Recipe for Unity: A Toolkit for Organizing Meaningful Events A Project of UnidosUS’s Rise Above Initiative
Ingredients The Inspiration for Recipe for Unity
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Organize Your Own Recipe for Unity Event
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Find a location and pick a date
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Who to invite
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The meal
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A Discussion Guide for Powerful Conversation
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Why are we gathering together?
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Discussion prompts
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Wrapping up
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Collecting Stories At Your Event
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Story Interview Guide
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Social Media Guide
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Video
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Share your experiences on social media
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Sample posts
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Tools for Outreach
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Local partner host email
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Invitation for organization to recruit event participants
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The Inspiration for Recipe for Unity Our country is facing a time of unprecedented division with political and racial discord at its height. But there is good news: Most Americans still overwhelmingly believe that diversity makes us stronger and helps us navigate a complex world. Tapping into this belief, UnidosUS is joining hands with local communities and national partners to host events across the country that bring people together across divisions. The events are part of the Rise Above initiative, a campaign to encourage Americans to “rise above” racial, political, and policy differences - and unite around a positive vision of the future. They are based on a model created and pioneered by Nashville-based Conexión Américas and Dirty Pages. Bidding farewell to 2017, a year of deep political division and manufactured animosities, Conexión Américas and Dirty Pages worked together to develop an event that would bring together people from different backgrounds to eat at the same table and find shared values and strength in diversity. Over the next two months, Rise Above and its partners will be hosting similar events called Recipe for Unity in Tampa, Florida; Phoenix, Arizona; Memphis, Tennessee; Durham, North Carolina; and the greater Washington, D.C. area. Through these events, we hope to bring together everyday Americans, from all walks of life, to begin building shared experiences through dinner and conversation. The meal will reflect the American mosaic - grounded in the local community - and create a space for attendees to share their stories, spark a growing dialogue and ultimately empower community members to host their own events in the future. To learn more about Recipe for Unity and the Rise Above initiative, please visit: www.weriseabove.us.
Organize Your Own Recipe for Unity Event Interested in organizing your own Recipe for Unity event? We’ve got you covered. The guide below will help you strategize about a date and location, consider who to invite, design a successful event and more.
Find a Location and Pick a Date First, you will need to research locations that could host around 25 people at one table together and would be welcoming to people from all backgrounds. Local community centers or churches often have rooms that could accommodate your event and may even have commercial kitchens that would enable you to keep the meals warm. Newer establishments and local hot spots invested in the community are also often willing to host an event free of charge for the publicity and exposure from promoting the strength of diversity in their communities. In the Tools for Outreach section below, you will find a template pitch for a local partner to support your event and join the host committee.
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The date and time of the event are also important to consider. When you put together the list of possible participants, consider what days of the week or times of day would attract the most attendees. Many of the Recipe for Unity events have taken place over dinner in the evening but you might find a weekend brunch more accommodating in your community.
Who to Invite To create a successful event, you need to invite guests with diverse voices and experiences so they can provide a wide range of foods and stories around the table. It is important to consider all possible attendees from different races and ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religions, political ideologies, and more. In order to maintain the intimacy of the event, limit the number of attendees to 20 to 25 people so everyone has enough time and space to share. You can streamline the invitation process by asking four to five organization partners to join your host committee and commit to bring five individuals each to the event. You should also consider prominent local voices like a local elected official, church leader, chef, or business owner, who might attract media coverage for your event. In your invitation to guests, let them know that photographers will be present to take photos during the event, which may be shared on social media, your organization’s website, or news articles. Also inform guests that you will be collecting stories and taking videos after the event to document its success for online audiences. Some guests may not feel comfortable having their photo or video taken. By notifying guests in advance, you can anticipate any photo- or video-related issues which may occur during the event. Once the guest list has been finalized, consider sending out a press release for local and national media to cover the event. Your finalized guest list should also be split into five distinct groups. Assign each group a type of dish to bring (appetizer, side dish, main entrée, dessert, etc.). Assure them that they will each only have to make enough food for eight to 10 people. That will supply plenty of food for the 25 guests in attendance. Make sure guests know that the beverages will be provided by the host. If you think guests will not be able to bring food for eight to 10 people based on their budget, catering from different cuisines is an option. Also, be sure to offer vegetarian dishes. In the Tools for Outreach section below, you will find a template invitation to attend the event and/or join the host committee.
The Meal The guidelines below are recommendations based on the experiences of previous event organizers but feel free to adapt them to the needs of your location and guests. Before the event, consider the following recommendations. • The event will last about two hours. Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to set up and break down the space.
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Playing background music is a great way to create a welcoming atmosphere.
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The room and table setup can reflect the diversity of the community. Past organizers have mixed and matched plates and napkins to display a patchwork of color and texture. Others considered placing welcoming art pieces around the room to give it a homey and informal feeling.
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To facilitate conversation, align the seating arrangements so that guests can see and hear everyone around the table.
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Upon their arrival, kindly ask guests to fill out a registration form and sign the photo release form. If a minor is attending the event, have their parent or guardian sign the photo release form at the event or in advance.
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Label the dishes with information including the name of the dish, what cuisine it is from and its ingredients.
During the event, keep in mind these recommendations to facilitate conversations among guests and contribute to an open ambiance. • As the event hosts, welcome guests by offering beverages and encouraging them to mingle with other guests. Arrange all the dishes on a buffet-style table so guests can see the variety of food.
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Once everyone has arrived, the host should encourage the group to grab plates from the table and choose from the range of foods at the buffet. Remind them that to contribute to the goal of the dinner, guests cannot sit next to anyone they already know.
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Once everyone is seated, the host welcomes all the guests and explains why everyone has come together. Then ask each participant to take a few minutes to share their name, a little about who they are, the dish they brought, and significance of the dish to their family or community.
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As guests share their dishes and personal stories, conversation tends to grow organically as other guests find commonalities in what they hear or have experienced in their own lives. Just in case, be prepared with a set of questions to ask if the conversation does not flow naturally. Consider questions like:
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When you heard folks in the room share about their dishes, did you find you had a similar story or family tradition? Did anything surprise you?
Once everyone has shared, encourage your guests to get seconds, bring them more beverages, and act as a facilitator when needed to keep the conversations going.
At the end of the event, follow the recommendations below to keep the conversations and engagement going even after the event. • As a wrap-up activity, go around the table and ask each guest to describe how they are feeling with one word.
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Have guests fill out a card offering them ways to stay engaged, host an event in the future, and help recruit new guests for the next event in their city.
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Make sure to have containers on hand for leftovers. Past organizers have found that everyone wants to take the new dishes home to share with their families.
A Discussion Guide for Powerful Conversation
The following discussion guide can be used to prompt conversation among Recipe for Unity attendees. It includes thought-provoking questions and discussion topics centered on how diversity makes our country stronger – for use with an assortment of audiences, including public servants, community members and business leaders.
Why are we gathering together? Set the tone by welcoming everyone and providing background to the Recipe for Unity event.
Welcome Welcome everyone and thank you for joining us for [city’s] Recipe for Unity event. Before we get started with introductions, I’d like to give you some background on Recipe for Unity. Despite what we hear every day, most Americans overwhelmingly believe that diversity makes us stronger. Last year, UnidosUS launched the Rise Above initiative to encourage Americans to “rise above” racial, political, and policy differences – and unite around a positive vision of the future. Today’s event is based on a model created and pioneered by Nashville-based Conexión Américas and Dirty Pages which brought together 22 strangers from across Nashville to share a multicultural potluck dinner. [City] is one of five cities taking part in Recipe for Unity this month to start a powerful conversation about our commonalities and our differences and how we can work together to create a new, diverse community. We encourage you all to take photos and tweet about your experience today using #RecipeForUnity. We’d also love for you to tag @WeAreUnidosUS and @[Host Organization Twitter handle] to help us keep track of the online conversation. You can also find our event hashtag and social media handles posted around the room for reference.
Who is in the room? Ask each participant to take a few minutes to share their name, a little about who they are, the dish they brought and significance of the dish to their family or community. Set a time parameter based on the amount of people in attendance.
Discussion prompts Conversation will most likely happen organically as guests share their stories. If there is a lull, here are some prompts to keep the discussion going.
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When you heard people in the room share the significance of their dishes, did you find you had a similar story or family tradition? What surprised you?
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The textbook definition of diversity is the inclusion of different types of people in a group or organization. It is also defined as the collective mixture of differences and similarities that includes individual and organizational characteristics, values beliefs, experiences, backgrounds and behaviors. It encompasses our personal and professional histories that frame how we see the world and collaborate with each other. i How are these definitions reflected in the food you brought, or in your family or community?
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How do you ensure that diverse perspectives are heard in your family or workplace?
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Are there parts of your identity that you feel you need to hide from people outside of your family? If so, what are those?
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Have you or someone you know ever experienced discrimination in your community or workplace? What happened? And how was it handled?
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Thinking about your social identity, has there ever been a time where you’ve felt like you were at a disadvantage compared to someone else? How did that make you feel?
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How has diversity – or the lack of it – played a role in your personal or work life?
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Differing opinions may lead to conflict. How have you addressed these challenges?
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What is one way that you’ve seen diverse perspectives make your family or community stronger?
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What can the rest of the country learn from [city] about working together to build stronger communities?
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Why is it important to acknowledge and celebrate what makes us unique while encouraging collaboration?
Can you tell us about a time where you felt your personal opinion was ignored or not valued? Why did it make you feel this way?
What can you do to help make sure that different perspectives and values are represented in your family or community?
Breaking awkward silences Use these tips to get the conversation going after an awkward silence.
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Ask participants to share their favorite aspect of their community.
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Model storytelling by sharing about your own family or community.
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Go around the table and have everyone share their favorite food from a culture that’s different from their own.
Handling difficult moments In the rare event that a conflict arises during the discussion, use these steps to help facilitate the conversation and get back on track.
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Acknowledge that your guests are in a vulnerable position after sharing their personal stories and experiences. Challenging moments like the one that just happened are important parts of the conversation around building stronger, more unified communities. If appropriate, ask folks to brainstorm next steps for the conflict at hand. Move the conversation to a productive place by asking people to share how they could use dialogue to address conflicts like these in their families or communities. Reiterate that this room is a safe space for guests to share their thoughts and experiences – regardless of what side of the political spectrum their views fall under. If a guest says something ignorant, do not argue with them. Keep in mind that everyone is entitled to their own opinions. For a more fruitful conversation, empathize with them and ask about why they feel this way. If the conversation veers off topic, use the following phrases to come back to original topic at hand:
While this is an important discussion, we’re here to discuss how diversity makes our communities stronger.
This conversation is important and should continue after the event. For now, let’s go back to [the topic at hand].
We appreciate the passion you have for this issue. Let’s discuss ways that our communities can come together in difficult times.
Wrapping up The conversation does not end here! Have guests reflect on their experience. Ask each participant to describe how the conversation made them feel using one word and close out the event with encouragement to have people keep thinking about continuing these dialogues:
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How can you bring this conversation back to your neighbors?
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What is your hope for a stronger, more united [city]? What’s one way you can help to make this happen?
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How do you plan to keep in touch with some of the people you’ve met tonight?
Collect Stories at Your Event The following guide will help you collect stories that amplify the success and importance of the Recipe for Unity events as part of the Rise Above initiative. As you hear participants speak about their dishes and tell their stories, make note of particularly compelling stories or stories that find common ground. After folks have shared, you can ask to interview the tellers to learn more or to interview together participants who felt a particularly strong connection. Make sure each person who agrees to an interview feels comfortable during the process. You may want to find a separate, quiet space for the conversation. Follow your gut. If the conversation strays from the interview guide below, that is okay. The guide is just that, a guide, and you don’t have to ask every question below.
Story Interview Guide •
What dish did you bring with you today? Describe it for us.
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How is your dish significant to you, your family, your community or your culture?
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If there is one thing you’d want others to know about who you are, what would it be? Why is this important?
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What was your biggest takeaway from Recipe for Unity? Did you learn anything you didn’t expect to?
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Did you find that your story or dish related to another participant’s tonight? Did you have similar stories? What was the other person’s dish? What was the common thread?
Do you feel more connected to your community after attending this event? How so?
How has diversity made your family or community stronger?
What is your vision for the future of [PLACE] or the U.S. as a whole? What steps must we take to make that vision a reality?
Social Media Guide The social media guide below can be used to help your organization reinforce the message that diversity makes us stronger as a nation and inspire others to host their own Recipe for Unity dinners.
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Video While attendees are sharing their stories, use video to help these stories come to life. Before recording, be sure to ask the person being interviewed if they are comfortable with you posting their story on social media. Consider the technical tips below for recording videos.
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Test your phone or camera before recording to ensure you know how it works, the audio comes through clearly, and the lens is clean.
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Sound is incredibly important when recording videos, so make sure to record in a separate, quiet space in which the individual can clearly be heard. An indoor area without much ambient noise is ideal.
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If possible, use a tripod to keep your phone steady while recording. If a tripod is unavailable, keep your phone close to your body or rest your elbows on a nearby surface. If you’d rather not hold it, you can also place the camera on a physical support, such as a table or a chair.
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Make sure the area you’re filming in is well-lit. Ask the person you are interviewing to sit facing a window so you can use the natural light. Avoid back-lit settings because your figures will show up dark. Also avoid pointing your camera directly into a source of light.
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If you’re using an iPhone, use “Exposure Focus Lock” to keep the exposure and focus consistent when filming a single person.
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Record the video in “landscape” mode to avoid having two vertical black bars along both sides of your video.
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Avoid using the digital zoom. Instead, get as close as you can to your subjects in order to maintain a crisp quality to your videos.
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You can use your smart phone’s photos app to apply basic edits, like shortening the video or adding some filters.
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After recording, post your videos on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and/or your website. Sample posts are included in the section below.
On Facebook, Twitter and Instagram keep videos your videos short – around 45 seconds – to keep your viewers engaged.
These videos can be featured as their own posts, with engaging captions about the event.
You can also incorporate videos into your website by using them as the launching point for a blog post or including them in the featured news section of your site.
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Share your experiences on social media Encouraging guests post about your Recipe for Unity event across their social platforms will help increase engagement and illustrate the impact of your event.
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Encourage attendees to take photos. These photos can be of particular dishes that catch their eye or have stories they find particularly moving, or of themselves with other people. Images of food are particularly well-suited for Instagram posts, Instagram stories or Tweets.
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Encourage attendees to Tweet or post on Facebook about specific quotes or stories they find compelling, or about how your event is making them feel. Be sure to caution them to use their best judgment so they don’t Tweet anything confidential or personal.
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Ask your attendees to post photos, personal reflections and lessons learned after the meal on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to help spread the powerful message of unity across social platforms.
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Some individuals might refrain from using social media during your event to avoid seeming rude or disengaged. To prompt social media use, take time at the beginning of the meal to clarify that you’d like for attendees to post content related to the meal on their social channels.
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Encourage your attendees to use the #RecipeForUnity hashtag in their posts and to tag your organization when appropriate.
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Clearly display your organization’s Twitter handle and/or name on Facebook, as well as the #RecipeForUnity hashtag to keep it top of mind. Consider including them on materials you are planning to distribute or posted on signage around the room.
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Consider creating a designated “Photo Zone” with good lighting and signage to encourage your guests to snap photos with each other after the event to share on social media. You can also use this space to record short videos of your attendees answering short questions, such as “What was your favorite moment from the evening?” or “What was your favorite dish and why?”
Sample Posts Below are sample social media posts which your host committee and participants can use during and after your Recipe for Unity event. Modify these posts as you see fit in order to most accurately represent your experience. When posting content on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, be sure to use the #RecipeForUnity hashtag to contribute to the online community of those who’ve attended the Recipe for Unity events across the country.
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During the event Facebook
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Now, more than ever, our country is facing a time of unprecedented division with racial discord at its height. Despite this reality, most Americans still believe that diversity makes us stronger. We’re hosting a #RecipeForUnity meal in [location] to bring together people from different backgrounds to explore the strength and beauty of our diversity. [Include a photo of the event.]
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We’ve heard many inspiring stories from and discovered unexpected similarities between the attendees of our #RecipeForUnity meal today in [location]. We’re happy to have created a safe space for members of our community to talk about a positive vision for the future. [Include photo of everyone seated around the table.]
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[Insert name] brought [insert dish] to our #RecipeForUnity event today. The dish is [provide background on dish and what it means to them]. Let me tell you. It was delicious! [include photo of the dish]
Twitter • We're currently listening to people from all walks of life share stories and a meal at today's #RecipeForUnity event in [location]. Who would’ve thought that bonding over a mutual love of food creates an opportunity for people to #RiseAbove their differences? [Include photo of someone holding up their dish]
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The dishes at today’s #RecipeForUnity event provide a clear example of the strength and value of #diversity for communities across the country. [insert photo of Recipe for Unity dishes]
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At our #RecipeForUnity event, people from all walks of life are uniting to share a meal and conversation around #diversity. Breaking bread with people from all over [insert city here] shows me the importance of embracing the strength of our diversity. [insert photo of people eating at the same table]
After Event Facebook
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During our #RecipeForUnity event, people from all walks of life brought dishes significant to either their families, community or culture. The meal led to a meaningful conversation on the power of diversity and how it can lead to shared positive vision for the future. Consider hosting your own
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#RecipeForUnity event and start connecting with more people in your community! Learn more here: [insert link] [insert group photo of attendees]
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At our #RecipeForUnity meal, we used our mutual love of food as the starting point for an important, thought-provoking and beautiful conversation on diversity. We’d like to thank all our attendees for coming together and sharing their stories over a delicious multicultural meal! [insert photo of attendees eating]
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Our Recipe for Unity event in [location] was a huge success – just ask [insert name], one of our brilliant attendees. They sat down with us to share why Recipe for Unity makes them feel more connected than ever to their community. [insert video here]
Twitter • Our #RecipeForUnity event revealed that these [insert name for people from that city] share a lot more than a hometown. Interested in organizing your own Recipe for Unity dinner? Learn more here. [insert link] [Insert photo of participants.]
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Our #RecipeForUnity meal reflected the American mosaic – grounded in [insert city] - and allowed members of our community to spark a growing dialogue around the power of #diversity. [insert photo of attendees talking]
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It was so inspiring to see members of our [insert city] community come together to share a nice meal and stories about their families and culture. Want to host your own #RecipeForUnity potluck? Learn more here: [insert link]
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Our #RecipeForUnity guest [insert name] sat down with us after the event to talk about why diversity matters during a time when racial and political discord is at its height. Watch what she has to say now. [insert video here]
Tools for Outreach Local Host Partner Email Hi [insert name], Social media can oftentimes paint the picture of a hyper-divided country - but the American reality is different. Americans overwhelmingly believe that diversity makes us stronger, and helps us innovate, solve problems and navigate a complex world. In partnership with community leaders and local organizations, UnidosUS launched the Rise Above initiative, a campaign to strengthen the ties that bind us as a country by elevating everyday actions - big and small - that help neighbors and communities thrive. Over the past year, our campaign partners developed activities to encourage Americans to “rise above” racial, political, and policy differences, ignite problem-solving, and unite
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around a positive vision of our shared future. One of those activities was Supper United - a community dinner that created space for people to break bread, share experiences and get to know others within their own communities. This coming March, Rise Above is joining hands with local and national partners to host Supper United events in multiple locations, including [insert city name], as well as [insert remaining cities]. Through these events, we hope to bring together everyday Americans, from all walks of life, to begin building shared experiences through dinner and conversation. The meal will reflect the American mosaic - grounded in the local community - and create a space for attendees to share stories, learn about each other’s experiences, and engage in a dialogue that taps the strength of that diversity. Local and national media will also be present to interview attendees willing to speak or offer quotes. Additional tools and videos will be created from these dinners, to help organizations and individuals in other communities organize similar events in the future. We are reaching out to you to offer the opportunity to partner in the [insert city name] event by providing a [catered meal, lending a space or other forms of in-kind support]. Your participation would give tangible form to your company’s commitment to build stronger, vibrant communities that reflect the America we love. Partners will have an opportunity to be listed as co-host of these events and be noted in outreach materials. Together we can build an accurate “Story of Us” and who we aspire to be as a country, a story that: • Recognizes the strength in our diversity and accurately sees it as one of our greatest national assets;
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Has a place for every one of us, regardless of color, accent, or origin, orientation or affiliation; and Brings our people together to tackle our challenges and generate real solutions.
We hope you can be a partner in this important effort. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you, [Name]
Invitation for Organization to Recruit Event Participants Hi X, We at [insert your organization] have teamed up with UnidosUS and the Rise Above Initiative to host a dinner on [insert date] at [insert event location and time], and we are hoping that [insert their organization] can be a part of it. Our dinner is one of a series of events called Recipe for Unity happening across the country in 2018. Through these events, we hope to provide an opportunity for residents of [insert city] from all backgrounds to break bread, share experiences and get to know others within their own community. The meal will reflect the
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American mosaic - grounded in your local community - and create a space for attendees to “rise above” our political and racial differences, and unite around a stronger, shared vision for the future. We’d love your help making our Recipe for Unity gathering a success by:
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Identifying four to six of your members who would like to be involved and would commit to attend the [insert date] potluck - and, of course, to bring a dish! Please indicate whether your members are able to bring an appetizer, main course or dessert.
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Encouraging your members to each bring one dish connected to their family stories, cultural traditions and favorite memories.
We expect to have between 20 and 25 people for dinner, so each participant’s dish should serve around 10 people. We hope you’ll help us fill the Recipe for Unity table on [date]! If you have any questions as you identify and invite members on our behalf, don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you, [Signature]
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Adapted from CommonHealth ACTION and Washington State Human Resources, n.d.
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