We seek a society with equity and justice for all. We seek a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled.
Over several years, the General Committee of FCNL has been on a path to align the values we bring to bear on Congress and the administration within our community. We know that Anti-Racism, Anti-Bias, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (AJEDI) are forces for joy, community, and effective policy change. But the threat to take us back nearly a century as a society is the strongest it has ever been. Join the AJEDI Working Group of FCNL's General Committee in a lively discussion with Friends from across the U.S. who are impacted by the erosion of "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" initiatives and consider what the FCNL community can and should be doing in response.
Where: Online via Zoom
When: Thursday, May 8, 7-8:30 p.m. ET
Speakers:
Megan Fair first encountered FCNL as a high school student attending annual meeting and then Spring Lobby weekend. She later served as clerk of Field Committee and is currently co-clerk of FCNL's Nominating Committee. Megan is the Director of Advancement for Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR). Prior to joining RSWR, Megan worked in various nonprofit fields including refugee resettlement and civil rights. She resides in Covington, Kentucky with her yellow lab, Bel, and can often be found watching the Cincinnati Reds play baseball.
Annie Boggess is a life-long Quaker educator who currently serves as Interim Head of School at her alma mater, State College Friends School. Since her year as Program Assistant for Strategic Advocacy at FCNL, Annie has prioritized advocacy opportunities for middle school students as an integral part of a Friends education and her own practice of Quaker social witness.
Aura Kanegis serves as Director of Global Policy and Strategy for the American Friends Service Committee. Prior to joining AFSC, she served as Director of Campaigns and the Iraq Peace Campaign Director for the Friends Committee on National Legislation.
Aura previously worked for over a decade on issues impacting Native American communities, serving the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) first as Deputy Director for Governmental Affairs, and subsequently as Director of Operations and Programs. Later she served as Director of Communications and Development for the First Nations Development Institute, working to restore Native control and culturally-compatible stewardship of the assets they own, and to establish new assets for ensuring the long-term vitality of Native communities.
David St Pierre Bantz is a member of Chena Ridge Friends Meeting in Fairbanks, Alaska. He has served as Monthly and Yearly Meeting Clerk. He currently serves as Clerk of the FCNL Field Committee.
David is a former fellow of NEH and ACLS and taught in Philosophy, History, and Physics in several Universities; he currently works in Information Technology at the University of Alaska system. He currently serves the U.S. research and education community as Chair of the InCommon Community Trust and Assurance Board.
David co-founded and chaired the Board of the Alaska Peace Center for its first 8 years; served as Secretary-Treasurer of the non-commercial community-based Fairbanks Open Radio; he regularly leads lobby visits to members of Congress and has held a number of positions in the Alaska Democratic Party.
Note: The conversation will continue in June with a call on Saturday June 21, 1-2:30 p.m. ET. The Quaker Coalition for Uprooting Racism is also hosting a free workshop on anti-racist power mapping on May 10 - register here!
We hope you can make it to both events!