Affiliated Organizations Events

A youth conference for peace is being held to bring together young people from different parts of our community. Inspired by the life works of Lee Stern and Bayard Rustin, the event is organized by youth for youth. The goal is to build stronger bonds among neighbors and foster a better understanding of one another and, ultimately, a more peaceful society. The conference will begin at 10am and will feature journalist and peace activist speaker Colman McCarthy, youth speakers, community building activities and lots of fun! Lunch and snacks provided, registration deadline: March 11th, 2016. For more information or to register, contact Bette Hoover (bette.hoover@ssfs.org).

Interested in finding out more about Friends House? Would you consider serving on the Friends House Board? If so, come to tea on Sunday from 1:30pm to 3:30 at Friends House. The address is 17340 Quaker Lane, Sandy Spring, MD 20860. Board members of Friends House are nominated, so coming to the tea will not guarantee a nomination to the Board, but it should be an interesting exploratory event! RSVP Linda Pardoe, Friends House Board clerk, (lep443@yahoo.com) or Bill Mitchell, BYM Nominating Committee. (billmitchell3@verizon.net)

What does it take to identify Quaker burial sites of long-forgotten African American fugitives who traveled to Freedom along the Underground Railroad? Meeting with Friends who carry a concern for honoring and restoring the dignity of these men, women, and children. Learn how to involve your Meeting. The evnt will begin at 7pm and RSVPs are requested at aviswanda@yahoo.com or on Facebook. For more information, contact Liz Oppenheimer. (612-567-8406 or lizopp@gmail.com)

All Friends are encouraged to join FGC’s Ministry on Racism and the Quaker group at WPC17 Registration opens Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend. WPC was established and is organized by African American professor Dr. Eddie Moore. The conference strives to empower and equip a variety of attenders to work for equity and justice through self and social transformation. FGC is sponsoring a group discount for the White Privilege Conference for a fifth year, and has supported nearly 200 Quakers over five years in attending WPC. These Friends took advantage of a 55% discount on registration. Baltimore Yearly Meeting is also a sponsor this year. For the past four years local Friends and FGC have sponsored a Quaker hospitality room where Friends could take a break when needed, gather for worship, and have a Quaker caucus for worship sharing. Local Friends have also provided overnight hospitality and transportation assistance to out-of-state participants. For more information, contact Vanessa Julye at FGC. (215-561-1700 x3006 or Ministryonracism@fgcquaker.org) Registration opens on January 18.

Third Haven Friends announced The George Fox Forum! The last of four sessions will begin at 6pm and the focus will be on Peace. We will begin with a TED Talk, Fighting with Non-Violence by Secilia Elworthy, followed by a fast-paced panel discussion. There will be plenty of time to ask questions and enjoy an evening of fellowship. A hearty dinner will be provided at no cost, and parking is available on the property. Visit the Third Haven Friends Meeting Facebook page for more information. (https://www.facebook.com/events/190791124596727/)

Please join the Indian Affairs Committee for this presentation by Paula Palmer. The program will begin at 7 pm. Paula is the founder of Toward Right Relationship with America's Native Peoples (Project of Boulder, CO, Friends Meeting, Indigenous People's Concerns Committee). Native American organizations are asking churches to join in a Truth and Reconciliation process to bring about healing for Native families that continue to suffer the consequences of the Indian boarding schools. With fellowships from Pendle Hill and Friends Historical Library, Paula Palmer researched the role that Friends played in implementing the federal government’s policy of forced assimilation of Native children. She will give an overview of the Quaker Indian boarding schools in New York, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Indian Territory (Oklahoma), and pose the query: Knowing what we know now about the impacts of forced assimilation, what does this history mean for Friends today?