Come to the table

On July 26, Longer Tables gathered and fed 3,400 people at a 5,280-foot table, in downtown Denver on the Auraria Campus, the longest set table to date.

In every culture, in every corner of the world, people set tables to gather around—to share a meal, to share a story, to come together. At the table, we remember what makes us human. Communal dining embraces the idea of equality and inclusivity, where common ground can be found.

Jake Mathis and his wife, Megan, decided to simply set a table at their HOA1 home this summer and invite neighbors, some of whom were strangers. The invitation was simple: Just come as you are. There was no dress code, no RSVP requirement. The only rule: no phones allowed at the table. The invite was as relaxed as the summer evening itself.

“Guests came who have lived a few doors down for years and never really connected. Then they sat next to each other and suddenly, they’re swapping life stories,” Jake said.

Thirteen guests came to Mathis’s first table. Some found it unusual to receive an invitation from strangers, but once there, conversations were not forced or guided, they simply flowed in a space that felt safe and open. “Post-COVID, there is a stronger need for in-person connection,” said Jake. “We are blessed to live where we do. We have a beautiful backyard to host people.”

This renewed interest in gathering over long tables may be fueled by actor and food lover Stanley Tucci. In his CNN hit show Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy, he travels the country sharing meals and stories with locals.

Organizations like Longer Tables, a Denver-based nonprofit, are also leading the way. Founder Tim Jones has been setting communal tables in the Mile High City for 11 years, bringing people together to create connection and belonging. On July 26, more than 3,400 people gathered to eat at a 5,280-foot-long table on the Auraria Campus in downtown Denver, the longest table to date. “It isn’t about breaking records,” Tim said. “It’s about bridging communication gaps by gathering people together regardless of background, neighborhood or job status.”

Tim’s vision resonated with Jake, who grew up in a traditional household with three siblings where everything revolved around the kitchen table. There was always room for one more at the Mathis dinner table whether it was a friend, a neighbor or someone from church.

The Mathis’s second dinner, held in August, welcomed eight neighbors from the other side of the cul-de-sac. As he was leaving, guest Steve Coughlin joked, “Huh, what a concept. Get to know your neighbors by inviting them over for dinner. Who would have thought?”

For Jake, this is not a trend but a mission. He is planning a fall table and next summer, he and Megan hope to join in celebrating Longer Tables’ event for Colorado’s 150th birthday.