On the fourth Tuesday every month in the basement of Ascension Church in North Minneapolis, a family dinner brings together people from the neighborhood to share a meal and build community. 
The Peace Dinners started as a result of a partnership between Ascension Church and the Liemandt Family Foundation, a small family organization that wanted to focus its efforts on fostering resilience and supporting families in North Minneapolis, using the Developmental Assets as their focus.
In conversations with Ascension in 2004, the Liemandt Family Foundation saw parallels between their goals and the efforts of the parish in working to reach out to and provide support for the immediate neighborhood. The partnership extends beyond the typical grant-making approach to create a mutual partnership based around shared goals. The foundation sponsors and provides leadership and planning for the monthly Peace Dinners, they have also sponsored several members of the congregation to attend the Search Institute Conference, and they provide support for other youth and parenting programs at the church by funding initial training and materials.
The Peace Dinners create a place where families can enjoy a “family style” dinner, participate in craft activities together, and have time for conversations with their neighbors, many of whom did not know each other before attending the dinners.
A team of youth leaders facilitates an “icebreaker” activity near the beginning of each dinner and works to engage everyone. They also lead younger children in gym activities after dinner, giving the adults an opportunity to talk and build friendships. The staff and volunteers use the Developmental Assets to frame the support they give the youth leaders as well as the conversations they have with families. Building a caring neighborhood and positive relationships are central goals of the partnership.
The Peace Dinners have continued to evolve since they started in 2006. Taking cues from dinners that had happened a few years before, the dinners have continued to be shaped and changed by the families, volunteers, and staff that have been involved. It is important that the dinners feel like a community gathering and not like a meal program. At each dinner there is a digital photo frame, like a family album, with photos from all of the previous dinners. Last year, the family members worked together on a weaving that represented the variety of people coming together. They continue to discuss how their coming together can support their families and help their neighborhood thrive.
The meal is served “family style” and when it first began, the staff learned that the idea was new to some of the attendees, especially the younger children. By serving in this way, everyone is encouraged to talk, share, and get to know their neighbors. Positive communication has been a theme in the activities that families do together, and families have commented on how nice it was to use such positive and affirming language with one another. Each dinner ends with a sheet cake and a chorus of Happy Birthday for everyone who has a birthday that month.
Because of their work with the Peace Dinners, staff from Ascension and the Foundation realized that they wanted to do more work to support parents, but decided that their efforts should occur alongside, rather than within, the Peace Dinners themselves. Spanish-speaking parents in the parish expressed a need for further guidance and support in parenting. Anne Attea, bilingual Pastoral Associate at Ascension church, attended a Parenting Partners training of trainers and presented the curriculum to interested parents, who approved it and became a part of the group planning process. Working in tandem with a confirmation class, parents of the young people preparing for confirmation also participate in classes. They learn about positive parenting skills through the Parenting Partners curriculum, and develop a sense of camaraderie with other parents dealing with similar issues. The program has been so well received that the parents have expressed interest in continuing to meet after the classes are complete. Attea hopes to start two more parenting groups in fall of 2009.
The staff at Ascension and members of the Liemandt Family Foundation continue to look at how they can build on current activities, encourage positive family communication, and highlight the gifts and strengths of young people. They also welcome partnerships with other groups, such as the Visitation Monastery and the Peace Foundation, and are in conversations with a nearby mosque. Liz Coenen, the Executive Director of the foundation, participates in Ascension staff meetings and holds regular conversations about collaboration and how the partnership might look into the future.
For more information, contact Liz Coenen at ldcoenen@liemandt.org and Anne Attea at aattea@ascensionmpls.org
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