Since the beginnings of our religious society, Friends have engaged in social activism as an outgrowth of our living in the spirit. Many of us are led to work for peace, equality, integrity, and simplicity in the world. Below are listed some of our Homewood activities related to peace and justice.  Further below you’ll see other organizations in the wider Quaker Action world. Consider getting involved!  You can also take a look at social justice stances that our meeting has labored to discern by looking at our public minutes.

Banner Witness

Each Sunday at the close of worship the names of homicide victims during the previous week are read and we hold them and those who knew them in the Light.  Each month their names are written on a banner in the front of the Meeting House.  

Green Organizing Action Team (GOAT)

GOAT is a meeting committee that seeks to raise the level of concern and encourage spirit-led action in response to the climate crisis through the promotion of ecological sustainability and environmental justice.

Spirit Led Action Group on Palestine/Israel

This group is exploring ways to act to oppose the genocide of the Palestinian people in Israel/Palestine.  They host a monthly one-day fast that all are welcome to join. They have a fundraising goal to support UNRWA (please help if you are able. You’ll see the name Tom Curtin as the organizer; he is part of the group). The meeting signed on to an international statement:  Quaker organizations discern genocide is occurring in Gaza and urge courageous action.

Food Assistance – Viva House   

We provide support to Viva House, a Catholic Worker soup kitchen in West Baltimore, with monthly food bags.  Check the announcements for the dropoff schedule (usually the second Sunday).  Drop off bags in the small kitchen. 

Fill a reusable grocery bag with the following items (exact contents):

Quaker Activist Organizations

The following organizations have been founded by Quakers to support peace and social justice.

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
AFSC has worked tirelessly to promote peaceful means of resolving conflict and aiding victims of violence and oppression since its founding in 1917. It was a co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947.

Earth Quaker Action Team – EQAT                                                                                            
EQAT (pronounced “equate”) is a grassroots, nonviolent action group, including Quakers and people of diverse beliefs, who join with millions of people around the world fighting for a just and sustainable economy.  Pressure from the group led PNC bank to stop funding mountaintop removal coal mining.

Friends Committee on National Legislation
FCNL is a lobbying group working to represent Friends’ concerns to members of Congress.

Quaker Earthcare Witness (QEW) 
QEW is a network of North American Friends (Quakers) and other like-minded people who are taking spirit-led action to address the ecological and social crises of the world, emphasizing Quaker process and testimonies.

Quaker Voice of Maryland 
QVM seeks to bring Maryland Friends together to advocate for state-wide policy.