Tenant News, September 2023

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S NOTE

World Quaker Day is October 1

“Living the Spirit of Ubuntu”

The first Sunday in October is World Quaker Day. It’s a day when Quakers—formally, the Religious Society of Friends, hence our name as Friends Center—gather across theologies and geographies with each other, the public, and seekers.

This year’s theme is “Living the Spirit of Ubuntu.” Ubuntu is a Zulu term that refers to the belief that every person is worthy of being recognized, respected and heard, and that we are all interdependent with one another and the environment.

Many Quaker groups across the globe will hold special online and in-person meetings on the theme, open to people from any country to join. See the list from the World Office of the Friends World Committee for Consultation: https://fwcc.world/worldquakerday/

Of course, Friends Center is open to everyone, and we have no “Quaker requirement.” But in case you’re interested, World Quaker Day is an excellent chance to learn more about the practices of Quakers around the world today (and not just 300 years ago).

—Chris Mohr, Executive Director, Friends Center

AROUND FRIENDS CENTER

Covid Levels Are Rising Again

Recently covid cases have increased in the US. The US CDC & the City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health recommend everyone over 6 months old get the new vaccines. You may also want to consider wearing a mask in the open areas of the facility.

• Reminder: Please, stay home if you’re sick!
• Recent health guidance:
• Click for CDC
• Click for Philly DPH

New Walkie Talkies

Thanks to a donation from Wireless Electronics in Northeast Philadelphia, Friends Center has a set of 10 brand-new portable two-way radios, aka walkie talkies. These are positioned in key areas of Friends Center, including office suites and maintenance areas. They enable us to communicate with tenants in the event of evacuations, shelter-in-place events, and other emergencies. Friends Center staff are currently reviewing and refreshing our emergency procedures and protocols. Look for details about a presentation soon on our emergency procedures for tenants both new and old.

LOADING ZONE REMINDER:

Before 5 pm, the loading zone is for PICKUP AND DROPOFF only!

• Our contractors and delivery vehicles need access.
• We simply don’t have room for everyone with a car to park there.
• VERY IMPORTANT: Let the staff at the front desk know if your car is in the loading zone and leave your phone number in case you have to move your vehicle.
• ALSO VERY IMPORTANT: Do not leave the property while your car is in the loading zone!

Mark your calendar:

HOLIDAYS, HOLIDAYS, GET YOUR HOLIDAYS!

The Friends Center board recently approved our 2024 holiday schedule. Get an early start and mark your calendar now for 2023 year-end holidays and for 2024.

• 2023 Holiday Schedule
• 2024 Holiday Schedule

EQUITY PARTNER NEWS

AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE (AFSC)

How one conscientious objector helped protect religious liberty for all

Dan Seeger is a long-time Quaker activist who has served in leadership roles for AFSC, Friends Center, among others. AFSC recently wrote: “In the 1950s, Dan Seeger refused to register for the draft because of his moral beliefs. He was tried and convicted for draft refusal and sentenced to a year and a day in prison. But Dan remained true to his beliefs, pursuing his case all the way to the Supreme Court. Eventually, his efforts would expand who qualifies for conscientious objector status in the United States—and help safeguard the First Amendment’s guarantee of religious liberty.”

The US Supreme Court’s 1965 ruling in the case of Quaker Dan Seeger vs. The United States is remembered in a new National Constitution Center exhibit on the First Amendment. The exhibit also includes a 1789 letter from President George Washington to “the Quakers” (shown).

CENTRAL PHILADELPHIA MONTHLY MEETING (CPMM)

Service Day at the Friends Southwestern Burial Ground

236 Powell Lane, Upper Darby 19082

This burial ground in Upper Darby is under CPMM’s care. On Saturday, September 30^th, from 9 am to noon, please join CPMM in an opportunity to show love and care in tangible ways to our burial ground. We will mulch trees, weed, prune and improve the appearance of the grounds and community garden spaces.

» RSVP is helpful to ensure we have enough tools: carolyn.mccoy@outlook.com

PHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING (PYM)

PYM Welcomes New Deputy General Secretary, Salvador Orellana

Salvador will provide direct support to the PYM General Secretary in this new operations leadership role. Salvador served in various roles over his 14-year tenure at American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) including Director of Intercultural Ministries, Director of Rebuilding, Restoring, Renewing Puerto Rico and as a National Coordinator for Latino Ministries. He also served in congregational ministry for 19 years. Salvador is also Friends Center’s newest board member. Welcome, Salvador!

» Full story

PYM Webinar Series: Energy Stewardship for Friends Institutions

» Starting with Solar Schools and Nonprofits, 10/10/23, 3:30 pm: Learn more and register.

» Overview and future sessions: Click here.

TENANT NEWS

Friends World Committee for Consultation, Section of the Americas

Find Friends: New Quaker Map!

FWCC has launched a new “Find Friends” map of Quaker meetings and Friends churches in the Americas, which will eventually include Friends around the world.

» https://fwccamericas.org/visitation/find-friends.shtml

Please send an email to gilg@fwccamericas.org with comments, errors, or other feedback you have. If you notice an error in the data for your meeting or church, there is a link at the bottom of each entry to send corrections.

CAIR

Muslim Youth Summit

CAIR held a summit for Muslim here in August 2023.  Young leaders from the greater Philadelphia area joined CAIR-Philadelphia over a Saturday and Sunday, learning from local leaders, community organizers, and politicians.

» Full story.

Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative (PYSC)

PYSC Summit: Women in Sports

The Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative proudly announces our first PSYC Summit: Women in Sports. Join us at the Loews Hotel (1200 Market St) on November 1, 2023! Registration will open, and we’ll announce our fantastic speaker lineup very soon! Special thanks to TeamSnap, NBC10, NBC Sports Philadelphia, and Telemundo for supporting this event, which we expect to be a huge day for the sports community in Philadelphia. For more information, please visit PYSCSummit.com

Community Ventures

Old First House will offer 34 permanent supportive homes for formerly homeless individuals

The development is a collaboration among Community Ventures, Depaul USA, and the Old First Reformed United Church of Christ. The Church, founded in 1727, donated a portion of its property historic Old City campus for the development and partnered with Community Ventures, because of their expertise in building low-income housing and working with community groups. Construction is estimated to take about 14 months.  The development is in Old City at the corner of 4th and Race Streets.

» Read more.

» Note: Friends Center’s property was once a burial ground for Old First Reformed Church!

Singing City

Fall Concert: Singing for the City

Sunday, October 29, 3 pm

Temple Performing Arts Center

1837 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122

A concert celebrating the colorful tapestry of Philadelphia choral composers past and present, including Melissa Dunphy, Suzzette Ortiz, Donald Dumpson, Robert Lowry, Ke-Chia Chen, Charles Albert Tindley, Andrea Clearfield, Andrew Bleckner, Jennifer Higdon, and more.

» Tickets: Online Box Office

BEYOND FRIENDS CENTER

Our own CARLA GAMBLE Sings In Dilworth Park!!

Wed., October 4, Noon – 1 pm

Take a lunch break away from your desk and join the Friends Center community in support of our Receptionist, the one and only Carla Gamble!

» Details: https://centercityphila.org/parks/events/ccd-live-at-lunch/liveatlunch-10-04-23

» Can’t make it? Check out Carla’s website: https://www.therealcarlagamble.com/

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S NOTE

Meet our Next Receptionist: Carla Gamble!

Friends Center has hired Carla Gamble as our new Receptionist! She starts on July 24. Carla is an educator and singer who has a great way with people. She also is a familiar face around Friends Center, as she is often here to accompany her wife, Teneshia Washington, who is one of our part-time evening/weekend desk clerks. Please introduce yourself and welcome Carla when you see her!

—Chris Mohr, Executive Director

AROUND FRIENDS CENTER

Spread the news:

SOME LIMITED OFFICE SPACE IS AVAILABLE

Several workstations are currently available for lease in the open office suites, with just a handful on the 1^st floor and several contiguous desks on the 2^nd floor.

Please spread the word to like-minded and like-spirited nonprofit organizations!

»    More info: https://friendscentercorp.org/office-rental/

EQUITY PARTNER NEWS 

PHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING (PYM)

PYM Launches New Quaker Info Line

PYM Launches New Info Line

AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE (AFSC)

AFSC participates in signing of document on human fraternity by Pope Francis and Nobel Peace Laureates

Deputy General Secretary (and Friends Center board member) Héctor Cortez represented AFSC and Friends.

»   Read more here.

CENTRAL PHILADELPHIA MONTHLY MEETING (CPMM)

CPMM is Hiring a Youth Program Leader

The Monthly Meeting seeks to contract with a Quaker to serve as Youth Program Leader, specifically for youth ages 5 to 12. The job announcement is here:

»    https://www.quakercloud.org/cloud/central-philadelphia-monthly-meeting/announcements/youth-leader-sought-job-description

TENANT NEWS

Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) Section of the Americas, and AFSC:

Quaker UN Office Celebrates 75 Years

The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) recently celebrated its 75^th anniversary with a reception and talk at Scandinavia House in New York City. QUNO is a joint effort of the Friends World Committee for Consultation and AFSC in New York and a joint effort of FWCC and Britain Yearly Meeting in Geneva.

»    https://fwcc.world/new-75th-anniversary-of-the-quaker-united-nations-office/

From Friends Journal

Mid-Atlantic Quakers Form Regional Lobbying Organization
by Friends Journal
Friends from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting have formed a new lobbying organization to advocate for tackling climate change at the state and regional levels. Quaker Action in the Mid-Atlantic Region (QAMAR) is a 501(c) (4) group that will draw on its founders’ decades of organizing work to pressure elected officials to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fund conversion to clean energy.

WIDER QUAKER WORLD

Curious about Quakers? Enjoy podcasts? Here are a few sources!

Friends Journal

“Quakers Today: A Quaker Podcast Exploring Faith in Contemporary Life”

With host Peterson Toscano

»    https://www.friendsjournal.org/podcast/

Pendle Hill Retreat & Study Center

“The Seed: Conversations for Radical Hope”

With host Dwight Dunston

»    https://pendlehill.org/learn/podcast/

Thee Quaker

Thee Quaker podcast brings stories of spiritual courage to your ears.

With co-hosts Jon Watts and Georgia Sparling

»    https://quakerpodcast.com/listen/

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S NOTE

Friends Center is hugely grateful to Jennifer Williams for her 10 years of service at the front desk. Among her duties, she prepared this newsletter to keep our tenant community informed. Congratulations and best wishes, Jennifer! —Chris Mohr, Executive Director  

AROUND FRIENDS CENTER

Friends Center is hiring! With Jennifer Williams’s departure, we need a new Front Desk Receptionist.   Click here for the Job Announcement.   PDF version.   Please share with your networks! Thank you.  

EQUITY PARTNER NEWS

PHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING (PYM)

“Living with our neighbors. Growing into beloved community” Annual Sessions is one of the oldest Quaker traditions! Today, all over the world, yearly meetings gather once a year to bring together members and attenders from their local meetings. We call them “Sessions” because meeting for worship with attention to the business of the Yearly Meeting is central to these times together. During Sessions we ask: What is God’s big idea for PYM Friends?   But there’s so much more! The days are an opportunity to greet returning Friends and welcome Friends new to this gathering. It’s a time for learning — from keynote speakers, at the Quaker Witness Fair, and in conversations under tents and over meals. For children and youth, it’s a time to meet other Quakers their age and have fun together! For all ages, it is a time of spiritual renewal, community connection, and intergenerational worship and fellowship. Register here.

AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE (AFSC)

Strategic Goals The interconnectedness of our world has never been so apparent—nor the urgency to resist the many forces that fuel inequality, oppression, and violence. In our work for a better future, AFSC focuses on three strategic program goals and uses four core methodologies.    » Read more in our 2020-2030 Strategic Plan.

CENTRAL PHILADELPHIA MONTHLY MEETING (CPMM)

The Testimonial Life and the “Testimonies,” from CPMM’s peace & social concerns committee:

The heart of the Quaker approach to social change is to follow the leadings of the Spirit, which seeks always to lead us into right word and action. Our goal is to live our outward lives in accordance with the inward guidance of the Spirit. Over the centuries, this guidance has manifested in some ways so consistently and broadly among us that certain “testimonies” have become settled elements of our faith. They have evolved and matured as new truths are revealed to us. For instance, we once addressed all people as equals, regardless of whether we were below or above them in social station, using thee and thou; now we have a “testimony” of equality. Lists of such testimonies vary, but they commonly include the following: Peace and nonviolenceEquality and social justiceCriminal justice reformCare for the earthSimplicityHonesty and integrity Learn more about each testimony here.  

Becky Birtha, CPMM Member and Author, featured in The Inquirer, 5/30/2023:   New exhibit at Philly’s Historic Germantown looks at race and class through the groundbreaking 1946 children’s book Bright April “Becky Birtha, a poet and author who has written three children’s books herself, has a lot in common with the young girl who is the main character in the book Bright April.”  

Full Article: https://www.inquirer.com/news/historic-germantown-bright-april-book-exhibit-race-class-1940s-20230522.html

TENANT NEWS

Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania
Home Matters Day 2023

When: Tuesday, June 6, 2023 8 AM – 3 PM

Where: Pennsylvania State Capitol Commonwealth Ave., Harrisburg, PA  17120  

The Housing Alliance is excited to announce the return of Home Matters Day in Harrisburg! For the first time since the pandemic, Housing Alliance members from across the Commonwealth will join together for a day of in-person meetings to ask their state legislators to raise the cap on PHARE!   Also known as the state housing trust fund, PHARE expands opportunities for people in need and revitalizes communities. The program creates, rehabs, and supports local housing, blight remediation, supportive services, homeownership counseling, and home purchase.  

Singing City

Songbook Community Sing  

In celebration of its 75th anniversary, Singing City commissioned 27 composers to write short works to create the Singing City Songbook.  This compilation is intended for community singing everywhere—its themes echo the human experience, with messages of unity, hope, love, and the ties that bind. We invite you to come and sing through all of the works at two community events.

Composers will be joining us in person and on Zoom. Come and learn new music!  Part 2 – Tuesday, May 307:30-9:00 pm at Friends Center   Tickets are $20 each and attendees will
receive a copy of the Songbook.

Friends Center hired the Receptionist position.

Download the announcement here.

June 2022 | Open until filled

Friends Center, the Quaker hub for peace and justice in Center City Philadelphia, seeks a well-rounded, motivated Facilities Assistant to support the upkeep and maintenance of its facilities.

Friends Center includes the historic Race Street Quaker Meetinghouse and the office building at 1501 Cherry Street, which has nearly 30 nonprofit tenants working for a better community and city. Friends Center also hosts meetings and conferences for tenants and outside groups, and the local Quaker congregation worships in the Meetinghouse on Sundays. Friends Center’s front plaza and interior courtyard and gardens provide a place of peace in Center City for tenants and visitors alike.

The right candidate for Facilities Assistant will make sure that tenants, guests, and visitors have a pleasant experience at a well-maintained facility. Friends Center strives to be a friendly, supportive place to work, with competitive pay and excellent benefits.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Position Summary: The Facilities Assistant is responsible for maintaining the complex and its grounds and preparing the facility for events by tenants and outside groups.

Status: Full-time, 35 hours/week, Non-exempt.

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Application Deadline: Open until filled

COMPENSATION

• Starting compensation: $18/hour
• Benefits include: paid time off; paid sick leave; paid healthcare, dental, and vision insurance; 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution and match; and paid life and disability insurance.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• including carpentry, painting, electrical, plumbing
• including setup and takedown of tables and chairs

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum:

• Basic skills in the following building trades:
  • Electrical, Plumbing, Carpentry, Painting
  • Limited on-the-job training may be available for candidates with experience in some but not all of the above.

Preferred:

• Basic skills in the following building trades:
  • Sheetrock
  • Masonry

OTHER REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrated punctuality: able to arrive on time for work every day.
• Demonstrated ability to complete tasks within the assigned time.
• Demonstrated ability to work with others to complete larger tasks.
• Physically able to lift 50 pounds to chest level.
• Physically able to carry, set up, and take down 8-foot long tables for meetings.
• Physically able to stand on a six-foot ladder to carry out tasks such as painting or changing light bulbs and electrical ballasts.

SCHEDULE

• Monday – Friday, 11 am – 7 pm, with 1 hour of break time per day

The schedule may change because of the covid-19 pandemic. When making schedule changes, Friends Center works to fairly balance the needs of all of its staff.

TO APPLY:

Send application with resume or employment history

• By email to info@friendscentercorp.org; or
• By mail to Facilities Assistant, c/o Friends Center, 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia PA, 19102.
• No phone calls please.

PROCESS:

• Candidates of interest will have either a phone interview, an in-person interview, or both.
• Finalists may be asked to work one or two trial half-day shifts to assess skills and productivity, and will be paid $18/hour for their time.

Friends Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities, and other underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. Friends Center is a smoke-free workplace.

Behold the newest additions to Friends Center: exterior signs to clearly identify us!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S NOTE

With the arrival of spring on the calendar, we look forward (eventually) to warmer weather. When it is nice outside, feel free to crack the windows open and let fresh air in! Also, the bistro table and chairs are back on the front porch, wistfully waiting for people to use them. The courtyard is available for your enjoyment, too. A Cooper’s hawk was often to be seen out there recently, but it probably continued its northward migration since then.

Speaking of the courtyard, there will be some disruption there this summer. The tunnel between the Meetinghouse and 1520 Race Street needs to be repaired. Work will start in the second half of June. We will keep you posted with more details when we know them.

— Chris Mohr, Executive Director

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AROUND FRIENDS CENTER

PHONE SYSTEM UPDATE
The phone system has now been transferred from AFSC to Friends Center. Previously you didn’t need to dial “1” before a number in the (215) or (267) area codes, but now you do.

We still have to switch out some digital or analog phones for “IP” phones; stay tuned for dates.

Also, Friends Center’s main phone number, (215) 241-7000, will soon be changed to (215) 241-7100. We will let everyone know once we have a firm date set for the change.

CLOSED FOR ELECTRICAL WORK: Sat., Sept. 1
On Saturday, September 1, during Labor Day weekend, Friends Center needs to shut off the power to maintain our electrical switchgear. The Center will therefore be closed that day as well as on Monday, 9/3, Memorial Day.

• Click for full 2018 Holiday Schedule.
  

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PARTNER NEWS

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Book Event!

Friday April 27^th, 2018, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
@ Historic Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch St

$10 suggested donation

Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust invites you to enjoy an evening with historian Gary Nash, who will be talking about his new book, Warner Mifflin: Unflinching Quaker Abolitionist. Click for more info.

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TENANT NEWS

Friends Child Care Center, 40^th Anniversary Cocktail Reception & Auction

Friday, May 18^th 2018, 5:30 – 8:30 pm
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Historic Landmark Building
118 N. Broad St, Philadelphia PA 19102
http://friendschildcare.org/

Singing City Presents: Serene Mystics
Sunday, May 6^th at 3 pm
Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, 23 S. 38^th St, Philadelphia PA 19104
Tickets: $25; $35 for preferred seating; $10 for students. A reception follows the concert.
Click for more info.

Send us your news, or tag us in a tweet (@Friends_Ctr), if you’d like to be mentioned!

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OUTSIDE EVENT

While not happening here at Friends Center, this event may be of interest to our community:

Old Pine at 250: Faith and Politics
Sunday, April 22^nd 2018
Old Pine Presbyterian Church
412 Pine St, Philadelphia PA 19106

With Rev. Wilson Goode Sr., former Mayor of Philadelphia, and Ron Sider, professor at Palmer Theological Seminary & founder, Evangelicals for Social Action. A panel discussion on the relations between faith and political processes and the impact these have on social justice issues such as poverty, housing, and employment. Click for more info.

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