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Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

of the Religious Society of Friends

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Quakers & Quakerism

Friends Center Announces Friends Select Purchase Agreement on 1520 Race Street Building

Written on: February 25, 2021

Chris Mohr, Executive Director of Friends Center, recently announced that Friends Center Corporation has entered into an agreement with Friends Select School to sell Friends Center’s 1520 Race Street building. The building, which stands on the west side of the courtyard, will be renovated by Friends Select and used for classroom and administrative space. Head of School, Michael Gary, shared the news of the purchase agreement in an email to the Friends Select community last week:

We are delighted to announce that we are currently expanding Friends Select’s campus with the purchase of the building located at 1520 Race Street, and we are simultaneously undergoing a major transformation of the first floor of our main building located at 17th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Working with James Bradberry Architects, the Advance Friends Select: Transformation Campaign will create state-of-the-art classrooms to match the high quality of our educational program, adding much-needed space where excellence in teaching and learning will surely continue.

Photograph of signing ceremony by Tina Dougherty. Photo courtesy of Friends Select School/Tina Dougherty and Friends Center.

Since 2000 and again in 2017, Friends Center had sought ways to add ADA accessibility and other features to the 1520 Race Street building to make it more serviceable to the community while preserving its unique exterior.

Meanwhile, Friends Select had embarked on a search for more space to meet their growing needs. Chris Mohr and Michael Gary soon understood that their needs and vision for the property could actually overlap. As Chris wrote in a message to Friends Center tenants:

Together we explored various options to use the entire facility, and now we have an agreement in place.

Not only will this approach accomplish our goals for the building, it will also deepen the relationship between Friends Select and the organizations here at Friends Center. As you may know, the school is under the care of Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, and they have meeting for worship and graduation in the Race Street Meetinghouse. Expanding to 1520 Race Street will enable them to add space for their high school program and administrative staff.

Friends Center anticipates closing the transaction in late spring or early summer, after which Friends Select will initiate construction with a goal to complete the project before the 2022-2023 academic year. Current tenants at 1520 Race Street have been offered relocated office space within Friends Center’s 1501 Cherry Street building.

The Friends Child Care Center, founded at Friends Center over 40 years ago, is working with Friends Center to construct a new child care facility on the lower level of the 1501 Cherry Street building. Their move will allow the Child Care Center to realize a vision of more space and a purpose-built facility.

The above photograph documents cheers upon the signing of the purchase agreement. Representatives present from Friends Center and and Friends Select are listed below from left to right:

  • Matt Rosen, Director of Financial Operations, Friends Select School
  • Linell McCurry, Board Clerk, Friends Center
  • Chris Mohr, Executive Director, Friends Center
  • Ingrid Lakey, Board Clerk, Friends Select School
  • Michael Gary, Head of School, Friends Select School

Filed Under: Governance & Stewardship, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Quakers & Quakerism

Quaker Voluntary Service – Reflecting on a Life Changing Work Experience

Written on: February 25, 2021

Quaker Voluntary Service (QVS) was founded in 2011 and though young in years, QVS sees itself as “a modern expression of a long-standing tradition of Spirit-grounded service and witness in the Quaker tradition.” The first QVS house was piloted in 2012 in Atlanta, GA. It was soon followed by others in Philadelphia and Portland, OR, Boston, and finally Minneapolis.

Since launching, QVS has placed more than 200 QVS fellows in meaningful jobs across the United States. QVS’s new Alumni Coordinator helps former Fellows stay connected with current QVS Fellows, their own program cohort, as well as with the Religious Society of Friends. This extends a year of engagement into a lifetime of benefit.

[Read more…] about Quaker Voluntary Service – Reflecting on a Life Changing Work Experience

Filed Under: Legislative Policy Collaborative, Peace & Social Justice, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Quakers & Quakerism, Volunteering

Quakers in Education: Sarah Willie-LeBreton, Sociologist and Swarthmore Dean

Written on: February 18, 2021

To meet Sarah Willie-LeBreton, Ph.D. is to encounter an exceptionally grounded Friend with a deep knowledge of human societies. Currently Swarthmore College’s Provost and Dean of the Faculty since 2018, Sarah was appointed after having chaired the Department of Sociology & Anthropology (2009-2018), chaired the President’s Task Force on Sexual Misconduct (2013-14), served as Associate Provost (2005-8), and coordinated the Black Studies Program on and off for more than a decade beginning in 1998. Somehow, as she does all this, she has still found time to be present in leading PYM towards growth in important areas. [Read more…] about Quakers in Education: Sarah Willie-LeBreton, Sociologist and Swarthmore Dean

Filed Under: Addressing Racism, Annual Sessions, Faith & Practice, Famous Quakers, Governance & Stewardship, Ministry & Care, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Quaker History, Quakers & Quakerism

Quakers in Education: Maurice Eldridge

Written on: February 11, 2021

This profile is the first in a series of Q&A articles on Quakers in higher education.

Friends have had a deep impact on the practice and theory of instruction since the very early years of the faith. They also have complex personal interests and engage deeply in civic society. They have served as role models, scholarly advisors, and mentors to many individuals and students, but in so many Friends meetings and worship groups they are simply beloved builders of faith community.

[Read more…] about Quakers in Education: Maurice Eldridge

Filed Under: Famous Quakers, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

Quaker Traditions Series: Part II – Worship

Written on: February 11, 2021

This is part II in a series of four articles on Quaker Traditions. In his role as Associate Secretary for Religious Life,  Zachary Dutton has listened deeply to Friends in the community. Working with the PYM staff community engagement team he has provided answers to framing questions for this four-part series. The answers are reflective as opposed to definitive. [Read more…] about Quaker Traditions Series: Part II – Worship

Filed Under: Faith & Practice, Ministry & Care, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Quakers & Quakerism, Religious Education

Share Your Meeting’s Spiritual Self-Assessment

Written on: February 8, 2021

Dearest Friends in PYM Monthly and Quarterly Meetings and other PYM Quaker Groups,

We trust this finds you seeking to be grounded in Spirit and in your community of faith. 2020 has certainly been a year filled with both opportunities and challenges! The Ministry and Care Committee of Quaker Life Council is once again asking for your help as we look to better understand the spiritual state of our yearly meeting through this past year.

To accomplish this, we are asking meetings to consider responding to the following queries: [Read more…] about Share Your Meeting’s Spiritual Self-Assessment

Filed Under: Communications & Outreach, Faith & Practice, Ministry & Care, Pastoral Care, Peace & Social Justice, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Quaker Life Council, Quakers & Quakerism, Religious Education, State of the Meeting Report

Quaker Traditions Series: Part I – Spiritual Practice

Written on: February 3, 2021

The Quaker Traditions Series is a set of articles on the Quaker faith. In his role as Associate Secretary for Religious Life,  Zachary Dutton has listened deeply to Friends in the community. Working with the PYM staff community engagement team he has provided answers to framing questions for this four-part series. The answers are reflective as opposed to definitive.

The gift of the Quaker faith is that it is one of continuing revelation, so the article speaks to the ‘here and now’ of our faith even as it is tied to, and reflects, our history and tradition. If you have thoughts on these questions, please share them with Zachary – his email is at the end of this article. He is always looking for new ways to be in relationship with our wider Quaker community.

[Read more…] about Quaker Traditions Series: Part I – Spiritual Practice

Filed Under: Faith & Practice, Pastoral Care, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Quaker History

Black History: Celebrate in February, Include All Year

Written on: February 1, 2021

Let us center the experience and contributions of Black Americans throughout history and today. The resources below provide an opportunity to do so while exploring racism, privilege, and bias with young people in our care. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, was one among many Black Americans who built a community and network of activists to achieve change, and there is more work to do.

[Read more…] about Black History: Celebrate in February, Include All Year

Filed Under: Addressing Racism, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Quakers & Quakerism, Religious Education

Elizebeth Smith Friedman: A Quaker Poet and First Female Cryptanalyst

Written on: January 28, 2021

Not many women are known to have studied codes or the art of writing and solving them. American cryptology saw few women listed in the history books, and cryptanalyst stars like Elizebeth Smith Friedman and Agnes Driscoll were completely overlooked until recently.

The National Cryptologic Museum in Maryland has dedicated a section of the museum to showcase the 20th Century contributions of  Elizebeth, Agnes, and many more gifted cryptanalyst like them.

Elizebeth and her husband, William Friedman, were considered American cryptology pioneers, although Elizebeth’s contributions gained recognition only recently.

[Read more…] about Elizebeth Smith Friedman: A Quaker Poet and First Female Cryptanalyst

Filed Under: Famous Quakers, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Quakers & Quakerism

Irene Ranck Christman Legacy Fund Gift on Christmas Day

Written on: January 21, 2021

This past Christmas day, a devoted son made a gift to a mother he loved whose life he wanted to honor. In doing this, he both helped the Quaker Faith and also created a lasting tribute to the person who nurtured and raised him–Irene Ranck Christman. [Read more…] about Irene Ranck Christman Legacy Fund Gift on Christmas Day

Filed Under: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Quakers & Quakerism

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