Dinner with Friends
Dinner with Friends brings students, faculty, and staff together for a shared meal and genuine conversation--a chance to get to know people from different corners of 绿帽社you might not otherwise cross paths with.
What It Is
Dinner with Friends is a belonging initiative, not just a meal. The premise is simple: people connect differently over dinner than they do in a classroom, meeting, or office. Each dinner is built around that--bringing together a small, mixed group of students, faculty, staff, and alumni who might not otherwise cross paths on campus, with the explicit goal of building connection across those differences.
Trained facilitators guide each table through structured conversation, starting with lower-stakes questions and building toward more substantive ones. Every table sets its own ground rules for the evening before the conversation begins, so participants are practicing dialogue across difference, not just talking about it.
February 2026 Results
Dinner with Friends launched in February 2026 with its inaugural event. Here's what came from it.
The Night Of
Immediate post-event survey, n=39
100% | of attendees said they'd recommend the program to a friend |
100% | reported experiencing a greater sense of belonging |
97% | said they are now more likely to get civically involved |
60 Days Later
60-day follow up survey, n=24
54% | are still in touch with someone they met that night |
38% | took a concrete civic action they trace back to the dinner |
71% | say they are more open in conversations across difference |
This Fall's Series
Dinner with Friends returns for three sessions this fall--two in-person, one virtual. Spots are limited, so register early for the date that works for you.
You're welcome to attend one in-person dinner and the virtual session--but not both in-person dates. Choose the format and date that work best for you.
- Thursday, September 24 | 6-8 p.m. | In-Person | Schwebel Room, Kent Student Center --
- Tuesday, September 29 | 6-8 p.m. | Virtual --
- Thursday, November 12 | 6-8 p.m. | In-Person | Schwebel Room, Kent Student Center --
Questions
For more information, please contact:
Craig Berger
Associate Director for Civic & Community Engagement
Center for Student Involvement
cberge11@kent.edu