Steve Bhaerman and I have known each other for several decades. We share deep roots in Michigan—Flint, Ann Arbor, and Detroit—and a long history of creative collaboration. Years ago, Steve was also a Visioneering PR client, and our shared commitment to consciousness, creativity, and cultural transformation has kept us connected ever since.

Recently, during one of our conversations, I shared with Steve an idea that I thought would resonate deeply with him. It was inspired by an experience from a major GATE event I produced years ago—an evening hosted by Louie Anderson and featuring Jim Carrey. During that event, I asked Rev. Michael Beckwith to step outside his usual preacher persona and instead try something unexpected: stand-up comedy. The result was electric. Michael’s humor revealed the deep wisdom behind laughter, and the audience responded with both joy and insight. In that moment, I realized something profound—there is *wisdom in comedy, and comedy in wisdom.* That realization became the seed of what we’re now calling *The Wisdom of Comedy.*

Another inspiration for this event came from a project I promoted in 2019—a film titled *Free Trip to Egypt.* As part of our marketing strategy, we organized a special community screening in Arizona. After the film, we served a spaghetti dinner for a few hundred attendees, creating a warm and welcoming space for dialogue. The evening culminated in an open, heartfelt conversation with the film’s creator, where people from diverse backgrounds shared their experiences and perspectives. It was extraordinary to witness how a single film—and the community engagement around it—helped bridge divides, shift perceptions, and foster genuine understanding.

This powerful model of connection, conversation, and transformation will serve as a blueprint for *The Wisdom of Comedy* event—an experience where laughter becomes a pathway to insight, and humor becomes a catalyst for healing and unity.