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Snapshot
May 30, 2012
"The Big Lunch" Brings Birmingham Together
on June 2
Railroad Park turns into Birmingham's picnic table on Saturday, June 2. That's when the whole community is invited to bring a lunch and all the extras for the first-ever Birmingham Kitchen Table's "Big Lunch" event to be held at the Park from noon to 3 p.m. The huge picnic will take place in the West Green Area of Railroad Park, on the corner of 1st Avenue South and 14th Street.
Birmingham Kitchen Table (BKT) is sponsoring The Big Lunch event. BKT has been bringing people from all walks of life together in Birmingham for the past three years by holding quarterly events to spark conversation among different groups of people. BKT began with the friendship between Dr. Shelley Stewart, President and CEO of o2ideas, Inc., and Dr. Andrew Westmoreland, President of Samford University.
BKT's idea for a "Big Lunch" in Birmingham actually originated in the United Kingdom. The UK's Big Lunch is a movement encouraging as many people as possible across the country to have lunch with their neighbors as a simple act of community, friendship and fun the first weekend in June. This year, the UK is celebrating the Queen's 60 year reign, "The Big Jubilee Lunch."
The founders of BKT thought this was a smashing idea to bring to Birmingham, Alabama. "It's a powerful thing when people come together by breaking bread and just communicating," BKT co-founder Dr. Shelley Stewart said. "Just like the Big Lunch in the UK, we believe that our society is better equipped to tackle challenges when we face them together."
"Bring your own picnic lunch, blanket, umbrella, lawn chairs, sunscreen and a hat and just enjoy the day of fellowship," said Samford president and BKT co-founder Dr. Andrew Westmoreland. "We've had tremendous growth in the BKT movement in just a few short years. We believe this will be a milestone event to show how all of our metro area can truly come together as a community."
The event is free and open to the public. Food will also be available for purchase at George's Boxcar at Railroad Park. There will be games, live music, children's activities and performers, including entertainment by the Children's Dance Foundation with headliner the KAYO Band. Visit www.birminghambiglunch.com for additional information.
