working for the unity of the church and the wholeness of communities through collegiality, collaboration, and connectedness
We Have to Talk
Save the dates for our 2026-2027 field trips.
Sign up now for an interfaith walking tour of the Hill District on September 3.
We Have to Talk is a network of interfaith spiritual leaders from across Southwest Pennsylvania: clergy and lay people who gather to build relationship across our diverse traditions through conversation and action.
Our network's core principles are named in our statement of purpose, Living Faithfully With One Another. The key organizing partners are Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania and the Center for Loving Kindness at the JCC of Greater Pittsburgh.
Our network began in the days immediately following the mass shooting at Tree of Life synagogue on October 27, 2018. Should we cancel a planned interfaith gathering the following week? we wondered. No, we agreed. Because: we have to talk.
Since that time, from Interfaith Field Trips to speakers to themed dialogues to informal Spiritual Leader Spaces, We Have to Talk has convened dozens of clergy and lay people every year, establishing the connections that keep our community strong.
We hope you will join us at our next event. To receive occasional emails about We Have to Talk, sign up here.
Photo by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
OUR NEXT EVENTS:
2026-2027 Interfaith Field Trips
Remember the fun of a school field trip? Discovering a new place, learning through action, and having fun with friends? The We Have to Talk Interfaith Field Trip series brings that energy to our interfaith relationship-building. Throughout the year, spiritual leaders from across Southwest Pennsylvania meet to explore our community, sharing in dialogue along the way. Save the dates for these interfaith field trips this year:
September 3: Walking Tour of the Hill District
October 22: Keeping Communities Safe - a Conversation with the FBI's Pittsburgh Field Office
Full calendar coming soon!
Interfaith History in Pittsburgh's Hill District: a Walking Tour
Thursday, September 3, 2026
10:00 a.m.
meeting point: Up In The Hood Cleaners
1850 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
We Have to Talk ... and for our next Interfaith Field Trip, we have to walk as well! Meet us for an interfaith walking tour of Pittsburgh's Hill District on Thursday, September 3, as we discover the interconnected African American, Jewish, and Muslim history of the area.
Led by Eric Lidji of the Rauh Jewish Archives and Terri Baltimore of Urban Excursion Tours, we will learn the often-hidden stories of landmarks including al-Awwal Mosque, Miller Street Baptist Church, and ACH Clear Pathways (once the Kaufmann Center). Participants should be prepared for about 1.5 miles of slow walking. After the tour, we'll have a time for discussion at Beth Hamedrash Hagodol ("the Downtown Shul").
Please join us as we learn about how our histories and our futures are intertwined as neighbors.
Space is limited, so please register now using the form below. This event is intended for spiritual leaders: clergy and religious and those holding lay leadership roles in houses of worship and faith institutions across Southwest Pennsylvania. Let's come together. We have to talk.
