Friends Committee on North Carolina Legislation / Spring Lobby Day / March 22, 2023

Now is the time to push for the expansion of Medicaid in North Carolina. Both the House and Senate have passed versions of a Medicaid expansion bill, and a final bill is very likely to come up for a vote this session. Lobby Day will be a great opportunity to meet your legislators or members of their staffs, to introduce yourself so they will know who you are in future lobbying contacts. Between now and…

What Happened to the Black Lives Matter Sign? / March 8, 2023

The saga of the Black Lives Matter sign continues. The sign, which disappeared during construction of sidewalks along New Garden Road only to be found in the woods adjacent to New Garden Cemetery and reinstalled, has been dismantled. Here’s why. Greensboro zoning inspectors, responding to a citizen complaint about the sign, made a site visit and found the sign to be out of compliance on two points. One post slightly exceeded the maximum height limit…

Dinner to Benefit Earthquake Survivors Raises $3,500 / March 2023

Dear Friends, The turn out in the fundraising lunch has been great. I was told that we raised $2225 in cash and around $3500 in total with checks and digital donations. Thank you all for your collaboration, kindness and generosity for the victims of an earthquake overseas. We’re also thankful to Nazareth Mediterranean/American Cuisine who generously donated the meal today. We’re looking forward to continue collaborating with our Quaker friends in further activities. –– Peace,…

Challenging Racism / March 1, 2023

There was a book in our Little Free Antiracist Library entitled, “Black Rednecks and White Liberals” by Thomas Sowell. I’d never heard of Thomas Sowell and there was no picture of him on the book jacket. There was, however, a short review, praising the book, by a Fox News commentator, so I suspected it was probably not conducive to our antiracist purposes. Before recycling it at McKays though, I did my homework and was, yet…

Rosenwald Schools Documentary on PBS-NC / March 2023

Southern states, including North Carolina, largely ignored their responsibility to provide an education for rural Black children in the early 20th century. But then a plan hatched by a famous black educator and a Jewish philanthropist broke Jim Crow’s grip on funding for black schools. The resulting schools helped change the South and the nation, one student at a time. Tom Lassiter produced and wrote “Unlocking the Doors of Opportunity / The Rosenwald Schools of…

Heads Up from Earth Quaker Action Team (EQUAT) / March 1, 2023

We are taking action to challenge Vanguard on its stewardship hypocrisy, highlighting the ways it has failed to act on its own stated values. Vanguard says it considers climate change a “fundamental risk to companies and their shareholders’ long-term financial success,” and that they have a fiduciary duty to encourage the companies they invest in to mitigate climate risk. Unfortunately, Vanguard is not doing enough to push companies like Exxon and Chevron in the right…

First Day at New Garden Friends Meeting / March 5, 2023

9:00 a.m. Unprogrammed Meeting for Worship 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. Adult Forum (Zoom) 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. Spiritual Disciplines (Zoom) 11 a.m. Semi-Programmed Meeting for Worship* • Worshipful Music: Andy Mock • Welcome: Kevin Lawe • Announcements: Karen Garraputa • Congregational Hymn: • Reading: #272, George Fox, by Sydney Carter • Special Music: • Message: The Inner Light and the Human Dilemma, Miles Foy • Silent Worship • Holding in the Light *Friends are also…

Dinner to Benefit Earthquake Survivors / March 5, 2023

Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria have created a huge humanitarian crisis with over 45,000 fatalities to date, and many thousands more displaced from their homes and livelihoods. You can help survivors of these earthquakes and enjoy a good meal provided by the Divan Center of Greensboro in New Garden Friends Meeting Fellowship Hall on March 5, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. This benefit will take the place of our normal First Day meal…