The following is written by Kyle Poole, 9/11 Unity Walk Founder:
This month we kickoff organizing for the 2014 Unity Walk. We are all energized by the visioning, the speakers yet to be invited, and of course to see all your smiling faces again. Making this project work year after year, takes hundreds of dedicated volunteers, our steering committee, our board and you. It also takes a few full time staff during the spring/summer months making sure all the pieces fit together. Your contribution today helps us plan a successful Unity Walk.
Over 1,000 people attended last year. Energy is poured into the visioning, planning, and sometimes literally sweating out of the details, as we invite speakers and entertainers, support local congregations, and build a volunteer network for the day. This year we hope to grow that number and increase individual engagement.
On Friday, February 7th I spoke about the founding and continuing work of Unity Walk, with Jackie Fuller for the Fairfax Public Access show Interfaith Connections. High school student, Sara Zahir represented Capital Area Interfaith Friends (CAIF), and Cassandra Lawrence represented DC-Interfaith Network, the young professionals network. Both CAIF and DCIN were born out of the energy created from the Unity Walk. It seems every year a new idea, program or project is born from people meeting and being energized at the Unity Walk.
All this energy and connecting is building a network criss crossing the DC metro region. A network that can support each of our endeavors, tackle city wide issues, and celebrate with each other. In this month’s newsletter there is a report from DC-Interfaith Network, a reflection on CAIF’s visit to the holocaust museum, a scholarship announcement for the North American Interfaith Network in Detroit and a report from the February 8th Interfaith Young Adult Leader’s gathering organized by Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington.
P.S. Your financial support helps us plan more effectively and clearly. It takes about $20,000 to make the Unity Walk a reality. Give now so we can plan ahead. Whether its $500 or $5 every bit helps us complete a step on the walk. Donate now. If you have any questions or would like to join the organizing committee contact us.
