas into successful events.
When Sheyenne Valley Community Foundation wanted to host the Longest Table, the foundation’s director knew she couldn’t make it happen on her own.
The event, modeled after one held in a neighboring community, featured a continuous, blocks-long table where residents could gather for a meal and facilitated conversation.
Andrea Nelson, director of the foundation at the time, thought the event would help to build community pride and give residents an opportunity to share ideas for innovation. But she didn’t have the capacity to determine what resources were needed to make it happen.
She invited Reach Partners to develop a plan for executing the Longest Table. Those details were then shared with stakeholders whose support was needed to fund and staff the one-time event.
“Our job was to help our client get community buy-in,” Rachel says.
Reach identified the financial and human resources needed to successfully host the event. They also articulated the mission and goals, along with key messaging and a proposed timeline.
Armed with good information, stakeholders agreed to move forward, and Reach Partners was invited to serve in a new role as an event management consultant.
Every other week, Reach Partners met with the foundation director tasked with hosting the Longest Table to make sure everything was moving along as needed. Reach designed training for the volunteer facilitators and established an itinerary to keep the 90-minute event running smoothly.
They also worked on-site on the day of the event, providing as-needed support for the planning committee.
“We provided the trouble-shooting skills that are often needed on the day of an event,” Anita says. “We were there to provide expertise and confidence.”
That included adjusting the table set-up and quickly coming up with an idea to keep giftbags from blowing away. During the event, it also meant making a call to 9-1-1 when one of the participants experienced a non-life-threatening emergency.
In the end, the Longest Table was a success. On an August evening, over 175 people gathered at a continuous table in downtown Valley City. Residents ate good food and exchanged stories. Facilitators prompted them to discuss the community’s overall image, attractions, quality of life and amenities.
What we delivered:
When Sheyenne Valley Community Foundation wanted to host the Longest Table, the foundation’s director knew she couldn’t make it happen on her own.
The event, modeled after one held in a neighboring community, featured a continuous, blocks-long table where residents could gather for a meal and facilitated conversation.
Andrea Nelson, director of the foundation at the time, thought the event would help to build community pride and give residents an opportunity to share ideas for innovation. But she didn’t have the capacity to determine what resources were needed to make it happen.
She invited Reach Partners to develop a plan for executing the Longest Table. Those details were then shared with stakeholders whose support was needed to fund and staff the one-time event.
“Our job was to help our client get community buy-in,” Rachel says.
Reach identified the financial and human resources needed to successfully host the event. They also articulated the mission and goals, along with key messaging and a proposed timeline.
Armed with good information, stakeholders agreed to move forward, and Reach Partners was invited to serve in a new role as an event management consultant.
Every other week, Reach Partners met with the foundation director tasked with hosting the Longest Table to make sure everything was moving along as needed. Reach designed training for the volunteer facilitators and established an itinerary to keep the 90-minute event running smoothly.
They also worked on-site on the day of the event, providing as-needed support for the planning committee.
“We provided the trouble-shooting skills that are often needed on the day of an event,” Anita says. “We were there to provide expertise and confidence.”
That included adjusting the table set-up and quickly coming up with an idea to keep giftbags from blowing away. During the event, it also meant making a call to 9-1-1 when one of the participants experienced a non-life-threatening emergency.
In the end, the Longest Table was a success. On an August evening, over 175 people gathered at a continuous table in downtown Valley City. Residents ate good food and exchanged stories. Facilitators prompted them to discuss the community’s overall image, attractions, quality of life and amenities.
What we delivered:
- Activity timeline
- Event budget
- Job descriptions and roles for volunteers and vendors
- Communication plan
- In-person and online training for conversation facilitators
- Event management