A Whole-of-Society Response
Introducing a Series on the WA Statewide Civic Life Strategy — Last fall, I talked with a journalist who was curious about our work at Paths to Understanding. He listened carefully, nodded along, and said he believed that efforts to bring people together and build trust are necessary. But then he said, “But it doesn’t…
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The Gift of Multifaith: What Our Tradition Offers the Bridge-Building Movement
As we reflect on how our mission at Paths to Understanding needs to evolve to meet today’s context, I keep coming back to this: multi-faith organizations have a gift to offer the wider bridge-building movement. A recent article by Allison Ralph put it plainly: advocacy and bridge-building strategies, on their own, are failing to create…
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Beyond Bridges: Growing Something That Lasts
At a recent board meeting, we were deep in discussion about our mission statement. We were throwing around a lot of good ideas—words like “bridge-building,” “unity,” “bias,” “community.” Then, a few of our board members—leaders from Indigenous communities—gently pointed something out. They noticed how much of our language, and the broader bridge-building movement’s language, leans…
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A Moment Made for Connection: Why PTU’s Work Is So Urgent Now
Something big is happening in our country, and not in a flashy headline kind of way. It’s quieter than that—but no less urgent. Across the United States, people are feeling lonelier and more disconnected than ever. Even as we live closer together and connect more often online, we’re growing farther apart in real life. Robert…
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Reconsidering Our Mission: A Reflection on Dehumanization and Belonging
I’ve been working to counter dehumanization for over ten years now. In that time, I’ve learned a few things—and some things I already knew have come into sharper focus. I stepped into this work in 2015 after seeing a well-funded network of organizations spreading slander about American Muslims. But it wasn’t just slander. It was…
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Looking for Answers, Finding Questions
by Viveka Hall-Holt, ‘Let’s Go Together’ Program Coordinator This spring I went to Turkiyë (Turkey) with my mother for a course about ancient Christianity, looking for answers. Who were some of the first people who practiced my tradition? How did they live? How do people live out their traditions in Turkiyë now? Instead of coming…
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Being Human in the Midst of Global Crises
Events unfolding in Iran — or anywhere in the world, really — don’t just stay “over there.” They reach into our homes, our neighborhoods, and our hearts. For many, these headlines aren’t distant. They stir up old trauma, trigger fresh fear, and leave people feeling vulnerable or alone. At Paths to Understanding, we’ve seen this…
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A ‘Whole of Society’ Response
We’ve all felt it. It’s not just in our heads—researcher Robert Putnam has been tracking this disconnection for decades. His work shows what many of us already know: since the 1960s, Americans have become more isolated, less trusting, and less engaged in community life. This loss of connection makes everything harder—raising kids, solving local problems,…
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Walking and Chewing Gum at the Same Time
We’re living in a time of deep urgency. We see real threats to democracy, rising violence, and growing division. People are tired, angry, and worried about what’s coming next. It’s tempting to focus only on the most urgent crises. And to be honest, sometimes we have to. When there’s a fire, you put it out.…
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