Kai Gardner Mishlove had been serving refugee families for years when she got the idea. Refugees she’d worked with, people and families resettling in the Milwaukee area, often thanked her with meals, beautiful, flavorful and culture-rich meals. She realized what an opportunity it is to experience culture through food and wanted to bring that privilege to the broader community. So she created Tables Across Borders. A friend introduced her to the owners of local restaurants Amilinda, the Tandem and Tricklebee Café. Together they arranged a series of pop-up dinners where refugee chefs would take over for the night for a special meal, which not only offers a specific cuisine but awareness of other cultures. The first events quickly sold out. The dinners were Ethiopian, Syrian, Serbian, Rohingya and Congolese. When she’s not planning these gatherings, Kai serves refugees by helping them get access to health care and social services. Kai sees such bridge building as tikkun olam, a Jewish directive to repair the world. She also is the Milwaukee engagement coordinator for Edot Midwest Regional Jewish Diversity Project, which focuses on increasing access to Jewish community life for Jewish people of color. Kai has done graduate studies in public health and has a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from Boston University. She also has been active in disability rights groups and the biker community – her mother rode Harleys in the 1960s and Kai has loved bikes since her childhood. She’s especially passionate about promoting diversity in the motorcycle community and road safety awareness. In March she was honored by the Milwaukee Repertory Theater as one of 12 SHEroes – women of color dedicated to community, collaboration and sisterhood.