A community forum to highlight and explore the ways in which food brings people together – from food festivals to holiday meals. Panelists and audience members shared experiences and observations on how gatherings around food impact families, neighborhoods, workplaces, churches and other community institutions. The Public Conversation explored the role of food in creating cultural identities, facilitating conversation, and marking key life events. Discussion also addressed how the ‘Gathering Power of Food’ can be preserved in today’s “fast food society” and amid busy lifestyles.