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Matthew Zingraff
Anuac
More seats at “The Philosopher’s Table”: The reinvigoration of a multicultural community association in southern Italy during and post-pandemic
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Matthew Zingraff
2023/12/31
10.7340/anuac2239-625X-5760
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George Mason University (ret.), United States
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urn:nbn:it:unica-29860
More seats at “The Philosopher’s Table”: The reinvigoration of a multicultural community association in southern Italy during and post-pandemic
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                                     2023 | AnuAc. Vol. 12, n° 2, DiceMbre 2023: 117-132




More seats at “The Philosopher’s Table”
The reinvigoration of a multicultural community association in
southern Italy during and post-pandemic

Anne Schiller
George Mason University
Matthew Zingraff
George Mason University (ret.)



ABSTRACT: How voluntary associations promote social interaction across difference and
contribute to building diverse communities are questions of relevance in Italy and be-
yond. To be successful, associations must earn and maintain reputations as groups worth
joining. To do so can be challenging, given that they bring together people with different
life experiences and languages. To thrive, groups must remain flexible and adaptive. This
article addresses an under-considered type of voluntary association that contributes to
building relationships and shared sense of community across cultural boundaries: the
multicultural social club. The report is based upon early findings from an on-going eth-
nographic study in Puglia concerning the aspirations, activities, and life-cycles of multi-
cultural clubs. It describes how members of one organization – The Philosopher’s Table –
launched themselves on a path of reflection and reinvigoration during the COVID-19
pandemic. Their objectives were to discover ways better to serve existing members, assist
the community, and increase membership. Among the club’s noteworthy characteristics
is that it includes locally-born Italians and expatriates in nearly equal number. Expatri-
ates rarely receive attention in discussions of diverse communities in Italy. Findings from
this project help address that knowledge gap, contribute to current interest in convivial-
ity in multicultural settings, and extend understandings of the dynamics and life-cycles
of social leisure groups that are diverse by design.

KEYWORDS: MulticulturAl coMMunitieS; SociAl leiSure grouPS; integrAtion; eXPAtriAteS;
coViD-19 PAnDeMic; itAlY




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ISSN: 2239-625X – DOI: 10.7340/anuac2239-625X-5760.
118                                                     Anne Schiller, Matthew Zingraff

Introduction
   A growing body of theory and research has called attention to diverseness
in the forms, functions, and practices of third sector or voluntary associations
(Harris 1998). Academicians and field practitioners continue to make useful
contributions regarding the similarities, differences, challenges, and accom-
plishments of voluntary groups, from the most bureaucratic and formal to the
smallest and least structured. Regarding those similarities, Harris points out
that even the most informal groups “generally have a name, a governing body
of some kind, articulated goals or purposes, and people who are members”
(Harris 1998: 145). Two other frequently noted essential characteristics are
that members pursue non-economic goals and membership is self-select-
ed (Bromley, Meyer in Sundblom et al. 2020: 10). It is fair to assume that a
primary motivation for joining is that the goals and purposes of the associ-
ation are believed to be in line with the potential member’s interests. Still
and regardless of the commitment level to the group’s stated purpose, mem-
bers expect to obtain some type of personal benefit from being part of the
group. Successful associations can create a balance between member-benefit
and goal realization. If the group leaders do not foster conditions for this bal-
ance to occur, members may simply choose to vote with their feet.1 To realize
their promise and maintain reputations as groups worth joining, clubs must
meet members’ needs and expectations over time. Doing so can be especially
challenging in groups launched specifically to bring diverse peoples together
for social purposes, for example, multicultural clubs. Furthermore, the pool
of potential members of these groups may change as incomer demographics
shift and the interests of prospective members transform. For multicultural
clubs to thrive, their leaders must be able to recalibrate. Not all clubs meet
their goals in the same way and not all survive. Precisely how multicultural
clubs fashion bridges across difference is of interest to many anthropologists,
sociologists, as well as scholars and practitioners in other fields. Learning
about their operations and life cycle is useful, in particular, to those whose
practice or research interests include convivial experiences in settings char-
acterized by cultural and linguistic diversity. To that end, this note presents
preliminary findings regarding a small multicultural club (fewer than a hun-

1. There are, of course, other reasons that informal groups may disband. That is why group
   leaders must be attentive to the possibility that the informal structure, self-selection in
   membership, developed personal relationships, and perhaps varied goals of participants
   may themselves eventually lead to the group’s dissolution. In this regard, see Sundblom et
   al. 2020: 12.


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More seats at “The Philosopher’s Table”                                               119

dred active members) called “The Philosopher’s Table.”2 The club is based in a
mid-sized city in Puglia’s southern reaches, the cultural and geographic zone
called Salento. The present discussion is based on on-going research on mul-
ticultural clubs in Puglia, Italy. One project goal is to understand better the
aspirations, activities, and life cycle of these groups. Another is to determine
whether, what, and how these clubs contribute to communities and communi-
ty-building. Long-term findings will lend insight regarding how these globally
mushrooming organizations function as settings for convivial interactions
and relationship-building across cultures and languages.

Multicultural clubs and social connectedness
   Multicultural clubs can help establish social connectedness across cultural
difference and create paths for communities to move forward in new ways.
Generally informal and less structured than some other groups, multicultur-
al clubs can offer relaxed opportunities for sociality that may facilitate the
successful integration of incomers, for example, immigrants. Members of mul-
ticultural clubs in Puglia generally include native Italians and international
expatriates. Expatriates are often overlooked in studies of community-build-
ing. That they receive short shrift is due perhaps to a tendency to consider
them as transient professionals who do not consider themselves part of local
communities. Findings from Puglia suggest, to the contrary, that many expa-
triates relocate for reasons besides temporary employment relocation. Most
of the expatriates whom the authors have met in the course of this project, in-
cluding mostly British, Australians, Northern Europeans, and Americans, have
no plans to return permanently to their countries of origin. These incomers
are a mixed group in terms of their social class status, country of origin, race
or ethnicity. The group includes some retirees but also an increasing number
of people seeking new work opportunities. They are artists, plumbers, teach-
ers, beauticians, farmers, and more. The majority are white, however there are
also Black British and Black Americans among them. Some self-identify as
immigrants, but most embrace the term expatriate.
   A handful of expatriates have lived in Salento for decades. The zone has
lately acquired a reputation as an affordable, attractive part of Italy in which
to live a “slow” life, however. A steady stream of expatriates is now purchasing


2. In keeping with ethical standards in ethnographic writing and practice, the authors have
   created a pseudonym for the organization under discussion and have not identified the
   precise location of the city within the Salento where it is based.


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120                                                   Anne Schiller, Matthew Zingraff

property or assuming long-term leases and pursuing residency or citizenship.
Nearly all profess a desire to be part of the local community and contribute to
its common good. Some describe participation in multicultural clubs as steps
toward that goal. As Neal et al. have written regarding social leisure groups
in multicultural settings, these sites allow for “elective coming together of
ethnically diverse others” to do “leisure things” (Neal et al. 2019: 69). It is
important to recognize that doing leisure things in multicultural clubs can
contribute to developing a sense of belonging to place, especially for incom-
ers. Plunkett et al. have noted that
      […] places are more than geographic locations, with social interactions
      and meaning being an integral part in creating places and place meanings
      […]. Community implies sharing, and we propose that place attachment
      finds much of its grounding within communities because of this. In other
      words, shared experiences and shared meaning of those experiences leads to
      bonding or attachment with the place in which these experiences occurred
      (Plunkett et al. 2018: 473‑474).

   To that point, as well, we suggest that multicultural clubs such as The Phi-
losopher’s Table, which existed for many years prior to the current influx of
expatriates in Salento, function as convivial spaces to generate interpersonal
relationships and sense of belonging to a community.
   Much literature on voluntary groups emphasizes large, function-created
associations that are geared toward achieving instrumental goals and clearly
stated outcomes and supported by paid staff (Smith 1997 in Sundblom et al.
2020: 10). Less attention has been directed on the expressive dimensions of
membership and the establishment of social relationships as an end in itself
as is often the case in smaller groups. More studies are called for regarding ex-
pressive, small group organizations, where nurturing social or affective bonds
between members are regarded as key activities and essential to the success
of the association over time (2020: 13). Here we follow Harris’s call for closer
attention to issues of member benefit (Harris 1998: 144). We extend Har-
ris’s interest in member-benefit by proposing that small expressive-oriented
multicultural clubs such as The Philosopher’s Table contribute to building
community across cultural and linguistic difference in part because cultivat-
ing social relationships with people different from oneself is considered a key
benefit of membership. Interest in how clubs such as this one contribute to
building community in multicultural urban environments is also of relevance
to theories of conviviality. Sociologists Amanda Wise and Greg Noble have
suggested, for example, that the study of convivial practices offers produc-


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More seats at “The Philosopher’s Table”                                        121

tive possibilities for scholars who “grapple with the challenges of intercultural
relations in an increasingly globalised world, and the challenges [they pose]
for local relations of living together” (Wise, Noble 2016: 423). The authors
emphasize the need for new ethnographic studies [emphasis in original] that
spotlight conviviality’s “performative aspects” and give attention to the sit-
uated nature of convivial practices, in time and space, as a means better to
understand the different ways that people “inhabit diversity” (2016: 424‑427).
To that point as well, Alina Rzepnikowski suggests that the convivial turn in
urban studies reflects both contemporary concerns about “human modes of
togetherness” and scholarly attempts to counterbalance prevailing discours-
es surrounding immigration and diversity as social problems (Rzepnikowski
2020: 1). She cites friendship, compassion, and sharing as important but un-
derstudied facets of the “affective side of social relations” that are part of
convivial living in multicultural settings (2020: 19). In the next sections we
provide more detail about convivial practices in The Philosopher’s Table, its
organizational structure, the findings from a survey relevant to understand-
ing the member-benefits of participation in this multicultural club, and steps
that club officers and advisors have taken to increase the club’s visibility and
relevance to the community in the post-pandemic period.

The Philosopher’s Table: an overview
    Founded in 1991, The Philosopher’s Table is Salento’s most enduring mul-
ticultural social leisure group. It comprises Italians (primarily Salentines) and
foreigners including non-native English speakers from widely ranging walks
of life. Most members are college-graduates or hold post-graduate degrees. It
was established by an energetic team of about one half-dozen expatriates and
Italians led by a relocated Australian. Most original members were Common-
wealth citizens who taught in Salento, and their Italian counterparts from local
high schools and universities. The name was inspired by the explorations of
an eighteenth-century Irish scholar who was among the first Northern Euro-
peans to make a lengthy visit. He published glowing accounts of the Salentine
sub-peninsula’s natural beauty, the artistic and intellectual achievements of
the people there, and the hospitality he was offered. Given the club’s interests,
it is unsurprising that, from the time it was launched, English has been the Phi-
losopher’s Table’s official language. It is worth pointing out in this regard that
some incomers’ ability to participate in local community life can be hampered
initially by lack of competency in the Italian language. For many expatriates in



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122                                                   Anne Schiller, Matthew Zingraff

Salento, who are generally either native English speakers or highly competent
in English, the ability to express oneself well in Italian is an aspirational goal.
In turn, the relatively limited number of Italian residents who comfortably
communicate in English have few in-person routine opportunities to exercise
their English language skills. Multicultural clubs like The Philosopher’s Table
thus hold appeal for segments of both incomer and local populations.
   Philosopher’s Table’s meetings are generally organized around a presenta-
tion, often taking the form of an autobiographical talk, the occasional English
language film, or a guided visit to an interesting site in Salento. Monthly meet-
ings begin before the dinner hour in space offered by educational institutions
or churches. Group dinners, which almost unfailingly take place after, are op-
portunities for members to get to know one another better. Afternoon teas
and socials hosted in the past are remembered fondly by long-term members
for that reason as well. The club is led by a president (chosen by consensus)
who is assisted by a small team of volunteer officers and invited advisors that
includes expatriates and Italians (fewer than a half dozen total). Its website
includes synopses of many past presentations and activities, historical notes
on the organization, book and film reviews, and a photograph gallery. Modest
annual dues cover the cost of mementos for guest speakers or miscellaneous
expenses including a much anticipated annual holiday party where members
and guests sing carols and celebrate the season with sparkling prosecco wine
accompanied by candied cakes.
   In early 2020, at the outbreak of the Covid-19 Pandemic and in accordance
with public health protocols, the in-person activities of The Philosopher’s
Table and other social leisure organizations came to an abrupt halt. Restric-
tions varied over the months that followed but continued for about two years.
During much of that time, public buildings and private establishments where
groups would normally meet were closed or allowed to open only for extreme-
ly limited hours. Public health rules dictated how many unrelated individuals
could gather in private homes, take walks outside their immediate neighbor-
hoods, or were allowed to drive outside the city limits.
   These restrictions required The Philosopher’s Table’s leadership team to
explore different short-term arrangements. They also provided time to con-
sider longer-term plans for the club. Monthly meetings were moved to an
online platform. Not surprisingly, members were appreciative that the meet-
ings continued in any form, but all lamented the loss of the level of social
contact provided by the in-person format. Again, not surprisingly, enthusiasm



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More seats at “The Philosopher’s Table”                                        123

for zoom meetings diminished over time. The number of regular attendees
declined and no new members joined. By mid-2021, hardly more than a doz-
en people continued to pay dues, although that should not be assumed to
mean that non-dues payers no longer considered themselves members. The
situation became critical for this membership- and participant-centered or-
ganization, which had been largely dependent on its supporters to provide
off-balance sheet resources for the group’s use (such as meeting facilities) and
to make presentations or invite new members.
   Thus, longevity notwithstanding, it became apparent to the club’s leader-
ship that focused attention had to be directed at serving members’ interests
and recruitment. While continuing to hold zoom meetings, it decided to take
forward-looking steps that could bring new energy to the organization. The
president and advisory committee resolved to create and distribute a sur-
vey – the first in the club’s decades-long history – to gather members’ input.
It would solicit information regarding members’ interests, preferences, and
their suggestions for how to enhance the club’s community reach. The infor-
mation would be used to plan for the resumption of in-person activities when
conditions permitted. Another novel step on group leaders’ part was to di-
rect the survey not only at members but also at individuals who had attended
a Philosopher’s Table event and subsequently not chosen to join. The next
section reports on both this project’s general methodology and the specific
methodology of survey construction and distribution.

Project methods
   This study utilizes primarily qualitative methods, in particular the classic
anthropological technique of participant-observation. In keeping with that
methodology, the authors became club members in 2016 and have participated
in meetings during site visits totaling thirty-six months to date. Over that time,
they have attended more than 30 general membership meetings and dinners.
Both have been speakers at meetings. One author was invited to join the advi-
sory committee in August 2020 (the height of the pandemic), and served in that
capacity for two years. That author participated alongside other advisory com-
mittee members in the design, distribution, and analysis of the membership
survey. As customary in ethnographic research, informal interviews and con-
versations in situ with members was the preferred data-gathering methodology.
Regarding how anthropologists use conversation as a part of a methodological
repertoire, Dressen and Jansen have referred to “the hard work of small talk”



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124                                                   Anne Schiller, Matthew Zingraff

and argued that it is the “hidden core and as well as the engine of fieldwork”
(Dressen, Jansen 2013: 239). To that end, the authors have conversed at length
about the club with more than 75 individuals, many of them on multiple oc-
casions. Informal interviews are conducive settings for story-telling about
the club to occur, which has been demonstrated to be an important research
tool in the study of voluntary groups (Chen 2013; Kim 2022). In keeping with
ethnographic ethics, the authors referred regularly to their dual roles as club
members and as researchers in their conversations with others in the group.
   The Philosopher’s Table’s leadership opted to include both forced choice and
open-ended questions in their survey. They decided that it would be in keeping
with the club’s character to distribute only an English-language version but
to note that respondents could answer in Italian if they preferred (ultimately,
few did). Four successive survey drafts were created and discussed within the
group. Protecting respondents’ anonymity was a major concern for committee
members, and the survey was tested twice online within the committee to in-
sure anonymity before its official distribution in April. It was sent out on the
club’s email list, which included past and present members, some people who
had attended a Philosopher’s Table event in the previous two years but not
joined, and elected and appointed local government officials. The survey was
also embedded on the club’s homepage and announced in two WhatsApp chat
groups and one Facebook group where both expatriate and Italian residents of
Salento participated. An email reminder to complete the survey was sent three
weeks later, and reminders were also posted on social media.
   The survey was composed of 24 questions divided into three sections. The
first section focused on how respondents had learned about the club and their
level of participation. The second collected mostly open-ended data on what
respondents perceived to be the purpose of the club, how they would describe
the group in their own words, and their most and least favorite aspects of the
club. That section also offered an opportunity to make suggestions about how
the group and its activities could become more attractive and visible. Sec-
tion three captured data on respondents’ first language, sex, age range, and
education. Overall, the survey yielded sufficient information to gauge respon-
dents’ views of the club’s value to themselves and the community. It provided
a basis for immediate discussions regarding how best to support the group’s
continuation and the extent to which the club reflected current members’ as-
pirations including regarding its role in the community and in contributing to
social-connectedness across cultural difference.



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More seats at “The Philosopher’s Table”                                                    125

Membership survey findings
   Responses to survey questions revealed that The Philosopher’s Table was
perceived, above all, as a social space in which to meet diverse people, share
ideas across cultures, and take advantage of opportunities to learn from a
variety of interesting speakers. That last point was buttressed by responses
to the question asking respondents to state their preferences regarding fu-
ture presentation topics. Those who noted a preference called for “variety” of
speakers and activities. Thus it was apparent that most members evaluated
the club primarily in terms of how it satisfied their expressive needs for soci-
ality and establishing and maintaining relationships in the larger community.
   To this point, native English speakers’ most frequent responses regarding the
club’s purpose referred to the organization as a space to meet people/bring
people together or to its role of informing people about/promoting English
culture.3 Two respondents specifically described the group’s purpose as bring-
ing together English and Italians/English-speaking Italians. Two mentioned
the organization’s role in creating opportunities to speak to or help “the com-
munity.” Another noted that there are now many more non-native English
speakers in Salento and that [the region] is more cosmopolitan than [it was]
30 or 40 years ago “so the organization should provide more variety.” The most
frequent responses by non-native English speakers characterized the club as a
space to meet people from different national backgrounds/bring people to-
gether, a place to share ideas/mutual interests/exchange opinions, a venue to
learn about various topics, and as a site to “teach”/ “practice”/ “know more
about” English language. Non-native English speakers also mentioned that the
club facilitated intercultural and international learning and exchange, multi-
cultural networking, socializing, meeting new people, and having fun.
   The motives most frequently mentioned by native English speakers for why
they participated in the club were that they enjoyed “meeting up” / “keeping
up” with people and that the topics on which speakers presented appealed
to them. Some wrote that their participation allowed them to “get to meet
people I perhaps haven’t seen for a while,” “meet new people,” “get out of
the house,” “keep up with acquaintances,” or to “stay close to my roots.” The
motives most frequently mentioned by non-native English speakers for par-
ticipation were practicing/improving/speaking English, and the interesting
presentations. One wrote that the meetings enabled them “to develop cultural


3. It is unclear whether by English culture respondents were referring to language or ethnicity.


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126                                                   Anne Schiller, Matthew Zingraff

awareness […and…] to be attentive about another point of view.” On a similar
note, another non-native English speaker wrote that the club helped them to
“broaden my knowledge of international cultures.” Other motives included
cross-cultural networking, meeting “people that I really appreciate,” “meeting
important guests,” and making friends.
   Respondents generally expressed satisfaction with monthly meetings, al-
though the majority noted that they would also like to see more other types of
activities in the mix. Regarding those activities, suggestions included group
visits to important cultural sites and other excursions in Salento and its en-
virons, social get-togethers such as group meals not necessarily linked to a
presentation, and more films, a book club, and group games.
   Most respondents referred to the need for growing the membership rolls
with younger recruits. Several cited as a disadvantage the high number of sen-
iors among current members (nearly three quarters are over age 60), but only
half offered suggestions on how to do so. Those who did focused primarily
on logistics (convenience of meeting location, days of the weeks and time of
day), increasing the number of social meet-up opportunities, and some out-
reach strategies. Regarding how to increase sociality, respondents called for
additional informal gatherings, launching a WhatsApp group, holding poetry
readings, hosting informal performances by members (for example, acting out
scenes from plays), and creating opportunities to sing in English with Italian
translations of the songs on hand. Concerning outreach, respondents encour-
aged the group leadership to organize a helpline that members could turn
to in emergencies, and hosting service-oriented activities. Comments about
the group’s website addressed some of these same issues; suggestions for im-
provement also raised issues of interactivity, including expanding the site’s
contents to include more kinds of contributions by more members. Some ideas
proposed were an interactive club blog, updated photo galleries that included
photographs of new members, and the creation of a new section for the web-
site where members could ask for/give advice or share information.
   Strikingly, many survey respondents’ suggestions for the committee re-
ferred to the desirability of cultivating greater community involvement.
Native English speakers emphasized the need to do more for English learners
in Salento. One suggestion was to offer prizes for top young English learners
and perhaps to involve local businesses or other organizations in the activ-
ity. Another was to hold “English in the Piazza Day” featuring storytelling,
games, and food. Several respondents encouraged the Committee to increase



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More seats at “The Philosopher’s Table”                                        127

advertising to include more outlets read regularly by locally born prospec-
tive members, such as Italian-language Facebook sites. Another proposed that
honorary membership be extended to city officials because the involvement of
city leaders might create new pathways for community involvement.
   Responses by non-native English speakers emphasized the importance of us-
ing social media and advertising in Italian-language print and online outlets
including the key local newspapers and magazines. A respondent suggested
inviting a local newspaper reporter to cover some especially significant Phi-
losopher’s Table events.
   As a result of the survey, the club’s leadership committee learned a great
deal about who their members were and their interests, including in how it
might expand community reach and contribute to the good of the commu-
nity. It was clear that both native English-speakers and non-native English
speakers felt that nurturing cross-cultural relationships was a strength and
draw of membership, and that members’ fluency in English was considered an
underutilized asset that could serve the larger community.

Discussion
    Successful voluntary associations established with a specific purpose in mind
need to be attentive to both participants’ perceived needs and to the stated
goals that brought about the creation of the organization itself. This balanc-
ing act is not necessarily simple, nor can it be maintained if group leaders do
not recognize the potential need for adjustments throughout the association’s
life-cycle. Associations such as The Philosopher’s Table are among those most
likely to face challenges in achieving this balance because, even when the stat-
ed mission of an organization serves as a fundamental reason for members
having joined in the first place, continued member-benefit cannot be assumed.
The fact remains that members expect returns that are non-monetary but im-
portant for their sustained participation. In the present case, hoped-for returns
include establishing social relationships across cultural difference, and a sense
of being part of and contributing to a multicultural community.
    A member can, of course, quickly remove himself or herself from a club
that they feel does not meet one’s needs. In this regard, for example, Sund-
blom et al. emphasize that the social dimension associated with the decision
or choice to join a voluntary association is both an important resource and a
potential cause for the group’s dissolution (2020: 15). The Philosopher’s Table
leadership recognized the potential for the health crisis to affect the group’s



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128                                                   Anne Schiller, Matthew Zingraff

viability as members could not interact in the ways to which they had been
accustomed. Club leaders’ behavior at least implicitly revealed their belief
that the group played a valuable role in promoting multicultural relations in
Salento and that it was their responsibility to support that goal during the
pandemic and beyond. Hence they took the novel step (for this organization)
of creating a survey while they persisted in their quest to schedule monthly
presentations and create a virtual space to reinforce social bonds through-
out a difficult two-year period. During those dark days, the club was a social
lifeline and diversion. On one evening, in fact, participants were offered the
opportunity to engage in a pub quiz/trivia contest with teams and break-out
rooms on Zoom. To be sure, every interaction, even on Zoom, was appreciated
and praised by members.
    The Philosopher’s Table also took steps to address its continued viability
by deploying its first survey, in which members as well as people who had de-
cided not to join the club were encouraged to participate. Seeking the input of
others – including non-members – was an affirmation of the notion that The
Philosopher’s Table is indeed part of a larger multicultural community.
    In some ways, the Philosopher’s Table has already succeeded. For example,
many respondents suggested that hosting more activities was desirable given
that knowing more about this area’s rich history and culture should be of inter-
est to anyone in the community. Since health restrictions on public gatherings
were lifted, the club has organized museum outings, visits to local landmarks
and emerging sites of interest, as well as some outdoor activities, and insured
that they were publicized even more robustly than previously to the larg-
er public. Each has been well attended by the English-speaking community
which, as this note has explained, includes native speakers, Italians, and some
other expatriate immigrants. Here we return to Harris’s caution, mentioned
earlier, regarding how the “need to give high priority to meeting individu-
al members’ needs […] can make it difficult to maintain longer term vision
[…] (Harris 1998: 147). The leadership of The Philosopher’s Table, however,
is playing the long game. Its vision includes expanding community-oriented
activities as well as being attentive to “social interactional benefits such as
friendship, mutual support, and exchange of news through their participation
in meetings and activities” (1998: 148), while at the same time strengthening
its role as an English-speaking resource to the community.
    In a recent article on a community project that brought local residents and
Syrian refugees together in Amsterdam for cultural and language exchanges,



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More seats at “The Philosopher’s Table”                                         129

Kim discussed the success of a Community Diner and a Language Café pro-
gram. Kim stated that the diner and café projects were successful due to open
discussions concerning the types of “programs to run and how to run them,
what part each participant would play, and what material and other resources
they could mobilize. In such discussions, newcomers and non-regular partic-
ipants were invited to join [regularly participating] […] local residents” (Kim
2022: 429). This discussion has presented early findings from a project on
multicultural clubs in Puglia that also explores – albeit in a markedly different
setting – how long-term members, newcomers, and non-regular participants
in a multicultural club participated in a survey that brought to the fore and re-
inforced the importance of the group as a space to initiate and maintain highly
valued cross-cultural social relationships and as a vehicle that brings unique
value to a diverse community. The survey was designed to be inclusive. It was
open to members and others who had participated in a club activity but chosen
not to join, and respondents could comment in English or in Italian, notwith-
standing that English is the club’s official language. The active steps taken by
the Philosopher’s Table to assess where it stands and its own response given
that information may be considered by other multicultural leisure associations
when they too examine the importance of member-benefit and social integra-
tion. As this project unfolds, it will be instructive to compare the experiences of
The Philosopher’s Table with similar groups in Italy and elsewhere that adopt-
ed different strategies in their quest to “survive the pandemic” and to compare
future initiatives with those implemented during those very difficult years.

Declaration of interest statement
  No potential conflicts of interest were reported by the authors.

Funding statement
  The launch of this project (2016) was supported by a U.S. Faculty Scholar
Award from the Fulbright Program funded, in part, by FONDAZIONE CON IL
SUD.




                                  2023 | Anuac. Vol. 12, n° 2, Dicembre 2023: 117-132
130                                                   Anne Schiller, Matthew Zingraff

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2023 | Anuac. Vol. 12, n° 2, Dicembre 2023: 117-132
More SeAtS At “the PhiloSoPher’S tAble”                                              131

  Anne Schiller is Professor of Anthropology at George Mason University in Fair-
  fax, Virginia, USA. Her fields of research are identity and social changes in Puglia
  and Tuscany. Her most recent publications are the volumes Commercianti a Firenze:
  Identità e Cambiamenti Nel Quartiere di San Lorenzo (Carocci editore, 2016) and Mer-
  chants in the City of Art (University of Toronto Press, 2016), as well as articles deal-
  ing with social relations in Salento published in the Journal of Intercultural Stud-
  ies (2022) and Case Studies in Intercultural Communication (2019). In 2016 she was
  awarded a Fulbright-Fondazione Con Il Sud research grant to conduct field research
  in Salento. She is currently at work on a book manuscript entitled Foreign Locals:
  Strangerhood and Belonging in the Heel of the Boot.
  schiller@gmu.edu

  Matthew ZingrAff (ret.) was Professor of Sociology at George Mason University in
  Fairfax, Virginia, USA where he also served as interim Vice President for Research.
  His research interests include social alienation, racial profiling, and incarceration.
  He has published numerous articles and reports in specialized journals, including
  the American Journal of Sociology, Sociological Perspectives and Criminology. His re-
  search has been largely funded by key government bodies including US National
  Institute for Justice and the US Department of Health and Human Services.
  ztm041198@gmail.com




This work is licensed under the Creative Commons © Anne Schiller, Matthew Zingraff
More seats at “The Philosopher’s Table”. The reinvigoration of a multicultural
community association in southern Italy during and post-pandemic
2023 | AnuAc. Vol. 12, n° 2, DiceMbre 2023: 117-132.
