Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

of the Religious Society of Friends

Quakers & Quakerism

Ujima Friends Sewing for Africa

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Since 2019, members of the Ujima Friends Peace Center have partnered with Sankofa Artisan Guild to make reusable, environmentally friendly menstrual pads, pouches, and under garments for African girls’ whose educations are compromised due to “period poverty.” The group, now known as the PanAfrican Sisterhood Health Initiative (PASHI), is led by a group of Black Women elders most of who are community workers, keepers of the culture, educators, activists, counselors and lovers of the arts. The Friends Foundation on Aging supports funding for the project.

The Ujima Friends Peace Center provides the space, sewing machines, and willing hearts and hands to this project. The project was renamed by Maulana Ron Karenga, the creator of Kwanzaa, who thought the project was fabulous and worthy of the name Pan African Sisterhood Health Initiative (PASHI).

A picture of some of the girls who have received the pads.

Each shipment has included 300 reusable kits with purses to carry them in and masks.  The countries served so far: Cuba, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Southern Sudan, and Tanzania.

Dr. Ayesha Imani, Head of School/Founder of the Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School and member of Ujima Friends Meeting, shares about PASHI:

The fact that we get elders and young people together to sew, eat, and share stories while making menstrual pads for girls in Africa is really wonderful. We have also been making and sending masks. The latest addition to the project is the birthing pads and bags that we are sending to help fight against infant mortality and maternal morbidity, increasing sanitation in the birthing process.

Others are welcome to join in sewing together for Africa and the diaspora. The project is held at the Peace Center every Wednesday from 10am – 2pm. There is limited space, but if interested in visiting please contact Dr. Imani. If you have a sewing machine, you are welcome to bring it! There are plans to expand the project into Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School and Imhotep Institute Charter High School.

Friends can visit the Ujima Friends Peace Center website to learn more:  www.ujimafriends.org

Donations can be sent to:Ujima Friends Peace Center,PO Box 50647,Philadelphia, PA

Photos courtesy of Dr. Ayesha Imani

A Seeker’s Story

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There was a collective feral growl from the four corners of the 30-odd members of the Gallagher extended family.

“He’s doing what!?”

“Dad is attending a recruiting meeting next month,” announced the Gallagher family matriarch. He’s on the brink of renouncing Catholicism and becoming a Quaker.”

I swear, you’d think I was filing divorce papers.

The feral growl became a feral roar.

“HE’S DOING WHAT!?” [Read more…] about A Seeker’s Story

Aging Quakers and Gardening

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In my first months as the PYM aging support coordinator, I reached out to many of the Quaker aging communities in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. One interesting resident focused activity I kept hearing Friends bring up was gardening. Around the world, gardening has been recognized for its values of reducing stress, improving moods, providing opportunities for exercise, mobility, socialization, and community outreach while connecting with all aspects of nature. Perhaps Quakers feel particularly connected to gardening because of the quiet peace time with plants provides. More than that, Quakers have also found that gardening reflects our concern for the natural world. [Read more…] about Aging Quakers and Gardening

Workshop Saturday: Growing Our Meetings: Two Models and The Resources We Need

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In this series of stories, we’ll highlight the workshops being offered on Workshop Saturday, June 25. Sessions Coordinating Committee and staff experimented this year with offering a one-day online event that includes five workshops on different topics of interest to Friends in our yearly meeting. We will gather and listen deeply together on a day of connection, learning, and meaningful conversations.

Read on to learn more about the facilitators and intentions of this Workshop Spotlight, and register for a workshop by Thursday, June 23.

[Read more…] about Workshop Saturday: Growing Our Meetings: Two Models and The Resources We Need

Workshop Saturday: Experiment With Light: A Gift from Early Quakers

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In this series of stories, we’ll highlight the workshops being offered on Workshop Saturday, June 25. Sessions Coordinating Committee and staff experimented this year with offering a one-day online event that includes five workshops on different topics of interest to Friends in our yearly meeting. We will gather and listen deeply together on a day of connection, learning, and meaningful conversations.

Read on to learn more about the facilitators and intentions of this Workshop Spotlight, and register for a workshop by Thursday, June 23.
[Read more…] about Workshop Saturday: Experiment With Light: A Gift from Early Quakers

Workshop Saturday: Co-Regulating & Building Relationships Toward Equity & Justice

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In this series of stories, we’ll highlight the workshops being offered on Workshop Saturday, June 25. Sessions Coordinating Committee and staff experimented this year with offering a one-day online event that includes five workshops on different topics of interest to Friends in our yearly meeting. We will gather and listen deeply together on a day of connection, learning, and meaningful conversations.

Read on to learn more about the facilitators and intentions of this Workshop Spotlight, and register for a workshop by Thursday, June 23.
[Read more…] about Workshop Saturday: Co-Regulating & Building Relationships Toward Equity & Justice

Concord Quarter’s Intergenerational Radio Play Program

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Youth gather for the radio play shared during Concord Quarterly Meeting. The hybrid performance was accessible both online and in person.

“Something Odd at Quarterly Meeting” . . . 

Birmingham Meeting‘s children and youth have used their drama skills and interests to participate in intergenerational programs for Concord Quarterly Meeting over the last twelve years. The young people give a performance that is followed by adults and youth present being invited to respond to wondering questions on issues brought up by the story they share.  Various topics have been used for their performances including scripture, Quaker history, and recently a science fiction story!  [Read more…] about Concord Quarter’s Intergenerational Radio Play Program

Together: Intergenerational Sundays

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On Sunday of Spring 2022 Continuing Sessions weekend, local meetings were encouraged to “create your own” intergenerational gathering of Friends. Shared here are stories from meetings who created time for togetherness. Other meetings are planning future programs, and we would love to keep hearing and sharing those stories! [Read more…] about Together: Intergenerational Sundays

“Together” Sunday of Spring Sessions

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On Sunday of Spring Continuing Sessions weekend, we encourage meetings to “create your own” intergenerational gathering of Friends. While the pandemic has opened the possibility to join together from across the PYM region without travel, which we’ll do on Saturday online, our local meetings are where we gather most often across generations for fellowship, worship, learning, and business. Let’s continue the energy of being together at Sessions in the time after worship on Sunday morning, March 27. Shared here are resources and suggestions to plan simple opportunities for togetherness!

[Read more…] about “Together” Sunday of Spring Sessions

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