Unity Walk Continues to Grow

Thank you to all who attended the 5th Annual Unity Walk on Sunday, October 18th, 2009.  Despite chilly temperatures, participants received warm welcomes at host communities along Embassy Row.  As in the past, the Unity Walk would not have been possible without the physical and financial support of so many.  Our greatest thanks go out to all who made this special event possible, especially members our staff and the Steering Committee.  Names are listed below. 
 
Annually, the Unity Walk brings people of all and no faiths together for one day to imagine what could be possible when we work together.  New in 2009, we looked for ways to further enhance the EXPERIENCE for all participants.  The growth of our Youth Service Initiative has enabled us to connect with the next generation to foster interfaith dialogue through community service.  In preparation for the 2009 event, the Unity Walk co-hosted an evening lecture series and Interfaith Iftar dinner to explore “what compels one to serve.”  The Unity Walk opened this year with a Community Service Fair to highlight the national emphasis on volunteerism and provide a forum for participants to come back together again around service. 
 
It was noted repeatedly that the richest experience this year for participants was the opportunity to enter houses of worship along Embassy Row, the route of the walk.  Host communities were given additional time to develop short programs, sharing their religious traditions through music, meditation and food.  
 
We look forward to working with all of you in the coming year.  If you have any questions about Unity Walk or upcoming events contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 
Special thanks for the 2009 Unity Walk go to: 
  
Dr. Suhir Ahmad * Bill Aiken * Terry Connell * Stephen Donahoe * Greg Drury *Shama Farooq * Nadia Fedir * Carol Flett * Mary Lee Giblon-Sheahan * Vicente Garcia * Fatimah Goodwin * Joan Greenbaum * Sr. Kathleen Griffin * Richard Griffis * Mark Hoelter * Nevina Jakopin * Dariush Jamash * Bill Jenkins * Aydan Kalyoncu * Gauhar Khan * Donald Kursch * Kevin O’Briant * Dudley Sadler * Aiyah Saihati * Holly Shulman * Nick Smith * Charles Stevenson * Eda Uca-Dorn *Ann Wallace * Wade Wallace * Shereen Zaid

Sunday, October 18, 2009

1:00 pm Registration Opens - Washington Hebrew, 3935 Macomb Street
Participants may pick up Pilgrimage Cards during registration

1:00 pm Interfaith Community Service Fair

2:00 pm Washington Hebrew, 3935 Macomb Street
Explore and sign up for local service opportunities!

1:25 pm Program Begins – Welcome and Opening Remarks

2:00 pm Washington Hebrew, 3935 Macomb Street
          o Symbolic Muslim Call to Prayer
          o Opening Remarks – MC Maureen Fiedler, Interfaith Voices, WAMU 88.5
          o Welcome to the 2009 Unity Walk - Mpho Tutu, Episcopal Priest and Founder, Tutu Institute for Prayer and Pilgrimage, Advisory Chair, 9/11 Unity Walk
          o Senior Rabbi Bruce Lustig, M.A.H.L., Washington Hebrew Congregation
          o Live music from “As Kindred Spirits”
          o Keynote Address - “The Role Interfaith Dialogue and Service Plays in the World,” William Davis, Director of the United Nations Information Center
          o “Call to Serve!” – Aubrey Rose and Nick Sabet, Unity Walk Youth Service Initiative
 
2:15 pm - Open Houses – Three rounds of Open House activities and presentations have been arranged along the route of the Walk.  Please refer to the detailed schedule of events below and the map on the back of the program.

-Annunciation Catholic Church- Guided tours of the chapel and discussion
-National Gurdwara- Turban-tying demonstration
-Community of Christ- Peace Pole presentation
-Embassy of the Vatican – Greeting from Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Papal Nuncio
-Meridian Hill Drum Circle – “Drum to Unity”
-St. Nicholas Cathedral - Cathedral Festival – Unity Walk participants are encouraged to visit this annual festival for traditional Russian food and culture
-Soka Gakkai International – “A Chance to Chant”
-Islamic Center of Washington – Guided tours of the Mosque preceding the afternoon program
                   
4:30- pm Unity Walk Program Resumes

5:00 pm Islamic Center of Washington, 2551 Massachusetts Ave, NW
          o MC Maureen Fiedler, Interfaith Voices, WAMU 88.5
          o Welcome:  Imam Abdullah Khouj, Imam of the Islamic Center of Washington
          o Greeting:  Archbishop Donald Wuerl, Archdiocese of Washington
          o Keynote Address – “Interfaith Community Service as a Means for Community Growth,” Harris Wofford, Former Senator of Pennsylvania

5:00 pm Procession and Closing Celebration

5:45 pm
          o Gospel procession from the Islamic Center to the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial - a “Gandhi-style Walk” led by Arun Gandhi & the St. Augustine’s Gospel Choir
          o MC Maureen Fiedler, Interfaith Voices, WAMU 88.5
          o Arun Gandhi, Grandson of Mahatma Gandi