![Friends students and faculty with other young adults stand outside holding a banner with text Truth, Healing, Justice]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1711046763/friendsbaltorg/xmt0idvjpeev6mb1kfly/FCNL2024.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1711046763/friendsbaltorg/xmt0idvjpeev6mb1kfly/FCNL2024.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1711046763/friendsbaltorg/xmt0idvjpeev6mb1kfly/FCNL2024.png","width":800}])
Eight students from the Friends School of Baltimore attended the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) Spring Lobby Weekend in March 2024. FCNL’s lobbying connects historic Quaker testimonies of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship with issues and legislation in Washington, DC. It brings together Friends students and thousands of like-minded individuals sharing a belief in relationship-based change-making to advance the world we seek, one lobby visit at a time.
Our students spent three days in Arlington, VA, along with 350 other young adults, learning about Indian Boarding Schools (IBS) and the intergenerational trauma these institutions caused to over 100,000 native peoples. They had the opportunity to hear powerful stories from amazing tribal members who are doing much-needed work to address the history of IBS and its long-lasting effects. They also had the chance to lobby the offices of Senators Cardin and Van Hollen, as well as Congressman Ruppersberger, encouraging them to support the Truth and Healing Commission on the Indian Boarding Schools Act.
Our students did a great job representing themselves and Friends School admirably.