Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting

A New Friends Weekend Workcamp Program!

Friends Weekend Workcamps have a new life starting this fall, based at the Friends Neighborhood Guild in North Philadelphia. With change comes opportunity. Fairhill Burial Ground and Fairhill Friends Ministry, also in North Philadelphia, will be working with the Guild to offer weekend service learning programs for the wider Quaker community. There are exciting new possibilities of working together with local community members on issues of common concern. Many of us who have cared about the workcamp program over the years, and valued the legacy of David Richie and Judy and Michael Van Hoy, have a sense of excitement about the possibilities for new life in this work.

This program is supported in part by a generous contribution from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.

What?

• A weekend, from Friday evening through Sunday noon
• Opportunities for learning about the community, service, reflection, play, community building and worship in North Philadelphia
• Cost of $55 per person (with scholarships available in situations of need)
• For members of monthly and quarterly meetings in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, groups of Quaker families, Quaker youth, Friends School groups, other youth groups

Why?

It is essential to our spiritual well-being as Quakers to know personally what it means to stand with the poor and the oppressed. Never have we needed a sense of connection and understanding across barriers of class and race in this country more. The workcamp program has a powerful history, as it invites Quakers and non-Quakers to a spiritually based experience in low-income communities. It offers an opportunity to increase awareness of economic, racial and cultural differences and inequalities as well as discover similarities, seeking to recognize “that of God” in everyone. Countless participants have told of how it has changed their lives.

Where?

The workcamps will be housed at the Friends Neighborhood Guild, 701 North 8th Street, on the corner of 8th and Fairmount in lower North Philadelphia. Workcampers will be involved in projects with the Guild and other Quaker-related groups in the area, such as Fairhill Burial Ground and Fairhill Friends Ministry.

When?

At this point, 2006-07 workcamps are scheduled for December 1-3, January 26-28, February 9-11, March 2-4, April 13-15, May 4-5 and June 1-3. If your group would like to propose a different date, every effort will be made to accommodate you.

How?

Contact the clerk of the Workcamp Advisory Board of the Friends Neighborhood Guild: at 215-349-9428