Announcements and Statements

Meal Train for Bonnie

Meal Train for Bonnie Harris Due to an injury our friend, Bonnie, can use some help with meals. Clink on this link to join the meal train. If you have questions you can text: 253 227-4025.

Help for Miranda and her sons

Friend Miranda is on the verge of becoming homeless due to a health crisis and complicating factors. Go to this gofundme link to learn more. No donation is too small. Fundraiser by Sara Holloway : Support Miranda Wright’s Housing Crisis

Peace and Social Justice Committee Resources

Possible exhibit available to Tacoma Friends in November from Visualizing Palestine and American Friends Service Committee. To see panels in the display go to: Downloadable Exhibit – Visualizing Palestine

Book study to learn about the Doctrine of Discovery: The Land is Not Empty, Following Jesus in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery by Sarah Augustine. The book is available through multiple vendors. Here is one choice: The Land Is Not Empty a book by Sarah Augustine – Bookshop.org US

Conscientious Objector Training

Salmon Bay Friends is hosting a Conscientious Objector Training on Sept 12 from 1:30-4pm. Location: Phinney Neighborhood Center 6532 Phinney Ave N, Room 7. For ages 14-25. Individuals older than this age range are welcome but will be asked to remain silent and prioritize the voices of those ages 14-25. More details and registration here.

Promoting Biodiversity in an Era of Climate Change

Quaker EarthCare Witness (QEW) recommends a 10-week course on promoting biodiversity in an era of climate change that is offered by the Symbiosis Team, a group of lifelong learners of all ages who have been building a community to support each other through the hard reality of climate change. The instructor, Jim Laurie, makes deep science accessible, and the group discussion is flowing and emergent. Participants will discover how Mother Trees and mycorrhizal networks support forest resilience, how beavers and grazing animals can restore landscapes, and how biodiversity can help rebuild healthy water and carbon cycles. The course runs weekly on Wednesdays from Sept 16 through Nov 18, with two class times available: 12–2 pm ET and 7–9 pm ET. For more information and registration, visit bio4climate.org.

2026-2027 Quaker Voice Fellowship Program – Accepting Applications

The Quaker Voice Legislative Fellowship Program encourages the active engagement of fellowship holders in the state legislative process through mentorship, skill development, and partnering with legislative advocates in their work. Participants do not need to be Quakers. The program provides a $500 stipend. Quaker Voice Legislative Fellows are young adults ages 16-35 who live or study in the state of Washington (or outside Washington if recommended by a Quaker Meeting). Each Fellow joins a group working to support action in the state legislature on issues in environment, police and prisons, healthcare, affordable housing, and other justice concerns. The Fellow develops background materials and tracks legislation, in partnership with an experienced Quaker Voice citizen advocate. Each fellow has an opportunity to see in depth how a lobbyist works by shadowing Paul Benz, our Senior Legislative Advocate, for a day. Travel costs to Tacoma for the Annual Meeting, to Olympia for Quaker Lobby Day, and Olympia for the shadow day are covered by the program. For more on Quaker Voice on Washington Public Policy, see our website.

UFM FACILITIES MANAGER JOB POSTING, JULY 2026

University Friends Meeting seeks a Facilities Manager to oversee the care and maintenance of our University District campus and buildings. Qualifications include experience in facilities management, building maintenance, and managing budgets and expenditures. A full-time hourly position, total compensation is valued at $64,426, including an apartment valued at $18,000 and hourly pay of $22.32 ($46,426/year). The FM is required to live in the on-site apartment, which includes all utilities including internet, and off-street parking. Benefits include quarterly Quality of Life stipend, holiday, vacation, and sick leave. To apply, send a letter of interest and resume to
personnel-submissions@ufmseattle.org. Applications will be reviewed August 1, and the position is open until filled.
Full details at www.ufmseattle.org/job-postings

Opportunities

Donations for the unhoused. Now that warmer months are here there is a need for water bottles – both disposable and reusable – and towels. If you bring these to the meetinghouse, just put them in the purple tub at the back of the meeting room. We have volunteers who will deliver them for distribution.

Resources for Immigrant Families

Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families provides resources for immigrant families and those who are helping them navigate these difficult times. Go to DCYF | Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families and learn more by clicking on the Family Separation Rapid Response Team button.

Link to divestment strategies offered by the American Friends Service Committee: How to Divest | AFSC Investigate. Go to Home | American Friends Service Committee for additional information about Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) efforts.

Ongoing Peaceful Demonstrations in Tacoma:

The corner of 38^th and Steel, Saturdays from 2-3pm regarding the conflict in Palestine.
2nd and 4th Mondays of each month from 5 to 6 pm at the corner of Sprague and 6th (at the corner of Hilltop Heritage Middle School). The organizers are an independent Love>Fear Group composed of people from various faith traditions. will be standing on Monday, March 9th from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m, on the corner of 6th and Sprague. People stand in opposition to fascism and war. They use positive messages and strive for non-violence in speech and action.
March 28th – various locations – No Kings Day.

Homeless Outreach – Bring a case of bottled water or other food/supplies to the meetinghouse for distribution to people living homeless.

Contact your State legislator through Welcome to the Washington State Legislature or go to Home — Quaker Voice for more information about legislative issues here in Washington State.

Learn about Federal issues and contact Congress by visiting Home | Friends Committee On National Legislation

Community Statements

Tacoma Friends Minute on Peace “Quakers believe there is that of God in everyone. To harm another person is to harm God’s dwelling place. Peace is more than a sense of calm or a rejection of violence. Peace is a way of life . . .”

Tacoma Friends Minute on Inclusion “Tacoma Friends Meeting (Quakers) is a community of people from a variety of races, colors, ethnicities, national origins, (dis)abilities and attributes, sexual orientations, gender identities, and their expressions. . . .:

Audio of Tacoma Friend Minute on continued suffering and death in Gaza Friend Louisa Beal recorded our Minute as a PSA for KTAH Radio Tacoma 101.9 FM. The QR code below takes you to audio of the PSA.

Tacoma Friends Updated Minute on Conflict in Israel and Gaza, approved by Meeting for Business June, 2025

Tacoma Friends Minute on Conflict in Israel and Gaza, approved by Meeting for Business January 14, 2024

TFM Land Acknowledgement that the meeting house sits on Puyallup Tribe unceded territory, recognition of our responsibility for harm, ongoing commitment to right relationships, and repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery.

2025 State of the Society Report “Mixed joy and grief as we gained new friends and mourned the loss of dear loved ones. . . .”