Issue 38, July 2018
Friends Center Tenant Newsletter
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S NOTE—of Appreciation
Thank you to everyone at Friends Center for your cooperative spirit and your understanding of the bigger picture for our community. Thank you for tolerating the tunnel project, the electricity demand reduction program, and the removal of the mural. We aim to steward the facility for future generations, while being mindful of the impact on the present generation. On behalf of the staff and board of Friends Center, we appreciate you all very much!
— Chris Mohr, Executive Director
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AROUND FRIENDS CENTER
PHONE SYSTEM REMINDER
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 are starting the work to switch out digital and analog phones for “IP” phones. We hope to minimize disruption to your
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EQUITY PARTNER NEWS
CENTRAL PHILADELPHIA MONTHLY MEETING OF FRIENDS hosts:
SCHOOLS NOT PRISONS
An Evening of Poetry
Thursday, July 12
7-10 pm
Friends Center
Hosted by Philadelphia’s Poet Laureate, Raquel Salas Rivera
and featuring
Becky Birtha
with Oskar Castro
CPMM is co-hosting, can you help? Volunteers needed.
Thank you to Beth Feldman Brandt, executive director of the Bartol Foundation. She serves as the chair of the city’s Poet Laureate Committee and made the connection to Quakers!
AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE in the news
AFSC’s Amy Gottlieb wrote for the Guardian newspaper:
It is time to abolish Ice. It cannot be reformed
• Read the article
AFSC’s Carly Goodman wrote in the Washington Post:
Angry that ICE is ripping families apart? Don’t just blame Trump. Blame Clinton, Bush and Obama, too.
The militarization of immigration enforcement.
• Read the article
PHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING committee event:
The Indian Committee of PYM (Quakers) and The Coalition for Peace Action presents:
“Tatanka vs. The Black Snake”
Held at Historic Arch Street Meeting House
330 Arch St Philadelphia, Pa
Doors Open at 4:30 p.m.
Suggested Donation $10
See the postcards in the lobby.
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TENANT NEWS
CAIR Philadelphia opposes Supreme Court ruling upholding “Muslim ban”
In a press conference at Friends Center, CAIR expressed their opposition to the recent Supreme Court ruling. Coverage included:
• CBS Local
• Metro Philly
• Fox 29
• 6ABC
• KYW-AM
Philly’s new Community Fund for Immigrant Wellness Wishes Everyone a Happy World Refugee Day!
A granting group made up of service providers picked the Scattergood Foundation-facilitated fund’s first-ever grantees.
Generocity, 6/20/18
Philadelphia Reentry Coalition’s first awards ceremony celebrated these thriving returning citizens
Hosted by our tenant, Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity
“The Philadelphians we honored are living proof of what can happen when people have real opportunities, resources and support as they move forward with their lives after incarceration,” writes Coalition Director Aviva Tevah.
Generocity, 6/22/2018
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COMMUNITY ITEMS OUTSIDE FRIENDS CENTER
Check out the Farm in the City
located in Thomas Paine Plaza
https://phsonline.org/programs/farm-for-the-city/
Open daily June 15 – September 29, 2018 at 1401 John F. Kennedy Boulevard.
Monday – Friday: 8 am – 8 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10 am – 6 pm
• Explore the crops and talk to the farmers.
• Take part in FREE programs & workshops.
• Learn how to garden and be an advocate.
• Support community gardeners and become a Friend of the Gardens.
T-VOCE at the Annenberg
Teen Voices of the City Ensemble (T-VOCE), under the direction of Emily Sung, performed on May 17 for a full house as part of the Annenberg Center’s annual Children’s Festival. The concert also featured dancers from Esperanza Charter Academy. For the first time, this collaborative venture was offered as a full-year program during 2017-18. Students from across the City of Philadelphia met each Saturday (usually at Friends Center) to explore choral music and spoken word with the aim of discovering and developing their voices, both figuratively and literally. T-VOCE is a collaboration between Art Sanctuary, Opera Philadelphia, Play On, Philly! and one of our tenants, Singing City.