Imagine Bermuda is marking April as Hospitality Month with a call for residents to reach out to people outside their circle of acquaintance for a short meal and a chat.

Glenn Fubler, one of the group’s founding members, said that Michael Dunkley and Walter Roban of the Progressive Labour Party were among those who took advantage of the initiative, meeting at the Chewstick Foundation’s new headquarters on Front Street.

Yesterday’s gathering was dubbed “Thoughtful Thursday”, but with two days of the month remaining, Mr Fubler said others might pursue the initiative at their own time. Mr Fubler said a move by Randy Horton, the Speaker of the House, to lunch with a client from the addiction service Focus Counselling, epitomised the spirit of the initiative.

Earlier in the week, Charles Gosling, the Mayor of Hamilton, had lunch with Taylor Ebbin of the Adult Education School.

Mr Ebbin told The Royal Gazette he thought the idea was “great”, adding: “That’s what Bermuda needs — everybody sit down and be on the same page.”

Mr Gosling agreed, adding: “We need to get out of our comfort area. Bermudians talk a good talk about diversity, but socially we still have our same issues.”