Please pass this information on within your meetings and worship groups. Applications are accepted from February 3 to March 9, 2025.
 
Emerging Leaders for Liberation (ELL) Application | American Friends Service Committee
 
This program is open to young adults looking to deepen their social justice and leadership skills. Emerging Leaders aims to support the development of young people and is especially beneficial to those that are newer to organizing spaces.
 
Through this program, participants will gain an understanding of systemic oppression through trainings and experiences regarding accompaniment, anti-racism, organizing, advocacy, resourcing, and Quaker principles. Participants will take part in both AFSC-sponsored and other local campaigns and systems-level advocacy efforts. They will gain a complex understanding of social change movements, immersing themselves in community level change efforts.
 
As part of the program, cohort members will be required to complete an action learning project in their community. This project will demonstrate cohort members’ newfound community organizing knowledge and will be funded up to $1,000. Previous cohort members have tackled issues of gentrification, migrant rights, human rights violations in prisons, inequal access to education, institutional racism, and many more.  
 

Bozeman Daily Chronicle - January 30, 2025
War is not, and never has been, the answer
After more than 15 months of violence in Gaza and across the
Middle East, it’s welcome news that Israel and Hamas have
agreed to cease hostilities, however temporarily. While this long
overdue step cannot bring back the tens of thousands who
have died, it can and will save thousands going forward.
More war is not and never has been the answer. There is no
military solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. If anything,
this agreement demonstrates the enduring need to engage
non-militarily for peace no matter the odds. The road to
recovery, justice, and security for all the region’s people will be
long and difficult. The U.S., through Congress and the
administration, must stay committed to supporting an enduring
long-term peace process. Sustainable peace requires
addressing the root causes of violence in the Israel-Palestine
conflict. The Israeli occupation, the blockade of Gaza, systemic
oppression, settler violence, land annexation, and inequality
faced by Palestinians must end. While the challenges ahead
are immense for the region, this initial ceasefire agreement is
an essential first step. Now it’s up to leaders and advocates
alike to look for willing partners for peace to advance shared
goals of civilian protection and lasting political solutions that
ensure equality for Palestinians and Israelis alike. That's why
I'm urging our Members of Congress to use all forms of U.S.
leverage to see that Phase 1 of the deal is implemented and
that the ceasefire is made permanent. I also encourage them to
work to flood Gaza with aid by restoring urgently needed US
funding to UNRWA and work to block offensive weapons to the
Netanyahu Government.
Please contact Senators Daines and Sheehy and ask them to
use their influence to make this cease fire permanent.
Faye Boom, Bozeman