RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Minneluzahan Senior Center, in collaboration with multiple community partners, is launching “Opening Hearts & Catering Community Conversations,” a community-building project centered on food, connection, and shared learning in the Black Hills.
This new initiative, which includes the Rapid City Club for Boys, Rapid City Stevens High School Culinary Arts Program, Rapid City Rotary Club, Advocates for Action, and the Rushmore Rotary Impact Club, will host a free community meal and guided conversation experience. The goal is to build relationships and understanding across different generations, cultures, and socio-economic backgrounds in the Rapid City area of South Dakota.
The inaugural event, focused on veterans, is set for Monday, November 10, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Minneluzahan Senior Center, located at 315 North 4th Street, Rapid City.
Guests will be served a culturally inspired menu that features Indian tacos and kuchen, blending Indigenous and Western pioneer traditions. Following the meal, attendees will participate in facilitated conversations aimed at strengthening empathy and community partnerships through shared learning.
The event offers youth from the Rapid City Club for Boys an opportunity to learn dining etiquette and experience a formal shared meal. Stevens High School culinary students will gain valuable large-scale food service experience, aiding career readiness and preparation for the South Dakota ProStart Culinary Competition.
“This initiative is about more than serving a meal,” said Laura Armstrong, Executive Director of the Minneluzahan Senior Center. “It’s about building bridges-connecting our elders, honoring our veterans, inspiring our youth, and strengthening the bonds that make a community stronger and more compassionate. We are proud to bring so many partners together to support one another and celebrate our shared future.”
The program is designed to use the power of food, service, and shared experiences to create lasting relationships and support those in the Rapid City community.
A few seats remain available, with priority being given to veterans and their spouses and family members.