Barbara Simmons will speak on “Creating Strong Community Through the Lens of Change” at Newtown Friends Meeting, 219 Court St., Newtown, at 9:45 a.m. on First Day (Sunday), Feb. 23.
Traditional Quaker Meeting for Worship will begin at 11 a.m. The public is invited to all events.
The First-Day School program is part of a series on the Quaker Testimonies, known as SPICES (Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality and Stewardship). “SPICES” is a shorthand guide used by some Quakers to describe how they strive to live in harmony with their belief that there is the light of God in everyone.
“Our nation has become more divided than we have seen in our lifetime and it leaves many of us feeling unsettled, anxious and depressed. Is it possible to create a sense of community that is diverse and allows us to embrace all types of differences, including politics, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, etc. if we understand the role values play?” said Simmons.
The former executive director of the Bucks County Peace Center, who now serves as a consultant for the organization, also is an adjunct professor at Arcadia University.
Simmons also was the creator and executive producer of “PeaceTalks,” audio documentaries of people who were victims of war, conflict and violence, and their work to transform their communities, which aired on public radio.
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