Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

of the Religious Society of Friends

Peace & Social Justice

Quaker Educators: Ayesha Imani, PhD & Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School – Part 1

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When a visitor arrives at Sankofa Freedom Academy, a Philadelphia charter school, the first feeling is one of love. A second feeling is calm – Sankofa students and teachers are full of intention and purpose. The third is respect and joy.

These school walls may hold moments of stress or success, but either way, no one is going to be left unsupported or un-loved, and the community is there to value and lift each soul, and all minds, up.

Ayesha Imani, PhD, is the Quaker educator who serves as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Sankofa Freedom Academy. She is also one of the founders. The kindergarten to grade 12 school – which opened in 2009 and is currently the only Freedom School in Philadelphia – was inspired by Ayesha’s children’s positive experiences in Quaker schools, the Quaker faith, the need for a culturally African-centric instructional model, and the charter school movement.

This is a story of Quaker energy and spiritual focus.

[Read more…] about Quaker Educators: Ayesha Imani, PhD & Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School – Part 1

Apply for a Travel & Witness Grant at the March 1 Deadline

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The Travel and Witness Granting Group (TWGG) provides grants to support active service and witness by individuals following leadings of the Spirit.

The group has made fewer grants since March 2020 as a result of the pandemic’s impact on travel plans and gatherings.  This decrease means that the group has more funds available for future grants, and therefore welcomes applications for creative ideas that involve connecting with other communities through travel or witness. [Read more…] about Apply for a Travel & Witness Grant at the March 1 Deadline

Meetings and Individuals Are Invited to Acquire a New Tool: Trust Circles

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In addition to being co-clerk of the yearly meeting, Jean-Marie Prestwidge Barch is clerk of PYM’s Ministry and Care Committee. She has shared this news story in the hope that meetings and individuals will be inspired to learn about Trust Circles and participate in transforming our yearly meeting. [Read more…] about Meetings and Individuals Are Invited to Acquire a New Tool: Trust Circles

John Munro of Unami Monthly Meeting on the Carbon Forest Project

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Unami Monthly Meeting recently introduced a Carbon Forest Project through their Peace and Social Concerns committee. As one of their first projects, they have made plans for a ten-acre site to build Old Growth forests, an ecologically diverse native forest that can sink carbon permanently by planting 435 trees per acre, tending to the need for organic surface, shrubs, and herbs. They plan to steward these forests as they grow to maturity. [Read more…] about John Munro of Unami Monthly Meeting on the Carbon Forest Project

One Book, One Community 2022

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January is a reflective month and First Contact Reconciliation Collaborative suggests Friends engage with an opportunity (below) to read a book about the forests we live among.  

Grassroots collaboration calls us back to selecting a One Book, One Community title. This winter we are vesting in Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest by Suzanne Simard. Finding the Mother Tree is available with local library systems or for purchase as a book, e-book, or tape. [Read more…] about One Book, One Community 2022

FCNL Virtual Annual Meeting & US Child Poverty Conversations in Washington

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The story below on the Friends Committee on National Legislation’s (FCNL) Annual Meeting and work to reduce child poverty comes from one of PYM’s collaboratives (a network of individual Quakers working jointly on common interests specific to themselves). Collaborative work and witness are distinct from corporate ministry of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Though many individual Quakers join together in addressing social concerns, Quakerism is a faith of continuing revelation and PYM is a ‘big tent’ with many opinions. [Read more…] about FCNL Virtual Annual Meeting & US Child Poverty Conversations in Washington

Religious Education Resources for January & February 2022

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Dear Friends,

A few years ago, my meeting’s RE committee planned to focus on one of the Friends testimonies each month, and found we got stuck (in a good way!) on peace. We ended up creating a year-long program that started with peace in ourselves and moved outward each month in circles of expanding communities: exploring peace in our homes, meeting, neighborhoods, and the world. [Read more…] about Religious Education Resources for January & February 2022

First Contact Reconciliation Collaborative: Healing and Story-telling on Federal Indian Boarding Schools

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First Contact Reconciliation Collaborative is seeking Friends’ truths. We are looking for those truths that work toward healing and involve humbly examining and sharing our stories.
[Read more…] about First Contact Reconciliation Collaborative: Healing and Story-telling on Federal Indian Boarding Schools

Gifts We Seek: the Timeless, Eternal, Beautiful, and True

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Two Friends recently shared their thoughts with PYM. One wrote about what is timeless and true vs. political and divisive. The other wrote of the persistence it takes to access the long view. The news in these final two two stories of 2021 is that there is hope! By listening to diverse voices we maintain Truth within Quaker faith. By doing the work of climbing the stairs we see the far horizon. [Read more…] about Gifts We Seek: the Timeless, Eternal, Beautiful, and True

Saying Yes to Bucks County Interfaith! Bristol Meeting Collects Furniture for Afghan Refugees

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Friends’ Meetings everywhere engage in supportive and compassionate programs for their communities. This story, written by Jim Fine of  Bristol Meeting, will inspire meetings to do similar good in 2022.  The meeting supports the Bucks County Interfaith Coalition’s Support Network (BCICSN) by bottom-lining a rainy day fund for Syrian refugees. Recently the meeting also stepped up to serve as an ad-hoc warehouse, collecting furniture donations for an influx of anticipated Afghan refugees. [Read more…] about Saying Yes to Bucks County Interfaith! Bristol Meeting Collects Furniture for Afghan Refugees

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