News from The William Penn House

Monthly Potluck welcomes Dave Zarembka/AGLI

Every first Sunday of the month, The William Penn House hosts potluck/dialogs on a wide range of issues. In the past, we have had Friends present on experiences ranging from reading program in local prisons to service work in Africa and Asia. In all cases, we engage in dialog about many of the issues that are of concern for Quakers, from the environment to rights and justice for all people, and learn about the various ways that people affiliated with Quakerism and/or Quaker organizations are making a difference in the world, and keeps the Peace Testimony alive in troubled times.

We invite you to join us on Sunday, March 2, if you are in the DC-area, for a very special speaker. Dave Zarembka will be here to talk about his on-going efforts in western Kenya to bring some resolutions and reconciliation to the violence that has erupted in that region. Dave works with the African Great Lakes Initiative (AGLI), and lives in western Kenya. He and his wife have committed their lives to educating people and communities through the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP).

We are very excited to hear from Dave first-hand about what he has seen, and where he envisions going from here.

We start every potluck at 6:30 PM, with presentations starting at 7:30. No RSVP is needed; just bring a dish to share in this special evening of food and fellowship.

Washington Quaker Workcamps

Since 1917, Quaker Workcamps have operated as a means for people committed to non-violence to do what we can to minimize and optimally prevent violence in the world. Growing out of relief efforts in war-torn Europe, Quaker Workcamps are now found throughout the world. In 1947, American Friends Service Committee accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of Quaker Workcamps.

Here at The William Penn House, we run Quaker Workcamps in Washington, DC, as well as West Virginia and New Orleans. Sidwell Friends School has bee our most active partner in this work, and the work is growing. In all of our workcamps, we create opportunities for participants to engage in a wide range of service and learning opportunities to more fully understand the complexities of issues ranging from poverty and homelessness to the environment and healthcare, and to see how so much of our world is a web of connectivity. We work with groups to provide holistic learning experiences that cater to their interests while empowering them to make a difference not just while they are with us but for the rest of their lives. It is very much a part of a spiritual journey to make the world a better place.

We have recently taken steps to create more opportunities for youth groups to participate in these powerful experiences. In January, Thornton Friends School students spent a week working on a house in DC, learning some home repair and maintenance skills while learning about the roles that poverty and health play in living conditions, and how to recognize small things to do to help insulate and improve homes.

In the next few months, we will be welcoming groups from New York, Michigan, and New Mexico to also participate in Workcamps. In July, we are inviting families to participate in a Workcamp experience during the Folklife Festival (see sidebar).

These workcamps have a long history of making a difference. With each generation, there are new challenges and opportunity and, with our world so interconnected (and busy), there are opportunities to do more when we understand the nature of complexity of issues not just with our heads but with our hearts. We invite you to join us for a Workcamp, or if you are interested in bringing a group to Washington (anything from youth groups to Meeting elders), we welcome the opportunity to be of service.

If you would like more information, visit our website. We would also be glad to send you more information if you send us an e-mail. Or just give us a call, and ask for Brad or Ben.

Help Create Opportunities for others

Increasingly, we are getting requests from schools and youth groups to participate in our Workcamps. In order to provide the best opportunities for them to learn, serve, and become empowered to make a difference in the world, we need your help. The gift of many youth is their time and energy. For many adults, the gift of funding for building materials and program costs enables these youth to maximize their gifts. Please consider helping us in this vital work by donating funds. Donations can also be made on-line.

Public Lands/Private Industry

Here at the William Penn House, we encourage people to learn about issues and have their voices be heard. Below is an opportunity to do this.

Public lands in Idaho and Colorado are being considered for private development. Among the issues being considered include jobs, ranching, recreation, and the environment. For more information, as well as a link to let your voice be heard in the Federal Government, go to this PBS website.

It is a pleasure, an honor and a charge we take seriously to be a presence for Quakerism in this powerful, exciting and troubled city. In the true tradition of Quakersim, we know that our ability to provide the opportunity to bear witness to what is and what can be in our world, and to make a difference through all of our programs is exciting. We hope you will join us along the journey

Sincerely,

Byron, Patricia, Brad, Judy, Faith, Ben, Morgan, and Khadim
The William Penn House