American Friends Service Committee | Quaker values in action

To Friends Everywhere: An Epistle from the American Friends Service Committee

(April 11, 2013)

Corporation Meeting: Denise Altvater and Triphonie Habonimana

Denise Atlvater and Triphonie Habonimana after their Friday night presenation.

“People can be transformed by being open and human. We believe that people have a need to be heard, but how they are heard really matters – if they take the risk of telling their story, it needs to make a difference.” – Denise Altvater

On March 1 and 2 more than 100 of us gathered at Friends Center in Philadelphia for the AFSC Corporation Meeting. For two days, Quakers and AFSC staff worshipped together, engaged in business, and learned ways to work in partnership for peace and justice. A strong spirit of mutual respect and common cause drew us together as Friends and staff...

Journal of observations during the 2013 AFSC Corporation Meeting

(April 8, 2013)

Mary Dyer at Friends Center

Note: Sandy Branam, a member of Savannah Monthly Meeting of Southeastern Yearly Meeting, created a painted journal of the 2013 AFSC Corporation Meeting including her trip to Philadelphia and back via the train. She passsed it along to me saying that we could publish it here. I had a real sense of a gathered meeting as Friends participated in staff presentations, engaged in meeting for business, and came together to learn how AFSC and Friends can partner in Spirit-guided action, and these images capture that spirit. - Lucy

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To Heal the World: Building an immigrants' rights movement in Denver, Colorado (PODCAST)

(March 29, 2013)

"Families belong together" protest puppet download

Press conference in front of Senator Bennet's office in Denver, Colorado.

What do safe communities really look like? That question has been the focus of many in Denver, Colo., a city that has been home to many immigrants over the past 20 years. For AFSC, the answer can only be found by bringing together immigrants and non-immigrants to work together to ensure the fair treatment of all of the city's residents and work for equal human rights. Listen to the voices of community members working with AFSC to support the...

I will not drink SodaStream fizzy water for Passover

(March 21, 2013)

Soda Stream boycott

by Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb

As we approach the Jewish holy days, we are reminded of the phrase that initiates the Telling of the Story: Let all who are hungry come eat, let all who are oppressed, join us at the table of liberation. Unfortunately, if they are Palestinians living in the West Bank, they may need a special security clearance. That is the case for Palestinian workers who are employed by SodaStream, the increasingly popular home carbonation product sold in 39 countries in 35,000 stores worldwide.

Jewish religion commands us to make food choices that do...

Building bridges is radical

(March 15, 2013)

Rebecca Timbres, nurse

Rebecca Timbres served as a nurse during World War I and continued to work for the AFSC for nearly her entire adult life.

by Madeline Schaefer

When I think of well-known figures of AFSC’s past, I think of men—Rufus Jones and Clarence Pickett, more specifically. I’m sure much of this has to do with the fact that I have spent numerous hours sitting in rooms named after them at Friends Center in Philadelphia. But I have little doubt that their familiarity is also due to the general attention that our society pays to men with big ideas and big voices, particularly the society in which the organization was founded.

Of course, Friends Center, where AFSC’s Philadelphia office resides,...

Quaker Meeting/Church Liaison Program

Does your meeting want to work on social justice issues with other Quaker congregations across the country? Join our new Meeting/Church Liaison Program. Learn more and find resources for engagement here.

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About the Hosts

Lucy Duncan

Lucy Duncan is AFSC’s Friends Liaison. She has been a storyteller for almost 20 years and in n the past five years has begun working with Quaker meetings to help Friends to tell stories of spiritual experience. Lucy is a member of Goshen Friends Meeting of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. She lives at Friends Southwestern Burial Ground in the caretaker's house with her husband, the caretaker, and her 10-year-old son.

Contact Lucy

Madeline Schaefer is the Friends Relations Fellow at AFSC. She grew up in Philadelphia, surrounded by Quakers of all shapes and sizes. After searching for stories and adventure in distant, cooler climes, she returned home only to find the richest ones right in her backyard. Madeline lives with five lovely people in West Philadelphia, and is involved with Quakers throughout the Philadelphia region.

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