Seeking Middlesex County Residents To Host Dinner Parties

Middlesex County has teamed up with Rutgers University’s Public Outreach and Engagement Team (POET) to launch Set the Table! They are seeking people who live, work and/or study (ages 18 and up) to host dinner parties or gatherings of friends, neighbors, colleagues to discuss their priorities for Middlesex County’s future.

It’s all part of the extensive outreach effort for Middlesex County’s DESTINATION2040 Comprehensive Master Plan initiative. Set the Table! offers a fun, casual and social approach to encourage civic engagement and participation, and an opportunity to directly contribute to Middlesex County’s planning and decision-making.

POET and Middlesex County will select up to 100 participants to receive a $50 cash stipend to cover food or other necessities to host a social gathering of 6-8 peers to discuss several topics related to living and working in Middlesex County. Topic choices include: housing, economic opportunity, environment, transportation, land use & development, public health, arts & culture, parks & open spaces, historic preservation, technology & innovation, public services & facilities, and public safety. In exchange, participants will report back their key ideas and suggestions for input into the DESTINATION2040 plan, which will guide how the Middlesex County will grow and change over the next 20+ years.

In addition to the $50 stipend, host participants will receive a “To Go Box” kit with question cards, interesting facts and other tools to help engage their guests in meaningful (and fun!) conversation.

Hosts must attend a kick-off/orientation event where Rutgers POET will provide some training and helpful information about hosting their events, as well as pick up their kit and $50 cash stipend. The dates/times for the events are:

• Friday, March 8, 2019 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. in Plainsboro, NJ
• Thursday, March 14, 2019 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Carteret, NJ
• Sunday, March 24, 2019 from 1-3 p.m. in Piscataway, NJ

Rutgers POET and Middlesex County are recruiting now for Set the Table! Those who are interested in hosting a gathering, please fill out a brief online form at middlesexcountynj.gov/destination2040.

Participants need to host their dinner parties and gathering during the winter and spring of 2019. Questions or interested? Contact destination2040@co.middlesex.nj.us or call 848-932-2876.