On the evening of Tuesday, March 2, 2021, 98 leaders from monthly meetings met virtually for community and mutual support. The gathering was centered in searching for joy as we transition from a pandemic year. [Read more…] about PYM Leadership Gathering: Building Connections
News
Friends Center Announces Friends Select Purchase Agreement on 1520 Race Street Building
Chris Mohr, Executive Director of Friends Center, recently announced that Friends Center Corporation has entered into an agreement with Friends Select School to sell Friends Center’s 1520 Race Street building. The building, which stands on the west side of the courtyard, will be renovated by Friends Select and used for classroom and administrative space. Head of School, Michael Gary, shared the news of the purchase agreement in an email to the Friends Select community last week: [Read more…] about Friends Center Announces Friends Select Purchase Agreement on 1520 Race Street Building
Quaker Voluntary Service – Reflecting on a Life Changing Work Experience
Quaker Voluntary Service (QVS) was founded in 2011 and though young in years, QVS sees itself as “a modern expression of a long-standing tradition of Spirit-grounded service and witness in the Quaker tradition.” The first QVS house was piloted in 2012 in Atlanta, GA. It was soon followed by others in Philadelphia and Portland, OR, Boston, and finally Minneapolis. [Read more…] about Quaker Voluntary Service – Reflecting on a Life Changing Work Experience
Quaker Traditions Series: Part IV – Ministry and Decision Making
This is part IV in a series of four articles on Quaker Traditions. In his role as Associate Secretary for Religious Life, Zachary Dutton has listened deeply to Friends in the community. Working with the PYM staff community engagement team he has provided answers to framing questions for this four-part series. The answers are reflective as opposed to definitive.
[Read more…] about Quaker Traditions Series: Part IV – Ministry and Decision Making
General Secretary Report, Jan-Feb 2021
On a regular schedule PYM’s General Secretary, Christie Duncan-Tessmer, publishes a report to PYM Councils detailing work that PYM Staff has completed. You can read a full archive of reports to councils or read her report for the first two months of 2021 below. [Read more…] about General Secretary Report, Jan-Feb 2021
Youth Hangouts & Summits
Over the weekend of February 20-21, our Middle School Friends (Grades 6-8) and Young Friends (high school) program communities were busy gathering for fellowship, worship, learning, and laughing. We welcomed new participants and re-connected with friends we’re hoping to see in person again soon. [Read more…] about Youth Hangouts & Summits
Anti-Blackness Thread Gathering: Change Happens When A Thought Becomes An Action
On January 23, 2021, 126 people devoted six hours on a Saturday to attend PYM’s Addressing anti-Blackness Thread Gathering. Organized by Community Engagement Coordinator, Olivia Brangan and Events and Resources Coordinator, T.J. Jourian, the event featured Sarah Willie-LeBreton, Provost and Dean of the Faculty at Swarthmore College and Oskar Castro, Director of HR and Inclusion at Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Tenaja Henson, NC Campaign Coordinator for Reproaction, while unable to attend, was also to be featured and contributed to the planning and visioning of the event, along with Sarah and Oskar. [Read more…] about Anti-Blackness Thread Gathering: Change Happens When A Thought Becomes An Action
Life in Prison as a Juvenile: Post Incarceration Stories Shared at Gwynedd
Deb Hejl, co-clerk of the Legislative Policy Collaborative, submitted the story below about healing circles at the Youth Sentencing and Reentry Project (YSOP). February is a good month to focus on our nation’s problems with incarceration, because there is still time to get informed and ready for FCNL’s Spring Lobbying Sessions.
The school to prison pipeline, and ongoing inequalities faced by persons of color within the policing and judicial systems are things our society must face. Behind the large problems, though, are human hearts and minds that bear witness to the impact on children who have been sentenced to prison for a ‘lifetime of punishment.’ [Read more…] about Life in Prison as a Juvenile: Post Incarceration Stories Shared at Gwynedd
Quakers in Education: Sarah Willie-LeBreton, Sociologist and Swarthmore Dean
To meet Sarah Willie-LeBreton, Ph.D. is to encounter an exceptionally grounded Friend with a deep knowledge of human societies. Currently Swarthmore College’s Provost and Dean of the Faculty since 2018, Sarah was appointed after having chaired the Department of Sociology & Anthropology (2009-2018), chaired the President’s Task Force on Sexual Misconduct (2013-14), served as Associate Provost (2005-8), and coordinated the Black Studies Program on and off for more than a decade beginning in 1998. Somehow, as she does all this, she has still found time to be present in leading PYM towards growth in important areas. [Read more…] about Quakers in Education: Sarah Willie-LeBreton, Sociologist and Swarthmore Dean
Quaker Traditions Series: Part III – the Beliefs and Practice of Being Quaker
This is part III in a series of four articles on Quaker Traditions. In his role as Associate Secretary for Religious Life, Zachary Dutton has listened deeply to Friends in the community. Working with the PYM staff community engagement team he has provided answers to framing questions for this four-part series. The answers are reflective as opposed to definitive.
We recommend reading Part I: Spiritual Practice, and Part II: Worship, before reading Part III. [Read more…] about Quaker Traditions Series: Part III – the Beliefs and Practice of Being Quaker
