The annual Messiah sing-along hosted by Ingrid & George Lakey will be Friday Dec. 20th at 7pm, here in the Cherry Street room. We encourage all to bring a score, a friend who likes to sing (this is not a performance, but a sing-along) and also goodies to share during break.
https://www.fgcquaker.org/cloud/central-philadelphia-monthly-meeting/events/messaih-sing-along
Issue 54, November 2019
Friends Center Tenant Newsletter
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S NOTE
Recently we had a tenant reception specifically scheduled at a time when students and faculty from the Tri-College Philly Program could attend. It was a rich and rewarding opportunity for all present to learn about all the organizations here at Friends Center and the good work they do. And not only did some of the students connect with some of the equity partners and tenant groups about their work, some of the partners and tenants got to know each other, too!
To that end, I encourage you to browse the directory of organizations here. We strive to keep the page updated with everyone’s current website, so if your information is out of date, please let me know.
And if you don’t know what a group does, please click through page to learn more, and maybe even contact them directly. We always love to hear when you all find ways to collaborate with each other!
– Chris Mohr, Executive Director
AROUND FRIENDS CENTER
Spread the word! Beginning January 1, 2020 Friends Center will be increasing its rental rates for event and conference room use.
Encourage your comrades to book their 2020 event, in 2019 to maximize savings!
EQUITY PARTNER NEWS
AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE (AFSC)
Border Patrol denies delivery of flu vaccines to detained migrants
Three children have died in recent months at Border Patrol’s detention facilities because of influenza. Border Patrol officials have complained that they lack resources to provide adequate medical care, even to children. Meanwhile, this week Customs and Border Protection (CBP) purchased 33 million rounds of ammunition for its new handguns, and it has $300 million available for more bullets to purchase by 2025. Read more here
PHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING (PYM)
Continuing Sessions reporting is broken into two reports. This web story on the activities of the morning, and the full minutes of Meeting for Business, taken by Recording Clerk, Kri Burkander, with accompanying reports, all in PDF format.
Quaker Meeting Portrait Project
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting is encouraging its 100+ individual local Quaker meetings & other groups to take part in activities showing who they are: Take a selfie, write a poem, tell a story… whatever way they want to express themselves! Early group selfies include Green Street Meeting in Philadelphia, Appoquinimink Worship Group, and Southampton Meeting in Bucks County. See more Quaker Self Portraits here.
CENTRAL PHILADELPHIA MONTHLY MEETING (CPMM)
How we win
How do people concerned with peace and justice operate in times of intense polarization? According to Quaker author and activist George Lakey in this recent QuakerSpeak video, now is a moment of tremendous opportunity—click to watch and learn How We Win!
TENANT NEWS
Holiday Concert–Philadelphia, An Immigrant City
With Singing City Choir, The Philadelphia Brass, and Teen Voices of the City Ensemble (T-VOCE)
Sunday, December 15, 3 p.m.
Old First Reformed Church of Christ, 151 N. 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia is made up of people from around the world. This concert will feature seasonal works that are a reflection of the City’s diverse population and includes pieces by Zachary Moore, Paul Halley, Glen Burleigh, Mark Sirett, and more. Repertoire from Ireland, Poland, Germany, Italy, Russia, and Latin America, along with music for Chanukah and African American traditions.
Phoenicia Wallace becomes only second executive director of Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity
Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity (PLSE) announced that Phoenicia D.W. Wallace is its new executive director. She is the second to hold the post, following Mike Lee, one of PLSE’s founders, who left to become interim director of legislation and public affairs for District Attorney Larry Krasner.
Wallace was most recently a deputy attorney general for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, serving in the Bureau of Consumer Protection. A lifelong Philadelphian, currently a resident of Germantown, she took part in the entrepreneurship program at Temple University’s Fox School of Business, the Peace Corps in Kenya, the district office of State Senator Anthony H. Williams and the legislative office of City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson. She also served four years as a staff attorney and law clerk within the Philadelphia Court System. For two years, Wallace hosted “Universally Speaking” on WURD, and she speaks Swahili and Spanish. Welcome, Phoenicia!
New from New Century Trust:
Check out New Century Trust’s new quarterly newsletter!
OF INTEREST OUTSIDE FRIENDS CENTER
Friends Journal’s 7th Annual
Student Voices Project
2019–2020 Theme: Creating Change
Positive change in a community is dependent upon individuals speaking up, coming together around a shared goal, and making a plan for action. Quakers have a long history of organizing for change in response to various social, economic, racial, and environmental injustices; most often this change begins with community members working together at the local level. See examples below of Quakers who have helped create change, including a curated list of QuakerSpeak videos about activism. Read more here
On Tuesday, October 29th, the Tri-Co Philly Program hosts nationally recognized Puerto Rican environmental justice leader and attorney, Elizabeth C. Yeampierre, executive director of UPROSE.
Drawing on her experiences as a leader in the field of environmental justice, Yeampierre provides a unique perspective on how to promote meaningful engagement toward concrete, inclusive, community-based solutions to deal with the climate emergency we are facing as a community, a city, a nation, and world. In these times of political and environmental uncertainty, Yeampierre’s thoughts will leave an impression on audience members’ thoughts and actions regarding climate change and climate justice.
6:30-7:00 pm: Reception in Rufus Jones Room
7:00 pm: Talk in Race Street Room
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S NOTE
COMING SOON: ALL-GENDER, ACCESSIBLE RESTROOM FOR 1501 CHERRY ST. BUILDING
At the request of one of our equity partners, the American Friends Service Committee, we will be converting the first floor shower room in the 1501 Cherry Street building into a fully accessible, all-gender restroom.
The Friends Center board of directors enthusiastically endorsed the idea, as it will increase both our restroom capacity and provide more equitable access for all people.
Construction starts in mid-October, and will take a few weeks. The contractor plans to cordon off the work area so people can still pass by to use the existing women’s room and access the first floor office suite. Inevitably, there will be noise and disruption. We hope you can live with it for a short while, knowing that a larger benefit is on the way.
By the way, the existing shower room on the second floor of 1501 will remain. It’s part of our green building practice, for those who walk or bike to work.
Thank you in advance for your patience with the construction phase of this project. Please let me know if you have any questions.
– Chris Mohr, Executive Director
AROUND FRIENDS CENTER
World Quaker Day is Sunday, October 6!
Please see the last piece in this newsletter for more information.
Mighty Writers hosts Anti-Violence Town Hall here
On Friday, 9/27, in the Rufus Jones Room, Mighty Writers held an Anti-Violence Town Hall for Philadelphia youth impacted by violence, as part of their MightFest. Click here for coverage by NBC10 and WHYY
EQUITY PARTNER NEWS
AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE (AFSC)
Bystander Intervention Do’s and Don’ts
If you witness public instances of racist, anti-Black, anti-Muslim, anti-Trans, or any other form of oppressive interpersonal violence and harassment, use these tips on how to intervene while considering the safety of everyone involved.
PHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING (PYM)
PYM Families Autumn Community Playdate
We’re excited to invite PYM Families to our next Community Playdate for Apple and pumpkin picking, autumnal FUN at Solebury Orchards in Bucks County.
The Community Playdate is an opportunity for fellowship and learning with our PYM Family community.
We’ll meet on Saturday, October 12 at 9:00am at Solebury Orchards in New Hope, PA. Kimani Keaton, Children and Families Program Facilitator, will be there to greet and gather our group, and then lead families on wagon rides to pick apples and find the perfect pumpkin in the patch.
In case of inclement weather and cancellation, we’ll email those who have registered (see below) and post on the PYM Families Facebook page. No parking, entry or wagon ride fees; apples are $1.50/lb.
Questions? Contact the Youth Engagement Coordinator mwennerbradley@pym.org or ChildrenAndFamilies@pym.org
CENTRAL PHILADELPHIA MONTHLY MEETING (CPMM)
You Are Welcome Here
Join us for worship at 11 AM every Sunday at Friends Center
Central Philadelphia Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends is a large, urban Quaker meeting, diverse in many ways. We welcome visitors throughout the year.
TENANT NEWS
Singing City Fall Concert–The Road Less Traveled Singing City and Lyric Fest together in concert.
Saturday, October 5, 2019, 4 pm: Haddonfield United Methodist Church, 29 Warwick Rd., Haddonfield, NJ 08033
Sunday, October 6, 3 pm: Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, 23 S. 38th St., Phila., PA 19104
Songs of journey and diaspora, welcome and belonging, leaving home and finding home. A timely program exploring world-wide migration and America’s roots as an immigrant nation.
Bartol Foundation (@BartolFdn) Workshop: Introduction to Trauma-Informed Practice for Teaching
Tuesday, October 15, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM at Friends Center
More information can be found here on the Bartol Foundation website.
Recap of Living
Building Challenge
with Community Ventures
Green Building United recently completed a “Living Building Challenge” for infill affordable housing with our tenant, Community Ventures. Read about it here.
https://greenbuildingunited.org/newsroom/recap-lbc-demonstration-project
EVENTS OUTSIDE FRIENDS CENTER
This year’s theme is Sustainability: Planting Seeds of Renewal for the World We Love.
Friends World Committee for Consultation, Section of the Americas (FWCC), invites you to join Quakers around the world for the 6th annual World Quaker Day.
Across our churches, meetings, countries and sections, we feel the power of God connecting us in to a faithful family. We celebrate all expressions of Quaker worship!
Learn more and see photos at www.worldquakerday.org.
Issue 52, September 2019Friends Center Tenant Newsletter
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S NOTE
I hope you had a good summer! The fall is often a time of renewed vigor and commitment, as well as cooler temperatures. When it’s nice out, please feel free to crack open the windows. As a LEED Platinum green building, it’s designed to use natural air conditioning.
Fall also comes with an uptick in the use of Friends Center’s event spaces. Please be sure to book your events well in advance!
Our staff does their best to balance the needs among our many tenants as well as the many outside groups that rent our facilities. Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we do our best to accommodate your requests. I also want to say how much I appreciate the good work of Shakirah Holloway, Erick Emerick, Jennifer Williams, Ed Waters, and our evening/weekend staff, who together keep the event facilities humming; thank you!
– Chris Mohr, Executive Director
AROUND FRIENDS CENTER
CONSTRUCTION ON RACE STREET
If you drive or bike down Race Street, be aware that there is street construction this week, possibly for as long as a month. The city is apparently replacing street light wiring on both sides of the street.
Find Us On…
Are you and your organization following Friends Center on social media? If not, we encourage and invite you to do so. We like to feature the posts of our partners and tenants!
Also be sure to check out Friends on 15th , our new podcast. We will soon be getting it listed on many of the podcast directories. Meanwhile, check out the podcast page on our website.
EQUITY PARTNER NEWS
AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE (AFSC)
All migrant children moved from Homestead detention center!
The American Friends Service Committee was one of several groups protesting the conditions and treatment of children at the Homestead facility and organizer Mariana Martinez declared victory.
PHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING (PYM)
Laramie: Travels with Josh
“Hello, my name is Joshua Ponter. I am a member of Haddonfield Monthly Meeting in South Jersey’s Philadelphia area. I have embarked on a year-long mission to travel around the country collecting stories about the founding of different meetings and looking at the way we practice Quakerism today. I will be blogging about my travels on the PYM website. Find my latest entry here. Please email me at JPonter1@gmail.com if there is anyone from your meeting who would like to sit down with me and speak to some of your history—or if you would like more information on me or my project. Thank you!”
CENTRAL PHILADELPHIA MONTHLY MEETING (CPMM)
Come one, come all to the meeting weekend
October 11-13: Uncovering Mysteries!
At Friends Center
The weekend will start on Friday, October 11, with a potluck and a dramatic reading of an original play about Mary Fisher, an early English Friend who undertook a dangerous journey alone to Turkey to tell the Grand Sultan about Quakerism.
Saturday will feature several workshops, including one on spiritual gifts offered by the Gifts and Leadings committee and a workshop led by Carolyn McCoy entitled “Opening to the Spirit.” After a catered lunch, families will enjoy a midday swim at Friends Select School as well as crafts and games. A highlight of the afternoon will be a tour of the “mysteries” of the building, including the secret safe and the windows and doors to nowhere. A talent show will follow a taco dinner, and will end with a fun overnight sleepover. Sunday morning before worship will feature a pancake breakfast.
TENANT NEWS
Singing City and Lyric Fest together in concert
Fall Concert–The Road Less Traveled
Saturday, October 5, 2019, 4 p.m.
Haddonfield United Methodist Church, 29 Warwick Road, Haddonfield, NJ 08033
Sunday, October 6, 3 p.m.
Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, 23 S. 38th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Songs of journey and diaspora, welcome and belonging, leaving home and finding home. A timely program exploring world-wide migration and America’s roots as an immigrant nation.
The Alternative to Violence Project Presents
AVP: Introductory Workshops for Radical Peacemaking
Friends Center
Choose 1 day: Fri. September 6th, or Sat. September 7th
9:30 am – 4:00 pm (Sign in at 9:30, workshop at 10:00 am)
Complimentary lunch included. This event is free to attend, and registration is required
Click to Learn more about AVP.
EVENTS OUTSIDE FRIENDS CENTER
Peace Day Philly
Peace Day Philly is the Philadelphia region initiative for the International Day of Peace, September 21. We invite individuals, communities, organizations and civic leaders to use this powerful global platform to build peace on personal, local and global levels. Participate in a way that’s meaningful for you and your organization! Learn more.
Friday, September
13, 2019 –
Monday, September 23, 2019
The City of Philadelphia Office of Immigrant Affairs partners with more than 30 community organizations for 10 days to honor the city’s multiculturalism. The week’s aim: Engage immigrant communities like Philly’s Latino neighbors and neighborhoods, with a variety of to-be-announced events. Learn more.
On this episode of Friends on 15th we had the pleasure of interviewing Dena Herrin and Cherice Arrington of Girls INC! Take a listen and learn how girls get started learning to run the world!
Issue 51, August 2019
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S NOTE
In a time when it
seems every day brings news of some fresh example of injustice, violence, and
inequality, I’m glad to be a part of the Friends Center community. Of course,
it’s true that the people who work, attend events, or worship here are by no
means perfect nor better than anyone else. Still, a lot of good things are
happening here to advance justice, peace, and equality. This newsletter gives just
a few examples.
Speaking of the
newsletter, Jennifer Williams has been doing a great job collecting your
stories for it. I thank her for her good work. I am also pleased to announce
that she was recently promoted to the position of Guest Reception and Marketing
Coordinator. She has taken on new duties, such as producing our new podcast
(see next item), and I know you’ll want to join me in congratulating her.
– Chris Mohr, Executive Director
AROUND FRIENDS CENTER
As you all know by now (or at least that‘s what we’re hoping) Friends Center has launched its Podcast “Friends On 15th” and it’s a hit!!! Friends On 15th was birthed out of the appreciation we have for the good works being done by our tenants. Friends Center houses roughly 40 non-profit organizations, both Quaker and non-Quaker, whose mission statements we support. By this we were compelled to find a new way to help get their good doings on the front line.
We will be interviewing the organizations in our building, providing them with an opportunity to showcase their accomplishments.
We hope that you will give Friends On 15th a listen and look forward to hearing your feedback.
EQUITY PARTNER NEWS
AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE (AFSC)
The American Friends Service Committee was one of several groups protesting the conditions and treatment of children at the Homestead facility and organizer Mariana Martinez declared victory Saturday. Read more on this amazing story!
PHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING (PYM)
The Annual Sessions has ended and the atmosphere has shifted! As light hearts and smiling faces pass me by I couldn’t help but to wonder (as a non-Quaker) why are these individuals so filled up? Soon after, the opportunity to sit and briefly chat with attendees of Sessions was upon me.
I was able to gain a better understanding of the annual sessions and as a result, I am no longer in the dark about the Light. Below is a lovely and enlightening quote from one the the delegates who attended.
“It is no coincidence Sessions comes at a time of full bloom. A sense of expansiveness & freedom pervades the day and we are reminded of our commitment to come together. We gather with full whole hearts seeking spiritual renewal while enjoying sweet fellowship in an environment full of integrity & love.”
-Kimani Keaton, Gifts processing and data entry associate, PYM
CENTRAL PHILADELPHIA MONTHLY MEETING (CPMM)
TENANT NEWS
EVENTS OUTSIDE FRIENDS CENTER
Pardon Workshop with
X-Offenders for Community Empowerment
When: August 12, 2019 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Where: 2227 N. Broad Street Philadelphia PA 19132
Need assistance with a pardon? Wayne Jacobs, Co-Founder and Executive Director of X-Offenders for Community Empowerment is hosting a workshop to get you started with the pardon application. Mr. Jacobs hosts his clinic at 2227 N. Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19123 every 2nd Monday from 6-7pm. For more details, please call 215-668-8477 or email jacobs19132@yahoo.com.
Hidden Lives Illuminated
Mark your calendars for the debut of Hidden Lives Illuminated! Short films created by currently-incarcerated artists will be projected onto the walls of Eastern State nightly August 15 through September 12. Learn more at HiddenLives.org. #HiddenLives