Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

of the Religious Society of Friends

Advocacy

Illuminating Our Paths to Abolition

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A First Monday Lecture with Lewis Webb, Jr.

7:30pm – 9pm Eastern Time (US & Canada) via Zoom.
Free to the public! Registration required.
The Thirteenth Amendment’s abolition of slavery included an exception for those convicted of a crime. Informed by the impacts of this exception clause, we will examine the morphing of slavery into the carceral state; identify abolition entry points along the punishment paradigm; consider abolition strategies and, as led, take our next steps towards a society that honors the light in all and is committed to true community wellbeing.
For more information and registration, visit:
https://pendlehill.org/events/illuminating-our-paths-to-abolition/

Let’s Talk About Healing Justice

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How do we keep our neighbors and communities safe? How does our current approach to crime, prosecution and punishment work for different Americans? Can we make it better? Lewis Webb, Jr., a graduate of Brooklyn Law School, has worked with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office and the New York City Department of Corrections. Today, he focuses on mitigating paths to incarceration, lowering barriers for people leaving the carceral system, and improving police/community relations as Healing Justice Program Coordinator for the American Friends Service Committee. An engaging speaker, Lewis offers a hopeful vision of how we can create a justice system that heals communities, and protects and serves us all. Moorestown Friends Meeting’s Anti-Racism Committee welcomes you to join the discussion via Zoom on Thursday 19 May at 7:30pm; click here or call 646-558-8656 and enter meeting ID 873 3565 8140 to join the conversation.

Green Your Life: Where to Start

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Practical workshop on how to choose alternatives to plastics, reduce food waste and advocate for action on climate change.  Displays, discussion and free climate-friendly lunch.

Let’s Talk About Black Quakers

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Let’s Talk About Black Quakers

Join the Black Quaker Project for a bi-weekly, free, online film festival, and Let’s Talk! Watch any or all of the five films screening on alternate Saturdays from 12 February through 9 April, or just bring your thoughts about Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, Howard Thurman, Mahala Ashley Dickerson, Bayard Rustin and/or Paul Robeson to an informal discussion of what we’ve learned on Thursday 21 April at 7:30pm.  All are welcome; click here or call 646-558-8656 and enter meeting ID 873 3565 8140 to join the conversation.

Café Darkness In-Person Writing Workshop for People of Color

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Join K. Melchor Quick Hall, Joanne Daley, and Danie “Ocean” Jackson at Pendle Hill

Writing in fields dominated by white writers, editors, and publishers can be an exhausting experience. Café Darkness brings together people of color to share our works-in-progress, celebrate our diverse voices, confront our common barriers, and build a community of support for the challenges ahead. We are looking to connect across genre to the written text, the spoken word, and the body’s language. Although this trio of facilitators brings a range of skills, Melchor is an educator and the author and editor of academic manuscripts, Danie is a singer-songwriter and life coach, and Joanne is a bodyworker and healer. This workshop aims for a well-rounded exploration of the legacies, dedications, texts, sounds, and bodily manifestations of writing by people of color. We hope that you will join us!
For more information, to register, or to apply for financial aid, please visit: https://pendlehill.org/events/cafe-darkness-in-person-writing-workshop-for-people-of-color/

 

The Quaker History of Eastern State Penitentiary

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Arch Street Meeting House will be hosting Matt Murphy from Eastern State Penitentiary for an evening program! Matt’s presentation will discuss the many connections between Quakers, prisons, and Eastern State Penitentiary.

 

Matt Murphy has served as the Tour Programs Supervisor at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site since 2015. Matt is responsible for creating major programming and oversees the hiring, training, and evaluation of the education staff. Matt is a seasoned expert in facilitative dialogue methodology. From Alcatraz Island to Independence National Historical Park, Matt has served as a cultural heritage interpreter at sites across the nation and has appeared on popular media outlets such as the Washington Post and the Travel Channel.

This program is presented in partnership with Eastern State Penitentiary.

[Read more…] about The Quaker History of Eastern State Penitentiary

Approved Policy on Advocacy

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Administrative Council, after months of research and listening, approved a Policy on Advocacy in our yearly meeting which encourages Friends to follow their individual leadings and also articulates the limitations of a religion under the law. This story shares the policy and offers context and examples.
[Read more…] about Approved Policy on Advocacy

Love Knows No Borders – A First Monday Lecture with Pedro Rios

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Pedro Rios will explore how his lifelong work and time with the American Friends Service Committee is dedicated to upholding the dignity of border residents and migrants who cross through the region, as well as the ways this work challenges the troublesome border narrative used to create detrimental public policy.

Free to the public! Registration required.

For more information and to register visit:
https://pendlehill.org/events/love-knows-no-borders/

Questions for Candidates

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Quakers have a long history of political engagement. As the midterm elections approach, the PYM / FCNL Legislative Policy Collaborative encourages all Friends to engage in constructive dialogue with candidates at Town Hall Meetings and via Letters to the Editor.

FCNL’s website section on Questions for Candidates offers nonpartisan guidance on issues Friends care about.

Update your contact & Meeting information at pym.org/updates