The Community Connection Potluck is a free and open monthly gathering that aims to foster a sense of community, strengthen local support networks, and build resilience in the face of various social, economic, and environmental challenges. The primary goals of the Community Connection Potluck are fourfold:
• Provide a welcoming space for neighbors to connect, share experiences, and build relationships;
• Identify and address community needs and vulnerabilities through collaborative discussion and problem-solving;
• Cultivate a culture of mutual aid, skill-sharing, and collective care among residents;
• Develop and implement community-led initiatives that enhance local autonomy, adaptability, and well-being.
These gatherings are envisioned as flowing from a shared meal into organic dialogue about the intersecting challenges and opportunities we face as neighbors. We hope to discover and foster connections between existing community initiatives and explore how different efforts might complement and strengthen each other. Through this process, we seek to learn about the wealth of knowledge, skills, and resources present in our community while discovering how we might fill gaps and address unmet needs together.
Our aim is to encourage natural relationship-building while maintaining enough structure to ensure conversations remain grounded in the concrete realities and aspirations of our community. We hope to explore themes ranging from food sovereignty and mutual aid networks to creative projects and educational programs, always with an eye toward practical ways to strengthen our collective resilience.
We are one thread in a broader tapestry of community-building efforts across Dutchtown and beyond. By creating regular opportunities for connection and collaboration, we seek to contribute to an evolving network of support that can help us navigate challenges while building toward more sustainable and nourishing ways of living together.
We believe every person brings something valuable to the table - whether it's a dish to share, a story to tell, a skill to teach, or simply their presence and perspective. We welcome those deeply involved in existing community projects alongside those who wish to connect with neighbors or learn more about local initiatives. This space is intended to honor multiple forms of engagement and create various pathways for participation.
Through these monthly connections, we hope to strengthen the foundations of community resilience - not through solutions imposed from above, but through the patient work of building relationships, sharing resources, and discovering how our individual and collective efforts might weave together into stronger networks of mutual support. This ongoing process is intended to help build our capacity to weather current challenges while laying groundwork for more sustainable and equitable systems of community care.
Also check out other Food & Drink events in St. Louis.
