United Campus Ministry will host its 4th annual 9/11 Peace Walk celebrating diversity in Athens.
Given the turmoil around the world and on campus revolving around Student Senate, this year’s United Campus Ministry 9/11 Interfaith Peace Walk is particularly relevant.
“Looking at what’s happening on campus and the world at large, walks like this are needed,” said Melissa Wales, executive director at UCM. “It’s a celebration of diversity.”
The walk begins at 7 p.m. Thursday and will be followed by a Peace Potluck, Sunday at 6 p.m.
UCM created the peace walk on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 in 2011. The organization previously organized vigils on campus and at the courthouse as a place for people to congregate and reflect.
“We want to involve as many faith communities as we could, so we created this peace walk,” said Wales.
The walk will begin at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 64 University Terrace and will end at the Islamic Center on Stewart Street, where people will convene for a candlelight vigil and song. Participants will pass Athens churches on the route.
This event is part of the Better Together campaign at UCM, which is student-led and prioritizes gathering students from various faith backgrounds to complete community service. This year, the group is hoping to have more than 1,000 people attend the walk.
“To me, what’s inspiring about it is the way it brings together so many people from different faith communities and traditions and (people of) no faith around a vision,” said Evan Young, UCM campus minister. “There’s something incredibly powerful about being that vision for an evening, experiencing it and seeing it together.”
Peace Potluck, which was created in the spring, will be held Sept. 14, Oct. 12 and Nov. 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. at UCM. Attendees are encouraged to bring a dish if he or she is able.
The potluck is intended to bridge the gap between student and community activists.
“We need to know who each other are, provide support for each other and feel connected,” Wales said.
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