We are living in rapidly changing times, facing challenges of monumental proportion: a global pandemic, climate change and related ecological disasters, and institutional racism and violence. These challenges are connected and we cannot address any one of them without addressing all of them. What can we learn from our experience with Covid19, and how does that inform our response to climate change? How do privilege and institutional barriers create disproportionate impacts from both a pandemic and ecological crises? What happens when we open ourselves to kinship with nature and each other? Shelley Tanenbaum (QEW) will facilitate, providing her reflections on these times followed by discussion. Working together, we will find way forward.

Facilitator: Shelley Tanenbaum.  Shelley Tanenbaum is the General Secretary for Quaker Earthcare Witness, a North American network of Friends seeking ecological integrity and environmental justice. She also serves on the board of Quaker Institute for the Future. She is an environmental scientist and a member of Strawberry Creek Monthly Meeting in Berkeley, California.

Conflicts are universal features of human interaction. After discussing definitions of conflict, we’ll explore the various types and levels of conflict that we may experience or observe, then discuss when to use collaborative conflict resolution strategies. We’ll consider some procedures for resolving conflicts, and analyze some conflict scenarios, including environmental conflicts. For each scenario, we’ll identify some strategies that we would like to try, and work toward an outcome that satisfies all parties.

Facilitator: Brian Humphrey (Ft. Lauderdale). “I have presented a number of conflict resolution workshops at Quaker conferences and interfaith conferences. As a pre-teen and a teen, I dealt with bullying and teasing. In 1992, I took part in a week-long workshop on peaceful strategies for conflict resolution. For years, I worked with people who stutter and their families. Kids and adults who stutter are often bullied, and I was glad that I could offer them strategies for bullying prevention and conflict resolution. Earthcare is a focus for me, and environmental conflicts are likely to increase as climate change continues.

Co-sponsored by AFSC, this campaign advocates against the mistreatment of Palestinian children in Israeli military detention. One current goal of the campaign is to have 100 meetings take action on this issue in the next year. We will view a 50-minute film, “Imprisoning a Generation,” and discuss how individual Friends and monthly meetings can take actions in solidarity with the campaign.

Facilitators: Kody Hersh (Orlando; he/they), Cece Yocum (Tampa; she/hers), Joan Culver (Ft. Myers; she/hers)

Join Quaker Voluntary Service (QVS) Alum and Development Coordinator, Claire Hannapel, for a hands-on workshop exploring deepening relationships across generations. Participants will have the opportunity to reframe multigenerational spiritual mentoring relationships and practice skills to connect more deeply (all ages welcome, though best suited for age 18+).

Facilitator: Claire Hannapel (Quaker Voluntary Service)

Participants will be asked to identify their transgender ally goals and explore our their own barriers to engaging in trans ally work. We will discuss micro-aggressions that hurt trans people and educate on affirming language and behaviors. We will conclude with interactive role plays to help develop concrete trans ally skills and bystander intervention approaches.

Facilitators: Stephanie Preston (Orlando)(she/her), Vincent Cosomano (Miami), Sara Humphrey (Orlando; she/her)