Build Belonging with a Longer Table Sept. 27-28; Mile Long Table in Denver Inspiring
At a time when political arguments fill our screens and loneliness grips entire neighborhoods, Tim Jones has a radical remedy: set a longer table.
As the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Longer Tables, Jones has spent the last decade reclaiming the table as a place of connection, storytelling, and human belonging.
I met Jones for the first time in 2023. But when I heard about his plan for a mile-long table in Denver on July 26, I bought a ticket—and then began thinking how we might do something similar during Missouri Good Neighbor Week.
The Mile Long Table—a 5,280-foot table (symbolic of Denver’s altitude) – this year seated 3,650 people for a communal meal.
From Tacos to Transformation
“I half-joke that I believe tacos could save the world,” began Jones. But behind the humor is a deep truth—food is universally human, and the table is a place where everyone belongs.
“I have a hard time thinking of a place that feels like home, no matter where you grew up, how much money you got, what your skin color is. The table is this unbelievably humanizing place of equality that is just human,” Jones said.
Longer Tables started in 2013 as a grassroots initiative in Denver, aimed at combating the growing epidemics of loneliness and isolation. Over time, the project grew into a movement.
Table as Transformation
At the heart of Longer Tables concept is a belief in the power of intentionality. These aren’t random gatherings with plastic forks and paper plates—these are curated experiences meant to stir awe, spark vulnerability, and erase social hierarchies.
Jones recounted his first time attending one of these events: “I showed up early and saw an 80-foot table with real place settings, real silverware, greens down the middle, and my name written on a leaf. When you see your name like that, it hits you—someone anticipated you being there. You feel seen.”
That act of “setting a place” became a metaphor for the movement. “We set a place for people who are often left out. And when you do that, something beautiful happens: they show up, they open up, and they feel they belong,” said Jones.
The Two Rules of the Table
Central to each gathering are two guiding rules that remove barriers and invite deeper connection:
No job talk. “We can’t talk about work. There are no job titles,” Jones emphasized. “Because the minute someone says what they do, we make judgments—about them, about ourselves. When we take that off the table, authenticity and vulnerability flow.”
Come as you are. “This is not a table of performance. It’s not about impressing anyone. You can be having a bad day, a bad week, a bad year—you’re still welcome,” said Jones.
These rules open the door to real conversations. Rather than discussing headlines or opinions, participants are guided through storytelling-based questions: “What was a memorable meal from your childhood?” or “What kind of neighborhood do you want your kids to grow up in?” These questions are powerful because, as Jones puts it, “You can’t argue with someone’s story.”
Making Connections in Denver
The Mile Long Table in Denver was the largest table Jones has attempted. This one was held on the Auraria campus, an area where Denver began (both native Americans and earlier settlers).
I found my table facing the Denver skyline. Voices rose and fell in dozens of conversations. Children darted between tables. It felt like a festival—but one rooted in something deeper: belonging.
Over a meal I met David and Sharon, grandparents from Denver, Liz and Dio, a young couple from Highland, Colorado, and Kate and Lyeigh, co-workers from Golden, Colorado.
We followed the discussion cards we had been given and shared family traditions around meals, our own efforts to build connections, and our neighboring plans for the rest of the year.
One of the most moving aspects of Jones’ work is how it dissolves labels. He tells the story of a white state senator seated next to a Latina grandmother named Bertha. Had titles been shared upfront, the dynamic would have shifted dramatically. But because no job titles were revealed, they simply became Chris and Bertha—two humans who had a meaningful conversation over dinner.
“That’s the magic of the table,” Jones explained. “When we strip away labels, we see each other … as people who want to be loved, to belong, and to do meaningful work.”
It’s a transformation that happens not just in Denver, but across the nation through the Table Together campaign—a collective action movement encouraging people to host neighborhood dinners on the same night.
This year Jones has partnered with the National Good Neighbor Day coalition I serve on to encourage table events across the United States on Sept. 28.
It also works well as part of Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28 - Oct. 4).
Table Together: A National Invitation
The Table Together campaign provides a low-barrier, high-impact toolkit for hosts: place cards, stickers, conversation prompts, and even coloring sheets for kids. Participants also receive short training videos addressing common concerns, especially the fear of inviting neighbors.
“People worry, ‘What if no one shows up?’ But the truth is, 95% of our neighbors came with a dish in hand once I finally invited them,” Jones said. “We’ve found that people are just waiting for someone to go first.”
Backing up this insight is my study for Missouri in 2024 which found that 82% of people say they would attend a neighborhood event if invited—but fewer than 10% are willing to host.
“When someone says, ‘Hey, there’s a national event happening and neighbors are doing this across the country,’ it gives you permission. You’re part of something bigger,” said Jones.
Designed for Belonging
Even the physical layout of the events is designed to encourage connection. Longer Tables rejects the traditional round banquet tables used at most events.
“Round tables are loud and awkward. You end up talking to just the person on your left or right. But a long table—everyone can hear, everyone can talk to five or six people. There’s no head of the table. It says: We’re all in this together,” said Jones.
The symbolic power of the table layout is no accident. “People come around the corner and see this long table, and you can see it on their faces: awe. That visual says something words can’t. It says: You matter. You have a place. And if you weren’t here, the table wouldn’t be complete,” said Jones.
For large events, meals are intentionally sourced from local, family-owned restaurants that reflect the culture of the neighborhood. For potlucks, participants are asked to fill out food cards listing ingredients and allergy info.
As Jones reminded me: “Food’s the fun part. But the conversation—that’s what people remember.”
Magic on Your Driveway
Doing a longer table event with just your immediate neighbors is not difficult if organized as a potluck. I am planning one with my own neighbors for Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28 - Oct. 4) and the Greene County MU Extension Council is hosting one with key partners and coworkers that same week.
The Mile Long Table is breathtaking, but it’s not a silver bullet. The real transformation happens when people bring that same spirit home—to their block, their cul-de-sac, their driveway. That’s what I’m hoping for here in Springfield this fall.
Longer Tables are not just about meals. It’s about inviting people to slow down, to listen, to be human again. No matter the size of the table, the principle is the same: set a place for someone else.
In a world that feels increasingly fragmented, Jones is helping us remember that we don’t need to build walls—we need to build longer tables. And in doing so, we just might rediscover the power of being neighbors.
So this September, set out some plates. Invite a neighbor. Share a meal. In doing so, you’re not just making dinner—you’re making community.
Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28 - Oct. 4) provides the perfect opportunity to invite your neighbors over for a potluck meal at a table. In order to have success, here are some key strategies:
Use name cards and tags to help guests feel seen.
Invite personally. Don’t just post a flyer. A personal invitation makes all the difference.
Mix people up. Don’t let folks sit with their spouses or coworkers. This is about expanding circles.
Respect boundaries. Have a set end time, especially for introverts.
Start with a meal, then get to work. No matter the neighborhood issues, relational groundwork makes collaboration more productive.
Start small. One table. One night. One act of hospitality. You never know what ripple effect it might create.
MORE INFORMATION
Take the Engaged Neighbor pledge and become part of a movement! The pledge outlines five categories and 20 principles to guide you toward becoming an engaged neighbor. Sign the pledge at https://nomoregoodneighbors.com. Individuals who take the pledge do get special invitations to future events online and in person. Contact the blog author, David L. Burton via email at dburton541@yahoo.com or burtond@missouri.edu. You can also visit his website at https://engagedneighbor.com.
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