What is Tri-Co Philly?

It’s the Tri-College Philly program of Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College, and Swarthmore College! (They were all founded by Quakers.)

The program’s classes are held here at Friends Center, in the heart of #CenterCity #Philly.

Credit: @tricophilly on Instagram

Red Letter Revival here on October 19, 2024

Hands are raised up on the right. In the center the text "Philadelphia 2024" is above a red flame icon. Text on the right says, "Red Letter Revival."

Just announced: Night 2 of the Red Letter Revival will be here at Friends Center on the evening of October 19, 2024.

Red Letter Christians says the gathering will offer “an alternative vision where Christians creatively dissent to make justice real.”

They describe Red Letter Revival as “a dynamic gathering bringing together hundreds of faith and community leaders, students, and people of faith to celebrate – and cultivate – a new vision of Christianity – one with love at its core.”

We’ll add more details as they become available.

Read the full event overview: Red Letter Revival Philadelphia.

Red Letter Revival Philly. Reviving Jesus's justice for our time. October 18 and 19. Philadelphia. More detailed text follows. The information is available at Red Letter Christians dot org.

“Too Beautiful To Live” at Friends Center

TBTL podcast recorded an episode in front of a live audience in the Race Street Meetinghouse on 9/25/2024

TBTL describes itself as a daily show hosted by two longtime friends goofing their way through the world the best they can. Join Luke Burbank and Andrew Walsh as they cover the most important topics of the day, from 25 year-old film reviews to whether or not Andrew’s neighbors are secretly using his garbage bins.

TBTL invites listeners to “hang out with your imaginary friendos, in person, live from the Friends Center in Philadelphia for a night of fun with fellow Tens.” (Their “tens of listeners,” that is.)

UPDATE: The episode is now online: https://www.tbtl.net/episodes/4304

Quote: Quakers were “very boisterous when they started out… Then somebody got embarrassed & they entered a period known as Quietism. They would have long silent periods during their meetings. Basically the thing Andrew & I are most scared of during an episode of TBTL is even a moment of silence!”

Community Safety, Emergency Preparedness, and Lots of Tenant News

September 2024 Tenant Newsletter

From the Director


The nonprofit organizations with space here at Friends Center are fairly risk-tolerant. You’re working to change the world for the better—and that’s often challenging, to say the least!

For me, one of the best parts about working here is that getting to meet all of you who are doing this work. The Friends Center community is something special.

That said, we do live in the real world, and unfortunate things sometimes happen here, too. We all have a role in stewarding our community.

As part of our commitment to providing a safe environment for all who work, worship, and visit here, I offer these building security tips:

  • Do introduce yourself to your neighbors, so you know who belongs on your floor. It builds community as well as safety!
  • Don’t leave office suite doors unlocked.
  • Don’t open office suite doors for people without a fob if you don’t recognize them.
  • Don’t allow people you don’t know to “draft” in to your office suite behind you.
  • Do redirect unfamiliar people to the front desk. While it can feel unfriendly at the time, it’s for the well-being of our community.

Thank you for your help!

Around Friends Center


Friends Center’s Erick Emerick recently circulated guidelines on what to do in case of an emergency in the facility. These guidelines are now posted on our website.

You can find this and other policies in the online Tenant Handbook.

Please refresh yourself and your colleagues on this information from time to time!

You can also attend an emergency preparedness trainings on the following dates, in the Rufus Jones Room by the front door:

  • 2025 January 7, 10:30 am
  • 2025 March 13, 10:30 am
  • 2025 June 12, 10:30 am
  • 2025 September 10, 10:30 am

Equity Partner News


Fostering a New Generation of Social Justice Leaders

For the past three years, AFSC’s Emerging Leaders for Liberation (ELL) program has helped young people strengthen their social justice and leadership skills. The program brings together Quaker youth alongside other young people involved with AFSC’s programs across the United States. Over eight months, they take part in trainings on organizing, advocacy, and nonviolent direct action, learning directly from AFSC’s experienced organizers and program staff. Each participant applies what they’ve learned by creating an action project in their community.

Learn more.

Philly Premiere of “Citizen George”

A group of eight people stands at the bottom of a staircase. They are smiling widely. A poster in the background says, "Ceasefire now."

On September 19, CPMM hosted the Philadelphia premiere of “Citizen George,” a documentary about their member George Lakey (third from right in the photo with the film committee). George, now in his 80s, has been a lifelong activist and trainer for civil rights, nonviolent movements, and most recently, the environment, as co-founder of Earth Quaker Action Team. Learn more and watch the trailer: https://www.georgelakeyfilm.com/

Quaker Call to Action

On September 22, PYM hosted a gathering of the Quaker Call to Action. The group’s call is for a national dialogue on urgent threats to U.S. democracy and what’s at stake. The event was a family-friendly, interfaith service focused on Pennsylvania and be both inspirational as well as practical. It brought together interfaith leaders to inspire and confirm the faith basis for individual actions in the weeks prior to Election Day on November 5, 2024. Learn more.

Tenant News


GJF receives Robin Hood Was Right Award

Several Gender Justice Fund (GJF) board members joined executive director Farrah Parkes onstage at Bread & Roses Community Fund’s annual Tribute to Change celebration to accept the Robin Hood Was Right award, which is given to an individual or group making an outstanding contribution to social change philanthropy in the Philadelphia region. Congratulations to everyone at GJF!

Democracy in Song: A Choral Conversation

Sun., Oct. 27, 2024, 3 pm
Race Street Meetinghouse @ Friends Center

Singing City recently launched its 77th season as an artistically drive, socially conscious, and civically engage choir. Their first full-length concert of the season will be here!

This presentation will generate call and response vocals between the chorus and the audience as we highlight various social movements in American history, including abolitionism/emancipation, women’s suffrage, civil rights, and peace in times of unrest.

Learn more and reserve your tickets.

Former executive director Jacob Bender released this letter on his retirement. It’s really worth reading!

So Long, But Not Farewell

CAIR is also offering “Know Your Rights” seminars throughout the region.

PSR-PA released a video featuring four Philadelphia schoolchildren calling on adults to mobilize civic power to transition our municipally-owned gas utility PGW away from gas and toward renewable energy. Watch it on YouTube here!

PYSC recently released the list of Philadelphia Youth Sport Funds recipients. Congratulations to all the grantees!

On September 28, Philly Girls Got Game is a one-day clinic open to girls in grades 2 – 8, to learn and grow their basketball skills. The clinic will be led by the women of the Big 5 Basketball teams.
Learn more and register.

Outside Friends Center


All seats for the 2024–2025 season are available for $11, or a higher price of your choosing, as part of a new ticket program called Pick Your Price. Opera Philadelphia is excited to welcome you to the opera with open arms and invite you to bring your friends and family. By choosing a ticket price that fits your budget, you can experience world-class opera and help grow our vibrant arts community in a way that works for you. Any amount over $11 helps support this program and allows more people to attend the opera. 

Learn more.

Citizen George premiere a success

The #Philly premiere of “Citizen George” here last Thursday was a success!

The film is a documentary about the life and activism of George Lakey, a member of the Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), here at Friends Center.

Learn more about the film and watch the trailer at georgelakeyfilm.com.

Congratulations to the film committee, shown here. Filmmaker Glenn Holsten is on the left. George is the third from right, wearing his Earth Quaker Action Team’s (EQAT) Vanguard campaign t-shirt.

A group of eight people stands at the bottom of a staircase. They are smiling widely. A poster in the background says, "Ceasefire now."
Credit: Ingrid Lakey

Quaker United Nations Office Presents at World Plenary of Friends

The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) recently shared their presentation to the World Plenary of Friends in South Africa in August 2024.

QUNO-New York is a partnership of the American Friends Service Committee, one of our equity partners, and the Friends World Committee, Section of the Americas.

QUNO-Geneva is a partnership of the Friends World Committee and Britain Yearly Meeting of Friends.

Find the report here: https://quno.org/timeline/2024/9/quno-world-gathering-quakers

A group of people stands in front of the statue of Mary Dyer in the front plaza at Friends Center in Philadelphia.
Credit: Quaker United Nations Office

“Democracy in Song”

Singing City Fall Concert, 10/27/2024, 3 pm

Our tenant Singing City’s fall concert will be here at Friends Center on Sun., 10/27, 3 pm.

Titled “Democracy in Song,” it will feature songs that helped shape U.S. democracy, including songs of protest, from the Civil Rights movement & of gathering/meeting.

Singing City promises a stirring choral performance that brings to life the anthems of the abolitionist/anti-slavery movement, the women’s suffrage movement, the Civil Rights movement, and the peace movement. Each piece tells a story of courage, resilience, and hope. Hear evocative works by composers Melissa Dunphy, Bernice Johnson Reagon, and Zanaida Robles. Their compositions, alongside powerful arrangements of iconic songs, will transport you to pivotal moments in history.

The audience will be invited to join in.

Info and registration: Click here.

World Quaker Day 2024 is October 6

The annual World Quaker Day is the first “Firstday,” or Sunday, of October.

In 2024, World Quaker Day is October 6.

Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), Section of the Americas, invites Friends to share the epistle, tapestry, & prayer from their World Plenary held in August in South Africa.

Learn more at www.fwccamericas.org/events.

There is also information about how Friends have celebrated World Quaker Day in the past at worldquakerday.org. Schedule an event at your Friends meeting or Friends church, and share photos and stories there!

World Quaker Day, October 6, 2024. Website www.fwccamericas.org/events

Black MS Community Program: Philadelphia

On 9/14/2024 at Friends Center, the National MS Society holds its next Black MS Community Program. Through a combination of content, presentations, and discussions, it will allow Black individuals living with multiple sclerosis to be seen and understood.

Learn more: https://secure.nationalmssociety.org/site/Calendar?id=368889&view=Detail

WHYY ran a story ahead of the event on 9/12/2024: Philadelphia summit to focus on increasing awareness of multiple sclerosis in Black communities

Friends Center is proud to host this event. Since 1856, we have been a gathering place and event space for Philadelphia community groups and nonprofit organizations. With our LEED Platinum green renovation and modern video and teleconferencing facilities, we are both historic and up to date. Friends Center is easy to reach by public transit, bike, walking, and car. We are two blocks from City Hall, near the hub of public transit and one block from the Broad Street exit of the Vine Street Expressway (Interstate 676).