Transformation Table

On the evening of June 17, 2015, at the historic Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC, a white supremacist (unbeknownst to the parishioners who invited him to sit among them at Bible study), opened fire on the gathered parishioners. Nine were killed. Five survived.  

A year later, during a tree dedication ceremony to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the shooting, Bernice King, the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., issued a challenge to the Charleston community. She said we must find meaningful ways to love and understand each other, despite all sorts of would-be dividing factors. She told the crowd that if Charleston was serious about change, we had to get intimate. “Go to each other’s homes! Have dinner!” 

Transformation Table is the response to that challenge. 

The mission of Transformation Table is to create space among strangers of different backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences to come together to see, hear and understand one another - to find those little points of connection that allows us to see each other’s humanity. Using food as a tool for connection, Transformation Table supports communities to use the simple act of sharing a meal to promote cross-cultural understanding, combat hate, and promote peace. 

Since November 2016, Transformation Table has hosted 55 home-based and community dinners in the Lowcountry.  

• Over 800 (873) community members have attended Transformation Table Lowcountry dinners. 

• 49 community members have hosted a Transformation Table Lowcountry dinner.

• Global chefs and home cooks from 23 countries shared their food stories and cultural heritage. 
• Partnered with organizations and nonprofits including the Mother Emanuel AME Church, Avery Research Center, Joseph Fields Farm, International African American Museum, Charleston Wine & Food Festival, Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, The Gibbes Museum of Modern Art, Lutheran Services Carolinas, Berkeley County First Steps, and Enough Pie.
• Community Partners include Trident United Way, AccessAbility, and Grassroots Wine.

Transformation Table has been featured on Palmetto Life, Lowcountry Live, in Local Palate Magazine, Charleston Magazine, Charleston City Paper, The Post and Courier, Edible Charleston, Organic Life, Tableaux Charleston, and Edible Charleston. Transformation Table is listed as a resource in the book, “Extra Helping: Recipes for Caring, Connecting & Building Community One Dish at a Time”.