Dear Friend,
In the face of attacks on our rights and democracy, people nationwide are organizing to protect one another and create the society we all deserve. Since last year, AFSC’s Third Tuesdays: Protect, Resist, and Build webinar series has supported communities in these efforts.
Every month, we gather to get the latest updates from AFSC staff on immigrant rights, economic justice, peacebuilding, and more. We share what’s working in our own communities. And build up the skills to strengthen our work for social justice. To join these gatherings, please register for our Third Tuesday webinars.
Read on to see how AFSC alumni have put these values in action, plus a few updates from AFSC’s work. Thank you for joining us in creating a future where all people can live in safety, peace, and dignity.
Tonya Histand
Director of Public Engagement
Alumni news & notes
Congratulations to Joseph Gerson, who was recently named co-president of the International Peace Bureau, one of the first organizations to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. For over forty years, Joseph served as the director of regional programs for AFSC’s Northeast region.
Nancy Hicks Marshall, author of "Finding Zachariah in a Community Garden", was recently honored with the 2025 Arizona Literary Award for Best of Category-Published Fiction. Nancy served with AFSC in Mexico while in college. Congratulations to Nancy.
Mike Gray coordinated AFSC's Joint Service Project program with Intermountain Yearly Meeting for decades, giving youth a place to practice hands-on volunteer experience. Mike passed away on Jan. 8. A celebration of his life is planned for the spring.
AFSC alum Ruth Asawa is featured in a major retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Ruth and her family were forced into internment during World War II. She graduated from the internment camp high school and went to college through a scholarship from the Japanese American Student Relocation Council, a project of AFSC.
Dale Hoover passed away in November just before his 95th birthday. Dale spent more than two years in Palestine (1955-1957), working for AFSC at Ramallah Friends School, where he taught agricultural science.
Congratulations to Sara Osman, who was recently awarded a Fulbright Research Award to conduct legal research and fieldwork in Kenya. Sara was a youth leader with the AFSC Twin Cities program from 2014-2017.
Charlie Friou passed away at the age of 99 in New Hampshire. Charlie went to Gaza with AFSC in 1949 to head the Maghzi camp, where 10,000 refugees lived at that time. Later on in his life, he served on the local program committee for AFSC.
Do you have news to share? Email us today!
Updates from AFSC
Trump's actions on immigration, explained
Here’s what you need to know about ICE raids, mass deportations, threats to citizenship, and more—and why we must work to stop them.
What you need to know about the U.S. attack on Venezuela
The Trump administration’s illegal attack is about control over oil and resources, not drugs or democracy. Congress must act now to prevent another costly, endless war.
AFSC will continue Gaza work despite Israel’s threat to ban INGOs
AFSC helped set up the first refugee camps in Gaza in 1948. We remain committed as ever to our efforts.
From our Archives
As in many parts of the world, AFSC began working in the Middle East in the wake of war and has stayed to help build justice and peace. Since 1948, AFSC has worked with Palestinians, Israelis, and the international community to realize a just and lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis. Check out this page, which details the history of AFSC’s work.
More ways to take action and connect with AFSC:
ICE out of our communities—stop deportations now!
Tell Congress: No war with Venezuela!
Join our Action Hour for Palestine every Friday
Are you interested in receiving life income while supporting AFSC? A gift annuity is easy to arrange. Reach out to GiftPlanning@afsc.org or visit us online.
Thank you for reading our AFSC Alumni Newsletter!