Create new community connections and engage with others at The Longest Table — an annual civic dialogue event featuring (you guessed it) a long table, delicious food, and guided discussion on meaningful topics.

Held each year at the start of the fall semester, The Longest Table brings together people from the WashU community with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and interests not just to share a meal but to envision ideas for our shared civic future and foster understanding through dialogue. Attendees join a table, and Gephardt Institute staff and campus partners serve as dialogue facilitators to create an intentional, supportive, and creative space. Participants are encouraged to sit with guests they don’t know for the best experience.

“You might not be able to have an experience like this at other colleges. It’s a great stepping-stone — not a place to end at — it’s a place to begin and understand other people.”

-Sadiq, The Longest Table 2025 attendee

For more civic conversation events, please check out our weekly Civic Café program every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Learn more here!