We know what it’s like to grieve.
And we aren’t afraid to talk about it.

New adult friendships are hard enough to find. Let alone when you’re grieving.

We connect young adult grievers to a caring and supportive community of peers who help each other navigate loss, life, and all the stuff in between. Because grief isn’t a problem that needs solving, but the loneliness that comes with it is.

What we mean by community:

Not your parent’s grief group.

We’re really sick of traditional grief support options kind of sucking. But, you know that feeling when you’re around the people who seem to just “get you”? Maybe they have similar cultures, identities or loss experience? Whatever it is, connect with those people in a space that’s safe, accessible, personal, and maybe even…fun? Ya we said it. Grief support can be fun.

The peer-to-peer promise.

Our goal is to ensure that when you’re with others in The Dinner Party community, you don’t have to explain the complicated hues of this grief-thing to someone making pity-eyes at you, you get to feel that “oh my god, me too” feeling, and that you can just be with others who get it.

The ability to pick your own path.

We know that your grief is just that, yours. So, we offer programs so that you can mix-and-match, with our heart-forward Community Experience Team ready to offer support and help guide you to what would feel most healing. Start a community of fellow grievers based on how you want to connect, where you want to gather, and over what shared experience you’d like to connect around. Ready to pull up a chair? Join the party!

How The Dinner Party Works

Curious how this thing works? Check out our illustrated guide below.

1.

You join the club nobody wants to join.

You lose someone—a parent, sibling, partner, child, an extended family member, or a close friend—whether 3 months ago, 3 years ago, or 3 decades ago.

2.

You feel a little bit like an alien.

In the midst of our grief, it can be hard to connect with family, friends, or colleagues. You feel isolated, alone, unsure of how to move forward with your life.

3.

You find out about The Dinner Party!

You think “What! This exists?!” and decide how you want to participate, so you click on Join the Party to learn more about our programs.

4.

You choose a Table to join.

You read about a Host and their Table and it really resonates with you, and so you RSVP to the Table. Maybe their someone who is hosting an Affinity Table that speaks to your experience (LGBTQIA+ identity, suicide loss, BIPOC identity, partner loss) or maybe their Host bio sounds like they could be a real friend in grief. After a few days, your RSVP is accepted by TDP staff and your Host reaches out to introduce themself before the first gathering.

5.

You go to your first Table gathering.

You probably experience first-dinner nerves, we do too. You’ll find yourself in a room (whether in-person or virtual) with other people around your age who have also experienced loss. Once everyone gets settled in, your Host will start the conversation, you’ll introduce yourself , share what brings you to the Table, and where you’re at with your loss right now. The conversation will flow and you’ll listen while others do the same.

6.

You keep coming back, and realize, because of your heartache, you can also create amazing friendships and forward motion in your life.

The Dinner Party is not about one-off dinners. It’s about building community and connection over time. By gathering every month, you’ll start getting to know more about your fellow Dinner Partiers beyond just their story of loss. You feel less alone and have new friends who you can share all parts of your story with — even the parts that rarely see the light of day.