United Against Fentanyl Washington WeekendFamily Guide · 09.24–09.26.26 Need help? 269-281-6880

United Against Fentanyl · Welcome to Washington

Washington
Weekend

Three days. Families from across the country. One message, carried to the people who can end this. Here is everything you need to be there with us.

500 families · 50 states · one weekend

Find your lanyard badge Make a memorial sign
--
Days to go
09.25
Hill Day
09.26
Walk + Summit

Bring their face with you

Make a memorial sign

Carry your loved one with you on the Mall and at the Capitol. Add their photo, name, and age, then download a print-ready sign to pick up at Walgreens, CVS, Staples, or FedEx Office before you travel. Photos stay on your device.

Walk for Lives memorial sign preview

Walk for Lives

Walk for Lives sign

The black and lime Walk for Lives circle with their photo, name, and forever age.

Make this sign →
 Washington Weekend memorial sign preview

Washington Weekend 2026

Washington Weekend sign

Navy and red with the D.C. Weekend seal, plus room for their dates, hometown, and a tribute.

Make this sign →

Signs stay handheld, no poles or stakes. We will have some blank signs and markers on site too.

Your lanyard badge

Find your badge

Every registered family has a personal badge with your schedule, who you are meeting on Hill Day, and the QR codes for the weekend. Look yours up here to see it on your phone, or print a copy if you lose yours.

Type your name the way you registered. For privacy there is no list of names, so your badge only appears when you type your own.

We could not find a badge under that name. Try the name you registered with, including any hyphen or second last name. Still stuck? Call 269-281-6880 or ask us at check-in.
Lives Interrupted book cover

Thursday night · Book launch

Lives Interrupted

A book launch with investigative journalist Ben Westhoff, author of Fentanyl, Inc.

When Thursday, September 24 · 6 to 8 PM
Where National Law Enforcement Museum, 444 E St NW, Washington, D.C.

Arriving Thursday? Start the weekend with us. Lives Interrupted: The Fentanyl Tragedy tells the story of this crisis through the lives it has taken. All Washington Weekend families are welcome. RSVP required.

RSVP for the book launch →livesinterrupted.org

Reserve your place

Sign up for the weekend

Register for each event you plan to join. It only takes a minute, and it helps us plan for your family. Come to one, come to all.

Official merch
DC Weekend Collection
Shirts and gear for the weekend. Wear it in Washington, and every purchase fuels the fight.
Shop the store →

Hour by hour

How the weekend runs

Here is how each day flows, minute by minute. Tap an event to see the full schedule. Times are a plan and may shift a little on the day.

FRI 09.25 · Capitol Hill
Hill Day
Morning on the Hill, DEA exhibit and reception to follow
▶
Gather on the Capitol grounds, west side facing the Washington Monument
8:05AM
Lobby call & travel to the Hill
Families gather at the hotel and travel together to the Capitol grounds.
8:40AM
Arrival & check-in
Name tags, leave-behind packets and books, grouped by state delegation.
9:05AM
Opening & remarks
Welcome from the grounds, with UAF leaders, partners and an invited senator.
9:30AM
Captain & participant briefing
How a meeting works, the ask, and how delegations move from Senate to House.
9:45AM
Group photo on the grounds
9:55AM
Through security, into the buildings
Walk to your meeting buildings and clear security. Photo ID required.
10:30AM
Congressional meetings begin
About 15 minutes each, inside the 10:30 to 12:00 windows families requested.
12:00PM
Reconvene on the west steps
After
DEA Faces of Fentanyl exhibit
The group visits the wall honoring the lives lost, then gathers for an evening reception.
SAT 09.26 · Morning
Walk for Lives
Opening ceremony, the walk, and the Community Resource Village
▶
Floral Library Gardens · Tidal Basin · National Mall
8:30AM
Check-in opens
Pick up your walker packet, meet other families, and be settled by 9:00.
9:00AM
Opening ceremony
Welcome, a dozen family and community voices, Paul Martin, Sheri Oz, and a moment of silence for the lives we carry. About 90 minutes.
10:30AM
Step-off · the walk
A gentle, flat one-mile loop up onto the National Mall, around the Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial, and back to the gardens. Walk at your own pace. Strollers and wheelchairs welcome.
11:00AM
Community Resource Village
Sixteen tables in two rows of eight around a central aisle: public health, treatment and recovery services, and community nonprofits. Open until 12:30.
12:30PM
Close
Carry it home, and see you this afternoon at the Summit.
SAT 09.26 · 4–8 PM
The Summit
The Summit on Synthetic Drugs, expert breakouts and a closing panel
▶
Hart Auditorium, McDonough Hall · Georgetown Law · 600 New Jersey Ave NW
4:00PM
Opening
Paul Martin on our mission and the theory of systems change, Coryn Mayer and Jacob Lignell on our pillars and the road ahead, and author Ben Westhoff on Lives Interrupted.
4:30PM
Breakout sessions
Three expert sessions run at once for the full hour: Federal Policy (Baum, LaBelle, Walton), Social Media & Youth Culture (Crotty, Dufton), and Diplomacy & Corruption (Westhoff, Gatjanis). Choose the one for you.
5:30PM
Break
Ten minutes. Everyone returns to Hart Auditorium.
5:40PM
Exploited trailer & remarks
Paul Martin introduces Exploited, a podcast on addiction and organized crime.
5:48PM
Recorded remarks
Vanda Felbab-Brown of the Brookings Institution, by video.
6:03PM
Closing panel: Conversation on the Crisis
Six experts on one stage, moderated by Paul Martin.
7:25PM
Reception
Meet the experts and stay in the conversation. Snacks and drinks provided.
Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Founder & CEO
United Against Fentanyl

A note before you come

To every family making this journey: thank you. I know what it costs you to be here, and I do not take it lightly. For one weekend, families from across the country will stand together in Washington and say the names of the children we lost, in the one place with the power to act. You are not a guest at this. You are the reason for it. Whatever you are able to do across these days, your presence is the whole point, and we will be beside you the entire way.

The weekend at a glance

Two days, one voice

Tap any day to jump to its full plan, with where to be, when, and how to get there.

THU 09.24
Arrive
Travel in and settle. Optional DEA Museum visit, then Ben Westhoff’s book launch, 6 to 8 PM.
FRI 09.25
Hill Day
Meet your delegation, visit lawmakers, gather at the Capitol. Reception that evening.
SAT 09.26
Walk + Summit
The Walk on the Mall in the morning, the Summit in the afternoon.

Where you will stand

Three places, one message

The U.S. Capitol
The CapitolHill Day · Friday
The Washington Monument
The National MallWalk for Lives · Saturday AM
Hart Auditorium
Hart AuditoriumThe Summit · Saturday PM

Why we come

No family should bury a child because of poison masquerading as medicine.

Most of the children we lost were not addicts. They were poisoned, by a pill or a powder they never knew held fentanyl. It is now the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45. We carry their names to Washington because the people with the power to act need to see us, all of us, in one place.

~500,000
American deaths since 2015
No. 1
Cause of death, ages 18 to 45
~10
High school students lost every week

Figures per United Against Fentanyl. Shared to inform, and to honor.

Say their name

Who are you carrying to Washington?

We each carry someone. Add their name, and it will travel with you through this guide, a small reminder of why you are going. It stays on your device, and is never shared.

You carry them to Washington. We will say their name too. 💚

You are not alone

A family, not a moment

This weekend is one chapter. Our community and our fight continue long after you fly home.

Community

Fentanyl Families Network

UAF's community of families who have lost someone. We hold each other up, share our stories, and no one carries this alone.

Advocacy

United Action Network

People. Action. Policy. We turn our stories into law, and your voice on Hill Day is part of it.

You are among family

This weekend is hard as much as it is hopeful. Everyone here has lived some version of your story. Take the breaks you need, lean on the people around you, and if anything feels like too much, call or text us any time at 269-281-6880.

Orientation

Where everything is

Tap any place on the map to see its address, its Metro station, and when you will be there. The Blue line connects most of your weekend; the Red line reaches the Summit.

Potomac River THE NATIONAL MALL BLUE LINE RED LINE SMITHSONIAN Washington Monument Walk for Lives · Sat AM CAPITOL SOUTH U.S. Capitol Hill Day · Fri McDonough Hall, Georgetown Law The Summit · Sat PM UNION STATION Reagan National (DCA) · closest airport H CRYSTAL CITY UAF hotel Arlington, VA DEA Museum Pentagon City
Walk for Lives Hill Day The Summit Hotel · airport · DEA Blue line Red line
Tap a place on the map
Each pin shows its address, nearest Metro, when you will be there, and an Open in Maps link for live, turn-by-turn directions.

Good to know: the Summit is at McDonough Hall, Georgetown Law, near Union Station on Capitol Hill, not the Georgetown neighborhood across town. Set your map app to the street address (600 New Jersey Ave NW), not to "Georgetown." Drawn simply and not to scale.

The Walk, up close

Saturday's route

A gentle, flat, fully paved one mile loop from the Floral Gardens on the Tidal Basin: up onto the Mall to loop around the Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial, then back to the Floral Gardens. Easy on every pace, wheelchair, and stroller.

TIDAL BASIN Washington Monument WWII WWII Memorial Floral Gardens Rally · Stage · Resource Village Start / Finish Water First aid N
Walk route · one mile Start / finish Rally & Resource Village Water

Themed map, not to scale. The route starts and finishes at the Floral Gardens on the Tidal Basin, heads up onto the Mall to loop around the Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial, and returns. About one mile, flat and paved. Final layout is confirmed on site.

Your weekend, day by day

One day at a time

What happens each day, in order, with where to be and how to get there. Pick a day.

Thursday · Arrive
Get into the city, settle in, and visit the DEA exhibit if you have time.
  • Daytime

    Travel and check in

    Renaissance Arlington Capital View, Arlington VA

    Plan to land Thursday so Friday does not begin with a flight. The hotel is minutes from Reagan National Airport.

    Getting there: from Reagan National, a 5 minute rideshare, or one stop on the Metro to Crystal City.

  • 10 AM–4 PM

    DEA Museum & Faces of Fentanyl Open all 3 days

    700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington VA

    Free to attendees and open 10 AM to 4 PM Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Our group visits together Friday afternoon after Hill Day, and you are welcome to go on your own any of the three days too. A quiet, meaningful place to remember.

    Getting there: one stop from the hotel on the Blue or Yellow line to Pentagon City, or a 5 minute rideshare.

  • 6–8 PM

    Book launch: Lives Interrupted RSVP

    National Law Enforcement Museum, 444 E St NW, Washington, D.C.

    Investigative journalist Ben Westhoff, author of Fentanyl, Inc., launches his new book Lives Interrupted: The Fentanyl Tragedy. All Washington Weekend families are welcome. RSVP required.

    Getting there: Red line to Judiciary Square, steps from the museum, or about a 15 minute rideshare from the hotel.

    RSVP for the book launch →

Friday · Hill Day
Meet your delegation, visit your lawmakers, and gather at the Capitol.
Play the Hill Day training video, Your Day on the Hill, 29 minutes
Watch before Friday: Your Day on the Hill, our 29 minute Hill Day training.
  • 8:40 AM

    Gather & check in Hill Day

    Capitol west steps, facing the Washington Monument

    We start outside on the west steps, so no one goes through security twice. Check in, get your packet, and find your state delegation. Come early, check-in for everyone takes time.

    Getting there: Blue line from Crystal City to Capitol South, about 30 minutes, or a 15 to 20 minute rideshare.

    Bring  Photo ID for security · your loved one's photo · your United Against Fentanyl shirt

  • 9 AM

    Opening & press moment Hill Day

    Capitol west steps

    Families gather to read the Families' Declaration, say the names aloud, and raise the photos together, with a short press moment. This is the heart of the day, and it is emotional. You are among people who understand.

  • 9:30 AM

    Briefing & group photo Hill Day

    Capitol west steps

    A quick briefing on how the meetings work and how your delegation moves, then the whole-group photo with the Monument behind us, before we head in.

  • 10:30 AM

    Meetings begin Hill Day

    House and Senate offices, Capitol Hill

    You clear security, then your State Captain leads your delegation into the offices of your own senators and representatives. You may sit with the member or with a staffer who works on this, and both count. You carry your loved one's name and photo. The meetings are short and respectful, and you never go in alone or unprepared.

  • 12 PM

    Reconvene together Hill Day

    Capitol west steps

    Come back to the steps where we started, catch your breath, and share how the meetings went before the afternoon.

  • Afternoon

    Faces of Fentanyl, together Group visit

    DEA Museum, 700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington VA

    After our time on the Hill, we go together to the Faces of Fentanyl exhibit at the DEA Museum, and walk through it as a family. It is moving. The museum closes at 4 PM, so we head over in the afternoon.

    Good to know: the exhibit is open to attendees 10 AM to 4 PM Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, so if the group timing does not work for you, go whenever fits. Metro: Pentagon City (Blue / Yellow).

  • 6 PM

    Welcome reception Hill Day

    Renaissance Arlington Capital View, the host hotel

    Gather, rest, and be together back at the hotel after a long day, and meet other families before Saturday. No need to travel, it is right where you are staying.

Saturday · Walk + Summit
The Walk in the morning, the Summit in the afternoon. The fullest day, so pace yourself.
  • 8:30 AM

    Walk check-in Walk

    Floral Gardens (Floral Library), on the Tidal Basin

    Check in at the community resource village by the stage at the Floral Gardens, find your group, and be settled by 9:00 for the opening ceremony, about 90 minutes of family and community voices, Paul Martin, Sheri Oz, and a moment of silence. Bring a sign or your loved one's photo to hold, and look for the UAF banners and volunteers along the cherry trees.

    Getting there: Blue line from Crystal City to Smithsonian, about 20 minutes, or a 15 minute rideshare to the Floral Gardens at the Tidal Basin, by the Monument.

    Bring  A sign or a photo of your loved one to hold · comfortable shoes · water · sunscreen · a hat

    Walk for Lives sign →  Washington Weekend sign →

  • 10:30 AM

    Walk for Lives steps off Walk

    The Floral Gardens, Tidal Basin

    Families step off together from the Floral Gardens, a gentle, flat one mile loop along the Tidal Basin and its cherry trees. The loop takes around half an hour, and the morning runs to about 12:30 with the program and the resource fair. See the route on the Map page.

  • ~12:30 PM

    Lunch and rest Walk

    Capitol Hill / Union Station

    A few hours before the Summit. Eat and rest. Union Station has a food hall and sits right beside the Summit, so it is an easy place to land.

  • 4–8 PM

    The Summit Summit

    McDonough Hall, Georgetown Law, 600 New Jersey Ave NW

    Three working sessions and a closing panel with former drug-policy directors, experts, law enforcement, and families. You are part of it, not just an audience.

    Getting there: the rideshare we recommend, about 10 to 15 minutes from the Mall. Or Metro: Blue Orange Silver to Metro Center, transfer to the Red line to Union Station.

  • After 8 PM

    Head back to rest

    Renaissance Arlington Capital View

    It will be late and you will be tired. A rideshare straight back to the hotel is the gentlest choice at night, about 20 minutes.

Who you will hear at the Summit

Former White House drug-policy directors, federal and international experts, law enforcement, and families, in one room. You are part of it, not just an audience.

Terrence Walton
Terrence Walton
Executive Director, NAADAC
Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Moderator · UAF Founder & CEO
Richard Baum
Richard Baum
Former White House drug policy (ONDCP)
Regina LaBelle
Regina LaBelle
Former Acting Director, ONDCP
Jim Crotty
Jim Crotty
Former DEA Deputy Chief of Staff
Vanda Felbab-Brown
Vanda Felbab-Brown
Brookings Institution scholar
Greg Gatjanis
Greg Gatjanis
Former Treasury, DEA & NSC official
Emily Dufton
Emily Dufton
Author & drug policy historian

The three breakout sessions

From 4:30 to 5:30 the three sessions run at once for the full hour. Sit in the one that speaks to you, then everyone returns to Hart Auditorium for a short break before the closing program.

Hart Auditorium
Federal Policy: Supply & Demand
Richard Baum, Regina LaBelle, Terrence Walton
Former Acting Directors, White House ONDCP · Executive Director, NAADAC
McDonough 140
Social Media & Youth Culture
Jim Crotty, Emily Dufton
Former DEA, now Meta · Drug historian
McDonough 141
Diplomacy & Corruption
Ben Westhoff, Greg Gatjanis
Investigative journalist, Fentanyl Inc. · Former Treasury, DEA & NSC

Closing program: at 5:40 Paul Martin introduces Exploited, then recorded remarks from Vanda Felbab-Brown at 5:48. The closing panel, Conversation on the Crisis, runs 6:03 to 7:22 with six experts moderated by Paul Martin. Reception at 7:25.

A preview of confirmed voices and sessions. The full lineup lives on the Summit page, and is subject to change.

Hill Day

Your state captain

On Hill Day you never walk into your lawmakers' offices alone. In each state, a captain, a bereaved parent like you, leads the delegation, carrying the names of the children we lost to the people with the power to act. Your captain tells you which office, who is with you, and what to say.

How to join your delegation

Register for Hill Day at HillDay.org and we will connect you with your state captain. Do not see your state below yet? You are still welcome. Register anyway, or call us at 269-281-6880 and we will place you with a delegation.

Confirmed state captains

AZArizona
Kimmie Rein & Gina Guzman
Register at HillDay.org →
CACalifornia
Michelle & Micah Sawyer, Lisa Pogi
Join this delegation →
DCWashington, DC
Kiki McBroom
Register at HillDay.org →
FLFlorida
Hammer Favis & Chris Cavallo
Register at HillDay.org →
IDIdaho
Cynthia Piez
Register at HillDay.org →
ILIllinois
Aleise Ruttenberg
Register at HillDay.org →
INIndiana
Jean Carter & Johnnie Hiles
Register at HillDay.org →
LALouisiana
Sybil Lamartiniere & Jeff Alford
Register at HillDay.org →
MDMaryland
Mary Price
Join this delegation →
MIMichigan
Nicole Byers & Greg Swan
Register at HillDay.org →
MOMissouri
Ken Bromeier, Natasha McMillen & Salena Garten
Join this delegation →
MSMississippi
Jenna Carrol & Renee Clements
Register at HillDay.org →
MTMontana
Nicole Harnish
Register at HillDay.org →
NCNorth Carolina
Dorothy Allen
Register at HillDay.org →
NHNew Hampshire
Lori Morril
Register at HillDay.org →
NJNew Jersey
Michael DiTomasso & Lisa Ferreti
Register at HillDay.org →
NMNew Mexico
Kelly Opp
Register at HillDay.org →
NYNew York
Lyudmyla T. & Brunilda Rivera
Register at HillDay.org →
OHOhio
Diane Urban & Tina Bess
Register at HillDay.org →
SCSouth Carolina
Diana & Tim Smith
Register at HillDay.org →
TNTennessee
Kelly Pressley, Sheri Mae & Amy Calvert
Join this delegation →
TXTexas
April Barron & Misty
Join this delegation →
UTUtah
Cynthia Hussein & Alisha Robinson
Register at HillDay.org →
VAVirginia
Lisa Goodrich & Sarah Link
Register at HillDay.org →
VTVermont
Julie Halveka
Register at HillDay.org →
WAWashington
Suzanne Withers
Register at HillDay.org →
WIWisconsin
Nicole Kornuth
Register at HillDay.org →
WYWyoming
Lola Sutton
Register at HillDay.org →

Names shown are confirmed captains, and more states join every week. Captains are bereaved parents leading their state's families. Please confirm this roster and each captain's consent before this guide is shared publicly.

First time in the city

New to Washington? We have got you.

Many of our families are coming from small towns, and some are flying or riding a subway for the very first time. That takes courage, and you are not doing it alone. Here is the whole thing, step by step. The first time is the hardest part, and you are going to do just fine.

Flying in

  1. When you land, follow the signs to Baggage Claim to collect any checked bags. Screens there list your flight and carousel number.
  2. For a taxi or rideshare, follow signs to Ground Transportation or Rideshare. For the Metro at Reagan National, follow the Metro signs, the station is attached to the airport.
  3. Taking a rideshare? Open the app, request a ride to the hotel, and match the car's license plate and the driver's name before you get in. Pay is automatic in the app, no cash needed.
  4. Lost or unsure at any point? Airport staff in uniform are there to help, and so are we at 269-281-6880.

Riding the Metro, step by step

The Metro is DC's subway. It is clean, safe, and the easiest way around. Here is all you need.

  1. Get a SmarTrip card. Buy one from a machine in any station, or add SmarTrip to your phone's wallet. Load a few dollars on it.
  2. Tap to enter. Touch the card to the circle on the fare gate. The gates open, walk through.
  3. Find your line by color. Each line has a color (Blue, Red, and so on) and is named by its last stop, which tells you the direction. Signs and our Map page show which color you need.
  4. On the escalators, stand on the right, and let people pass on the left. It is the one big-city rule everyone follows.
  5. Trains come every few minutes. If you are not sure it is yours, ask anyone on the platform, or wait and catch the next one. No rush.
  6. Tap out when you leave at your stop's fare gate, then follow the exit signs to the street.

Screenshot your maps

Before you go, open our Map page and the pocket card and take screenshots, so you have them even without signal underground.

Feeling at home in a big city

⚑

Simple comfort

  • DC is walkable and very used to visitors. You will fit right in.
  • Keep your bag zipped and in front of you in a crowd.
  • Cross at the lights and the crosswalks.
  • Keep your phone charged. A small battery pack is worth it.
☎

Who to ask for help

  • Any Metro station has a manager kiosk near the gates.
  • Hotel front desks help with anything, any hour.
  • Look for UAF volunteers in UAF shirts at every event.
  • For an emergency, call 911. For us, 269-281-6880.

Money and meals

$

Paying for things

A card works almost everywhere, so you do not need much cash. Rideshares are paid in the app. It is kind to tip: about 18 to 20 percent at a sit-down restaurant, and a couple of dollars for a rideshare or for help with bags.

☼

Eating

Meals downtown cost a bit more than at home. The hotel and Union Station both have easy, affordable options, and there are plenty of quick spots near the Mall. Carry a water bottle for the walk.

You belong here

Standing under the Capitol dome for the first time is a big feeling. Take it in. You earned your place here, and every volunteer, every family, and one call to 269-281-6880 is here to help you through it.

Getting around

Getting to DC, and between the places

Fly into Reagan National if you can, it is closest and on the Metro. Once you are here, every trip below can be done door to door by rideshare, or by a simple Metro ride. Every station has an elevator.

Live directions, one tap

Open real, turn-by-turn directions to any place in your phone's own map app.

A

Reagan National · DCA

Best choice. About 15 minutes out and directly on the Metro (Blue and Yellow), minutes from the hotel.

B

Dulles · IAD

About 45 minutes in Virginia. Metro Silver line, a rideshare, or the Silver Line Express bus.

C

Baltimore · BWI

About an hour in Maryland. MARC train or Amtrak into Union Station, then Metro or rideshare.

Arrive Thursday, September 24

Hill Day begins Friday morning, and we gather at 8:40 AM, so landing that morning is a risk. Plan to be in the city by Thursday evening. The group hotel block begins Friday night, so book Thursday separately if you arrive early.

The trips you will actually make

Rideshare is often gentlest after a long day. The Metro is simple too.

Hotel → Hill DayFri · morning
EasiestA rideshare to Capitol Hill takes 15 to 20 minutes, door to door. Tell the driver "Capitol South" or your meeting's office building.

By Metro · about 30 minutes, no transfers

  1. Walk to the Crystal City station near the hotel.
  2. Board the Blue line toward Downtown Largo.
  3. Get off at Capitol South. A longer ride, but you never change trains.
  4. A short, flat walk to the House and Senate offices.

Your State Captain meets your delegation and walks you in. Bring a photo ID and allow a few minutes for security.

Hotel → Walk for LivesSat · by 9 AM
EasiestA rideshare takes about 15 minutes. Ask for the Washington Monument, at 15th Street and Madison Drive NW. Leave early, Saturday street closures can slow the last block.

By Metro · about 20 minutes, no transfers

  1. Walk to the Crystal City station.
  2. Board the Blue line toward Downtown Largo.
  3. Get off at Smithsonian. Follow signs to the Mall exit.
  4. The Monument and the resource village are a short walk to your left.
Walk for Lives → The SummitSat · midday · ~2 miles
EasiestAfter the walk, a rideshare is the gentlest way across town: 10 to 15 minutes to 600 New Jersey Avenue NW. Rest and eat first. This is the trip we most recommend by car.

By Metro · about 25 minutes, one easy transfer

  1. Walk back to the Smithsonian station.
  2. Take the Blue Orange Silver line toward downtown to Metro Center (2 stops).
  3. Follow signs to the Red line toward Glenmont to Union Station (3 stops).
  4. About a 10 minute walk, or a short cab, to 600 New Jersey Avenue NW.

Prefer to walk it? The Mall route is flat and paved, about 2 miles and 40 minutes. Only if you feel up to it.

Capitol Hill → DEA MuseumFri group visit · open Thu–Sat 10–4
EasiestA rideshare takes 15 to 20 minutes. Ask for 700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington.

By Metro · about 30 minutes, no transfers

  1. From Capitol South, board the Blue line toward Franconia-Springfield.
  2. Get off at Pentagon City, the same train the whole way.
  3. The museum is a short walk from the station, free to attendees.

We visit together Friday afternoon after Hill Day, and the exhibit is open to attendees 10 AM to 4 PM Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Close to the hotel too: from Crystal City it is one stop on the Blue or Yellow line.

The Summit → HotelSat · after 8 PM
EasiestLate and tired, a rideshare back to the hotel takes about 20 minutes and is the choice we recommend at night. Ask for the Renaissance Arlington Capital View.

By Metro · about 30 minutes, one transfer

  1. From Union Station, take the Red line toward Shady Grove to Metro Center (3 stops).
  2. Follow signs to the Blue line toward Franconia-Springfield.
  3. Get off at Crystal City and walk to the hotel.

A few gentle reminders

Buy a SmarTrip card or add it to your phone before you ride, and tap it going in and out. Trains and platforms are marked by the line colors above. Metro details can change, so give yourself extra time, and never hesitate to ask a station manager or a UAF volunteer. If any trip feels like too much, a rideshare will always take you door to door with no stairs and no transfers.

Where to stay

Your hotel

UAF holds a group room block at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View, near Reagan National Airport, with more hotels within a few blocks.

★

The UAF room block

Renaissance Arlington Capital View
2800 South Potomac Avenue, Arlington, VA 22202

Book the group rate:
go.walkforlives.org/BookDCHotel
Marriott group code M-W7WJIXJ

☉

Rooms nearby

  • The Residence Inn Arlington Capital View next door at 2850 South Potomac Avenue, good for families or longer stays.
  • More hotels within a few blocks in the Capital View, Crystal City, and Pentagon City areas.
  • If the block is full, reply to UAF and we will help you find a strong option nearby.

Which nights to book, and by when

Book by 08.25.26, the last day for the group rate. The block covers Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights only. The simplest way to decide:

  • Coming for Hill Day on Friday? You need to be in Washington on Thursday night, and Thursday is not part of the block. Book Thursday night on your own, then the block covers Friday and Saturday. If you would rather not switch hotels, book all of your nights directly at one hotel of your choice.
  • Coming only for Saturday, the Walk and the Summit? Arriving Friday works, and the block covers your Friday and Saturday nights.

The Friday evening welcome reception is at this hotel, so Friday night here puts you right where you need to be. However you book, reserve early. Rooms fill up for that weekend.

Getting downtown from the hotel

Minutes from Reagan National Airport and close to the Crystal City and National Airport Metro stations on the Blue and Yellow lines, an easy ride to the Mall and Capitol Hill.

Prepare

Pack, dress, and take care

Late September in DC is usually mild, warm days and cool evenings, with a lot of time outdoors and a chance of rain. Check off your packing list below, it saves as you go.

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Weather

Late September in Washington is usually mild: warm days near the 70s, cooler evenings in the 50s, and a chance of rain. Most of the weekend is outdoors, so plan for layers and a light rain jacket.

We will post the real forecast here the week of the event, so check back right before you pack.

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Bring your loved one

Carry a photo or a small sign with your loved one's name. We raise them together at the Walk and on the Hill. This is the heart of why we come, and it is what the offices and the cameras remember.

Signs stay handheld, no poles or stakes. We will have some blank signs and markers on site too.

Walk for Lives sign →  Washington Weekend sign →

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What to wear

  • Comfortable walking shoes, you will be on your feet.
  • Layers. Days near the 70s, evenings in the 50s.
  • A light rain jacket or small umbrella.
  • For Hill Day, wear your United Against Fentanyl shirt. It is our uniform in the offices.
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Security at the Capitol

Entering congressional buildings is airport-style screening. Leave large bags behind, keep liquids minimal, and arrive a little early. Your State Captain guides your delegation through it.

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Support and accessibility

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You are among family

Everyone here has lived some version of your story. Take the breaks you need. There is no wrong way to carry this. Call or text us any time at 269-281-6880.

Grief support is here too: the Hope Movement Coalition offers support for families who have lost someone. You never have to carry it alone.

Quiet and support space locations for each venue are being confirmed and will be shared before the weekend.

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Accessibility

  • The Mall route is flat and paved.
  • Every Metro station and all venues are wheelchair accessible.
  • Need seating, interpretation, or a specific accommodation? Contact UAF ahead of time so we can prepare.

Common questions

Do I have to attend all three events?

No. Come to what you are able to. Many families do the whole weekend, but any part of it matters. Hill Day is Friday. The Walk and the Summit are both Saturday.

Is the Summit really at Georgetown?

It is at McDonough Hall on Georgetown Law's campus, 600 New Jersey Ave NW, near Union Station on Capitol Hill. That is not the Georgetown neighborhood. Navigate to the street address.

How do I get from the Walk to the Summit?

About 2 miles apart with a few hours between. Rest and eat near Capitol Hill or Union Station, then take a short rideshare or the Metro to 600 New Jersey Ave NW for the 4 PM start. Full steps are on the Getting Around page.

How should I plan my flights?

Arrive Thursday, September 24. The Summit runs until 8 PM Saturday, so book return flights after that or the next morning.

Where do I find the latest details?

The whole weekend lives at LifeLineDC.org. Registration is at HillDay.org and WalkForLives.org.

Beyond the weekend

A beginning, not an end

You are coming to Washington to be seen and heard. When you fly home, the fight comes with you. Here is how to stay in the family, and how to keep the pressure on.

Say Fentanyl

Fentanyl is a leading killer of young Americans, and most candidates will run an entire campaign without ever saying the word. In under a minute, tell both of your U.S. Senators and your Representative to say it out loud, and to act. Send it as written, or make it your own.

Send your letter →

Families gathered at a Walk for Lives event

Community

Fentanyl Families Network

The Fentanyl Families Network is our community of families who have lost someone to fentanyl. It is where we hold one another up, share our children's stories, and remember that no one carries this alone. It is also where families find support and turn their grief into a voice for change.

The people beside you this weekend are your family here too. Stay connected when you get home.

Join the Families Network
The United States Capitol

People. Action. Policy.

United Action Network

The United Action Network is UAF's national advocacy platform. It turns our stories into law, backing bipartisan bills, moving state campaigns, and demanding that Congress act. Every name you carry on Hill Day becomes part of that case.

Demand Congress act Talk to a victim advocate

Grief support: the Hope Movement Coalition

The Hope Movement Coalition offers grief support for families who have lost someone to fentanyl. If you are grieving, and most of us are, you do not have to carry it alone. Reach out and connect with people who understand.

Find grief support

What we are fighting for

01
Prevention education in every school
02
Support for survivors and bereaved families
03
Real access to treatment
04
A lasting recovery community
05
Cutting off the supply at its source

One weekend. One voice. One family.

Every name we carry becomes part of the case for change.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for turning the worst day of your life into a reason to fight for someone else's child. We will be right beside you, this weekend and long after.

Friday, September 25 · U.S. Capitol

My Hill Day

Find your personal card, then everything you need for the morning.

Watch before Friday
Play the Hill Day training video, Your Day on the Hill, 29 minutes
Watch before Friday: Your Day on the Hill, our 29 minute Hill Day training.
Find your card
Enter your access code
Your captain and your name tag have the code. This keeps families’ names private.
That code isn’t right. Check with your captain.
The schedule
8:40Gather & check in — Capitol west steps, facing the Monument
9:05Opening & remarks (outdoors)
9:30Briefing
9:45Group photo
9:55Through security into the office buildings
10:30Your meetings begin
12:00Reconvene — west steps
Aft.DEA Faces of Fentanyl
Eve.Reception
How the meetings work

Wave A

Starts on the Senate side, then crosses to the House.

Wave B

Starts on the House side, then crosses to the Senate.

You visit both senators together as your state delegation, and your own representative on your own. Your card shows your wave and the exact order. Large delegations split in two so half see Senator 1 first and half see Senator 2, then swap. You clear security once per side, so finish one side before crossing. At each office you may meet the member or one of their staff, and both matter: staff brief the member and shape where they land, so a strong staff meeting moves this just as much.
The ask
Your story comes first — then lead with the pillar closest to your loss: Prevention, Survivors, Treatment, Recovery, or Supply. In House offices, ask them to join the Bipartisan Fentanyl Prevention Caucus. Get the staffer’s name and email at every office.
Open the Capitol map → Questions? Call Jacob
Reconvene at noon on the Capitol west steps.
People. Action. Policy.

Carry this with you

Your pocket card

Everything essential on one card. Print it or screenshot it and keep it in a pocket or bag.

Washington WeekendUnited Against Fentanyl
Lost or need help? Call or text
269-281-6880 · Jacob
Friday · Hill Day
Gather 8:40 AM, west stepsMeetings 10:30. Metro: Capitol South. Photo ID + your UAF shirt. 6 PM reception at the hotel.
Saturday AM · Walk
Check-in 9 AM, steps off 10 AMWashington Monument. Metro: Smithsonian.
Saturday PM · Summit
4 to 8 PMMcDonough Hall, Georgetown Law, 600 New Jersey Ave NW. Near Union Station.
Your hotel
Renaissance Arlington Capital View2800 South Potomac Ave, Arlington VA. Book by 08.25.26, code M-W7WJIXJ. Block is Fri to Sun; book Thursday separately.
Faces of Fentanyl
Group visit Fri after Hill DayDEA Museum, 700 Army Navy Dr. Open 10 AM-4 PM Thu/Fri/Sat. Metro: Pentagon City. Free.
Getting around
A rideshare goes door to doorThe Blue line links the hotel, the Walk, and Hill Day. Tap a SmarTrip card to ride.
Scan for links
EverythingLifeLineDC.org
Book hotelby 08.25.26
Hill DayHillDay.org
WalkWalkForLives.org
The whole weekend
LifeLineDC.org
Schedule, registration, and updates
Book your hotel
Renaissance Arlington
code M-W7WJIXJ · by 08.25.26
Hill Day
HillDay.org
Register your delegation
Walk for Lives
WalkForLives.org
Register for Saturday
Questions
Email UAF
jacob@unitedagainstfentanyl.org
Call or text
269 · 281 · 6880
Jacob Lignell, Chief of Staff