Acting in Faith

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Fostering the next generation of peacemakers: If I Had a Trillion Dollars
(October 18, 2012)

If I Had a Trillion Dollars youth lobbying in Washington, D.C.

If I Had a Trillion Dollars youth lobbying in Washington, D.C.

If I Had a Trillion Dollars youth lobbying in Washington, D.C.

This is a guest post by Erin Polley, AFSC Program Coordinator of the Indiana Peacebuilding Program and the “If I Had a Trillion Dollars” Youth Film Festival. Submissions are now being accepted for films created by youth which explore how they would allocate the money that has been spent on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq differently. - Lucy

 by Erin Polley

Since the start of the Afghanistan war in 2001, we’ve reached many grim milestones: Over 6,000 U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, tens of thousands wounded, and millions of Iraqi and...

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Cultivating a vision to sustain generations: A conversation with Don Bustos
(October 10, 2012)

don bustos

Don Bustos

Don Bustos, Program Director for AFSC in New Mexico.

by Lucy Duncan 

In August I spent a day in New Mexico, visiting AFSC’s farmer training program near Albuquerque.

I met the trainees, hearing from AFSC’s Sayrah Namaste about elements of the program and upcoming plans to expand state-wide, funded in large part by the Kellogg Foundation. I finished the day by talking with program director Don Bustos at his farm near Espanola.

AFSC’s New Mexico program works in underserved communities to train beginner farmers in sustainable agriculture practices. The farmers grow high value crops—gourmet salad mix,...

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Midwives of transformation: an excerpt from the 2012 Weed Lecture
(September 26, 2012)

Simon minutes after birth

Simon minutes after birth

Simon minutes after birth

by Lucy Duncan

This post is an excerpt from the 2012 Weed Lecture I presented at the Beacon Hill Friends House on May 20th. The lecture is an annual event honoring Ernest and Esther Weed, who were longtime directors of the house in its formative years. You can learn more about the lecture at the Beacon Hill Friends House website or purchase the...

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And, who is my neighbor? Praying with Sikhs after Oak Creek
(September 17, 2012)

Sikh Vigil in Millbourne

Sikh Vigil in Millbourne

Sikh Vigil in Millbourne

by Lucy Duncan

My family and I live in a multicultural neighborhood just west of Philadelphia. My neighbors include many new immigrants from India, Bangladesh, Korea, Vietnam, Greece, and other countries, as well as many African-Americans.

We are part of a neighborhood association that has focused in the last few years on beautifying the park along Cobbs Creek, which is at the edge of the neighborhood. There have been many work days clearing weeds and debris, planting flowers, and turning the park again into a welcoming space for the community to play and gather....

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Seeing the world through another’s eyes
(September 10, 2012)

Rocks at Ghost Ranch

Rocks at Ghost Ranch

This a guest blog post by Gabriela Flora, AFSC Regional Project Voice Organizer - Lucy

Often the first step to becoming an ally is hearing and really listening to another person’s story.  I went to Intermountain Yearly Meeting (IMYM) at Ghost Ranch in the mountains of New Mexico this year for the first time since I’ve been on staff and told and heard moving stories there.

I co-led an interest group with Lucy Duncan titled “Friends and AFSC: Partners in Spirit-Led Activism.”   We had a small, powerful group where the participants shared and listened...

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