Skip to first unread message
Arthur Kegerreis
Nov 6, 2018, 10:49:16 PM11/6/18
to Pasadena Social Change Ministry Resource List
About AFSC
The American Friends Service Committee, or AFSC, was founded to help conscientious objectors during World War I, and has expanded it's efforts to many humanitarian efforts since that time. Orange Grove Monthly Meeting has played an active role in the establishment of a west coast office and in continuing AFSC's activities through the present day.
You can subscribe to the to receive notifications when the AFSC site is updated too. Their website includes links to make financial donations to help support them.
E-mail Lists:
On the AFSC website, you can subscribe to their email newsletter and indicate which activities you're interested in. The choices include ending discrimination, just economies, building peace, addressing prisons, and immigrant rights. In the process, you can also join several email lists on specific topics. These address:
Acting in Faith: Monthly newsletter for Quakers and fellow travelers
Wage Peace: Frequent action alerts on demilitarizing the federal budget
Immigrant Rights: News and action for humane immigration policy
Impact: Monthly news and action alerts on Israel/Palestine
Website:
Facebook:
YouTube:
AFSC Blog:
Subscribe via RSS:
The national office is in Philadelphia:
American Friends Service Committee
1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-241-7000
Brief history
AFSC was founded during WWI to give Conscientious Objectors a way to serve without taking lives or joining the military. After several related activities were undertaken and laid down, the AFSC Pacific Coast Branch, serving the entire west coast, was established.
"Responding to a tide of Jewish refugees from Europe, the Refugee Section of the Pacific Coast Branch helped the newcomers adjust to American life by organizing visits and picnics. Local Friends gave lessons in driving and English to the refugees, and sent books and money to refugee hostels in the Midwest. Quaker Meadow summer camp, founded in California by the AFSC as the "Refugee Children's Camp," gave a positive outdoor experience to children who had lost homes and/or families during WWII."
In 1942, an office was established next to the Orange Grove Meeting House at 544 E. Orange Grove Blvd., into what was then a small house adjoining Orange Grove Friends Meeting. (Is this now our resident friend's apartment?)
"During World War II, few individuals and no national organizations stood up for the rights of Japanese Americans. The AFSC was singular in its work to speak out against the forced removal and incarceration. It provided educational materials to the camps, offered moral support to the incarcerated, and worked to release thousands of Nisei to colleges and universities outside of the restricted areas."
From 1953-63, the office had relocated to 825 E. Union Street, near what is now AAA and Target. I believe they later moved nearby Orange Grove Meetinghouse to a location on Fair Oaks or Los Robles (corrections encouraged!), although their online history doesn't indicate this. Currently the office is in downtown Los Angeles.
634 S. Spring St., Third Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Phone: 213 489-1900
losan...@afsc.org
When I first attended OGMM in the late 1990's, art exhibitions were held in the Fair Oaks office, organized by our members. I had no idea of the rich history behind that office's activities at the time.
More recently, our beloved and dearly departed Orange Grove member Joe Franko headed the Pasadena Office from 1999-2002. In 2003 Shan Cretin became the regional director.
You can read more about our region's history on their website:
(note that although these pages contain links to each other, the link on their site to the "1960-present" page doesn't seem to be working, so you can use this link)
Mission Statement:
The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker organization that promotes lasting peace with justice, as a practical expression of faith in action. Drawing on continuing spiritual insights and working with people of many backgrounds, we nurture the seeds of change and respect for human life that transform social relations and systems.
( http://afsc.org/mission-vision-and-values )
AFSC's current key issues follow. This is an excerpt from their website; their website includes more information and links to the bulleted items below for further information and discussion.
Building peace:
Peace and security can never be achieved through violence. AFSC advocates for economic and social systems grounded in nonviolence, building recognition that reallocating resources from militaries to peaceful endeavors will increase security worldwide.
• Syrian refugee crisis
• Community peace-building
• Advocating for peace in Israel-Palestine
• Peace policy advocacy
• Reconciliation and healing
• International dialogue and exchange
Immigrant rights:
U.S. immigration policy should protect human rights—for everyone. AFSC directly supports immigrant and refugee communities across the U.S. while advocating in Washington, D.C., for humane policy reform.
• Detention Quotas
• Detention and deportation pipeline
• Immigrant workers' rights
• U.S.-Mexico border militarization
Addressing prisons:
The incarceration rate in the U.S. is the highest in the world, with over 2.4 million people currently behind bars. AFSC works to end mass incarceration, improve conditions, stop privatization, and promote a reconciliation and healing approach to criminal justice issues.
• Prison privatization
• Ending mass incarceration
• Solitary confinement
• Impacts of incarceration
Just economies:
Billions of dollars are spent annually on militarism and corporate tax breaks while families and communities across the U.S. experience cuts to essential services like education, housing, healthcare, and worker protections.
• Economic activism
• Corporate power
• Federal budget priorities
• Economic inequality
Ending discrimination:
Racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, ageism, religious discrimination, and colonialism are all barriers to building a just and peaceful world. AFSC works with communities in the U.S. and across the globe to foster diversity, inclusion, and equality.
• Inclusion and equality
• Ending racism
• Youth Undoing Institutionalized Racism
LA Office Current Activities:
The LA office has a page on the AFSC website:
It includes descriptions of some current concerns and activities our local office is pursuing. There are also video links and teaching resources to download.
The downloadable resources currently include:
• Peace Education Program
• Youth Outreach
• Human Rights Teacher Workshop
• Friends Peace Garden
• Quaker Action Carlos Gomez - Gardener Extraordinaire
• Counter recruitment
You can subscribe to the to receive notifications when the AFSC site is updated too. Their website includes links to make financial donations to help support them.
E-mail Lists:
On the AFSC website, you can subscribe to their email newsletter and indicate which activities you're interested in. The choices include ending discrimination, just economies, building peace, addressing prisons, and immigrant rights. In the process, you can also join several email lists on specific topics. These address:
Acting in Faith: Monthly newsletter for Quakers and fellow travelers
Wage Peace: Frequent action alerts on demilitarizing the federal budget
Immigrant Rights: News and action for humane immigration policy
Impact: Monthly news and action alerts on Israel/Palestine
Website:
Facebook:
YouTube:
AFSC Blog:
Subscribe via RSS:
The national office is in Philadelphia:
American Friends Service Committee
1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-241-7000
Brief history
AFSC was founded during WWI to give Conscientious Objectors a way to serve without taking lives or joining the military. After several related activities were undertaken and laid down, the AFSC Pacific Coast Branch, serving the entire west coast, was established.
"Responding to a tide of Jewish refugees from Europe, the Refugee Section of the Pacific Coast Branch helped the newcomers adjust to American life by organizing visits and picnics. Local Friends gave lessons in driving and English to the refugees, and sent books and money to refugee hostels in the Midwest. Quaker Meadow summer camp, founded in California by the AFSC as the "Refugee Children's Camp," gave a positive outdoor experience to children who had lost homes and/or families during WWII."
In 1942, an office was established next to the Orange Grove Meeting House at 544 E. Orange Grove Blvd., into what was then a small house adjoining Orange Grove Friends Meeting. (Is this now our resident friend's apartment?)
"During World War II, few individuals and no national organizations stood up for the rights of Japanese Americans. The AFSC was singular in its work to speak out against the forced removal and incarceration. It provided educational materials to the camps, offered moral support to the incarcerated, and worked to release thousands of Nisei to colleges and universities outside of the restricted areas."
From 1953-63, the office had relocated to 825 E. Union Street, near what is now AAA and Target. I believe they later moved nearby Orange Grove Meetinghouse to a location on Fair Oaks or Los Robles (corrections encouraged!), although their online history doesn't indicate this. Currently the office is in downtown Los Angeles.
634 S. Spring St., Third Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Phone: 213 489-1900
losan...@afsc.org
When I first attended OGMM in the late 1990's, art exhibitions were held in the Fair Oaks office, organized by our members. I had no idea of the rich history behind that office's activities at the time.
More recently, our beloved and dearly departed Orange Grove member Joe Franko headed the Pasadena Office from 1999-2002. In 2003 Shan Cretin became the regional director.
You can read more about our region's history on their website:
(note that although these pages contain links to each other, the link on their site to the "1960-present" page doesn't seem to be working, so you can use this link)
Mission Statement:
The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker organization that promotes lasting peace with justice, as a practical expression of faith in action. Drawing on continuing spiritual insights and working with people of many backgrounds, we nurture the seeds of change and respect for human life that transform social relations and systems.
( http://afsc.org/mission-vision-and-values )
AFSC's current key issues follow. This is an excerpt from their website; their website includes more information and links to the bulleted items below for further information and discussion.
Building peace:
Peace and security can never be achieved through violence. AFSC advocates for economic and social systems grounded in nonviolence, building recognition that reallocating resources from militaries to peaceful endeavors will increase security worldwide.
• Syrian refugee crisis
• Community peace-building
• Advocating for peace in Israel-Palestine
• Peace policy advocacy
• Reconciliation and healing
• International dialogue and exchange
Immigrant rights:
U.S. immigration policy should protect human rights—for everyone. AFSC directly supports immigrant and refugee communities across the U.S. while advocating in Washington, D.C., for humane policy reform.
• Detention Quotas
• Detention and deportation pipeline
• Immigrant workers' rights
• U.S.-Mexico border militarization
Addressing prisons:
The incarceration rate in the U.S. is the highest in the world, with over 2.4 million people currently behind bars. AFSC works to end mass incarceration, improve conditions, stop privatization, and promote a reconciliation and healing approach to criminal justice issues.
• Prison privatization
• Ending mass incarceration
• Solitary confinement
• Impacts of incarceration
Just economies:
Billions of dollars are spent annually on militarism and corporate tax breaks while families and communities across the U.S. experience cuts to essential services like education, housing, healthcare, and worker protections.
• Economic activism
• Corporate power
• Federal budget priorities
• Economic inequality
Ending discrimination:
Racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, ageism, religious discrimination, and colonialism are all barriers to building a just and peaceful world. AFSC works with communities in the U.S. and across the globe to foster diversity, inclusion, and equality.
• Inclusion and equality
• Ending racism
• Youth Undoing Institutionalized Racism
LA Office Current Activities:
The LA office has a page on the AFSC website:
It includes descriptions of some current concerns and activities our local office is pursuing. There are also video links and teaching resources to download.
The downloadable resources currently include:
• Peace Education Program
• Youth Outreach
• Human Rights Teacher Workshop
• Friends Peace Garden
• Quaker Action Carlos Gomez - Gardener Extraordinaire
• Counter recruitment
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages