On August 23, 2019, Indiana Humanities held a program, ‘Chew on This’, to discuss the theme ‘What divides us?’ The program uses food and drink to foster discussions. At one event, attendees Shari Benyousky and Antony Garza started a romantic relationship. Benyousky is a communications instructor at Purdue University, and Garza is a local attorney with a passion for literature. They started dating a month after the event and have been together for four years.
Benyousky discussed the role of food in connecting strangers, particularly those with shared interests. She and Garza connected over their love for travel and books. Garza contributes to the community by creating and donating Little Free Libraries.
‘Chew on This’ allows attendees to select their location and engage in discussions with other guests. These discussions, led by a facilitator, are based on a prompt. Benyousky emphasized the value of these discussions, stating they often result in unexpected connections and friendships.
The program also encourages guests to host their own discussions on important questions. The next event, on February 21, will focus on the question ‘What’s on Your Plate?’ Benyousky commended the program for providing a platform for meaningful discussions.