We Gathered This Fall, So Can You

On a humid, fall-ish Florida evening, neighbors, families, and future friends gathered for the Common Ground Gathering: United Plates Project. It was an evening centered on connection, conversation, and community. In a time when the world can feel so divided, choosing to come together around a shared table is an act of radical hope.

People gather at the Quaker House in Orlando to learn about their shared values and how they can build a stronger community.

Some guests arrived curious and new to Common Ground USA, while others have walked alongside us for years. Each person, young and old, brought something special — a story, a dessert, a willingness to listen. Together, we shared food that carried memories and meaning, and we discovered that our differences often lead us to deeper understanding.

The evening didn’t stop at conversation. Through our partnership with Project Downtown, we also assembled more than 100 hygiene kits for neighbors in need. In that simple act of service, we were reminded that peacebuilding happens not just through dialogue, but through action,  through showing up and working together, lending a hand and choosing care.

Local college students build hygiene kits that were distributed to neighbors in need through our partnership with Project Downtown in Orlanda, Florida.

The United Plates Project was more than a dinner. It was a glimpse of what’s possible when we gather with open hearts: when we create space for belonging, one meal, one story, and one act of kindness at a time. And this is just the beginning.

Ready to bring this energy to your community? Sign up now to host your own Common Ground Gathering.