Upcoming Events
Second Hour: Book discussion “Whiskey Tender: A Memoir” by Deborah Taffa
Sunday, November 15, 11:15 a.m.
The Antiracism Committee is excited to sponsor another community read and book discussion. We were pleased to have so many of you join the Saving the Circle (see photos below) discussion and plan to continue our focus on indigenous issues. We have chosen Whiskey Tender, a Memoir, by Deborah Taffa. It is described as a memoir of family and survival – coming of age on and off the reservation. Our committee will have 15 copies available; please contact Maria at marianicklin@gmail.com to get your copy. In addition it is available through your local public library. The discussion will be held on November 15 at the rise of meeting. Hope you can join us. Snacks and childcare will be available.
Author visit, April 23-25, 2027: J Drew Lanham, author of The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature, visits Goose Creek Friends Meeting. Our committee is partnering with the Unity with Nature committee in the planning of this event. Stay tuned for more details. Copies of the book are available at the Meeting. Contact Patrick Holden, irishcorner1953@gmail.com
About us
Our Mission: We aspire to live into our testimony of equality by recognizing our legacy of racism and working to make a more equitable and just community.
Who we are: This committee was founded at Goose Creek shortly after the killing of George Floyd, on July 15, 2020. The committee has met regularly since its inception, and continues to meet monthly at 6:00 pm via zoom. Please feel free to join us! Email committee co-clerk lisacolburn@gmail.com for the zoom link.
Land Acknowledgement Statement: Let us recognize those who were here before us. We honor the Manahoac and Monacan (Mahock) people who were on the land where Goose Creek Meeting House now stands. This land was a trade route as well as seasonal hunting grounds for the Iroquoian, Algonkian, and Siouan language groups. We recognize their legacy.
Queries We aspire to be mindful of the role of privilege as it impacts our experiences and decisions. Quakers have long used queries as a means to test our decisions, thus we seek to use the following queries at Goose Creek:
- How could this decision impact those who have been affected by racist practices?
- Will this decision promote equity, diversity, inclusiveness, and economic justice- enabling us to be more friendly and whole?
- Are there ways we can actively provide opportunities to promote equity, diversity, inclusiveness and economic justice?
Our work includes:
- Screening “Cockacoeske’s Dilemma,” a documentary about Indigenous women in history. It was produced by Saving the Circle, an Indigenous nonprofit. See photos above courtesy of Friend Carolyn Unger.
- Hosting a Love as Action silent meeting for worship on the lawn of Goose Creek Friends Meeting, as part of an initiative of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).
- Meeting with Father Daniel of St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Leesburg, VA via Zoom to discuss immigration and ICE issues in Loudoun County and making a donation toward that work.
- Making a sign supporting immigrants that is displayed prominently outside our Meetinghouse.
- Holding a meeting-wide discussion of Life and Death of the American Worker by Alice Driver, which discusses the plight of workers at a Tysons chicken processing plant in Arkansas, many of whom are undocumented immigrants.
- Compiling a community resource list for ESL, food, and housing.
- Welcoming Brian Blackmore of AFSC to visit and speak to us in March about AFSC’s immigrant justice and other work.
- Sharing information about presentations offered by the Thomas Balch Library Black History Committee.
Our continuing goals:
- Provide opportunities for discussion and discernment within our spiritual and wider community;
- Work to become aware of own biases as they impact our decisions, both personally and as a spiritual community;
- Acknowledge the native land upon which our meeting house stands and seek ways to support Indigenous people in our area; and,
- Seek to engage with diverse people in our wider community