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What is Arizona AFSC?

The American Friends Service Committee is a national and international peace and justice organization affiliated with the Society of Friends, or Quakers. It was founded in 1917 by American Quakers to provide conscientious objectors to World War I with a constructive alternative to military service, such as aid to civilian victims.

Our Tucson office of AFSC is the "outpost" for Arizona, and is "governed" by the Arizona Area Committee, which meets quarterly and is made up of statewide representatives and the clerks of the subcommittees. The Area Committee is then responsible to the Southwest Regional office, located in Los Angeles, CA, which also covers AFSC offices in Southern California, New Mexico, and Hawai'i.

The AFSC started work in Arizona in 1952 by providing assistance to Native American tribes. The current program began in 1980, and in 1981 AFSC appointed staff to address peace and justice issues. Past issues have dealt with disarmament, impact of military spending, peace and conflict resolution studies, draft and military counseling, US-Mexico border and immigration issues, Central America, refugee, and sanctuary work, and exploration of the Hopi-Navajo land dispute.

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