Issue 60, May 2020 Friends Center Tenant Newsletter
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S NOTE: We miss you!
We miss you! It is always nice to see some of you from time to time when you come in to pick up the mail or the like. And of course we are even more grateful for everyone’s cooperation in staying home to help slow down the spread of Covid-19.
Friends Center is actively planning for your eventual return to work here at the facility, once Governor Wolf declares that Philadelphia is in the “yellow phase” of his reopening plan.
I will soon share our guidelines with each organization. These will primarily cover our common spaces. Requirements include wearing a mask, maintaining a safe physical distance from others, and not having meetings of more than 10 people at a time. We’ll also be cleaning according to CDC guidelines. You’ll also need to report incidents of Covid-19 among your staff to us so that we may clean and disinfect work areas and so that people who had contact with that person can be efficiently traced.
Each organization here should have its own plan for safely returning to work in the facility. I recommend you read the section of the governor’s plan entitled “Businesses in the Yellow Phase.” When I send our guidelines, I’ll also share the return-to-work guidelines of one of our tenants, who has given me permission to do so.
I look forward to seeing you again—whenever it is safe for that to happen.
– Chris Mohr, Executive Director
Around Friends Center
Wil Mason to Retire at End of May!!
After 15 years of dedicated service, we are both proud and sad to announce the retirement of our facilities manager, Wil Mason, at the end of May. Wil is actually employed by our contractor Emcor Fluidics to provide building operations services. A plumber by trade, Wil is also a skilled carpenter, geothermal system operator, overall handyperson, and raconteur. He has been a huge asset to Friends Center. While we will miss him and his can-do spirit, we wish Wil and his wife Rose all the best as they spend more time at their home down the shore.
Since we can’t have an in-person retirement party for Wil, please consider sending a photo of yourself holding a sign with your message for Wil. We will share the photos with him at the end of May.
AROUND PHILADELPHIA
One of the best ways to experience Greater Philadelphia is via the region’s acclaimed museums and attractions.
But there’s another way to explore some of these fantastic destinations and their cultural and artistic offerings: virtual tours, online programming, and a wealth of video experiences—all available online for free at any time. Learn more here.
EQUITY PARTNER NEWS
AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE (AFSC)
First COVID-19 related death in immigration detention
Pedro Rios, Director of the American Friends Service Committee’s US-Mexico Border Program in San Diego, had this to say.
PHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING (PYM)
Annual Sessions 2020 Goes Virtual
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and after careful discernment, the Sessions Coordinating Committee and the yearly meeting clerking team have thoughtfully and carefully decided that this year’s Annual Sessions (July 29 – August 2, 2020) will move to a virtual space in order to preserve the care and well-being of our community. Read more here
CENTRAL PHILADELPHIA MONTHLY MEETING (CPMM)
Friends Southwestern Burial Ground (FSWBG) Managing Director Job Opening
General Job Description: This is the top managerial position for the Burial Ground and is responsible for overseeing all operations, including managing staff, relationships with outside organizations (funeral directors, Upper Darby Police, St. Demetrios, community gardeners, etc.), contracting (tree work, mowing, etc.), and outreach with Quaker meetings and other Quaker organizations. The director will also be responsible for overseeing and conducting burials and all attendant preparation and paperwork on the days which they are scheduled to work. Reports to the Friends Southwestern Burial Ground Committee (“FSWBG Committee”). The Burial Ground operates under the oversight of Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting (CPMM) and Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia (MMFP).
More details here.
TENANT NEWS
Recipients call Presser Foundation awards of more than half million dollars “amazing” at a critical time. Read more here.
Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation
Presents The Creativity, Trauma Healing and Storiez Workshop
As we build on our knowledge about creativity and healing, we welcome Dr. Meagan Corrado. A valued presenter for Bartol’s Trauma-Informed Practice for Teaching Artist training, Dr. Meagan will share how creativity is central to the lives of trauma survivors. Through her Storiez approach, she helps people create, voice and honor their own narrative, a skill that translates to every art form.
Date: Wednesday, May 13
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Cost: Free
Event Category: Teaching Artist Workshops
Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creativity-trauma-healing-and-storiez-tickets-104083741272