CARBONDALE – The City of Carbondale, Southern Illinois Collaborative Kitchen, and the Carbondale
Branch of the NAACP invite members of the community to attend the Carbondale “At the Table” Dinner
& Dialogue series on Tuesday, May 21 st 2024 at the Carbondale Civic Center.
The Carbondale Branch of the NAACP and the City of Carbondale will celebrate the 70 th anniversary of
Brown v. the Board of Education, a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to establish racial
segregation in public schools as unconstitutional. The Carbondale Branch of the NAACP will present a
reenactment, “Brown @ 70: Celebrating the Past, Shaping the Future” to kick off the evening. Following
the reenactment, attendees will discuss the impact of this landmark decision and equity within
educational systems.
The Carbondale “At the Table” Dinner & Dialogue Series will occur on the third Tuesday of the month
through June. The Carbondale “At the Table” Dinner & Dialogue Series brings an intersection of topics
ranging from culture, racism, history, and racial healing to the table through facilitated conversations so
that community members from diverse backgrounds can engage in dialogue while enjoying a
community meal.
This event is free and open to the public. Doors will open at 5pm and the Dinner & Dialogue will begin
around 5:30pm. Seating is limited and registration is required. For more information, please contact
Dianah McGreehan at dmcgreehan@explorecarbondale.com or call 618-457-3282.
The “At the Table” Dinner & Dialogue Series is supported by Healing Illinois. Healing Illinois is a racial
healing initiative of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) in partnership with The Field
Foundation of Illinois and the Southern Illinois Community Foundation. To learn more about the Healing
Illinois initiative click here.
                                                                                                           
“Carbondale prides itself on providing its visitors, students, businesses and residents with a unique mix
of edge and ease. It’s a cultural town, yet free of pretense, embracing the great outdoors as readily as
urban sophistication. Here, we are open to new ideas, experiences and cultures, so you are encouraged
to both express yourself and be yourself, in all ways. That’s Carbondale…All Ways Open…for family, fun,
business, new ideas and a bright tomorrow.”