2026 SESSION
ENROLLED
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 181
Commending The Longest Table.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 2, 2026
WHEREAS, The Longest Table is a nonprofit-supported community movement that brings individuals of diverse backgrounds together for shared meals and conversation, with the primary purpose of building connection, strengthening neighbors' sense of belonging, and reducing social isolation in communities across the nation; and
WHEREAS, The Longest Table began as a simple idea in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City in 2022, when neighbors, emerging from the social challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, set up a long communal table down a city block and invited hundreds of people to share food, stories, and friendship; and
WHEREAS, The Longest Table movement, now supported by the nonprofit organizational effort of NYCNext, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity, has expanded to more than 50 cities nationwide and internationally, inspiring countless similar gatherings that promote community engagement and human connection; and
WHEREAS, The Longest Table events are typically free and open to the public, inviting attendees to sign up in advance, to bring dishes for a community potluck, and to sit alongside neighbors, acquaintances and strangers alike, at one continuous table; and
WHEREAS, The Longest Table volunteers, known as “Table Captains,” help coordinate groups, designate shared dishes, greet participants, and facilitate friendly, inclusive conversation to enhance the sense of shared community; and
WHEREAS, participants in The Longest Table events frequently report positive community outcomes, including making new connections, increasing positive feelings about their neighborhood, feeling less isolated, and being inspired to engage more broadly in civic and social activities; and