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their success. “When people know they aren’t
going to be interrupted when they share their
story, and that people are listening to them, it’s
transformative.” she said. “People felt safe to
say things they’d never said out loud before.”
Community organizers, major nonprofits
— including Teach America and the Sierra
Club — began reaching out wanting to use
Civic Dinner’s model to build community
and drive collective action. In 2019, corporate
America came knocking, including Facebook
and Coca-Cola.
said, which was accompanied by some
“serious seed investment” — $1 million from
Atlanta Seed Company, Jump Fund, Techstars
and an angel investor.
With the global growth of the startup,
Graham decided it was time lor a name-
change that was more reflective of the
company’s mission and diversified topics
of conversation. Thus, Civic Dinners
transformed into Inclusiw.
“If the past year taught us anything, we
need more voices at the table,” she said. “The
A rendering of the Chick-fil-a
proposed in Old Fourth Ward.
Then the world shut down due to the
pandemic and dinner was cancelled.
“It was super scary since we were 100
percent in-person,” she recalled. “I didn’t
know if we could continue, but we held
our breath and pivoted into virtual space. I
realized we had to double down and make
people feel more connected that ever while
they are isolated.”
In just 10 days, Graham and her team
created a platform and launched a video
conferencing tool to keep the dinners and
conversations going as the pandemic and
concerns over racial injustice in the wake of
the police murder of George Floyd gripped
the world.
There were silver linings in going virtual,
including being able to bring people together
from across the world and more access for
folks like working moms and those with
access to transportation. Facebook translated
the Civic Dinners site into 11 languages and
suddenly the dinners were being facilitated in
Europe, Africa, and South America.
“It was a serious ramping up,” Graham
double v was intentional as we want to invite
more voices into the conversation, even those
we don’t agree with.”
While the surge in COVID-19 cases
continues, Graham is eying going back to
in-person dinners. The virtual component
will remain, but she said Inclusiw is watching
what the CDC is recommending. An in-
person dinner has already been held in New
Zealand.
Graham said there are many more
conversations and dinners to be had,
especially as the world recovers from the
pandemic.
“We’ll be diving deep into wellness,
mental health, trauma from isolation,
concerns about going back to work and
school,” Graham said. “Sustainability and
climate change were put on hold for four
years during the last presidency, so we have to
refocus our energy and make sure we’re doing
it with an equity lens.”
For more about Inclusiw, visit inclusiw.
co. un
LA-based Mr. Fries
Man has brought
its loaded French fry
platter to Down
town, 30 Decatur
St. Seethe menu at
mrfriesman.com
INCOMING
Big Boss Chinese: Chef Guy Wong's dine-in/takeout in Midtown,
10010th St. (Any minute now)
Yumbii and The Queso Shop:
Sister restaurants opening at
Moore's Mill Center, 2275 Mari
etta Blvd NW. (Fall)
► Wagamama: London-based
ramen hotspot at Star Metals in
West Midtown. (Unknown)
Chick-fil-a to launch delivery,
open new location in 04W
Chick-fil-A will launch its own
delivery service, “Little Blue Menu,”
in 2022 offering its classic menu and
new items such as wings and roasted
chicken.
Company officials confirmed
the Atlanta-based chicken chain has
filed plans for a commercial kitchen
to handle the delivery service at
2115 Faulkner Road — just off
Cheshire Bridge.
The 10,000-square-foot “delivery
kitchen” is expected to cost $600,00
and include eight commercial
kitchens. On Wednesday, a Chick-fil-A spokesperson confirmed the commercial kitchen
would be used for “Little Blue Menu,” which is named after founder Truett Cathy’s
original menu at the FFapeville Dwarf FFouse.
In addition to the delivery service, Chick-fil-a is planning to open a new restaurant at
the corner of Boulevard and Ponce de Leon Avenue in Old Fourth Ward. The restaurant will
occupy the site currently home to a Texaco gas station and next door to rival Popeyes. OH
— Collin Kelley
SEPTEMBER 2021 | INTOWN 27