The following list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) reflects information available as of 8/8/2011. Please check back periodically for updates and additional information.
No, the 9/11 Unity Walk is free and open to the public. There is NO admission fee; all are welcome.
There is no formal advance registration for the Walk. Mark September 11th, from 1:30-5:00 pm on your calendars, spread the word, and show up the day of ready to explore, connect, and take action! If you want, you can RSVP and invite others to our Facebook event invitation at: http://www.facebook.com/911unitywalk Also, there will be a brief onsite registration on the day of the Walk. Please plan to arrive early (by about 1:15) to make sure you’re registered before the program begins.
Everyone! This is a great event to attend with people you know—it is designed to create spaces for dialogue and foster community. Come with your family, faith community, friends, or on your own!
There will be youth-friendly activities throughout the day’s events.
The opening Interfaith Service and Kick-off will begin at the Washington Hebrew Congregation (3935 Macomb Street NW, Washington D.C., 20016) at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Macomb Streets. The opening program will begin promptly at 1:30 pm. Onsite registration will begin at approximately 1:15 pm.
While the closest metro stop to Washington Hebrew Congregation is 1 mile away (Tenley Metro or Cleveland Park Metro on the Red Line), several Metrobus routes will drop you off close Please check www.wmata.com and their trip planner for the complete schedules and time of several buses that will take you to Washington Hebrew.
Dupont Metro on the Red Line is 3 blocks away from the Gandhi Memorial, where the Walk will end.
While there is minimal designated off street parking at Washington Hebrew Congregation where the Walk is starting, there is ample street parking, which is un-zoned and free on the weekends. Starting at 1:30, parking is available at Annunciation Roman Catholic Church at 3810 Massachusetts Avenue NW, a few blocks from Washington Hebrew Congregation.
There will be shuttle buses available at the end of the route by the Gandhi Memorial
(intersection of Massachusetts, Q & 21st NW) to bring people back to Washington Hebrew.
The Interfaith Event begins promptly at 1:30 pm, and the closing service at the Gandhi Memorial will end at 5:00 pm, so the total event will run for 3.5 hours. After the opening Interfaith Program, participants will have an hour to visit different houses of faith and religious institutions. Everyone will meet at the Islamic Center (located at 2551 Massachusetts Avenue NW) by approximately 3:15 pm, where there will be a youth service presentation, along with additional interfaith speakers. Then all participants will walk together to the Gandhi Memorial (located at the
intersection of Massachusetts Ave, 21st St and P St NW) for a culminating time of reflection and send-off, ending by 5:00 pm.
The total Walk, from Washington Hebrew Congregation at Macomb and Massachusetts to the Gandhi Memorial (intersection of Massachusetts Ave, 21st St and P St NW) is just over 2.5 miles total.
Some of the Open Houses may be a block or two off of Massachusetts Ave.
There is a short uphill portion of the walk between Washington Hebrew and the Sikh Gurdwara. All of the sites beyond the Gurdwara are reached by walking/proceeding down hill. All of the locations of the Walk are accessible by sidewalks. The pace for walking will be set by your abilities—there will be generous time given to travel from location to location.
While there is no shuttle bus planned to take participants to each individual location along the Walk, there will be a shuttle bus available to bring participants from the Gandhi Memorial back to their cars at the Gurdwara.
(Note: Many of the locations along the Walk are handicapped accessible. Also, in the past, people in wheelchairs have participated. However, we are unable to guarantee that all aspects of the Walk will be fully accessible.)
A number of volunteers will be on hand to serve as guides throughout the day’s events and at the different locations of the Walk. You will also be provided with a map of the different locations.
Activities at the Walk will include both indoor and outdoor portions, so please dress accordingly—layers may be helpful. Please also pay attention to the weather forecast, and bring an umbrella if there’s a chance of rain. Since you will be walking between locations, comfortable shoes are encouraged.
Some of the Open Houses and locations along the walk have specific traditions regarding dress, and we ask that you respect these traditions as much as possible—in particular we ask that you avoid wearing shorts and sleeveless shirts (both men and women). Also, a head covering is recommended in several places for both men and women. Some sites ask that you remove your shoes upon entering, so wearing easily removable shoes may be helpful.
As for other items, feel free to bring your camera for outdoor pictures, but cameras are sometimes restricted inside some locations. Also, remember, no banners, please.
While the Walk will not be serving a complete meal, some of the Open Houses along the way do provide snacks and food related to their traditions. We suggest that you eat ahead of time or bring snacks of your own to supplement. There
will be water stations along the route, including at the Gurdwara, the Community of Christ Church, the Islamic Center and the Gandhi Memorial.
The Walk will happen rain or shine, so please plan accordingly and wear weather-appropriate clothing or bring an umbrella if rain is forecast. As mentioned previously, there will be activities both indoors and outdoors – some (but not all) of the outdoor events have indoor locations in case of bad weather.
The Open House portion of the Walk will be a time for exploration of faith traditions you may not be as familiar with. Different houses of worship and religious institutions will open their doors and offer educational opportunities related to their traditions. For example, in past years, the Sikh Gurdwara has featured a turban-tying demonstration and served a traditional meal; the Soka Gakkai Intl.-USA Buddhist Culture Center has showcased a chant; and participants have been invited to tour the Islamic Center. There will be representatives at each site on hand to answer any questions and to serve as guides.
This year’s theme is “From Different Walks We Serve As One,” so the Open Houses have been asked to showcase their own efforts to help their neighbors and their communities. In general, the emphasis is on education and exploration, and is not—nor ever has been—focused on conversion.
It is important to note that because the Open House portion of the Walk will run for only an hour, it will not be possible to visit every location. We suggest choosing 2-3 sites to visit during the allotted time.
The Interfaith Youth Action Group (IYAG) is a partnership of the 9/11 Unity Walk and ML Resources Social Vision. Formed in 2010 and built on the Tony Blair Faith Foundation’s Faiths Act Fellows, IYAG challenges a leadership core of approximately 12 high school-aged youth to lead service projects and interfaith dialogue linking local community needs to the global Millennium Development Goals. September 11th and 12th mark the Core’s first service milestone, honoring the National Day of Service. For more information, visit www.theiyag.com. IYAG will have a service project at the Unity Walk.
No, this is not a demonstration or a rally. There are no banners and no agendas.
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. They come to listen to thought-provoking speeches, and are encouraged to seek out and strike up conversations with people of different faiths, to reflect, and also to celebrate.
Essentially, 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 urge you to come and enjoy your Walk experience!
Again, all are welcome to join. Whether someone has chosen to embrace a specific faith or not, that person can still join together in a celebration of the notions of unity, tolerance, understanding, dialogue, and service to others.
There are several ways to get involved:
Volunteer: we are looking for volunteers to help with various tasks such as on-site registration, setting up tables, and directing people along the course of the walk. Contact: Shereen at gro.klawytinunull@neerehs if you’d like to help.
Make a Donation: As always, admission to the Walk is absolutely free. However, if you’d like to support our efforts, you can make a donation on our website. We truly appreciate whatever you can contribute!
Regular updates will be posted on our website: www.911unitywalk.org and on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/911unitywalk. Also, periodic emails will be sent out to those who have joined the email list.
For additional questions, please contact: Dominique and Mike Rychlik at moc.liamgnull@skilhcyr or 301-580-0934.