Different cultures bring different “gifts” to the greater community that include an appreciation of a sense of community or of our interdependence, and/or a handling of environmental or social problems. Either discuss or research examples of these “gifts” of a chosen ethnic group that is different from your own for an Operation Bon Appétit Dinner Party. This Dinner Theme reflects Earth Charter Principle 16a “Encourage and support mutual understanding, solidarity, and cooperation among all peoples and within and among nations.”

Guests

Family, Friends, Neighbors, Colleagues, Students, Diplomats, Service People—Grocery Store Clerks, Dry Cleaners, Restaurant Workers—Of Various Ethnic Backgrounds

Setting

Round Table—Kitchen, Dinning Room, or Living Room; Hispanic, Asian, European, Australian, Canadian, African, Indian, Island or Indigenous People’s Club Room or Faith Community Space; Decorate space within your own home with flags or pictures from different countries.

Tablescape

Paper Mache globe with children in ethnic dress of different countries surrounding the globe and holding hands, with Dove of Peace on top

OR Collage of Photos of Different Countries Glued to Cone made from Poster Board to be placed in center of table.

Art/Music

Guest brings CD of Favorite Ethnic Songs to be played softly in background.

Menu

Potluck of Ethnic Dishes: Give guests choices of appetizer, entrée, salad, and dessert.
Drinks: Wine or Favorite Beverage from various countries including U.S.

Conversation Opener

Ask guests to share a custom from their ethnic history that they grew up with or one that they know about and like from their culture.

Questions to be Asked after a Glass of Wine

• Have you traveled to a country outside your country of origin?
• What were highlights, learnings or surprises from that trip? Think about foods, people you met, places you visited, or geographic differences.
• If you could live somewhere outside your country of origin, where would you choose? Why?
• Research shows that when we interact with people from an ethnic group different from our own, negative bias is reduced. Have you had that experience or know of someone who did?

Actions

• Discuss actions you and/or the group can take to expand your diversity to include people from different ethnic groups. Then, do it.
• Different cultures bring different “gifts” to the greater community that include an appreciation of a sense of community or of our interdependence, and/or a handling of environmental or social problems. Either discuss or research examples of these “gifts” of a chosen ethnic group different from your own for the next Operation Bon Appétit Dinner.

Closing Toast

Our differences are gifts we bring to each other. (Myers Briggs Type Indicator)

OR

“Life lies in diversity, not in monotony.” M.K. Soni

OR

A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked. (Bernard Meltzer)