What’s it Like to Walk: A Snapshot From Previous Years

“The experience of the Walk never leaves you.”

From the beginning, the Walk has been designed as an experience – a thought-provoking and growing experience. It is a rare opportunity for people to come together to celebrate faith around the central theme of unity. Most walkers find their own faith strengthened, but also revel in the opportunity to learn about people of other faiths.

Walkers come from all backgrounds, with their own feelings, viewpoints and prejudices. Some come open. Some come curious. Some come reluctantly.

The Walk is an engaging and dynamic experience. Walkers listen to thought-provoking speeches, are encouraged to seek out and strike up conversations with people of different faiths, reflect, and also celebrate.

The Walk commences at Washington’s oldest and largest synagogue, Washington Hebrew Congregation. Walkers are greeted by volunteers and enter the temple to the sounds of gospel music. Walkers then hear the first out of three sets of speeches, all from major faith leaders – the central theme being “don’t give up or compromise your own faith, but reach out, learn about, and respect your neighbor and their faith.

The Walk then begins with a Muslim Call to Prayer from Washington Hebrew. Over a thousand participants leave the synagogue with questions to engage their neighbors. The Walk continues up Massachusetts Avenue, where participants pass the Annunciation Roman Catholic Church and are greeted by musicians and refreshments at the National Sikh Gurdwara. The Walk continues down Embassy Row, passing St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral, The Community of Christ, St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral, and the Soka Gakkai – USA Center. Participants then warmly greeted by the Papal Nuncio, Pietro Sambi standing outside the Embassy of the Vatican, along with international Ambassadors and diplomats.

In silence and guided by the joyful sound of a Japanese flute, walkers cross the Khalil Gibran Park and over the bridge that leads to the Islamic Center.

At the Islamic Center, participants are greeted by Richard Cizik, V.P. of the National Association of Evangelicals, who speaks from the steps of the Mosque, while Jewish cantors sing over the loudspeakers and refreshments are served.

After a dynamic and engaging walk down Embassy row, emboldened walkers proceed to the final stop, the Gandhi Memorial. Here, they are greeted by speeches that celebrate the legacies of MLK and Gandhi, heroes and leaders that paved the way for the very mission of the Unity Walk.

In the end, the Unity Walk serves to remind walkers of its mission: “Moving us towards a world where we are united rather than divided by our many faiths.” We hope you enjoy your Walk experience!