Each year, FGC’s Ministry on Racism Program sponsors opportunities in the Spring and Fall for Friends of Color and their families to come together to build multigenerational community through:

  • Mutual support and sharing
  • Worship
  • Exploring our Faith
  • Sharing what brought us to Friends
  • Identifying ways to support each other

Previous retreats have been held in upstate New York, the Philadelphia area, Washington DC, Chicago, and California. Since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry on Racism has held virtual retreats for Friends of Color over Zoom — one in April 2020, two in October and November of 2020, and one in March 2021. Since 2021 all retreats hosted by the Ministry on Racism have had virtual access- being primarily Hybrid with some online only retreats. See FGC Pandemic Policy here.

Retreat FAQs

Topics

For our Friends of Color programming, only Friends who identify as and live a life as a Person of Color are permitted to attend. For our interracial retreats, both BIPOC and white participants are welcome to attend per the guidelines described in the event description (for instance, a retreat for interracial couples may only allow white participants to attend with a partner who is BIPOC). If you have questions about whether or not a retreat is right for you, you can always contact a Ministry on Racism staff member for further guidance.

A hybrid retreat is a retreat which offers programming for participants at an on-site location while also providing a space online for on-site and virtual attendees to commune. Virtual participants will have opportunities to interact with on-site participants and other virtual participants over zoom. We do our best to ensure that virtual participants are an integral part of the hybrid retreat.

We typically offer three types of registrations for in-person participation. The following are listed from most to least expensive:

  • Overnight, single room (room to yourself)
  • Overnight, double room (share a room with another participant)
  • Commuter (no overnight accommodation)

All in-person registration options include meals. Registration fees for each option may differ depending on the location of the retreat.

If you choose to attend virtually, you will be sent a Zoom link the week of the retreat where you may attend the retreat online. The virtual registration fee for retreats is $60 per person.

The Ministry on Racism aims to select diverse retreat locations to reflect the geographic diversity of Friends of Color in North America. The general region in which a retreat will be held alternates with each retreat. We are always looking for retreat centers that can accommodate our diverse participants. If you have had a good experience with a retreat center near you, we would love to hear about it!

General outlines of the schedule (number of sessions, time of sessions) are made available around the time that registration opens for the retreat. The full retreat schedule (description of sessions and facilitators) will usually be finalized the week before the retreat. If you would like an idea of what the retreat schedule will look like, you can view schedules from past retreats on our website.

You can pay the registration fee for the retreat in the registration form for the retreat. You may also pay using FGC’s one-time donation form:

  • In the dropdown menu that says “Please Use My Gift to Support,” select Ministry on Racism
  • In the Comments and Feedback section, write “Registration Fee: Event Name

You may also pay via check. Make the check out to “Friends General Conference.” In the memo line, write “MoR Retreat Registration.” 

Mail the check to:

Friends General Conference

1216 Arch St #2B

Philadelphia, PA 19107 Please note that we are unable to process checks from outside of the United States. Non-US residents should pay with a debit or credit card in the registration form or through our online donation form in US dollars. Thank you for understanding.

Yes. Through the Bayard Rustin and Mahala Ashley Dickerson Funds, there is financial support to Friends of Color living in North America to attend FGC-affiliated events. The Bayard Rustin Fund provides funds for travel expenses and the Mahala Ashley Dickerson Fund provides funds for program and registration fees.

If you registered for a retreat but are no longer able to attend, please contact a Ministry on Racism staff member immediately. We require a deposit as part of our registration fees which will not be refunded in the case of a last minute cancellation or a no-show without prior notice.

Since the primary purpose of our retreats is to build community and connection among Friends of Color, we encourage Friends to attend the full retreat. However, we understand if you are only able to attend a portion of the retreat. We are unable to provide discounts to Friends who cannot attend the full retreat.

After the retreat, the Ministry on Racism will send an email to participants containing the slides from the retreat as well as links to any resources that were shared during our time together. Participants will also receive a link to an evaluation form to provide feedback about the retreat.

Participants are asked during registration if they would like to share their contact information with other participants. After the retreat, the Ministry on Racism will share the contact information of those participants who indicated that they were comfortable sharing.

We understand that attending a retreat can be a daunting experience. We have formulated a set of guidelines which governs our time together to ensure that Friends can share their authentic selves in the spirit of bravery and mutual care and respect. We also understand that no space will be perfect and that racial woundings may occur. In the instance that you experience a racial wounding at our retreat or any FGC-affiliated event, we encourage you to fill out the Racial Wounding Reporting Form and a member of the Racial Wounding Committee will reach out to you.

Upcoming Retreats


2024 Virtual Retreat for Parents of Interracial Families

March 16-17, 2024

Thank you. Registration has closed.

Join the Ministry on Racism at the 2024 Virtual Retreat for Parents of Interracial Families! This retreat aims to center Spirit in the creation of a space for meaningful conversations, shared experiences, and valuable insights on navigating the unique dynamics of interracial families within our Quaker community. White and BIPOC parents of interracial families are welcome to attend. Parents of adult children are also welcome.

Parents of interracial families may include: 

  • Interracial couples with mixed-race children
  • Single parents with mixed-race children 
  • Parents of transracial adoptees
  • Parents of blended families with different races represented 

We know that the scenarios listed above will not cover all types of interracial families. If you have a question about whether or not this retreat is right for you, please feel free to email hanaet@fgcquaker.org. 

Each participant must complete a registration form. If you are attending this retreat with a partner or co-parent, each of you should complete a registration form. 

Event Details:

  • Date: March 16 and 17, 2024
  • Platform: Zoom
  • Cost: $60 per person
  • Financial Aid: Available for Friends of Color through the Mahala Ashley Dickerson Fund. Please apply for financial aid by February 16.

2024 Hybrid Spring Retreat for Friends of Color

May 3-5, 2024

The 2024 Spring Retreat will be a hybrid event with options to participate in person and online. The in-person portion of the retreat will be held in La Jolla, California.

Financial aid deadline (please register first!): March 22

In-person registration deadline: April 5

Virtual registration deadline: April 19

Options for Participation:

1. In-person participation: We have rented two houses near the La Jolla Friends Meeting where Friends may stay overnight. We will convene at La Jolla Friends Meeting for retreat programming and meals. 

2. Virtual participation: If attending in person is not feasible, you can still be an integral part of the retreat through Zoom. We’ll ensure that you’re actively engaged and included throughout the weekend.

Program Fees

  • Overnight fee – single room: $400
  • Overnight fee – double room: $300
  • Commuter fee – no overnight accommodations: $200
  • Virtual fee: $60

Financial Assistance:

We understand that travel and program fees can be a concern for some, and we want to ensure that the retreat is accessible to all who wish to attend. The following funds are available to support travel and program costs:

To request financial assistance, please first complete the registration for the retreat and then submit a request to the above forms by March 22.


Previous Retreats

2023 Hybrid Fall Retreat for Friends of Color
“Remembering and Celebrating Our Past”

November 3-5, 2023

The 2023 Fall retreat for Friends of Color was a hybrid retreat, with both in-person and online offerings. The in-person portion was held at Pendle Hill in Wallingford, PA.

2023 Hybrid Spring Retreat for Friends of Color
“Homecoming: Circle of Healing and Renewal”

May 19-21, 2023

The 2023 Spring retreat for Friends of Color was a hybrid retreat, with both in-person and online offerings. The in-person portion was held at the Casa- Franciscal Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

2023 Virtual Interracial Couples Retreat
“Celebrating who we are and awakening to the possibility of who we can become”

March 24-26, 2023

This retreat intended for interracial couples to build community and connect. Friends of color who are a part of an interracial relationship attended with or without their partners. Friends of color who have previous experience in an interracial relationship were also welcome to attend. 

2022 Fall Hybrid Retreat for Friends of Color
Sankofa: Reaching Back to Reclaim and Revive what was Stolen

 November 4-6, 2022

The 2022 Fall Retreat for Friends of Color was a hybrid retreat, with both in-person and online offerings. The in-person portion was held at Penn Center on St. Helena Island, South Carolina.

2022 Spring Hybrid Retreat for Friends of Color
“Rest as a Revolutionary Act”

May 13-15, 2022

The 2022 Spring Retreat for Friends of Color was a hybrid retreat, with both in-person and online offerings. The in-person portion was held at Menucha Retreat Center outside of Portland, Oregon.


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