In association with Friends Center’s three equity partners:
| Friends Center opened its office building in 1975 — 50 years ago! This year we celebrate our half century as the Quaker hub for peace and justice in Philadelphia by hosting a series of trainings on nonviolent direct action. o WHERE: Friends Center, 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia PA 19102 o WHEN: From 2 to 5 pm on a series of Sundays between now and January 2026. o REFRESHMENTS will be provided. o Our goal is to provide CHILD CARE, too, but we need to confirm that we’ll be able to. o Please register for each workshop! We want to know how many people to expect and how many children will attend. o Download the FLYER FOR THE SERIES! |
9/21/2025, 2-5 pm:
CREATING COMMUNITY SAFETY BEYOND POLICING
Led by Lewis Webb, Jr., American Friends Service Committee
The United States spends over $200 billion on prisons and policing a year, and yet our reliance on criminalization and retribution has led to more people being incarcerated per capita in the U.S. than any other country. We know that our criminal legal system disproportionately affects people of color and the poor. We also know that mass incarceration, the surveillance of criminalized communities, and the militarization of police forces do not keep us safe. Come learn about approaches for developing community safety with transformative alternatives rooted in healing, restoration, and human dignity. Building upon an abolitionist vision of the future, this training will teach skills and competencies for staying safe while engaging with police or immigration enforcement as well as strategies for strengthening the resilience and wellbeing of communities from the grassroots.
10/12/2025, 3-5 pm:
HOW FAITH COMMUNITIES CAN SUPPORT IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES
Led by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and Peter Pedemonti, New Sanctuary Movement
Learn ways for faith communities and others to respond to the expressed needs of immigrant communities.
- Flyer to come
11/23/2025, 2-5 pm:
SKILLS FOR SPIRITUALLY GROUNDED NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION
Led by Central Philadelphia Friends Meeting and the Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT)
Join CPFM & the Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT) for an immersive training designed to equip you with the essential tools and strategies of powerful nonviolent direct action. Whether you consider yourself new to taking action or a seasoned action taker with expertise to share, this interactive workshop will deepen your understanding and sharpen your skills with a focus on:
- Power, Targets, and Rebels: we will explore how to identify key decision-makers and understand the crucial role of rebels within a movement ecosystem. We’ll dismantle the conventional understanding of power and discover how to leverage consent and influence for change.
- Beyond Marches and Rallies: Campaigns don’t win all at once – they win through taking successful steps. Being able to break down the steps towards winning is a key skill for successful strategizing. Practice designing inventive actions, and share ideas for creative, strategic tactics.
- Flyer to come
1/18/2026, 2-5 pm:
STRATEGIC CREATIVITY FOR NONVIOLENT ACTIVISM
(to be confirmed)
Learn about strategic creativity as a mode of nonviolent direct action. Practitioners will share how they approach their preferred disciplines or media. Breakout groups will focus on how to develop effective slogans for signs and banners; songwriting and song-sharing; and possibly clowning. Joy can be strategic, too. Suitable for all ages!
- Flyer to come
