This summer, Third Haven Friends Meeting is hosting two sessions of a summer nature and mindfulness camp. The camp weeks are part of an effort both to support families in the meeting and reach out to families in the surrounding community. [Read more…] about Summer Camp Fun and Community Outreach
Youth Programs
Welcoming New Young Friends Program Staff
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Lori Sinitzky as the incoming Young Friends Program Facilitator. The search committee conducted interviews with three finalists from a strong candidate pool, and were in unity to bring this recommendation forward to the General Secretary, who joyfully accepted the committee’s recommendation with thanks for their work.
Lori is excited to join the collaborative work with Young Friends on journeys of exploration and discovery, community, unity, and self-actualization. Lori is a member of Green Street Monthly Meeting and participates in the Worship and Ministry committee. She is a passionate Quaker and educator with 15 years of experience in Friends schools. She describes herself as a spiritual seeker with a family history of diverse spiritual practices. Lori has a deep commitment to Quaker ways, social justice, and full inclusion of all people. She brings mindfulness practices and a love of the visual and performing arts to all aspects of her work.
Lori is joining the Youth Programs team as we prepare for Annual Sessions, and will be the program Assistant for Young Friends there, working with current Young Friends Co-Facilitator Kody Hersh. Lori will transition into the Facilitator position starting at Fall Continuing Sessions.
The search committee included two Young Friends, Kaise Coyle and Mary Denham (co-clerk of Young Friends), along with Robert Rosenthal, who serves as the adult clerk alongside Young Friends clerks and is a long-time Friendly Adult Presence in the program. Elizabeth Croce, Middle School Program Facilitator, and Melinda Wenner Bradley, Youth Engagement Coordinator, also served on the committee.
Please join us in welcoming Lori!
EMIR Healing Center ministry supported by Green Street Monthly Meeting
Green Street Meeting’s Quaker Social Change Ministry group in support of EMIR Healing Center is having a “Fill a Bookbag” drive to gather school supplies for 85 children participating in the center’s programs this year.
EMIR stands for “Every Murder is Real.” The center, in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, was founded by Green Street member Victoria Greene, after her son Emir was murdered. Victoria has spoken about the work of EMIR Healing Center in keynote addresses at PYM Annual Sessions and the FGC Gathering, as well as in a QuakerSpeak video.
Murder is devastating to families. Children risk falling behind in school or being unprepared due to the traumatic emotional and financial consequences of murder. Parents and caregivers may still be struggling with grief and trauma long after the incident. The ministry support group is pulling together backpacks with school supplies for the children, so their families have one less thing to worry about.
You can help by writing a check to Green Street Friends Meeting, memo EMIR Fill a Bookbag, or shopping an Amazon wish list and having the supplies shipped directly to EMIR Healing Center. The ministry support group will assemble the backpacks in August. Learn more at http://greenstreetfriendsmeeting.org/emir.html.
Young Friends Program Transitions
With deep gratitude, the PYM community acknowledges the many gifts of Young Friends Program Co-Facilitators Hannah Mayer and Kody Hersh as they each enter new stages of their lives and ministries, and move on from the Young Friends program. For many years they have anchored the Youth Program team with both administrative and program work, and also modeled for us deeply caring, authentic relationships with Young Friends. Their approach to youth work has helped to shape how our yearly meeting is moving forward with collaborative energy and joy in youth programs. [Read more…] about Young Friends Program Transitions
Junior Friends Conference Hosted by Abington Quarter
“This is the best week of my life.” 4th Grade Student
For more than forty years, Abington Quarter has supported two summer youth programs for members and attenders of Friends Meetings within the Quarter: Junior Friends Conference (JFC) and Middle School Friends Conference (MSFC). The opportunity to join the Junior Friends Conference is open to all young people in PYM completing grades 2-6! The JFC program is a one-week residential conference. This year, it will be held Sunday, June 17- Friday, June 22, 2018 at The George School in Bucks County. The week will feature: arts, ecology, games, worship, swimming, talent sharing, team building, and campfires.
The JFC program offers participants the opportunity to live in a “Friendly” community that strives to live Quaker testimonies. It is called a “conference”and not a camp because while there is fellowship and fun, the focus is to provide an environment rich in Quaker values. The hope is for all children to benefit spiritually, emotionally and physically as a result of their experiences. A 5th Grade student reflected: “Thank you sooo much for helping me to come here, and I can’t explain how thankful I am to be in this wonderful community.”
Friends are asked to register no later than April 30, and questions can be directed to Karen Shanoski shanoski@comcast.net.
PYM Youth March for Our Lives
On Saturday, March 24, at Spring Continuing Sessions, Youth from across PYM participated in the March for Our Lives at the Capitol in Harrisburg, PA.
The morning program was spent in preparation: wondering about how we let our lives speak as Friends, talking about what it is like to attend a march/rally, and processing different perspectives on the issue of gun control. Youth returned to the space where meeting for business was being held and gave a report of their concerns, including where they align with the March for Our Lives platform, and what they hope will change. One of the YM recording clerks later claimed the big piece of paper they had written on, explaining, “For the minutes!” They are now part of the history of PYM.
Also before lunch, the PYM body attending Sessions was asked if they had words to share with the youth, sustenance to send them off to the march in the afternoon. We acknowledged that for some Youth, this was their first time attending a march or rally like this. There was a lot of experience bearing witness among Friends in that room! Out of the silence, Friends called out,
“Be strong!”
“You are loved!”
“Stand in your truth!”
“God is with you!”
“Speak truth for justice!”
And many other messages.
We arrived at the Capitol and joined in the March around a city block and then assembled with the group on the Capitol steps. We carried the PYM banner and homemade signs. We chanted with other marchers. We created chants! One was “We want silence, not gun violence!” We stayed together, and took care of one another in our group, which was joined by about a dozen other Friends.
Back at Harrisburg Meeting during the debrief of the experience, the young Friends shared feelings of hope and calls to action. One MSF participant said, “Before, talking about this, I felt like we were in a bubble. But we’re part of something bigger.” They reminded us that there’s more to do, and suggested ways PYM and their local meetings can support them to network, stay in touch, and share information with each other.
They were student activists on Saturday. Not our future, but our now.
Youth Programs, Give Feedback on Vision & Mission
Dear Friends,
The Youth Programs Sprint group has nearly completed its work to propose a vision, mission and governance structure for our yearly meeting’s youth programs. The Sprint group, through several iterations, looked at the history of our youth programs and considered their future. The Sprint group intentionally sought out voices that we don’t always hear from, including those of LGBTQ families, Friends of Color, and Friends involved in religious education at monthly and quarterly meetings. Voices of young people themselves were also included in the discernment process, and several members of the Young Friends community serve on the Sprint group.
Friends from across the yearly meeting are invited to read the proposal and to submit feedback to the Clerk of the Youth Programs Sprint, Kri Burkander, at kri@burkander.com.
Based on feedback, the proposal will be revised, and a final version will be brought to the April meeting of the Quaker Life Council. The proposal will also be included in advance documents for Continuing Sessions on Saturday March 24, where Friends will have an opportunity to give feedback during the Quaker Life Council report.
Friends can read the report in full below or view it on the PYM website.
Sincerely,
Kri Burkander, Clerk
Youth Programs Sprint
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The Proposal
Vision Statement
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting children, youth and their families will feel connected to and engaged with the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) via programs and practices that provide for connection, engagement, and the invitation into deeper relationship with God.
Mission Statement
PYM demonstrates our commitment to community, accessibility, and the foundation of our Quaker faith by working together to provide youth of all ages with opportunities for meaningful participation in our Quaker community and support for their spiritual journeys.
This mission is anchored in four pillars: Community, Accessibility, Quaker Faith and Values, and Meaningful Participation.
The first pillar is Community. We aim to provide youth, children, families, and seekers in our yearly meeting with opportunities to gather and be known to one another through shared experiences. We note that these opportunities may take place at either monthly, quarterly, or yearly meeting levels, and we are committed to supporting integration between and across these offerings. Additionally, our youth programs have the intention to nurture a sense of belonging and building supportive relationships within and among our youth, children, families, volunteers, and staff. To support this intention and these relationships, youth programs are structured to support the provision of pastoral care as appropriate by staff. Lastly, we recognize and celebrate the different youth communities within PYM and wish to nurture connections among them.
The second pillar is Accessibility. We aim to provide programs that are welcoming (with respect to race, physical ability, class, gender, familiarity with Quaker process, geographic location, or any other condition brought forward) with adequate support and accommodations that encourage participation by all. Our commitment to accessibility means that we recognize that the diversity within our community, as well as the broader community, strengthens us.
The third pillar is Quaker Faith and Values. Our programs are intended to invite all children, youth, and their families into deeper relationship with Spirit and nurture an understanding of our Quaker faith, traditions, and practice. Our programs provide youth with opportunities to grow spiritually, cultivate their leadership ability, learn and own Quaker process, and care for each other in loving community. We aim to nurture the capacity of youth to build Quaker faith communities and equip our youth to bear Quaker witness in the world.
The fourth pillar is Meaningful Participation. We are driven to provide children, youth, and their families with experiences that speak to their needs for exploration, knowledge, spiritual growth, and leadership development. We believe that these experiences provide children and youth with important skills as well as engendering a commitment to remain engaged with the Religious Society of Friends and this Yearly Meeting through the years.
Governance Structure
Youth Programs Advisory Committee (“Y-PAC”)
A committee of Quaker Life Council.
Membership: 9 members
-Youth Engagement Coordinator (Melinda)
-Associate Secretary for Program and Religious Life (Zachary) – ex officio
-MSF youth representative
-YF youth representation
-at least one member of Youth Sprint III
-parent representative
3-at-large members suggested by Nominating Committee (approved by QLC)
Membership Notes:
In considering membership for this committee, attention should be paid to all aspects of diversity named above, including race, class, geographic location, and experience with Quakerism.
Youth members – at least one MSF and one YF who don’t necessarily serve as clerks (inviting new role as liaison to YPAC). Youth members may be active at any level of youth programming – monthly, quarterly, and/or yearly.
At large members are intended to provide outside voices that are not necessarily familiar to those on the YPAC or QLC, to ensure that youth programs are meeting the needs of all stakeholders. Guidance to Nominating should be to seek members from diverse parts of the YM, and those who bring the perspective of monthly and quarterly meetings, specifically those without Quarterly Meeting coordinators.
YPAC Responsibilities
- This group should meet no less than 4 times per year, and be available for consultation as needed with the Youth Engagement Coordinator
- Support the staff and volunteers in carrying out the mission and vision of the PYM youth programs
- Serve as a sounding board for Youth Engagement Coordinator
- Ongoing evaluation of the MSF and YF guidelines to ensure that they still meet the needs of the group and serve to support the vision and mission of youth programs
- Support the organization and coordination of Youth Resource Friends
- Consult with Administrative Council on any matters related to Youth Program staff
- Provide policy guidance for staff and volunteers throughout the yearly meeting, including those related to child safety
- Assisting with communication between youth programming and various communities within the YM
- Regularly evaluate that the YM youth programs are supporting the Strategic Directions of the YM and that programs are serving the needs of youth (recommend surveying youth who are involved and those not involved to identify areas of improvement)
PYM Staff Join National Walk Out Day
Quakers in our region have a long history of concern about gun violence. Individual monthly meetings and the yearly meeting have approved minutes and spoken with lawmakers about it. A campaign that grew out of PYM peace work successfully closed a Philadelphia gun shop with a tremendous reputation and record for straw purchases. At this time when the youth of our nation are taking leadership on addressing gun violence we have opportunities for joining them and for learning and action.
Today, the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting staff who were moved to do so joined youth across the country in a national walk out. At 10 AM, PYM staff stood with students from Friends Select School and others in front of City Hall. The students read aloud the names of those who were killed at the Parkland, FL high school shooting and called on our leaders to take action. More information about the walk out is on the web here.
You can follow live updates on walk outs happening all over the country on the New York Times website.
Nurturing Multigenerational Spiritual Community in Salem Quarter
“If we want to rediscover human joy and wholeness and creativity, and to learn to care for our planetary household as one earth family, we cannot continue to insulate adults and children from each other. Children need to be present to us, and we to them.” – Elise Boulding
My first visit to a local meeting as Youth Engagement Coordinator was in December, when I was invited to speak at Salem Quarterly Meeting on the topic of nurturing multigenerational spiritual community. Friends of all ages gathered at Woodbury Friends Meeting for introductions and the program “All Together Now,” which began with an activity to explore images, stories, and themes we encounter during the winter holiday season. After playing “silent squares” together, younger Friends transitioned to their program with Gail Scuderi, where they continued to explore their responses to the activity through art. Older Friends gathered to discuss how the whole meeting community can support children’s spiritual lives, including how to create multigenerational programs in a local meeting. The younger Friends returned from their program for the last part of worship together with the community.
The program was filmed, and you can watch it in the video linked below, which is now part of the Salem Quarter podcast series, “Clearly Quaker.” Some main points lifted up in the message:
- Affirmation that spiritual formation is a life-long journey.
- When a new family with children comes to a meeting, we need to attend to three kinds of needs: the spiritual formation/religious education of the children, parents who are seekers themselves, and the family’s hope for a faith home.
- Let’s make a place for young Friends in our worship; there is a place at this table for them.
- Spiritual community with their peers in a First Day program is vital as well — with a balance of informational and experiential learning. (The “kids table!”)
- Our children need authentic relationships with adults other than their parents or primary caregivers.
In these places, adults can find ways to be fully present to children. Boulding also wrote, “To be a good futurist is to be a good listener to the young, who see shapes on the horizon that older folks miss.”
I encourage you to visit the Salem Quarter website and explore the wonderful podcast series, “Clearly Quaker”. You’ll find Friends speaking on a variety of topics, sharing their truth, witness, and demonstrating our living faith!
Melinda Wenner Bradley, Youth Engagement Coordinator
Youth Programs Staff Update: New and Continuing Friends
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