PJ&E Interest Groups
Next Session: May 1, 2021 3:30-5:00 pm
Interest Group Discussions on Peace & Justice and Earthcare
The LEYM Interest Group will provide a Zoom discussion for Friends of monthly meetings. There will be four virtual meetings in the months of December (2020), February (2021), May (2021) and July (2021). Come and share your thoughts relating to Peace & Justice along with Earthcare with Friends from your region. Topic selections and registration link are provided below.
Topics from Feb 6, 2021 Sessions
| Session Topics | Discussion Leader(s) | Meeting |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Quaker Values in Business How Quaker business owners integrate their faith into their work growing and maintaining business. | Susan Loucks | Pittsburgh MM |
| 2) Bridging Divisions The division in our country runs deep. How can we bridge the divide, and help move our country (and the world) towards peace? | Karen Tibbals | Rahway-Plainfield MM |
| 3) Decolonizing & Angelic Troublemakers Quakers seeking to learn and act upon the truth of Quaker history with Indigenous Peoples. Handouts: Session Slides and Social Impact Assessment Principles guide | Beverly Ward | Tampa MM & Deland WG |
| 4) Abolition as a Quaker practice In this breakout session we will talk about prison abolition, how it connects to the Quaker Peace Testimony, and how to work towards abolition in our Meetings and lives. | Megan Mueller Johnson & Megan Wilson | Ann Arbor MM |
Topics from December 2020 Session
| December 5th Session Topics | Discussion Leader | Meeting |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Anti-racism Red Cedar Friends Meeting is finding the act of minuting our collective intention to become an anti-racist faith community to be deeply helpful in stimulating our exploration of next steps, and nudging us into new discernment about what exactly that means to us all. Lee and Carolyn will discuss what steps were helpful in getting to this point, and what questions are being raised. Other meetings are invited to share their process and learnings as well. | Carolyn Lejuste and Lee Sayles | Red Cedar |
| 2) Prison Abolition, Defunding the Police and Related Issues Note: Topic POSTPONED TO A LATER SESSION | ||
| 3) Letter Writing as a Witness In September, Red Cedar undertook a “letter writing witness” patterned after Amnesty International’s letter-writing campaigns. In fulfillment of our minuted intention to “notice, mark, mourn and protest” acts of racial injustice when we see them, we are now supporting individual Friends to write letters in response to news reports of unarmed Black people being murdered by police across the country. Come hear what we’ve learned and consider whether/how others in LEYM might want to join us. | Joann Neuroth | Red Cedar |
| 4) Climate Change and Social Inequality (DEC 5 SESSION IS FULL) We will examine how low-income communities, people of color, indigenous people, people with disabilities, older or young people, and women can be more susceptible to risks posed by climate impacts. A discussion will also focus on the fact that victims of climate change have disproportionately low responsibility for causing the emissions responsible for climate change. | Joel Ottenbreit | Detroit |
| 5) Open Youth Discussion Youth will provide their individual perspectives on politics, the environment, and other issues of concern | Jonah & Ellerie Brownfain | Birmingham |
| 6) Foundations for Many Generations Inspired by Isaiah 58:6-12 as we endeavor to be/come “repairers of the breach”, this circle invites listening to Spirit’s leadings, naming how our concerns are linked to one another, and bridging generations. | Mey Hasbrook | Kalamazoo |
Questions can be directed to Joel Ottenbreit at joelottenbreit at gmail.com
