Dear Friend,
I am excited to share that last week we welcomed Gaven Green (he/they) to AFSC’s Quaker Engagement team. Gaven is a member of Quaker Voluntary Service’s 2024-2025 cohort, and they will be focusing on Quaker engagement in AFSC’s South region until June 2025. Gaven comes to AFSC by way of Swarthmore College, where they graduated in 2024 with a special major in political science and education studies, and a minor in film and media studies. At Swarthmore, Gaven led the First-generation, Low-income Council, organized with the Student Palestine Coalition, served as a Student Government Organization Senator for the class of 2024, and helped run the Cinema Club. Gaven was drawn to Quaker Voluntary Service and AFSC after working with Quakers who visited Swarthmore to support justice in Palestine, and learning how closely Quaker values aligned with his own.
In his role at AFSC, Gaven will focus on building and nurturing relationships with Friends meetings, churches, and Quaker colleges and organizations in the South region. He will work to strengthen our liaison program and create opportunities for Friends to organize and take action in partnership with our campaigns. You are welcome to contact Gaven at ggreen@afsc.org with any questions, feedback, or words or welcome you want to share.
Here are more ways you can engage with AFSC, plus a few updates on our work:
Apartheid-Free webinar on medical apartheid in Palestine (Tuesday, September 17 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT): Join us for this Apartheid-Free Communities webinar on medical apartheid in Palestine to learn about how Israel restricts healthcare accessibility for Palestinians. Speakers Yazid Barhoush and Dr. Alice Rothchild will discuss Israel’s policy of de-developing the healthcare system in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and why we call it medical apartheid. Register here.
No Hunger Summer Orientation Calls (Thursday, September 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT or Wednesday, September 25 at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT): As part of our No Hunger Summer Campaign, AFSC is calling on Friends in 14 states to urge legislators to implement the Sun Bucks program to help feed low-income kids. Join us to learn from Friends involved in the campaign and Rick Wilson, AFSC's Director of Economic Justice, about how you can strategize and organize to take action. Both calls will feature the same content. Register for September 19 here, or register for September 25 here.
Climate justice in a militarized world webinar (Tuesday, September 24 at 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT): Join us to hear from AFSC staff and partners about their work in the U.S., Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa to bring about climate justice and challenge the devastating impact of war and militarism on the environment. Learn from their experiences about actions you can take to make a difference. Register here.
Making Queer Quaker History event series: This fall, AFSC is co-sponsoring the Making Queer Quaker History event series through Beacon Hill Friends House with Brian Blackmore, AFSC's Director of Quaker Engagement. This series of lectures and workshops intends to share the often-untold stories of Quakers' influence and involvement in the project of gay liberation during the mid-twentieth century. Lectures and workshops are being offered in a hybrid format throughout September and October. Learn more and register here.
Call for nominations to AFSC Corporation: The Corporation provides the foundation for AFSC's governance and helps ground the work of AFSC in Quaker worship and practice. Corporation members keep AFSC aware of the movements of the Spirit within their Quaker communities and provide input on AFSC’s direction overall. The deadline for appointments this cycle is September 20, and Friends are invited to nominate themselves or others as soon as possible. Learn more and complete the nomination form here.
Meeting for Worship with attention to peace in Palestine and Israel: Please join us every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. PT as we worship with Friends from across the U.S.
You are also invited to attend our weekly Action Hour for a Ceasefire Now, every Friday at 12 p.m. ET. Hear updates from AFSC staff and take collective action as we contact our elected officials. Please share this invitation with members of your Meeting and communities.
Thank you for your continued support of AFSC and all you do to create a more just and peaceful world!
With care,
Ainsley Bruton (they/them)
Quaker Engagement Coordinator
P.S. You're always welcome to contact the Quaker Engagement team at friends@afsc.org with any questions, comments, or concerns.