Our Story
You may be wondering what makes an event Meaningful?
The picture on the left epitomizes meaningful to us. Michelle Long, on the left, is the Owner/Founder of Meaningful Gatherings. This picture was taken at a cooking competition for Foster Youth in Washington DC. It was inspired by "Chopped" on The Food Network. The Founder of Whaler's Creation, LaToria Kern, organized the competition so the teens could showcase culinary training they received. The training was intended to ensure they had marketable skills as they age out of Foster Care. Michelle donated her time and brought china, flatware, stemware, and catering items to the venue Pro Bono.
They say when you look good you feel good. Michelle wanted the teens to feel good about the china and serving items that became the backdrop for their culinary creations. Michelle washed the plates as soon as each teen presented their creations so there were always clean plates for the next four teens on deck. This was the only time she was happy to wash dishes. She could barely contain the joy in her heart as she saw the pride on their faces.
How did Meaningful Gatherings begin?
The leaders at Michelle's church, asked if she could cook for a monthly women's meeting. In the beginning she baked brownies and cheesecake for 30 women. Then they asked, can you try cooking? That led to eight years of Michelle teaching herself to cook savory meals for 150 women and growing a team to help. She taught herself to make centerpieces and realized she liked decorating and displaying food more than cooking. What started as volunteering became a marketable skill.
Michelle bought chafers, linens, serving items and accent décor to elevate the presentation of the buffet and guest tables. She received requests to decorate for housewarmings and baby showers. She launched Creative Table Tops, LLC which she operated for thirteen years. In the gallery you can see celebrations that required full-service event management working with venues, caterers, planners, rental companies, florists, photographers, videographers, and entertainers. Michelle gained great experience and continues to have a great relationship with many of those vendors. Creative Table Tops, LLC was about design and wow factor.
Meaningful Gatherings is not about the perfect IG worthy photo moment. We want to use our experience and inventory to Connect, Support, Encourage and Celebrate thru empowerment focused events. It is even sweeter when we can do that for an event hosted by a entrepreneur, creative, faith-based or non-profit organization or business doing great work for the community.
Aletha Blackwill is pictured on the left.
One of Michelle's proudest moments is when she hosted Air Force and Army Officers and Professionals pictured below. Aletha Retired from the Air Force in 2021 so the Pentagon did not allow her family and friends to attend the retirement ceremony in the Pentagon due to the COVID 19 Global Pandemic.
We live streamed the celebration from my Meaningful Gathering Room to her co-workers at the Pentagon. It was a proud moment for her but also for Michelle.
Michelle's 60 Birthday and Retirement from her Full Time Job Video is on the left