Early in 2026 in the Oxford Circle neighborhood, 115 Philadelphians representing 15 different nationalities sat down to enjoy dinner at the first in a series of 21 events across seven diverse neighborhoods. The social impact project, called “Breaking Bread, Breaking Barriers” and conceived by president and CEO of The Welcoming Center (TWC) Anuj Gupta, rests on the conviction that sharing food can bring strangers together for meaningful conversations that lead to better understanding, stronger neighborhoods and more civic engagement. Host sites such as churches, mosques and community centers invite both longtime and newly arrived residents of their communities to attend these complementary dinners. But TWC’s goal is far greater than giving neighbors the chance to sample many new foods.
Founded in 2003, TWC is a nonprofit whose mission is to provide pathways to economic growth and strengthen communities by assisting immigrants. Taj Sheikh, project manager for Breaking Bread, and Seth Myers, project coordinator, bring their mix of personality and professional experience to the myriad challenges of hosting large dinners citywide: coordinating logistics and providing up-to-date communications with the staff, host sites and a wide array of volunteers. Both Sheikh and Myers are transplants to Philly (Sheikh from Texas, Myers from Missouri), so they know what it means to be a new arrival to an established community.
Sheikh’s parents immigrated from Pakistan to Texas, where she recalls her mother’s home cooking as “adventurous.” Her mom embraced American foods, creating “fusion dishes” combining traditional Pakistani cuisine with American regional favorites like Tex-Mex King Ranch casserole. For the Sheikh family, food was a gateway to the American experience. Sheikh worked in public policy and taught ESL classes in Texas before moving here in 2021 to pursue a career in social work, but federal budget cuts led to layoffs and her transition to TWC in 2025.
Myers hails from Kansas City, Missouri, where barbecue is a serious matter for discussion and debate. His exposure to other cultures and cuisines resulted from years spent abroad teaching English. After moving to Philadelphia, he joined the District Attorney’s Office on External Engagement and Government Affairs, working in community engagement until TWC hired him in 2025.
We saw people’s apprehension melt away minutes after they arrived.”
— Taj Sheikh, project manager, Breaking Bread, Breaking Barriers
Days before the first Breaking Bread dinner, in a tense time of immigration crackdowns and ICE raids, Sheikh and Myers worried if any guests would show up. Much to their relief, over 100 enthusiastic people came through the door. “We saw people’s apprehension melt away minutes after they arrived,” Sheikh says. And Myers adds, “What we’re going for is excitement in the air.”
Beyond creating a welcoming atmosphere, TWC structured the series as three rounds of dinners in each of the seven neighborhoods, to explore specific themes through sequential, guided conversations moderated by trained volunteers. The initial event encouraged guests to talk about their favorite foods and food memories. The second dinner asked them to describe their neighborhood experience and define what it means to be a good neighbor. During the third, participants were asked to take a wider view, sharing ideas about how to be a good citizen on a local and national scale. In keeping with food as the throughline, TWC plans to synthesize the results of these conversations into a “recipe” for good citizenship. The final report will use the “ingredients” participants identified as the actions and best practices each of us can follow to activate our civic engagement.
Sheikh and Myers are witnessing what these multicultural neighborhood events can accomplish across Philadelphia. “What was surprising was that time and time again, we see these full rooms of people that were willing to come and share about themselves,” says Myers. The project team sees how passionately and eloquently participating restaurants voice their support for new Americans. For these small businesses, immigrants are important to their bottom line, to their workforce and to the vibrancy of their community.
Breaking Bread, Breaking Barriers aims to show that sharing a dinner table creates a risk-free opportunity to try new foods and meet strangers in a safe space. Sheikh and Myers also hope it can demonstrate that honest conversations about what it means to be good neighbors and citizens can change preconceptions. Breaking Bread’s 2026 season culminates in September with a celebratory dinner party for all participants.
D’Jakarta Cafe’s Beef Rendang
Contributed by Chef Alfitri Sonie
Breaking Bread, Breaking Barriers would not have been possible without the enthusiastic support and delicious foods provided by ethnic restaurants located in the seven host neighborhoods. Each dinner featured dishes by two chefs sharing specialities from their cultural heritage. Reflecting the culinary richness of Philadelphia, guests enjoyed the tastes of Laos, Mexico, Senegal, China, Italy, Haiti, the Middle East and more. This popular recipe showcases the characteristic flavors of Indonesia.
2 pounds peeled beef knuckle, sirloin tip or bottom round, cut in 1 ½ -inch cubes
4 cups coconut milk
2 bay leaves
6 kaffir lime leaves, torn
2 lemongrass stalks (bottom part only), crushed
1 to 1 ½ inches galangal or fresh ginger root, crushed
Salt, to taste
Large pinch of sugar
Blend into to a paste:
1 cup diced red or green chili
½ cup chopped shallots
6 cloves garlic, chopped
3 candlenuts (or macadamia nuts, raw cashews or blanched almonds)
1 inch ginger root, chopped
1 inch turmeric root, chopped
- Combine all ingredients in a deep pot over medium heat.
- Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the
- beef is fully cooked, about 20 to 30 minutes. Serve with rice.
