| Quaker Values in action: peace
Veteran civil rights activist Nell Braxton Gibson visited the Meetinghouse on Monday January 14 at an Upper School assembly in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Nell, who is the mother of the late Bert Gibson III ’87, also spoke at length about the civil rights movement, its unfinished character and what Dr. King’s legacy invites us to do in the present.
|
A LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS
Dear Friends,
2019 is off to a great start.
On January 7, students and faculty returned from winter break to participate in Day of Concern focused on this year’s theme: the American Landscape. The day began with renowned Colombian-American poet Carlos Andres Gomez, who reflected on manhood, identity and cultural expectations. The closing session featured a film viewing and discussion with Catherine Gund, a parent of a Friends student and two alumni, and the Founder and Director of Aubin Pictures. Arielle Knight, Associate Producer and Impact Coordinator at Aubin Pictures, joined her. They featured two episodes of Dispatches From Cleveland, a documentary that examines one of the most racially divided cities in America in the wake of the police murder of 12-year-old Tamir Rice in November 2014. It was a powerful beginning to the new year.
Yesterday evening, we held the third annual Alumni Symposium. Hosted by the Alumni Council, the Symposium seeks to bring alumni into conversation around important and topical issues. Moderator Josh Isay ’87 facilitated conversation with New York Times political reporter Matt Flegenheimer ’07, Director of Special Projects for City Comptroller Scott Stringer Lena Bell ’08 and former teacher Charlie Blank about the recent midterm Congressional election and its implications.
This month, we look forward to celebrating Peace Week. This is an annual school-wide event where students and teachers explore the concept of Peace as related to the yearly theme. This year’s program will include a keynote address by renowned criminal social justice activist and founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, Bryan Stevenson.
Friends Seminary aspires to thread the Quaker testimonies through all our programs. If you haven’t yet, I encourage you to follow Friends Seminary on Instagram to see for yourself daily updates on the many creative ways Friends faculty and students are weaving our values through the life of the School, seeking to “bring about a world that ought to be.”
Best wishes,
Amanda Goodman
Director of Alumni Relations
|
Upcoming Events
3/26 | 7 PM | Alumni Gathering - Washington, DC
3/28 | 7 PM |Alumni Gathering - Boston
4/18 | 6-7:30 PM | Alumni Author Series
5/17 - 5/19 | All Day | Reunion
We are planning alumni gatherings in March in Boston and Washington, DC. If you have recently moved to one of these cities, please contact agoodman@friendsseminary.org to update your address. This will ensure you receive an invitation.
We are also planning to do a number of neighborhood service events in the Boroughs. If you have a connection with a local organization in need of volunteers, or if you would like to volunteer to help us coordinate an event in your neighborhood, please contact agoodman@friendsseminary.org.
|
Alumni Beat
Jay Westcott ’62 was recently awarded the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. Congratulations, Jay!
Nick Bruel ’83 published Bad Kitty Camp Dave, a children’s book, in January 2018. To view the book, click here.
Adam Ware '83 recently joined STIRR as general manager. In addition, Adam is Head of Business Development and Digital Media at Tennis Channel.
|
ALUMNI JOB BOARD
JOB POSTING
Dan Hochman '07 | Director of Sales, Sealed, Inc
Open Positions | Account Executive; Sales Development Representative
Sealed uses the money people waste on energy to invest in upgrades to their homes’ comfort and value. We pay upfront for home improvements like insulation and smart technology, and we let homeowners pay us back with money they save on their energy bills. If they don’t save energy, we don’t make money! We grew sales 2.5x (150%) last year and we plan on doing that AGAIN this year!
This is an exciting time to be part of a fast-growing, mission driven company. We are doubling the size of our sales team (5 right now) and we expect the rest of the company to double in size, as well. Our CEO, Lauren Salz, is a member of the Forbes 30 Under 30 in Energy. If you or someone you know might want to work with us, send resumes to resumes@sealed.com along with a short blurb on why you might be a good fit.
Looking to hire a Friends Seminary grad?
Become a Career Volunteer
Career Volunteers are Friends Seminary alumni who are willing to be contacted by fellow alumni to share their professional experience, knowledge and advice. Career Volunteers may act as coaches, supporters or resources. If you are interested in working with a Career Volunteer, click here. If you are interested in becoming a Career Volunteer, please contact agoodman@friendsseminary.org.
|
School News and Announcements
Sabbaticals Awarded to John Byrne & Rochelle Itzen
We are pleased to announce that Friends has awarded sabbaticals to two veteran teachers in honor of their deep commitment and service to the School and as a result of their compelling proposals—English teacher John Byrne and music teacher Rochelle Itzen.
Nell Braxton Gibson visits Friends Seminary
Each year, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Friends holds an assembly to consider the civil rights movement. Veteran civil rights activist and parent of alumni Nell Braxton Gibson joined us on Monday, January 14, 2019 to speak with the community about the ways her life has intersected with and been shaped by the Civil Rights movement, which is the subject of her memoir, Too Proud to Bend: Journey of a Civil Rights Foot Solider.
From her earliest days, Nell’s Mississippian parents nurtured in her a deep commitment to social justice. While a student at Spelman College in Atlanta in the 1960s, Nell walked on picket lines, participated in mass demonstrations, registered first-time Black voters, and was subsequently arrested for protesting segregated hearings at the Georgia State Capitol. She later participated in anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, the global inter-religious justice movement and efforts to address racism in Christian communities.
Nell and her husband Bert are the parents of the late Bert Gibson III ’87. The Gibson family established the Bertram Gibson III ’87 Scholarship Fund in his memory for a student in financial need who aspires to be a writer.
Ben Frisch Returns to the Classroom
On Tuesday, January 22, new semester began, and we welcomed Ben Frisch back into the classroom. Ben has been transitioning back into the School since January 2019 and is currently teaching math classes.
MLK Concert
On Wednesday, January 23, Friends Seminary hosted the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Benefit Concert. The concert provides much-needed operating funds for the Friends Shelter and showcases Friends Seminary student musicians. It is a powerful way for the Friends Seminary community to raise money and awareness for the more than 50,000 homeless children, women and men in New York City. |
Campus Visitor Policy
Alumni visitors, including recent graduates, are most welcome at Friends. During the 2014-15 school year, Friends rolled out a new visitor software management system to ensure the safety of students, employees and guests. All faculty, staff, parents and caregivers now wear school-issued ID tags while on campus. Alumni visiting Friends are issued a temporary ID tag upon arrival. Alumni should enter campus at either the main entrance (222 East 16th Street) or the 15th Street Annex entrance and identify as an alumnus/na to the receptionist on duty. Presenting a government issued ID at this time will expedite the check-in process. Alumni are asked to keep the temporary ID tag visible while on campus and to check out at a reception desk before leaving. To avoid a wait at check-in, please schedule an appointment with the Alumni Office in advance and arrive outside of dismissal time (3:10-3:45 PM), if possible.
Have you visited Friends recently? Let us know what you thought of the check-in process. Thank you for helping keep our campus safe. |
|
|
|
Friends Seminary | 222 East 16th Street | New York, NY | 212.979.5035
|
|
|
|