Ad Hoc Reparative Justice Committee

The committee advises the meeting on avenues for redress and repair of harm done by
Quakers over centuries to the indigenous people of this land and to African Americans.
The meeting’s commitment is to repair historic, generational harm, encompassing repair
of relationships as well as repayment of debt. We prioritize partnering with programs
that are designed and run by members of the groups who have been harmed. In
addition, the programs should have a clear, defined focus and our commitments should
be sustained, not short term.  Some programs may address the urgent, current needs of
members of these groups–needs whose roots lie in historical and systemic injustice
over centuries, while some may provide ways of repairing specific damage and unique
deficits resulting from the historical wrongs, thereby helping create a better future.

Ann Arbor Friends are currently working with:

• Peace House in Ypsilanti. A community-based and community-building support
  system for those in the Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor area, addressing unmet needs
  among those who are housing insecure, unhoused, or in other ways under-
  resourced. [https://peacehouseypsi.org; information on current activities is more
  often posted on the Peace House Ypsilanti Facebook page.]

• Nokomis Cultural Heritage Center in Okemos. A program that includes
  sharing indigenous history in public grade school curricula and language classes
  in Anishinaabemowin at the Center. It also offers meeting space, educational
  cultural displays and other resources. [https://nokomis.org]

• 339 Manumissions and Beyond Project. A program in reparative genealogy
  researching the stories of those who were formerly enslaved by Quakers of
  Philadelphia Yearly Meeting in the 17 th and 18 th centuries and the lives they went
  on to lead. [https://www.339manumissions.org]