Your voice matters
On March 30, 2023, thousands of neighbors, colleagues, old friends, and new friends gathered together to help solve Southwest Florida’s major challenges to make this region stronger than ever.
On March 30, 2023, thousands of neighbors, colleagues, old friends, and new friends gathered together to help solve Southwest Florida’s major challenges to make this region stronger than ever.
This table can be more than a place to eat. It can change the world. On one single, special day this March, thousands of neighbors, colleagues, friends, and residents will gather together over a meal to build a better, stronger Southwest Florida. So, pull up a chair. There’s room for everyone.
Thursday, March 30, 2023
Anyone can host an On the Table SWFL conversation, and everyone is welcome to join in the conversation.
Started in 2014 by the Chicago Community Trust, On the Table is an award-winning model that has engaged over a half-million residents in more than 35 communities across North America, strengthening their connections to each other and bolstering the vitality of their communities. It provides a unique opportunity for your outlet to more deeply understand the issues and topics of greatest concern to community residents.
The Charlotte Community Foundation, Collaboratory, and Collier Community Foundation are partnering to host On the Table SWFL, connecting meaningful conversations that better our communities. This coalition of community leaders wants these conversations to become a powerful catalyst for regional change.
The inaugural On the Table SWFL initiative, produced by Collaboratory in October 2019, welcomed more than 1,500 area participants. This year, Collaboratory is partnering with Collier Community Foundation and Charlotte Community Foundation so that even more voices can be heard as part of On The Table SWFL conversations.
In conjunction with Florida Gulf Coast University, the foundation partners will capture discussion themes and identify region-wide social priorities in an impact report that will be shared broadly. As a follow-up to On the Table SWFL, the foundations pledge to work together on issues identified through the conversations to create a more sustainable and vibrant Southwest Florida.
Tom Leipzig
GNL (Greater Naples Leadership)
Carrie Gamso
Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce
Amanda Pearson
Leadership Collier
Emily Budd
Future Ready Collier
Caroline Vives-Vietri
FGCU Alumni Association and Staff
Tim Hennessy
Rivet Brands
Jessica Liria
David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health
Doug Izzo
Englewood Chamber of Commerce
John Wright
Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce
Priya Ahluwalia
MoAloo Ventures
Tracie Beck
FGCU
Dr. Maria Roca
FGCU
Pam James
WGCU
Jessaca Rodriguez
American Heart Association-Southwest Florida
Bob Mason
Cape Coral Life
Edye Button
SWFL Hispanic Chamber
Tatum Walker
LCEDO
Chris Spiro
Horizon Foundation/Spiro & Associates
Jeannine Joy
United Way of Lee, Hendry, & Glades Counties
Christine LoConte
United Way of Lee, Hendry, & Glades Counties
John Lai
Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce
Todd Thomas
National Pan-Hellenic Council of SW Florida
Amanda Smith
NCH Healthcare System
Roger Mercado
Lee County Human and Veteran Services
Jenn Robinson
Lee County School District
Marlin Vaughn
Black Intelligence Guild (Clewiston)
Stephanie Wardein
Lee Health
Molly Deckart
Alliance for the Arts
Emily Bouchard
Captains For Clean Water
Lisa Morse
Collier County Public Schools
Jamie Joannes
Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce
Sarah Desrosiers
Downtown Kava