The Big Table - Greater Peoria Data Hub

SAVE THE DATE: BIG TABLE GREATER PEORIA 2025!

The conversation continues! Mark your calendars for the next Big Table: Greater Peoria, happening October 17-18, 2025, at Four Points Sheraton Peoria.

This annual event brings together community members, business leaders, and change-makers to discuss the future of our region, spark new ideas, and collaborate on ways to drive economic growth and enhance quality of life.

💡 Why Attend?

✔ Engage in meaningful conversations on key regional topics

✔ Connect with like-minded individuals and leaders

✔ Help shape a stronger, more vibrant Greater Peoria

Stay tuned for more details, including registration and session topics. We can’t wait to hear your voice at the table!

WHAT:

The Big Table promotes regional community building through conversations designed to strengthen and connect communities. Through open, thoughtful conversations that focus on how we can strengthen our region, we will spark new relationships and new ways for working together by deepening our understanding of each other and what our region needs.

GOALS:

Promote Positivity & Community Input
Regional Vision for the Future
Regional Data for Everyone

THE BIG TABLE 2022

October 20, 2022 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Thanks for joining us at The Big Table 2022! Please find the recap video and the full keynote address videos below.
The 2022 Final Report is available for download below.

Download 2022 Report

Recap Video

Session Leaders:
Dr. Sheila Quirk Bailey, Illinois Central College
Beth Crider, Regional Office of Education
Laraine Bryson, Tri -County Peoria Urban League

If you missed last year’s event, we got you covered! Check out this recap of The Big Table 2022 event.

Keynote Address

Session Leaders:
Nikki Romain, ART Inc
J.D. Dalfonso, Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
John Morris, Peoria Riverfront Museum

One of the highlights of 2022’s event is the Keynote from Bob Ross of the Greater Topeka Partnership. Bob shared their success with talent attraction and how Greater Peoria can maximize it’s assets to attract talent. Watch the full keynote.

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Submit an event, meeting, initiative, or idea for us to share.

THE BIG TABLE 2020

October 19 – 22, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Thanks for joining us at The (Virtual) Big Table 2020! Please find the session videos below.
The 2020 Final Report is available for download below.

Download 2020 Report

Oct 19: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Session Leaders:
Rita Ali, ICC
Brian Ray, PNC
Joshua Gunn, Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce

Oct 20: Workforce & Education

Session Leaders:
Dr. Sheila Quirk Bailey, Illinois Central College
Beth Crider, Regional Office of Education
Laraine Bryson, Tri -County Peoria Urban League

Oct 21: Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Session Leaders:
Chris Setti, Greater Peoria Economic Development Council
Jake Hamann, Peoria Innovation Alliance/Distillery Labs
Samantha Hutchinson, Bear’s Bites
Eric Sampson, Illinois SBDC

Oct 22: Quality of Life

Session Leaders:
Nikki Romain, ART Inc
J.D. Dalfonso, Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
John Morris, Peoria Riverfront Museum

RESULTS: 2021-2025 COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

These conversations resulted in The Big Table: Greater Peoria Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a regional planning document. The CEDS is a tool for organizing and coordinating economic development goals for the Central Illinois region that includes Logan, Mason, Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties. You can learn more about the strategy, progress being made and download a copy of the strategy below.

2021-2025 CEDS Website

Participants from all over our region are invited to attend!
The map below shows all the counties that were represented at the 2020 event.

Many Voices. One Vision.

DOWNLOAD REPORTS:

The Big Table: Gather Around Justice

The Big Table: Gather Around Justice seeks to foster mindful conversation around how we can use our individual power and privilege to make the changes our region needs to correct historic racial, economic, and social inequities.

HR & Organizational Policies

Welcome & Introduced by:
Joshua Gunn – President & CEO, Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce

Moderated by:
Brian Ray – Regional President at PNC Bank

Panelists:
Laraine Bryson – President at Tri-County Urban League
Tom Alexander – Co-Founder & CEO at Holistic & Consultant at Distillery Labs
Eric Sutter – Senior Vice President of HR at EP!C

Criminal Justice Reform

Welcome & Introduced by:
Joshua Gunn – President & CEO, Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce

Moderated by:
Brent Baker – Director of Workforce Solutions, GPEDC

Panelists:
Chris McCall – Family & Criminal Defense Attorney
Johanes Maliza – Central District Assistant Federal Public Defender
Nia Mcfarland-Drye -Mitigation Specialist for Central District Federal Public Defender Office/NAACP
Carl Holloway – Executive Director of MAY-I Outreach

Panel Discussion

Panelists:
Mariah Cooley – Young Revolution
Sheriff Brian Asbell – Peoria County
Dr. Rita Ali – ICC, Peoria City Council

Moderated by Andre Allen – Higher Education Administration

On June 23, our panelists and community gathered virtually for mindful conversations around how we can use our individual power and privilege to make the changes our region needs to correct historic racial, economic, and social inequities. Watch the recording of this discussion to the right.

THE BIG TABLE REPORT:

The inaugural Big Table Greater Peoria event took place on October 15, 2019 and attracted over 700 attendees. The survey data and qualitative input collected at the event has been analyzed and compiled into a report.