SAGE Table is a special, one-day event that asks you to share a meal with
LGBT people and allies of different generations. On May 18, we are
inviting LGBT people and our allies to break bread in homes, workplaces
and community organizations. Together, we will explore what caring for
one another will look like when age no longer divides us. Now, more than
ever, the act of coming together is momentous. Through SAGE Table, your
elders are calling on thousands of LGBT people and allies across the
nation to be a part of a recipe for change.
SAGE Table is being produced by Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders
(SAGE) with strong support from AARP.
On a typical day, very few of us in the LGBT community cross paths in a
meaningful way with LGBT people from other generations. So many of us
don’t have children who will care for us as we age, or families that support
us fully. Too many of us will go through different stages of our lives without
some measure of support that only someone of another generation could
provide. What unique experiences do you have— and talents that
someone else needs— that you will bring to the table?
SAGE and AARP want to cut across the age boundaries of our day-to-day
lives in a positive and profound way. Simply sharing a meal together gives
us a chance to have conversations that many of us have never had
before. As we build connections amongst LGBT people of all ages, we
strengthen our community ties and forge new traditions. By agreeing to
participate in a SAGE Table conversation, you’ve already taken an
important step to be part of this movement.
Just sign up to host! We have a whole suite of event management tools
available in that make hosting or joining a Table incredibly easy.
Absolutely! In early April, you’ll be able to browse SAGE Tables near you
and ask to join an open Table. When hosts create their event, they decide
if they want to open up their SAGE Table to invite guests they don’t know,
and indicate how many extra seats are available. We’re also linking up
with community partners across the country to create public SAGE
Tables that you can drop into. Sign up for information updates and we will
let you know when to check back.
This question is at the heart of SAGE Table. All of us, all across the country,
are too often isolated from each other. SAGE Table is more than just a fun
party--it’s building inroads that just don’t exist. As we connect for SAGE
Table, we are creating a map of a stronger community, together.
If you don’t have any idea where to find folks of other generations, we
have some tools to help! Our host toolkit offers some guidance as to
where you can start looking to expand your own network, and our event
management software offers options to join or host an open Table that will
allow you to make some fabulous new contacts. Join our weekly webinar
for more tips and tricks about who to invite and where to find them!
Wherever you want to meet up and eat together, your table becomes a
SAGE Table. You can host at home, make a reservation at a
neighborhood restaurant, organize a potluck at your place of worship,
order a foot-long at the office with coworkers, or share pizza slices at a
community organization. No matter where you meet, SAGE will be helping
out to make sure that you are at a table with folks of all ages, and that
you have the tools you need to make the most out of this opportunity.
Yes! Allies are and always have been an integral part of our community
and our extended families. Each host will decide for themselves how
many allies they bring to the table, and our discussion guide can help
inspire you to integrate different perspectives into your gathering.
Absolutely. Most of us spend our workdays with a diverse group of folks
that play huge parts in our daily lives. Pulling together for a lunchtime
meal and discussion is a great opportunity to sit down and get to know
your coworkers in a different light. If you belong to an ERG, please check
out our community partner FAQ for ideas of how to go big for your Table.
Our partners are important conveners in communities across the country,
and we absolutely welcome the opportunity to grow our partner network.
There are benefits to becoming a community partner according to how
many guests you can host; find out more in our partner FAQ online. Event
management software that you can access in early April will enable
organizations and corporation to post public, private, and semi-public
SAGE Table events. There are three options: a.) Keep the event invite
only, b.) Enable guests from your area to request a seat, or c) Offer seats
that can be filled on a first come, first registered basis. Sign up as a
partner host and we will let you know when you can post your event.
There’s no cost related to the event, but we do ask that the host ensure
that everyone will have food--just as you would with any party you host!
There’s a lot of ways to keep food costs down; you might choose to meet
at a restaurant and go dutch, or have a potluck where everyone brings a
dish, or apply for a small grant to provide a top-notch meal. If you’re
looking for ideas about how you can make your Table fabulous, join our
weekly webinar for skill sharing with other hosts and SAGE staff.
Our host toolkit is designed to inspire conversations across generations,
and tips that will help make your SAGE Table great. SAGE is committed to
getting you the resources you need to build your community up, and to
tap into the wisdom and lived experience of LGBT people of all ages.
There are a few different ways to get involved:
1. Sign up to be a host. It’s easy, and there’s so many ways to do it.
2. Sign up to be a guest. In early April, check the site to see if someone
has seats for a gathering they are hosting in your area.
3. Become a volunteer. If you have skills and time, we need them!
Please also feel free to drop an email to [email protected] if
you have something to offer that you don’t see listed.
4. Become an ambassador for SAGE Table in your community and
help us to ensure that no one is left out. When you encourage
individuals and organizations in your area to participate, you help
us reach those in our community who might be the most isolated.
5. Post on social media that tells us why YOU are hosting or going to a
SAGE Table. When you use the tag #SAGEtable on a public post,
we’ll feature it on our website. It’s quick and easy to do!
Yes! Much like our LGBT elders, SAGE Table is everywhere and has a big
future. We’re building a movement that aims to reach all of our beautiful
community family, because we refuse to be invisible.
On May 18, thousands of new connections will be born. But that’s only the
beginning. The day after the event, we will distribute a survey to capture
ideas for next steps--and the more we know about what we care about
as a community, the more we can do! We’ll also be promoting a few
ideas of our own, so keep an eye out for more fun options that will help
you continue to connect cross-generationally in your own community.
New and updated information will be posted regularly on the SAGE Table
website, www.sagetable.org.
Facebook: SAGE (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders)
Instagram: @SAGEUSA #sagetable
Flickr: @SAGEUSA #sagetable
Twitter: @SAGEUSA #sagetable
Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders is the country’s largest and oldest
organization dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender (LGBT) older adults. Founded in 1978, SAGE is a national
organization that serves LGBT older adults and their caregivers, advocates
for public policy changes that address the needs of LGBT older people,
and provides training for aging providers and LGBT organizations. SAGE
works to promote positive images of LGBT life in later years.
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of
nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into 'Real
Possibilities' by changing the way America defines aging. With offices in all
50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands,
AARP works to strengthen communities and promote the issues that
matter such as healthcare, financial security and personal fulfillment.
AARP also advocates for individuals in the marketplace by selecting
products and services of high quality to carry the AARP name. As a trusted
source for news, AARP produces AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin.
AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions
to political campaigns or candidates. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or
follow @aarp and our CEO @JoAnn_Jenkins on Twitter.