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November 19, 2004/Kislev 6 5765, Vol. 57, No. 12
Walk aims to unite
STEPHANIE N. HENSCHEL
Staff Writer
On Nov. 21, people from various religious and ethnic backgrounds will gather for the Walk as One unity walk at Tempe's Kiwanis Park.
The event, considered the largest and fastest-growing fund-raiser of the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ), aims to break down the barriers of bias, bigotry and racism.
"We want to break down the walls of ignorance and misunderstandings which lead to violence and build bridges of respect and support among all people," said Paul Eppinger director of the Arizona Interfaith Movement and co-chairman of the walk. "We want to build a community and a world of unity."
This year's walk is off to a good start toward its goal: it is the first time a Christian, a Jew and a Muslim have chaired the event together.
"It's been working very, very well," Eppinger said of the arrangement.
David Engelman, fellow co-chairman who also sits on the board of the American Jewish Committee, said NCCJ had asked him along with his "friend and colleague, Dr. Zuhdi Jasser," to help chair the event with Eppinger.
"I'm excited about what I'm doing," Engelman said. "NCCJ is a great organization and does a lot of wonderful things. I think it serves a great purpose."
Jasser, the Muslim repre-sentative to the board of the AZ Interfaith Movement and also a co-chairman, said the gathering of faiths is in keeping with the goal of the walk and the movement.
"As the three Abrahamic faiths, it's very important for our represen-tatives to be chairing this," Jasser said. It is unfortunate it is not possible for all faiths to chair the event at the same time, he added.
"We're just three of the 19 faiths represented in the movement," he said.
Funds from the event go to support youth and community programming, such as Unitown and Minitown, two of NCCJ's signature programs, and community/police advocacy.
Registration for the walk will begin at 1 p.m. Walkers are asked to raise pledges. Those raising pledges of $125 or more are eligible to receive a variety of prizes, including an NCCJ Walk as One T-shirt to a $500 Sharper Image gift certificate. Kiwanis Park is located at the corner of Baseline Road and S. Mill Avenue in Tempe. Visit www.nccjaz.org.
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