Community Responses

When Maxine and Marv Turner retired from their successful catering business, Cuisine Unlimited, they started a non-profit “One Table Together” to bring together a diverse group of parents, high school and middle school students in a family-style dinner where open discussion could take place about the discrimination of groups such as immigrants, Native Americans, Asians, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, along with Islamophobia and antisemitism.

Highland High, a school with a diverse student body, was the setting and Pro-Start students, studying culinary arts, prepared and served the food, an amazing menu with international cuisine, including Afghan, Indian, Japanese, Turkish, and Israeli dishes.

Our dinner discussion gave students the opportunity to tell us about some of their goals, fears, obstacles, and successes. The adult guests included faith leaders, elected officials, non-profit leaders, and teachers. Many thanks to our host, Highland principal Jeremy Chatterton and to the Turners. I was honored to be part of “One Table Together.” It gave me hope for our country’s future.

We really enjoyed our time connecting with the students at a table. What a dynamic group. We look forward to having you come to Jordan and do a smaller lunch for sure. Toni and Leah will be in touch in August to start the planning process. As soon as we secure a date, I will get it to you so you can have it on your calendar.

I have been raving about the incredible experience that was last night! It was truly a privilege to hear the speakers (including you and Liz) who were inspirational, to enjoy a delicious international family-style meal professionally catered by our very own ProStart students with instruction and direction from Dylan and your wonderful Cuisine Unlimited staff, and above all, to engage in wonderful affirming, respectful, joyful bridge-building through conversation.

Thank you! Thanks to Marv! And thanks to everyone who organized the event. This morning, I emailed the Highland admin, faculty and staff to update them about the event, to prime them for the follow-up, and to express my gratitude to Julie, Jeremy and Dylan for being an integral part of the experience which blessed the lives of all who participated.

Congratulations on a wonderful One Table launch! First time events are so incredibly demanding, and I thought your event went really well. Kudos to you! It's a ton of work, I know.

Your foundation and program are so sorely needed during this time. I felt encouraged in talking with the youth as they seem way further along on "the acceptance of others path" than adults. Maybe you should consider a similar activity for adults! 🙂

I thought the evening was great. The setting was beautiful and the Pro-Start youth did an excellent job. The food was terrific -- super interesting and the youth at our table enjoyed this aspect of the event enthusiastically. So nicely done!

I enjoyed my experience as a facilitator. Thank you for the invitation. I did not know you also wanted me to work at registration until your email on the 9th and didn't get that information with enough time to build it into my day. Sorry about that! I think it worked out fine.

I hope you've been able to rest and recuperate! It was a wonderful launch to your program and I'm sure it will continue to evolve and impact many people as you move forward. I'm excited to see you and Marvin when you get back to California. Let me know when you've landed.

It was such a pleasure working alongside you at One Table Together this week. Everything flowed so seamlessly, and your calm leadership and presence were felt in the best way. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to collaborate — and I left the event feeling inspired by the work you do.

Thank you also for the way you engaged with my students. Your generosity and encouragement meant so much to them — they haven’t stopped talking about it (or about wanting to work for CU one day!).

Thanks so much for creating a great event! It was an amazing accomplishment, and you should feel very proud about what you have created. It is the first event of many and is so well set up to succeed. Keep the theme of connecting over a celebration of food. Makes the rest of it come together more tightly. When it is focused on the story of the food, the connection and mutual enjoyment comes together more organically. Great work and thanks a ton for including me.

It was a great pleasure to meet you and participate in such wonderful program for the youth! It will certainly help them how to be independent thinkers and how to be kind and respectful with each other; and hopefully have a better future world with more kindness and charity.
Thank you again for such a lovely experience and thank you and your husband for your love in preparing such lovely event!

First of all, I want to thank you for the opportunity to gather round the table and enjoy my tablemates. I thoroughly enjoyed my time that evening. The idea was inspiring, the food delicious, and the company at my table offered great discussions on so many pertinent topics.