Equitable Dinners

Equitable Dinners is…

Equitable Dinners is a collaboration between Out of Hand Theater, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, The King Center, and Partnership for Southern Equity, The Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing among others. Equitable Dinners is a free series geared towards community learning inspiring Anti-Racism action and meaningful connections through art and courageous conversation.

It all started when…

A Decatur Mom wanted to do something to end the disparities between students of color and their white peers in Decatur City Schools. Students of color were being disproportionately disciplined, faced opportunity gaps white students did not, and were falling behind academically in a community that prides itself on its progressive values. She connected with Out of Hand and One Small Change/Both And.

Over nine months, Out of Hand and One Small Change/Both And partnered with the City of Decatur’s Better Together Board, City of Decatur Schools, Decatur Housing Authority to create Decatur Dinners. On August 25, 1,200 people gathered throughout Decatur to share a meal and have a facilitated conversation about race and equity in their community. The evening was launched by a one-person play commissioned specifically for the event.

We received National Media Coverage…

Decatur Dinners received local and national press coverage on outlets including All Things Considered on NPR, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and CBS 46. Since then, communities from around the country have reached out to bring the Decatur Dinners model, now called Equitable Dinners, to their city. Contact us to find out how to bring Equitable Dinners to your community!