Ellerie Brownfain, a member of FGC’s Christian and Interfaith Relations Committee, helped organize and lead a Quaker intergenerational gathering for Friends in the Midwest. The program was sponsored by Western Yearly Meeting and planned in collaboration with Friends from several yearly meetings, primarily across the Midwest.

Participants from Western, New Association of Friends, Ohio Valley, Illinois, Lake Erie, and North Carolina Conservative Yearly Meetings gathered after months of preparation through Zoom calls and phone conversations. This shared vision became a reality in November 2025, when Friends met at Quaker Haven Camp in Syracuse, Indiana, for what became known as Quaker Nexus.

Approximately 50 Friends attended, ranging in age from infants to older adults. The bilingual gathering featured games, music, shared meals, and worship held in multiple Friends traditions. Saturday focused on a bilingual Alternatives to Violence program, with morning and afternoon mini-workshops. Sessions were offered for both adults and children, allowing the entire community to participate.

The weekend concluded with Sunday morning worship led by Cuban Friends who hold a meeting in Indiana. The worship was rich with prayer and music and offered a meaningful close to the gathering.

Throughout the weekend, new friendships formed across generations and between programmed and unprogrammed Friends. Participants awoke on the final morning to fresh snow covering the ground, a fitting backdrop to a time of deep connection and shared Spirit.

Plans are already underway for the next Midwest Quaker Nexus gathering, expected to take place next fall. More details will be shared as they become available.