By Rev. Mark Stephenson Executive Director, Pathways to Promise In his book, Bowling Alone, Robert Putman wrote, “As a rough rule of thumb, if you belong to no groups, but decide to join one, you cut your risk of dying over the next year in half. If you smoke and belong to no groups, it’s a toss-up statistically whether you should stop smoking or start joining. These findings are in some ways heartening: it’s easier to join a group than to lose weight, exercise regularly, or

By Bishop Bonnie L. Radden Companionship Coordinator, Pathways 2 Promise We live in a time when many people are surrounded by others, yet still feel profoundly alone. Across our nation, loneliness, isolation, anxiety, grief, depression, and emotional distress have reached unprecedented levels. People are searching for connection. They are longing to be understood. They are hoping someone will notice they are struggling and remind them that they matter. At Pathways 2 Promise,