Pathways To Peace, Peace Alliance set May 4 walkathon kickoff with filmmaker Gaetano Kazuo Maida

By AI, Created 10:58 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Pathways To Peace and The Peace Alliance will launch a Peace In Every Step global walkathon on May 4 with filmmaker and Buddhist leader Gaetano Kazuo Maida leading a Zoom kickoff. The campaign invites people worldwide to walk for peace, with proceeds above costs supporting peace actions through both organizations.

Why it matters: - The Peace In Every Step walkathon is designed to turn a simple activity into a global peace campaign. - The event connects mindfulness, community participation, and fundraising for peace work. - Proceeds above costs will support peace actions through The Peace Alliance and Pathways To Peace. - Contributions are tax deductible under the law.

What happened: - Pathways To Peace and The Peace Alliance announced a May 4 kickoff event for their Peace In Every Step: Global Walkathon. - The online session will feature Gaetano Kazuo Maida, executive director of the Buddhist Film Foundation and producer of the International Buddhist Film Festival. - The kickoff event will be held on Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/6091308836. - The walkathon itself begins on Mother’s Day, May 10. - Participants can register as individuals or teams at the walkathon registration page.

The details: - Maida is also a founding director of Tricycle: The Buddhist Review. - Maida has directed and/or produced films including Peace Is Every Step, Robert Bly: A Thousand Years of Joy, Rock Soup, and Milarepa. - The kickoff will include a short viewing and discussion of Peace Is Every Step, a documentary about Thich Nhat Hanh. - The film focuses on Thich Nhat Hanh’s efforts to seek an early peaceful end to the American war in Vietnam, which led to a Nobel Peace Prize nomination. - Ben Kingsley narrates the film. - The event will also include a live Q&A on the walkathon schedule, local and global participation, and use of the Zeffy fundraiser app. - The walkathon invites people to walk in neighborhoods, parks, or natural spaces while holding a shared intention for peace. - The campaign also includes reflections and peace practices along the way. - Maida has served on the boards of the Point Foundation, Parallax Press, North Atlantic Books, and Tea Arts Institute. - Pathways To Peace describes itself as an international nonprofit focused on building cultures of peace through education, collaboration, and global engagement. - The Peace Alliance describes itself as a nonpartisan organization advancing policies and programs that prevent violence and promote well-being.

Between the lines: - The campaign uses a familiar fitness format to make peace work feel accessible and participatory. - The emphasis on mindfulness and global connection suggests the organizers want the walkathon to function as both a fundraiser and a community-building effort. - The inclusion of a filmmaker linked to Buddhist media gives the launch a spiritual and cultural dimension.

What’s next: - Organizers are steering participants toward the May 4 informational kickoff and the May 10 walkathon start. - The live Q&A is intended to help participants understand the schedule, local engagement options, and app setup before the event begins. - The campaign invites people anywhere in the world to walk, run, or dance for peace and share in the broader movement.