Testimonies and Concerns 2014 Annual Report:
A testimony is love made visible.
During the year the committee has continued to pursue the strains of actions that were illuminated with details in last year's report, namely:
- Marilla's lunches and Thanksgiving dinners
- Housing the overnight homeless shelter for two weeks in February
- Operating the lending library at the detention center
- Supporting P.E.A.C.E. at demonstrations
- Taking part in the Multicultural Festival
- A visit with supplies and clothes to nearby migrant worker camps
- Three members serving on the board of Midshore Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP)
We continued with oversight of the Shoffner International Education Fund and this year made the decision of where to give funds by a committee of three from the Meeting. This committee supported education in the underserved countries of Columbia through Aguayuda and Bolivia through the Bolivian Quaker Education Fund, where we have two current scholarship students and have had four others graduate over the years. The fund is now $15,731.52 and 5% is distributed yearly.
A new project was study and discussion, open to the community, of Michelle Alexander's book The New Jim Crow. This was followed by a showing of the film The House I Live In at the public library and this followed with a talk by two Maryland judges on their perspective of the issues of incarceration. These were well attended by the public and law enforcement officials. We look forward to further involvement.
A study and readings on the subject of peace is underway in conjunction with P.E.A.C.E. using Coleman McCarthy's book Peace is Possible, and meeting the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm.
It is a joy to work with First Day School and familiarize our testimonies to the small atenders there. Community has been addressed and Equality and Peace are scheduled.
Cynthia Browne, Susan Claggett, Katie Claggett, Leigh Anne Dodge, Norman Hackland, Nancy Robbins, Sarah Sayre, Ralph Young, and Lorraine B. Claggett, Clerk