Dear Friend,
This summer, the Quaker Engagement team had the pleasure of working with Izzak Novak, who came to us through the American Council of Learned Societies' Spiritual Infrastructure for the Future program. Izzak is a Friend and a PhD candidate in the Religious Studies department at Northwestern University. For the past nine weeks, they have been working to develop the Quaker Action for Migration Justice Network (QAMJN, pronounced "Q-imagine").
QAMJN is a tool meant to gather Friends, meetings, and other stakeholders together to build community, share ideas, organize, and support actions for migration justice. It exists to facilitate local, grassroots actions, informed and supported by a nationwide network of Friends. QAMJN held their first meeting early this month, and they will continue to meet on a monthly basis.
If you and/or your meeting are feeling led to take action to protect immigrant communities, I encourage you to consider joining QAMJN. I hope you will spend some time exploring the resources on the QAMJN landing page, and reach out to QAMJN@afsc.org if you have any questions. Together, through collective spirit-led action, we can make the world we inhabit into the one we imagine.
Here are some more ways to engage with AFSC, plus a few updates on our work:
AFSC and other rights groups sue the Trump administration: Last week, AFSC and three other organizations filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. We’re pushing back against its attempt to silence and punish people defending the rights of Palestinians and other victims of war crimes. The suit challenges President Trump’s 2025 executive order that sanctions people connected to the International Criminal Court and threatens to penalize groups, like AFSC, that work with them. This is against everything we stand for as a Quaker organization. It is a dangerous affront to our constitutional rights and religious freedoms. Read more.
Earthcare Day of Action: Sept. 19, 2026: Hosted by Quaker Earthcare Witness (QEW), this Day of Action is an invitation for Quaker communities to gather for a day of intentional Earthcare. We encourage Friends to consider hosting a Love as Action vigil on Sept. 19th with attention to Earthcare, or organize other forms of collective action. Learn more.
Tell Congress to support the Peace on the Korean Peninsula Act: The Korean War never officially ended, but was merely suspended by an armistice. After more than 70 years of tension, let's urge our leaders to take concrete steps toward peace on the Korean Peninsula. AFSC is one of 73 organizations who released a statement calling for real diplomacy. We need a path to lasting peace. Join us in calling on our representatives to co-sponsor the Peace on the Korean Peninsula Act. Send a message today!
Apply for Small Seed Grant Awards: Through this program, AFSC aims to invest in community-led ideas and projects in the Global South that promote dialogue, strengthen networks of solidarity, and respond creatively to emerging challenges to peace and democracy. Community-based and faith-based organizations working to advance peace, democracy, justice, non-violence, and community resilience are encouraged to apply by September 15. Learn more.
QUAKER COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
In May, Friends departed from Brooklyn Meeting for the National Peace Walk. This ministry of peace and interdependence was inspired by the 2025 Quaker Walk to Washington and followed the same route before continuing further south. In August the walkers will cross into Georgia. Learn more!
Meeting for Worship with attention to peace: Please join us every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT as we worship with Friends from across the U.S.
Protect, Resist, and Build with AFSC: This monthly webinar series brings together AFSC supporters to learn about how to protect our communities, resist authoritarianism, and build peace with justice. Join us on the third Tuesday of every month at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
You are also invited to attend our weekly Action Hour for Palestine, every Friday at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT. Hear updates from AFSC staff and take collective action by contacting our elected officials.
*Please note that Meeting for Worship, Protect, Resist, and Build, and the Action Hour will all take a break in August. All three events will resume their regular schedule in September.
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.
And stay up to date on upcoming events and ways to take action by joining us on Facebook, Bluesky, and Instagram.