YOUNG ADULT FRIENDS COMMITTEE 2025 REPORT
The Young Adult Friends Committee (YAF) was created to help with logistical considerations for a new program aimed at an age between JYM and other attenders. We hope to begin a YAF program to appeal to ages 20-35 for the 2026 Annual Sessions and have begun figuring out what that could look like. With a younger age group in mind, we are looking to balance a program that incorporates and connects them with Yearly Meeting while also giving time for YAF attenders to create connections, conversation and goals amongst themselves. Their schedule would include attendance at some of Annual Sessions, discussions within the group and sharing an Epistle or action statement at the conclusion of Annual Sessions.
One of the biggest barriers we’ve found with getting attenders of this age is the cost. We are hoping to look for funding to subsidize the cost of travel, meals, and boarding, assuming this puts minimal financial strain on the Meeting. The program cost itself will be minimal to none, with much of the programming being included in what already exists at Annual Sessions and focusing on discussion based and “DIY” type projects. Another barrier has been the timeline; this is why we have decided to begin planning next year’s program now and are holding off from hosting one this year. (f)Friends of this age may often be working service industry jobs which have less paid time off and stricter schedules. We are going to let prospective attenders know far in advance of next year so they are able to plan ahead for time off, transportation and availability.
We are hoping that this program can offer a few things. Firstly, we hope to increase our number of interested (f)Friends in this age range. Additionally, we hope to use this as an opportunity to deepen IYMC’s relationship with Scattergood Friends School. It is likely that many of the interested individuals will be recent Scattergood alumni and will be able to better recognize the deep connection between our Meeting and this wonderful school. There will be plenty of time for YAF to meet, socialize, and talk with members of IYMC. We also want to make the YAF group feel like a community and will be having some activities for that group. These will not be for the purpose of exclusion of other members but will be an opportunity for Young Adult Friends to deepen their friendships with one another and create lasting bonds.
Our committee recognizes that this will be a heavy lift to get off the ground, but have been met with lots of excitement from (f)Friends hoping to attend in 2026. We believe this is a great way to engage younger members and prospective Friends and are grateful to the ways open.
Evelyn Bergus (convener), Emma Galusha, Dominic Marconi, and Jack Niemuth