Join friends at Swarthmore Friends Meeting on Sunday, January 19th for a presentation from Ainsley Bruton, AFSC’s Quaker Engagement Coordinator, about AFSC’s work to promote peace and justice around the world. Ainsley will share information about AFSC’s food justice activism, efforts to de-militarize police forces, peacemaking in the Middle East, AFSC’s social change leadership program for young adults, and more. Ainsley will also be connecting with Friends to learn more about peace and justice work being done at Swarthmore.
AFSC
Selden Smith’s Call to Serve as Rising Clerk
Selden Smith has been a part of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting community for his whole life, bringing care, humor, and dedication to his work among Friends. Selden shared his reflections on his journey with Quakerism, his unexpected call to serve as Rising Clerk, and his hopes for the future of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. He highlights the importance of recognizing the gifts and talents within our community—both in ourselves and in others—and how these contributions sustain and strengthen the work we share as Friends.
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“The Movement and the ‘Madman” Film Screening and Panel Discussion (hybrid)
“The Movement and the ‘Madman” examines how two major antiwar protests in 1969 stopped President Nixon from escalating the U.S. war in Vietnam, including a threat to use nuclear weapons. The film draws from firsthand accounts from movement leaders, including AFSC alumni. The film’s executive producer is Robert Levering, and features David Hartsough, Stewart Meacham, George Willoughby, Ron Young, and Trudi Schutz. Following the film, we’ll host a panel discussion featuring Robert Levering, Michael Simmons, Jerry Elmer and Wendy Batson, who took the courageous stand to object to war. Sign up to join us in person in Friends Center or online via Zoom.
Working for Global Policy Change in Turbulent Times
Representatives from AFSC’s Policy Department will speak about the organization’s efforts to develop more comprehensive policy change strategies across levels of government globally, and ways we can keep up momentum for change when times feel hopeless. They will also speak to AFSC’s preparations for multiple election scenarios in the U.S., drawing on the organization’s global experience as well as its organizing and training expertise. Aura Kanegis, Imani Cruz, and Mike Merryman-Lotze will share stories from their work and talk about ways to look beyond politically expedient strategies that may undermine long term goals, setting a course for deeper and more substantive long-arc change.
Presenters: Aura Kanegis, Imani Cruz, and Mike Merryman-Lotze
Quaker Action for Ending Apartheid
Join us for a workshop focused on getting your community to take action to end Israeli apartheid. You’ll learn the foundations of Israeli apartheid, hear all about our Apartheid-Free initiative, and practice sharing this information with your community. We’ll also share a bit about the other movement building work which the Palestine Activism Program is engaged with this year.
Presenters: Jennifer Bing and Zoe Jannuzi
A Conversation with Jose Antonio Vargas
AFSC is delighted to host Jose Antonio Vargas as our keynote speaker for the 2024 Corporation Program. Vargas is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, Tony-nominated theatrical producer, and a leading voice for the human rights of immigrants. He is the founder of Define American, an organization which empowers diverse and nuanced storytelling about immigrant experiences across a variety of different media. In 2020, Fortune named him one of its “40 under 40” most influential people in government and politics. After his keynote address, Vargas will be available to sign copies of his bestselling memoir, Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen.
AFSC Seeks Corporation/Board Clerk – Call for Nominations!
The American Friends Service Committee is seeking a new presiding clerk of the Corporation and the Board of Directors to begin service in April 2023 on approval of the AFSC Corporation. We are asking everyone in the Quaker and AFSC communities to help identify potential nominees who can serve in this important leadership role in AFSC during a challenging and exciting period in the organization’s history.
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