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About The William Penn House
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Potlucks and Presentations
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Sunday, August 2, 6:30 potluck, 7:30 presentation - In the media and in our daily lives, we often hear diverse cultural voices. William Penn House intern Lynette Wambani Lusenaka brings an experience that transcends many of these voices. This month, she will talk about her experiences growing up as a Kenyan Quaker and her life as a Kenyan living, working and studying in the United States. All are welcome.
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| Yoga at William Penn House |
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All people are invited to join us for Yoga every Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:45. Elizabeth Goodman, a certified yoga instructor, leads this class. Cost is $15 per class ($12 for public interest workers, WPH guest, students and seniors. A portion of this supports WPH work. Bring yoga mat and any props such as blanket, strap or block. |
Visiting DC? Go Green
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We encourage people to take advantage of our agreement with Bike the Sites to provide affordable bike rentals - the best way to get around town. |
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Diverse Actions, Common Threads
What do these things have in common?- HIV-testing on Capitol Hill
- inner-city environmental service
- relief work in West Virginia
- exploring the history and modern-day realities of Quakers and Indians through service in South Dakota
- Quaker youth service in Washington, DC.
Two main things, as far as we are concerned. The first is that they are all activities that invite people to learn about how things are connected through time and space while developing action. The second is that these are all activities that we organized and participated (or co-facilitated, in one case) over the past 6 weeks.
For the rest of the summer, we will be turning much of our attention to building on these programs for the next year and beyond as we continue to nurture peacemaking opportunities for all who join us.
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Workcamps/Service for a Changing World
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As mentioned above, we had a very diverse series of programs and activities over the past 6 weeks - many of which included teens and young adults - ranging from the environment to HIV and working with people as near as southeast DC to as far away as South Dakota (with Western Quaker Workcamps). The range of economic and cultural diversity was as broad as the geography covered. What we found is:
- While culture does influence each of us, what we have in common - a willingness and desire to serve, to learn, to interact and to grow - unites all of us.
- Boredom and a desire to be in charge can be counteracted with inclusion, engagement, and fun.
- We share many of the same desires for a better, more just world. The big difference is that for some of us, this may mean giving up as much as getting things.
- We all have the potential to make a difference in ways we never thought possible. Simply listening may be our most powerful and underutilized tool to do this.
These experiences give us hope for the future, as well as fodder for discernment as we continue to work with youth and young adult groups to find innovative and creative ways to bring the best of Quakerism to the work. |
| National HIV-Testing Day Report
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This past June, we were actively involved in promoting HIV-testing, building on the work of The Mosaic Initiative that all people know their status. Handing out flyers and participating in health fairs was a part of the work, but becoming strong advocates for promoting portable and home-based HIV-testing was what really caught the attention of the media and the government. Over the next few months we will continue to pursue viable options for action as we discover gaps in current action and seek to find what is ours to do. As we strive to nurture in all of our programs, if there are opportunities for action, we will step in if we can. This is one area where there clearly is an opening.
To stay informed, check out this website. Also join our facebook group to get involved. |
| Greenraising: Making a Difference every day
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We have recently joined up with Greenraising, a company that sells environmentally-friendly products for home, body and daily living. Check out their catalog. 25% of all sales go to William Penn House. It's a great way to turn your everyday expenses into a win for you, a win for the environment, and a way to support us.
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Stay Involved
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Check our website frequently for updates or to contact us. We are also active on facebook and twitter, so if you cannot join us physically, we welcome your presence on the internet.
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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 Quakerism, 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, Brad, Greg, Faith, Kelli, Wambani, and Hannah
William Penn House |
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