Issue 72, May-June 2021
Friends Center Tenant Newsletter
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S NOTE
Although Friends Center remains relatively quiet a fair amount of the time, a lot of change is happening below the surface, in some respects, quite literally.
As of now, we plan to close on the sale of our 1520 Race Street building to Friends Select School on August 3.
We appreciate all the staff from the equity partners and the tenants with storage in that building who have worked so hard to reduce and move over their materials. As you have heard, our remaining storage is quite limited.
Stay tuned for future updates.
Meanwhile, stay safe, be healthy, act for justice, and find time for peaceful reflection as you are able.
– Chris Mohr, Executive Director
AROUND FRIENDS CENTER
→→→ FC Furniture GIVEAWAY ←←←
June 21-25, 2021
Sending a big thank you all of the tenants who moved out of the 1520 building and chose to leave furniture and office supplies behind. We would like to pay their kindness forward by opening the doors and offering our entire community the chance to browse what’s there and take what you like.
Stop by the 1520 Race Street building
the week of June 21-25
for our office furnishings giveaway!
- First-come, first-served!
- You are responsible for hauling away items you want. Friends Center staff is not able to assist.
- Please mark claim larger items by taping a sign or post-it to the item your name, organization, and phone number.
- Other questions? Contact Erick.
CHANGES IN THE RACE STREET ROOM
also known as the Worship Room
Friends Center has two exciting changes to announce for the Race Street Room, betteer known as the Worship Room of the Meetinghouse:
Our contractor Spinnaker Multimedia Solutions recently upgraded the AV system in the Race Street Room. We can now host hybrid meetings with participants who are both in person and online through Zoom!! Please contact Shakirah Holloway in our office if you would like to know more.
Our facility manager John Gibson and our building controls contractor Carrier Systems recently upgraded the HVAC system in the Race Street Room to provide cooled air! While it will probably never be truly cool on a hot day, this solution will make the space bearable in summer. All powered by our path-breaking geothermal heating and cooling system, of course!
CHANGES IN EVENT ROOM USE
Friends Child Care Center is moving out of the 1520 Race Street building and is now occupying the Cherry Street Room and Rufus Jones Room for the foreseeable future. We are in the process of developing a new facility for them in the Lower Level of the 1501 Cherry Street building.
Our hope is to have the new facility available in early 2022. Stay tuned as more details become available!
EQUITY PARTNER NEWS
PHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING (PYM)
Reflections on the Light and Languages of Pentecost: Fire. Light. The Holy Spirit.
Reflections by Melinda Wenner Bradley, Youth Religious Life Coordinator for PYM
“While Friends did not traditionally celebrate religious holidays aligned with the liturgical calendar of the Christian church, Pentecost feels to me like a story our children should hear…. How can seeking the Light, receiving gifts of the Spirit, and sharing a message of God’s love for all people across the boundaries of place and language be part of all of our days as Friends?”
AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE (AFSC)
AFSC Calls for Pathway to Citizenship
Every person without permanent immigration status deserves a lasting solution to keep families and communities together. But today, there are about 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. without a viable pathway to permanent residency and citizenship.
» Read AFSC’s call for a pathway to citizenship.
AFSC Opposes Weapons Sales
The Biden administration has approved a new sale of $735 million in weapons to Israel, despite objections in Congress. At the same time, the Biden administration also announced it would commit just $5 million to support reconstruction in Gaza—a fraction of what the U.S. is providing in weapons. AFSC is working to change U.S. policy to support those pushing for nonviolent change. Everyone deserves to live in safety and peace.
» AFSC’s position against weapons sales and in support of reconstruction
» Learn more about AFSC’s global peace policy: Shared Security
CENTRAL PHILADELPHIA MONTHLY MEETING (CPMM)
GEORGE LAKEY:
STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS WITH DIVERSE LEARNERS
Saturday, June 5th, 11:00 AM
George Lakey of Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting will read from one of his newest books. Facilitating Group Learning is an essential resource designed to help educators, trainers, workshop leaders, and anyone who assists groups to learn. George Lakey will discuss the core principles and proven techniques of direct education, an approach he developed for effectively teaching adults in groups. The author emphasizes critical issues related to diversity, as well as authenticity and emotions. Please log in on the Zoom platform.
Login info and other details here.
.O on Transforming Love Ministry
Sunday, June 6th, 1:00 pm
CPMM member .O will talk about her transforming love ministry on June 6, 2021 at 1 pm.
.O invites participants to bring a seed of their liking, and to watch ahead of time this 6-minute video showing the lived experience of inseparable oneness:
This is part of a series, Meeting for Worship with Attention to Ministry, sponsored by the Committee on Gifts and Leadings.
TENANT NEWS
A Fond Farewell to
Girls Inc.
of Greater Philadelphia & Southern N.J.
After six dynamic years at Friends Center, Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern N.J. is moving to the Bok Building in mid-June. While we are sorry to see them go, we recognize they have outgrown the available space at Friends Center.
Executive Director Dena Herrin was new in her job when she contacted us in 2015 about leasing space for four staff and some interns. Their work of “inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold” was a great fit with the Quaker testimony of equality, and the long history of women in leadership roles in the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
Since 2015, thanks to the efforts of Dena, Natasha Andrews, Cherice Arrington, and the rest of the team, Girls Inc. has nearly doubled in size! No doubt, they have also increased their impact on the girls and young women they serve by even more than that. They also did a lively and informative podcast with us.
Many people at Friends Center also benefited from Girls Inc. sharing their resources with the community, especially the many seasonal craft supplies.
Good luck, Girls Inc.! We look forward to hearing reports of how your programs continue to flourish and grow in your new home.
And welcome back to
Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance
This month we welcome back Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance—better known as KEEA—to Friends Center. Their work to advance energy efficiency in the Mid-Atlantic through energy education and awareness is an excellent fit with our mission to promote Quaker values such as stewardship of the environment. It also fits extremely well with our 1501 Cherry Street building, which was renovated to LEED Platinum certification level 11 years ago now.
KEEA had been a tenant from 2013 to 2018, so it is nice to welcome them back to our tenant community now.
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Local Rollin’ Fun!
Lace up your skates and get ready to roll back in time as live DJs spin throwback tunes at the Rothman Orthopaedics Roller Rink, including hits from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s! Now in place at Dilworth Park next to City Hall.