Media with a Mission
2024 brought some exciting developments for PTU’s weekly TV show, Challenge 2.0. We doubled our number of subscribers on YouTube, the podcast version became available on Spotify and several other podcast apps we weren’t previously on, and most importantly: We produced several episodes “in the field”, visiting individuals and places that had inspiring stories to…
Read More
Building Trust with All People
Let’s Go Together “Meet Up”: a way to continue to create partnerships between large gatherings
Read More
The Potluck Project Goes National
This past year, Paths to Understanding has spent a significant amount of time developing our Potluck Project. This program, PTU’s first nation-wide endeavor, reflects our growing national reach as an organization. We are committed to being locally rooted here in Western Washington and simultaneously being nationally engaged in collaboration and conversation with partners around the…
Read More
Ripple Effects
Tom Friedman argues that humanity is currently facing two immense challenges: These forces are reshaping our world at an overwhelming pace, creating deep anxiety for many. However, I believe he overlooks a third critical challenge: the loneliness of individuals and the isolation of groups. Individual loneliness has become both a public health and mental health…
Read More
Potluck in San Antonio
Last night, 100 people from diverse traditions and cultures gathered to share food and meaningful conversations. PTU partnered with local leaders from the Interfaith San Antonio Alliance to host the event at Grace Lutheran Church, just a short distance from the Riverwalk. As you may know, PTU and Seattle University have developed a toolkit to…
Read More
Who Are We?
Who are we? Like many of you, I’m reflecting on the values that shape our actions and beliefs in the United States. There’s a lot of reflection happening right now about what our values are—and this conversation is deeply needed. It’s also crucial to remember how complex we all are, each of us carrying layers…
Read More
Casting out Fear
Love casts out fear. But love is more than a slogan, a meme, or a scolding comment. True love is built in person-to-person and group-to-group relationships. Most of us feel lonely. Most groups don’t connect with others outside their circles. After centuries of layered dehumanization and constant negative news about each other, it’s no wonder…
Read More
Repairing Our Foundations
When I was in 4th grade, we discovered a problem with our house’s foundation. There was a soft spot in the kitchen floor. During construction, they hadn’t removed enough dirt, leading to high humidity and poor air circulation. As a result, some of the posts and beams in the house were rotting. But there was…
Read More
A Deep Breath – and then Let’s Get to Work
As the election approaches, many of us are deeply focused on the outcome. Which direction will our nation go? No matter the result, here at Paths to Understanding, we know our work remains. In his book Upswing, Robert Putnam presents a revealing list of key factors that contribute to a strong and unified nation: His…
Read More