When people ask, “What does Peace Catalyst do?” I typically say, “We create safe spaces for people to get to know each other.” Usually that means getting Christians and Muslims in the same room, but over the years that has expanded to other groups joining us too. When storms come and people start saying hateful things about those we’ve met and care about, perhaps we won’t be led down a path of hate and isolation. Perhaps we’ll have friends in this demonized group and will feel compelled to nuance the arguments. Perhaps we’ll be brave enough to stand with the marginalized and defend them. Perhaps we’ll catalyze peace.

It’s a diverse community with the potential for dangerous divisions. But it’s this very diversity that is bringing people of different faiths and all walks of life together. A major refugee resettlement city, Boise is home to new Americans from around the world, a majority of them Muslims, and Peace Catalyst peacemakers Nick and Laura Armstrong are at the heart of local efforts that are bringing community members together in deep and perhaps unexpected friendships.

You’ve already taken the steps to plan your Peace Dinner and you’re equipped with our 5 tips for hosting successfully, but you may still find yourself feeling nervous or unsure about any number of elements of your peace dinner. Here are answers to a few questions you might have.

So you’ve got your peace dinner planned, and people will be at your house in a few hours. What will make you a good cross-cultural host? The following 5 tips will give you a good start.

You can help us set the table for peace in 2018! By bringing Christians, Muslims, and others to the table, you help create peace in our world by dissolving stereotypes, bridging divides, and turning fear into friendship. Here's how...

This is the question one couple asked Peace Catalyst's Kelly Perry before a recent Peace Feast in San Diego. It may be a question this particular couple asked, but it's definitely a sentiment that many people have when attending Peace Feasts or other Peace Catalyst events that involve meeting or interacting with Muslims for the first time.  

Peace Catalyst works in cities and neighborhoods across the U.S. to promote understanding and peace between Christians and Muslims, and one of our most recent events was a Peace Feast in San Diego.

This week's Peace Feast at Hoyo's Somali Kitchen in Columbus was a great success! We ended at 9pm and by 10:30pm we still had people talking and laughing and enjoying one another, and we've gotten responses like, “this was the best conversation I’ve had with a stranger in a while,” and “I really made friends Saturday night!” Others who weren't able to attend have asked for another event soon. 

When trying to understand the perceived “other,” it’s important to be cautious about single-story narratives (i.e. “just watch a 4-minute video on YouTube to know the truth”) and information from mass media and to instead get to know real people in real relationship. That’s why we do what we do.