To have a sense of Family Values is to love and to care for our children, parents, other family members, friends and other community members and to treat them the same way we wish to be treated.This Dinner Theme reflects the Earth Charter’s Preamble “We are one human family and one Earth Community with a common destiny. Towards this end it is imperative that we, the peoples of Earth declare our responsibility to one another, to the greater community of life and to future generations.”

A 1998 Harris survey –a public opinion research firm– defined family values as “loving, taking care of, and supporting each other” by 52% of women and 42% of men; as “knowing right from wrong and having good values” by 38% of women and 35% of men; and as the traditional family by 2% of women and 1% men. The survey also noted that 93% of women thought that society should value all types of families. Family Values also include “molded families”–people considered like family by others.

Guests

---

Family members (include children/youth if you think that you, they and others will enjoy it); Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG) members; neighbors, friends, single parent families, grandparents raising children, gay, lesbian and transgender parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and people you’d like to have as family members.

Setting

---

Family rooms, kitchens, living rooms; community centers, faith community meeting spaces.

Tablescape

---

Drawings, sculptures or paper mache family scenes like

• two men with young girl holding balloon
• grandparents reading to two children
• single mom holding child
• dad and mom playing ball with children

OR photos brought by guests arranged on tray in middle of the table.

Art/Music

---

• “We are Family” by Sister Sledge
• “Where We All Belong” by Raffi’s Circle
• “Heartbeat of the Earth” by Shana Banana’s
• “Downstream” by Earth Mama (Joyce Johnson Rouse)

Menu

---

Comfort food, like meatloaf and macaroni/cheese, that is organic and humanely raised.

Conversation Opener

---

Share stories of an interesting, happy, different, or even stressful (that is humorous in retrospect) family experience

Engage the children with activities like arts and crafts, videos, or scavenger hunt; and include them if they have the interest or age to contribute to the conversations. Otherwise, you may wish to arrange for caretaker for the children or someone to engage them in activities that promote getting along with others.

Questions to be Asked after a Glass of Wine

---

• Discuss the findings of the Harris poll quoted above.
• How do you define family values?
• What are your thoughts about who makes up a family?
• If your definition does not include all the family types mentioned in suggestions under ”Guests” for this gathering, why would it be important to broaden your view?
• How could you do that?
• The highly mobile U.S. culture has made living close to extended families difficult. If that is true for you, how have you coped or made possible a feeling of extended family?

Actions

---

• What are some ideas you have for either building on or creating a family support network (i.e. babysitting cooperative) in your neighborhood?
• What steps could the group take to make that happen?
• Begin now! Research videos, stories, poems that embrace the broader concept of family. Share at your next Operation Bon Appétit Dinner or gathering.

Closing Toast

---

“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.” RICHARD BACH, Illusions

OR