Author: Chris Mohr

Friends Center in the snow, 1/6/2025

We were open today, but most of our nonprofit tenant organizations worked from home, so we closed at 4 pm today. Meanwhile, here are some photos of our campus with snow. Details in the alt text.

Snow-covered holly and oak trees are in front of a brick building. A sign on top of the fence says Welcome. A sign attached below it says Welcome! Join us for Quaker worship Sundays at 11 am. Yes, this welcome includes you.
Front entry welcome signs and trees.
A sign across the top of an open gate says Friends Center. On the right side is a glass curtain wall of a nonprofit office building. Ahead is a brick two story building with beige shutters and trim on the first floor and black shutters on the second floor. It is the Race Street Quaker Meetinghouse. A tall modern building is behind it in the distance. A white oak tree that still has brown leaves on it is behind the gate to the left. Bits of snow are clinging to the leaves. In the top center the sky is gray and overcast.
Front entry
A sign on a black, old-fashioned fence says Race Street Friends Meeting House. Erected 1856. Enter at 15th and Cherry. Behind the fence are some trees, and beyond them is the Race Street Friends Meetinghouse. We usually close it up and make it one word. Other buildings are in the background. Here, Friends refers to the Religious Society of Friends, also known as the Quakers.
Race Street Meetinghouse and sign.
A statue of Mary Dyer. She is sitting on a bench with her hands on her lap. She has snow on her lap, forearms, shoulders, and head. The statue is set on a raised stone plinth. On the left and behind it are holly trees. On the right is an oak. Behind that tree are brick buildings, including the porch of the Race Street Quaker Meetinghouse.
Statue of Mary Dyer in the snow.

Bring Your Own Mug Day, 12/17/2024

Thanks to the Friends Center staff, especially Shakirah and Carla, for organizing Bring Your Own Mug Day! We provided treats as a way to thank our wonderful nonprofit office tenants here in Center City Philadelphia. Our organizations include both Quaker organizations & non-Quaker nonprofits whose missions align with Quaker values.

A sign says Bring Your Own Mug Day, Tuesday, December 17.
A sign says Happy Holidays with a seasonal graphic. In the background are urns for coffee and hot water.
A table has a basket with a few sweet treats in it. Bring Your Own Mug Day is almost over.

Friends Center is a Partnership

Friends Center Corporation is a nonprofit partnership of three Quaker organizations: American Friends Service Committee, Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends.

Friends Center’s campus consists of the historic Race Street Quaker Meetinghouse, the 1501 Cherry Street office building, and a brick-paved courtyard that serves as an urban oasis with shade trees, native plants, and lots of birds and pollinators.

Welcome to Friends Center. A partnership of Quaker organizations. American Friends Service Committee. Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends.

Covenant House PA Sleep Out Returns to Friends Center

The Covenant House PA Sleep Out returns to our courtyard outside our Quaker Meetinghouse overnight on Thursday, 11/21/2024.

As Covenant House writes, “The Sleep Out is not about pretending to be homeless. We Sleep Out to show our solidarity with those who are — and to let the world know about the ever-growing population of young people who face homelessness.”

The Sleep Out raises critical funds to help Covenant House provide 24/7 shelter, sanctuary, and support to youth overcoming homelessness. Importantly, Covenant House is an inclusive, safe space for youth and young adults.

NBC10 interviewed Alexia Clarke from Covenant House PA about the Sleep Out recently. Watch the segment here.

Image of a person's legs sticking out of a large cardboard box. They are outside at night in Friends Center's courtyard. A TV news caption reads, "Covenant House Pennsylvania Sleep Out Event, Thursday, November 21."