In the past, interfaith work often brought people together across lines of difference. However, in many parts of the nation, a significant percentage of people no longer participate in religious communities. To create a truly inclusive gathering, it’s essential to invite people not only from diverse wisdom traditions but also from various cultural, social, and economic groups in your community.
In our Let’s Go Together strategy, we strive to include people from many different backgrounds. These include, but are not limited to:
- Cultures
- Religious, Spiritual or Philosophical Traditions
- Race or Ethnic Groups
- Economic Situations
- Education
- Gender Identities
- Age
- Urban, Suburban, and Rural Lifestyles
And more.
Before hosting our first event with diverse community members, we spent 18 months in conversation with leaders from nonprofits and other groups that serve these diverse groups of people. Their insights into the challenges and strengths of their groups allowed us to shape events that made participation accessible and meaningful for a wide range of people. This preparation was essential to building trust, especially among marginalized groups, so that everyone felt safe enough to show up.
For example, here are just some of the groups represented on the Let’s Go Together leadership Council for Skagit County, WA:
- Upper Skagit Elders
- Underground Ministries, OUR Journey
- Skagit Valley Family YMCA
- Community Action of Skagit County
- Members of the Muslim Community in Skagit County
- St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
- Burlington Lutheran Church
- Soroptimists of Anacortes
- Shalom Women’s Group of Anacortes
- Rotary Club
- Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
- North Sound ACH
- PeaceHealth Sedro-Woolley
- Self-Employed/Yard Care Professionals
- Salem Lutheran Church
- Gurdwara of Skagit Valley
- Center for Spiritual Living Mount Vernon
- Skagit Valley College
- Youth Engagement Initiatives
- Celebration Lutheran Church
- Helping Hands Food Bank
- PFLAG Skagit
- Anacortes Lutheran Church
- Center for Spiritual Living Anacortes
- Triumph Teen Life Center
- Skagit Valley Catholic Churches
- NAMI Skagit
- Central United Methodist Church (in partnership with Bethlehem Lutheran Church and St. James Episcopal Church)
This is just the beginning. We know there are more groups to include and that we can grow and adapt our community partnership as we move forward.
While we see Paths to Understanding as an interfaith organization, we recognize that there are also non-religious communities of wisdom and that we want to foster respect between ALL people. Interfaith relationships serve as a model for how we can engage with and respect one another across cultural, social, and economic divides.
As our work evolves with the changing landscape of our communities, PTU is committed to continuously learning and improving our programs. Each step forward teaches us how to better connect with more groups and individuals.
We invite you to join us on this journey!