Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

of the Religious Society of Friends

Friends Who Care For Youth

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

Young Friends Support the Peace Fair

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A small but enthusiastic contingent of Young Friends helped make the Bucks Quarter Peace Fair, on September 17, a great success. The Peace Fair brings dozens of nonprofits doing work aligned with Quaker values to a wider audience, along with craft vendors, live music, a book sale, kids’ games and a range of food offerings. Starting the day bright and early, before the opening of the Fair, the Young Friends helped set up vendor booths, unloading the vendors’ materials and putting up tents to keep things moving swiftly.

Their help on Saturday was greatly appreciated, with many members of the Peace Fair committee and Buckingham Friends approaching Friendly Presences and facilitators, expressing how helpful the Young Friends had been, and how deeply grateful they were for our team.

With the help of Tim Cunningham, the Young Friends got trained on how to run the games in the Kids Peace Games area and were assigned to stations. They spent the day staffing the bowling lane, the bean bag toss, the dunk tank, and other various games! Our small but enthusiastic team went all out helping in the games area, explaining the games to kids and making sure every child got a prize after playing, keeping them engaged and excited to play.

Young Friends know how to juggle service and fun!

But it wasn’t all hard work. After the first shift at Peace Games, Young Friends broke for lunch, explored the Fair, and went down to Peddler’s Village together, before regathering to do the second shift of the game booths.

As the Fair came to a close, under the direction of Peter Ray, our Young Friends helped break down and pack away the materials from the Fair, collecting the folding tables from all over the grounds, packing up the Peace Games into cars, the tents, the stage, and the Peace Fair Grill, until everything was stored away in the meetinghouse or in cars. After clean up was done, Young Friends still had energy for a few dynamic rounds of gaga, and enjoyed a pizza party and a celebration of the first Young Friends gathering of the school year (plus the birthday of Young Friends Program Facilitator Clare Chalkley).

Look for announcements about the Young Friends Winter Gathering, coming up in December. Young Friends at the Fair were excited to hear about the gathering in the works, especially with the option of it being an overnight retreat– and we are too! Keep an eye out on the Young Friends events page on the PYM website for information on a gathering around the winter holidays!

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Thanks to the authors of this story, Clare Chalkley, Young Friends Program Facilitator, and Robert Rosenthal (Central Philadelphia Meeting), Friendly Presence, for their planning and care of this annual program in relationship with Bucks Quarter planners!

Giant Children’s Meeting: What’s Next?

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In the Fall of 2020, as children returned to school online and many meetings settled into hosting worship on Zoom, the question of how to support religious education programs and community for children and families in meetings was on many minds. Local meetings did amazing things in the depth of the pandemic — care packages, calls and notes to young Friends and their families, outdoor programs when possible — even online Christmas pageants! The PYM Children & Families program was also experimenting, and Giant Children’s Meeting was born from both necessity and hope. Now we’re ready to discern what’s next for creating children and their families in our wider PYM community. [Read more…] about Giant Children’s Meeting: What’s Next?

Religious Education Resources & Events for Fall

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When the afternoon sunshine softens and the crickets take over for the cicada chorus, I know it’s back to school time. The former classroom teacher in me feels the tug to get ready for the new year, and of course in meetings we may be getting ready to welcome children and youth back from summer adventures to school-year routines. One of the ideas I’m thinking about a lot is rethinking “First Day School” — both that language and the scholastic model. It’s not “the way we’ve always done things” as Friends, and the interruptions of the pandemic continue to create opportunities for new ways of exploring, listening, and being community in our meetings. Join me for a conversation on this! Below you’ll find resources for Fall and events for conversation, service, and fellowship.
[Read more…] about Religious Education Resources & Events for Fall

Celebrating & Nurturing Support for Queer Youth

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Throughout the month of June, Pride celebrations have happened across our PYM region. As the month comes to a close we can carry on that spirit of affirmation and inclusion. In this year when religious groups and government legislation are fighting to repress queer youth and their families, PYM celebrates the importance of our LGBTQ+ community. The Youth Programs Advisory Committee recently approved a minute of support for the LGBTQ+ youth, staff, families, and volunteers in our Youth Programs, which was accepted in June by the Quaker Life Council. There is more work to do! Shared here is the YPAC minute in full, along with resources and reflections on how we can continue to educate and celebrate belonging for all in our local meetings and yearly meeting community. [Read more…] about Celebrating & Nurturing Support for Queer Youth

Religious Education Resources and Events for June & July

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Happy summertime, Friends! In the coming weeks, children and teens will be done with school and families will shift into summer routines. I’ll be back in touch in August with ideas for looking forward to the Fall, and if you’re ready to start thinking in that direction this planning guide is still a good place to begin this summer. The resources and events offered below for June and July include Juneteenth, FGC’s “YAY!” gathering, and what’s for families and youth at our Annual Sessions. I hope you will pass them along to families and youth in your meetings and communities! [Read more…] about Religious Education Resources and Events for June & July

Summer of Freedom: Ujima Friends Peace Center

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Last summer, Ujima Friends Peace Center launched a 100% outdoor freedom school that was designed to allow the neighborhood children to explore “friendly spaces” while engaging in activities that would be good for the mind, body, and spirit.  Our children participated in environmental projects, literacy activities, and self-care/conflict resolution sessions.  The summer was a resounding success!

Freedom Summer 2021 we were hosted by Abington Friends Meeting and the Historic Fairhill Burial Grounds. Our young people enjoyed trips to Snipes Farms, Taylor Wildlife Preserves, the Goat Project, One Art Community Center, Up from Salem and Salem Monthly Meeting.

We are planning for Freedom Summer 2022 and would love for our children to once again experience some of the green spaces in Quaker meeting houses and schools that so many of us take for granted but serve as a balm for the souls of many of our children.

We hope to serve 30 children and engage a team of college students.  We will bring all our own equipment and materials. We simply would like to have our children in spaces that are safe, green, and provide opportunities for bonding with the environment and with one another.

If you are interested in helping us this summer here are things you can do:

  1. Sign up to host our children in your meeting house or school grounds.
  2. Assist us in locating a place for our children to swim.
  3. Donate to assist us in paying for transportation and trips.

Please send donations to:
Ujima Friends Peace Center,
PO Box 50647,
Philadelphia, PA

Supporting Children and Teens After Violent News

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In the last two weeks we have been repeatedly confronted with the legacy of gun violence and ongoing, communal trauma in this country. The three events in recent days have happened in the kinds of everyday places that should be safe — the grocery store, church, and school. How do we talk to children and adolescents about gun violence, racialized violence, and senseless tragedy? Parents and caregivers are helping their children process their feelings alongside their own, and signs of anxiety are different in children and adolescents when compared with adults. Pastoral care for children begins with pastoral care for their caregivers, and the resources below are offered to support parents and families—please share. 

[Read more…] about Supporting Children and Teens After Violent News

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

Religious Education Resources for March & April 2022

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A parent in my meeting shared with me that they were not sure how to talk to their children about Russia’s war on Ukraine. I recalled a line in an article that had resonated for me as a parent and educator: We don’t have to protect children from difficult feelings, but we must not leave them alone with them. The Tote Bag newsletter for March/April has many resources and events to share with meetings and families, but these ideas for supporting one another and talking about ways to create peace are perhaps the most important. [Read more…] about Religious Education Resources for March & April 2022

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