About soup

history

SOUP was started in Chicago with the artist group, inCUBATE. It was a modest dinner having artists and community members share a meal and help fund art ideas in neighborhoods. Slowly the idea began to spread around the United States and in 2010 it landed with a group of artists and friends that started it Detroit. The early days of the dinner were still focused on local art projects but through time and experiences the dinner adapted to the community and found a model that worked not just for the city of Detroit but cities all over the world.

Today, the model has been adapted to fit communities. There is no two SOUP dinners that operate the same way. It adapts to those who are leading the dinner and the place where you live.

The Basics: soup dinners

SOUP is a micro-granting dinner celebrating and supporting creative projects in communities around the world.

01

For a suggested door donation of $5 - $15 attendees hear presentations from FOUR community members leading projects in the arts, urban agriculture, social justice, education, technology and more.

02

Each presenter has FOUR minutes to share their idea and answer FOUR questions from the audience.

03

At the event, attendees eat, talk, share resources, enjoy art and vote on the project they think benefits the city the most.

04

At the end of the night, the ballots are counted and the winner goes home with all the money raised to use in carrying out their project.

05

Winners return to a future SOUP dinner to report on their project’s success.

The Basics:
building communities

what soup allows for your community:

01

To create a public space for critical face-to-face conversations

02

To foster public dialogue focusing on community needs

03

To recognize and celebrate change- makers

04

To eliminate hoops that ideators have to jump through to access local resources and funding

05

To allow for different networks and groups to interact and exchange

soup's theory of change

By building a forum for critical listening and empathy exchange we are able to see and unleash talents and assets within ourselves that have communal impact.
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The exchange builds trust, connections, relationships and networks that close disparity gaps in our communities, ultimately creating a more equitable and engaged society.

projected outcomes

at the individual level:

Residents are more capable of acting on ideas, causes, projects or businesses that have meaning to them and the group.

Diner practices active listening, critical thinking and meaningful dialogue about what makes a neighborhood / community / city better.

Presenter expand their networks while being introduced to a local entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Winners have increased resources to implement project.

(Re)new(ed) trust built with fellow community members.

Has increased optimism in participating in democracy.

Participating in a more connected world where you have continued access of others who are making it better with you.

at the community level:

Neighbors collaborating and exchanging ideas and resources.

Community improves by understanding the gaps and strengths of its residents.

A built relational hub bringing together siloed networks to participate and exchange leading to new connections, relationships and networks.

A new active (third) safe space is created.

at the macro / global level:

A global participation in democratic practice.