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 support potluck gatherings like this across the nation. We believe that loneliness and the isolation of different groups from one another have fueled the polarization and divisions in our country. Yet, we also believe we have the tools to change this. Churches, mosques, temples, and community organizations can provide the spaces to bring people together for authentic, human conversations.
We recently rebranded this initiative as The Potluck Project.
As guests arrived last night in San Antonio, I had the chance to talk with several of them. Many expressed feelings of anxiety and concern about the divisions in our society, but they also came with a desire to take positive action.
And take action they did!
The evening was filled with laughter, active listening, and heartfelt exchanges. One participant remarked, “I’ve done interfaith before, but this was next-level.” When I asked her what she meant, she said, “This was more about our shared humanity than just talking about our traditions.”
Around 60% of attendees were new to the Interfaith Association. This is a core goal of The Potluck Project—to provide people with their first experience of interfaith or intercultural dialogue. Events like these not only strengthen communities but also energize the organizations involved.
We’re excited to expand this effort through a tour in the Pacific Northwest and across the country. Last night, several attendees expressed interest in hosting similar events in other cities.
To support this national effort, we’re designing logos tailored for various regions to help local groups adapt The Potluck Project to their communities.
One man from the Sikh community summed up the evening perfectly, saying, “This is exactly what the country—and the world—needs.” I couldn’t agree more. We already have the resources to bring people together; we just need a little help to get started.
We encouraged attendees to download the toolkit and organize their own Potluck gatherings. Four people have already taken that step!
Your support is vital to help us expand this vision. Your prayers, participation, and financial contributions make it possible to connect neighbors and communities across the nation.
Let’s bridge divides and build unity, together.
