Quaker Action for a Just World

Come learn about the American Friends Service Committee and the many ways that Friends can get involved in its work to promote a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world. This workshop will spotlight AFSC’s Palestinian Activism work, Immigration Justice programs, and AFSC’s partnership with the Earth Quaker Action Team. Guided by the Quaker belief in…

Workshop Description

Come learn about the American Friends Service Committee and the many ways that Friends can get involved in its work to promote a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world. This workshop will spotlight AFSC’s Palestinian Activism work, Immigration Justice programs, and AFSC’s partnership with the Earth Quaker Action Team.

Guided by the Quaker belief in the divine light of each person, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) works with people from all faiths and backgrounds to challenge unjust systems and promote lasting peace. AFSC works in many different regions of the United States and around the world. Its approach to social change is grounded in the Quaker principles of non-violence, equality, and human rights.

This workshop seeks to both inform Friends about AFSC’s work and galvanize Friends into taking action in solidarity with communities that have been impacted by violence, inequality, and injustice. On the first day of the workshop, AFSC’s Quaker Engagement Team, Brian Blackmore and Ainsley Bruton, will share highlights from AFSC’s history and information about AFSC’s current operations, organizational structure, and strategic plan. On the second and third day of the workshop, Brian and Ainsley will spotlight AFSC’s advocacy for an enduring peace in Israel and Palestine, humanitarian work in Gaza, resistance against unjust and unlawful immigration enforcement, protection of migrant communities, and AFSC’s partnership with the Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT) against corporate complicity in climate destruction. Time will be afforded for participants to inquire and learn about AFSC’s many other programs and campaigns. On the fourth day of the workshop, participants will learn about AFSC’s New Hampshire Program as an example of how AFSC conducts its work on a regional and state level. Led by Maggie Fogarty, member of Dover Friends Meeting, the New Hampshire program works to promote economic justice and the rights and well-being of immigrants, workers and prisoners. New Hampshire is a multi-issue program which aims to strengthen the safety net for low-income people and end systems of state violence. An important aspect of their work involves developing new leaders and community-led initiatives for social change.

While this workshop will offer participants an abundance of information about AFSC and its programs, emphasis will be placed on how Friends can get involved and take action in partnership with AFSC. Come learn about AFSC’s resources and guidance on how to be an effective Quaker social change maker.

Leader Experience

Brian Blackmore is AFSC’s Director of Quaker Engagement whose work concentrates on leading AFSC’s efforts to build nurturing, trusting, and engaged relationships with Quaker faith communities, schools, and organizations in the U.S. and around the world. Brian has given presentation about AFSC to dozens of Quaker communities across the United States. He is a skilled Quaker educator and community builder with over two decades of teaching experience whose lifelong career has focused on religion, social justice, and peacemaking. Before coming to AFSC, Brian was the Religious Studies Department Chair and Quaker Worship and Spiritual Life Coordinator at Westtown School in West Chester, PA. He is also sought after as a public speaker about the role Quakers played in the advancement of the gay rights movement in the mid-twentieth century and best practices for teaching about world religions in secondary schools.

As the Quaker Engagement Coordinator, Ainsley Bruton works with Brian to build and maintain relationships with Friends, Meetings & Churches, and Quaker organizations. Ainsley manages AFSC’s liaison program and writes the monthly Acting in Faith newsletter, which is tailored for AFSC’s Quaker supporters. Ainsley also facilitates and coordinate staff presence at Yearly Meetings and support staff in Quaker engagement. Prior to joining AFSC, Ainsley served as an Assistant Director of Admission at Haverford College, where they worked to build relationships with prospective students, high schools, and community-based organizations across the US. At Haverford, Ainsley served as a resource for students at Friends schools, colleges, and universities to learn about the value of Quaker education. Ainsley is passionate about working with Friends of all experiences to create and sustain communities united in shared values of peace and justice. \

Maggie Fogarty joined the staff of AFSC’s New Hampshire Program in July of 2007 when she and her family returned to the United States after living and working for several years in Bolivia. Her work in New Hampshire is dedicated to movement building for economic justice, racial justice, immigrant rights and nonviolence. As a community organizer, policy advocate, and coalition-builder, she is grounded in Quaker values and a commitment to ensuring that directly-impacted people are supported as leaders in the struggle to create more justice and more peace.

Maggie has served on several boards of directors, including as a founding board member of the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness, and Housing Action NH. She is currently a Board member with the NH Council of Churches. She is the co-convener of the NH Immigrant Rights Network and NH Voices of Faith, facilitator for the Seacoast Interfaith Sanctuary Coalition, and co-leader of the NH Immigrant Visitation Program.