Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s Middle School Friends (MSF) program connects the space between the Children and Families program and Young Friends. It is a time when youth continue to find their own place within our community, learning how to listen to Spirit, discern, and be together in faith. The care offered in the program helps MSF youth keep a sense of belonging as they move forward within the Religious Society of Friends.
With Daniel Doan, who continues to bring energy, and Elizabeth Croce-Karaca, who shares that energy through her decade of leadership, MSF is supporting a vision for the year ahead. During the 2025–2026 school year, MSF will have meetups and will join Children and Families and Young Friends for thread gatherings and retreats, while offering opportunities just for middle school Friends to connect more deeply. Together, these Friends will create space for reflection, laughter, and belonging as they explore who they are and what faithfulness looks like in their daily lives.
This program builds on a strong foundation. Before the pandemic, MSF was a vibrant part of youth life at Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Young Friends have rebuilt their community; now the MSF program is growing again, slowly, reaching those who are moving beyond Children and Families and still searching a place to practice faith and fellowship among peers before high school. By combining gatherings, meetups, and overnights, MSF offers shared experiences that strengthen friendships and help youth feel at home across the yearly meeting.
For more information on Middle School Friends programing, please contact middleschoolfriends@pym.org.
