The thoughts for the Unity Walk was built upon another idea turned into
reality. Leaders of all different religions build a Habitat for Humanity
House in D.C. The original idea was for the leaders to all faiths wear their
traditional garb, build, then surround the house and sing a version of the
old award winning #1 hit, Coke commercial, "I'd like to teach the World to
Build". We did have the all leaders dress and raise the frame, however.

The idea of the Walk was presented in January of 2005 for Dr. Martin Luther
KingJr.'s birthday to the Points of Light Foundation. "We should have an open
house and completely apolitical Gandhi-style Walk down Embassy Row, with no
signs, banners or placards, for people of every religion." The idea was
selected, endorsed and massaged a bit by others in the room including Erik
Schwarz who was instrumental in so many ways.

From the inception all 10 houses of worship wanted to participate in some
form in this first ever, Walk and open house, between religions. Initially
viewed as a local event, the Walk took on greater meaning as we realized the
impact Embassy Row in Washington is a world stage. But first,
translating dreams to reality.

The Walk was being at administered from my house, which by sheer coincidence is right on the Walk route. We've probably
had over 100 meetings at the local congregations or here at my house to plan
the Walk. Even the planning meetings became an exercise in dialogue with
men in turbans, nuns in their habits, Muslim and evangelical Christians
attending. As a Presyterian from North Carolina, it's been quite an
experience transitioning from beers with my buddies to praying with gurus
from religions I've never heard of.

The 2005 Walk was a huge success with thousands of people from over 100
organizations, walking here on Embassy Row here in Washington. Several
documentaries were created including an award winning Voice of America piece
which was shown prime-time in Pakistan to a million people.

The 2006 attracted the greater array of nationally known speakers, from Mpho
Tutu, to Arun Gandhi to the Dalai Lama's Special Envoy, the VP of the
National Assn of Evangelicals to the Papal Nuncio of the Vatican and was
exported to New York. The Walk also received worldwide press on CNN, BBC,
Al Jazeera, and even The Daily Show.

The 2007 Walk will include more Ambassadorial presence, additional headline
speakers, and lay the groundwork for exporting the Walk internationally in
2008. We've just come back from England and Ireland, following up on leads
furnished by Desmond Tutu.

All of us wonder what we can do to break down the barriers of
misunderstanding in the world and show a different face. Many people talk
about ‘sowing the seeds of peace’ yet few know of any expressions, outside
of prayer, that can truly make this dream a reality. The Unity Walk, as an
experience and as a statement makes a significant impact, on a one-to-one
basis, but also worldwide via the mass media.

Kyle Poole is founder of the 9/11 Unity Walk.