Community Wisdom
Community wisdom is the foundation of PTU’s strategy for multi-cultural public partnerships, Let’s Go Together. On May 16, the Skagit partnership’s first cohort of participants will share their experience and vision with the public. Please join us for this celebration of their first successes in building cross-cultural partnerships in Skagit County! May 16 at 7:00…
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Amending the Soil
A few years ago I had a big moss problem in my yard. I live north of Seattle, so moss is hardly a surprise. But it was taking over the yard to the degree that the grass could no longer grow. My eighty-five year old neighbor came over the the hedge between our properties. He…
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Strategic Void
I’ve been involved in numerous presentations addressing the threat of what’s often termed Christian Nationalism to our democracy. This ideology seeks to establish a governance model where Christians permanently hold power, fostering what David Elcott describes as an “illiberal democracy” where everyone’s rights hinge on the whims of a ruling, Christian elite. I want to…
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Preparing the Soil
More than sixty people participated in our second “Let’s Go Together” event on Saturday, a service project held at the Helping Hands Food Bank in Sedro Woolley, WA. After first getting to know their neighbors at our Sharing Food and Stories event a few weeks ago, participants were back to deepen relationships while working side-by-side…
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The Power of Beginning
Many wisdom traditions include the powerful image of a “path.” In these traditions it means a journey from one part of life to another, how we walk the path, and how we walk the path with others. In our culture here in the United States, when we encounter a challenge, the preferred goal is often…
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The Power of Sharing Our Celebrations
This time of year, when the holidays of so many of our traditions begin to overlap, I am filled with joyful memories of the power that lies in sharing about our beloved celebrations. Imagine with me for a moment… The beauty of these stories is that they are not imagination, they are all real experiences…
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Our Assets
The vast majority of people in this nation care about our neighbors, respect people’s rights, and long for a better world. This same majority feels like we are helpless to strengthen our democracy. But wait! We live in every neighborhood. We are the answer we have been looking for! What if people in every neighborhood…
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Potluck for Democracy
Yesterday, I publicly announced PTU’s newest initiative: Potluck for Democracy. I made the announcement on a webinar hosted by the Parliament of the World’s Religions as a part of their FOCUS24 | Faith, Democracy & Our Common Future: Shaping a Path Forward. FOCUS24 is a year-long interfaith series building capacity, fostering community, and advancing advocacy…
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Humbled and Hopeful
Seventy people of diverse cultures, traditions, and life experiences came together last Thursday at our first LGT event. We gathered for food and conversation and found something more: hope. We live in a time of deep despair about the inequalities among humans our separation from each other. Many of us wonder if there is anything…
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