| | Note from the Executive Director
The Redwood Forest | | | |
Last week I my family and I took a trip to Oregon and Northern California. As a part of our adventures, we camped in the Redwood State and National Parks. Spending three days completely immersed in a forest filled with 300 foot trees that are hundreds, sometimes thousands, of years old was quite profound. What's wonderful about the Redwoods is that the strategies they use to grow so tall and live so long also help the other living things around them survive. | | | |
For example, it doesn't rain much on the Northern California coast in the summer but there is a lot of fog and humidity in the air. The needles of the tall Redwood trees are specially adapted to condense this moisture from the air, turning it into water droplets that drip off their branches down to the soil far below. This process brings the water into the soil and keeps the whole ecosystem of plants alive. The Redwood State and National Parks were created, after much controversy and compromise with timber companies, in 1968. I am in awe of the people who saved this old growth forest from clear cutting. I also deeply respect the people who are restoring secondary growth and logged Redwood forests back to health. It's hard and painstaking work to uncover buried streams, remove logging roads and thin out trees! As the Redwood forests demonstrate, humans can be incredibly selfish and inflict great harm. But we also have the capacity to live in ways that benefit not just ourselves, but those around us. And we can repair harm that we've caused. The patient Redwood trees have seen it all, quietly modeling what it takes to stand the test of time. I hope I can remember their lessons as I jump back into my day to day life. With Revolutionary Love,
Leah | | | |
| | FNVW is Hiring!
Community Engagement Specialist Job Opening | | | |
Please help spread the word! FNVW is seeking a passionate, motivated individual to join our organization as the Community Engagement Specialist. This dynamic role helps expand FNVW's capacity and impact by driving two core organizational functions: 1) Building upon existing initiatives, the Community Engagement Specialist oversees a comprehensive volunteer recruitment, recognition and retention program that supports the mission of FNVW. The Community Engagement Specialist is instrumental in cultivating a sense of community, agency, and belonging amongst FNVW volunteers. They ensure new volunteers have a good first experience with the organization, and that volunteer’s skills and interests match their volunteer role within our organization. | | | |
2) The Community Engagement Specialist supports and advances community participation in our programs. They coordinate outreach initiatives that increase awareness of and support for FNVW’s work. The Community Engagement Specialist also works with organizational leadership to build and sustain relationships with members of the community and partnerships with other organizations. The ideal candidate will possess a unique blend of relationship-building skills, strategic thinking, and communication abilities. They will pro-actively develop innovative approaches to volunteerism and community engagement and are excited to take leadership of these core functions. FNVW is eager to hire that special person who can build on our organization’s strong volunteer program and help FNVW realize its potential for growth in this moment when our violence prevention work is so critically needed. To apply: please send a resume and cover letter to Leah Robshaw Robinson, Executive Director, at leah@fnvw.org. Interviews will begin the end of July. Position open until filled. View complete job description here: FNVW Community Engagement Specialist Job Description | | | |
| | Calling All Crafters, Canners and Bookworms!
Ways to Support the FNVW Holiday Fair this Summer | | | |
While the Friends for a NonViolent World Holiday Fair will take place in December, there are many things that can be done now to make it a success! We want to include you. - We are ready for book donations! We could use multi-gallon storage tubs, a few bookcases, and BOOKS. Contact Caron Moore to donate at 651-308-9842.
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- Creating crafts to be sold or preserving the bounty of your garden are activities that can be done with a group of friends during the summer months. Jams, honey and salsa are popular sale items.
- Do you have any Quaker Treasures you are ready to pass along to a new home? We welcome items with special meaning and value to the Quaker community.
- We are seeking a few more committee members to be part of the planning team this year. Please contact Cindy Robinson (cstarkeyrobinson@hotmail.com) with questions or to volunteer. Serving on the Holiday Fair Planning Committee is a great way to volunteer with FNVW for a limited period of time.
The Holiday Fair is a wonderful annual opportunity to work with fellow Quakers to support Friends for a NonViolent World and its peace and justice work. Let us know what you'd like to donate to the sale using this FNVW Holiday Fair Donation Sign Up | | | |
| | Last Chance to Register for People Camp 2023!
Registration Deadline: July 31st | |  | | People Camp is a unique, one week, intergenerational, peace focused, community living experience run by FNVW and open to all. Check out the People Camp Guide to learn more about what People Camp is all about! | | | | | | | | | |
At People Camp you'll discover | | | |
 | Opportunities for recreation and connection | | |  | Inspiring social justice themed workshops and action opportunities | | |  | Shared community life and work | | | |
| | | Newly Added People Camp Book Club!
Dancing with History: a life for peace and justice One of the many activities available to People Campers is the opportunity to participate in facilitated book club discussions. You won't want to miss the chance to be a part of this newly added book club: | | | | | Dancing with History: a life for peace and justice by George Lakey Learn more about the book below and mark your calendar to meet George in person in September! | | | | | | | |
| | George Lakey Twin Cities Book Tour
September 24-30
Hosted by Friends for a NonViolent World | | FNVW is organizing a variety of community events where George Lakey will share stories and wisdom from his life as a nonviolent activist. Mark your calendars and come ready to be energized and inspired! "One of the big things about George is his bottomless well of hope and optimism. He frankly says this is the best period for social change that he's been alive for, and feels excited about continuing with his activism even at age 85." - Betsy Raasch-Gilman | | | |
DANCING WITH HISTORY:
a life for peace and justice By George Lakey A memoir of a Quaker activist and master storyteller on his involvement in struggles for peace, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, labor justice, and environment. From his first arrest in the Civil Rights era to his most recent during a climate justice march at the age of 83, George Lakey has committed his life to a mission of building a better world through movements for justice. Lakey draws readers into the center of history-making events, telling often serious stories with playfulness and intimacy. Read more about here. | | | | |  | “George Lakey stands out
for the sheer range of his contributions to peace and justice, especially in strategy, training, organizing, innovative actions, and teaching others. His upbeat, soul-driven spirit underlies it all, as you’ll catch in this revealing memoir.” – Daniel Ellsberg | | | Sunday, September 24th
Mid-Morning Meeting
10:15 - 11:00 am
Mpls Friends Meeting
4401 York Av S
Minneapolis, MN 55410 Tuesday, September 26th
7:00 - 8:00 pm
Magers and Quinn Booksellers
3038 Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55408
Wednesday, September 27th
7:00 - 8:30 pm
Minneapolis Friends Meeting
4401 York Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55410
Thursday, September 28th
7:00 - 8:30 pm
East Side Freedom Library
1105 Greenbrier St
St. Paul, MN 55106 Saturday, September 30th
FNVW Walk for Peace and Justice
10:00 am
Brackett Park
3800 E 28th St
Minneapolis, MN 55406 | | | | | |
| | Would you be interested in organizing a Dancing with History book club prior to George Lakey's visit in September? Please let Leah know if you are! leah@fnvw.org, 651-917-0383 | | | |
| | July - August AVP Inside Out Newsletter | | | |
The AVP Inside Out Newsletter publication provides an opportunity for members of the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) community, inside and outside correctional facilities, to connect with one another about the effects of violence on us all and the strategies we use to transform the violence in our lives and communities. Click on the links below to read the past two issues. We are seeking submissions for future issues! Review the submission guidelines here and email submissions to: avp@fnvw.org. | | | |
| | Register to Walk for Peace & Justice! | | Together we will uplift the vision of a world beyond violence and a culture rooted in nonviolence. | | | |
 | There are many ways to take part: | | | We are calling on all Minnesotans to come out and participate in the Walk for Peace and Justice on September 30th! This is a fundraising and community building event designed to support the people and organizations working to prevent the experiences of violence occurring in the Twin Cities. Your contribution and/or participation will be a demonstration of your commitment to nonviolence and peace and justice in the Twin Cities and beyond. Kicking-off at Brackett Park in Minneapolis, we'll walk to the Lake Street/Marshall Avenue Bridge for a Hands Across the Mississippi Ceremony followed by food, music and speakers at the Danish American Center. In collaboration with Twin Cities Nonviolent, this event takes place on Day 10 of Twin Cities Nonviolent annual 12 Days Free from Violence. | |  | | |
We invite all groups and organizations in Minnesota that promote nonviolence, peaceful conflict resolution and equitable justice to partner with us. Contact us at walk4peace@fnvw.org if you’d like more information or are interested in helping us plan the event. | | | | | | | |
