This year, one of Friends Academy’s many lovely programs during Peace Week (January 21st-24th) was FAmily Night. Hosted and sponsored by the Diversity Committee on Thursday, January 23rd, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., FAmily Night served as an opportunity for FA community members to connect through family, food, and fun!
I got a chance to attend the celebratory night alongside my friends Matt Martin ‘25 and Tomás Puente-Texidor ‘25– both of whom are practically family of my own. At our arrival to the Dolan Center, we were met by members of the Diversity Committee who were selling merchandise at a booth to raise committee funds. Along with their classic crew-necks, hoodies, and pins, the merch booth included the committee’s new quarter-zip sweatshirts and beanies. After Matt graciously bought me a quarter-zip, we headed into the commons for some delicious food.
At this year’s FAmily Night, community members were asked to contribute a staple household dish to culminate in an ‘International Potluck Dinner.’ Aislinn Frazer ‘25, the Diversity Comittee’s event planner, detailed that there was “definitely the highest attendance that I’ve seen at a FAmily Night.” The result of this large turnout was a long, buffet-style table of culturally diverse foods representative of the community’s multiplicity of backgrounds. Lucky enough to get a spot on line early, I filled my plate to the brim with chicken fried rice, Chinese style dumplings, Colombian empanadas, Haitian beef patties, Jamaican beef patties, mac and cheese, and Polish style dumplings. While each dish I ate was absolutely amazing in its own right, the Jamaican beef patties were undoubtedly my favorite. Matt’s favorite dish was the Indian Samosas, while Tomás’ was the Kimbap. While eating, we enjoyed a simply fun time within an environment characterized by laughter and smiles. The committee’s leadership felt this energy too, as is clear in Aislinn’s description that it felt “super rewarding to get to see people have so much fun at an event you worked really hard to create.”
Following the meal’s conclusion at around 7:15 p.m., everyone split up to attend one of four workshops: Visual Art with Todd Drake, Meditation with Kaira Jewel Lingo, Flower Arrangement with Veronica, or Quakerism in Times of War (a panel discussion) with Dr. Polly Duke and Dr. Joanna Komoska. At the panel discussion, I learned about the complicated history of Quaker pacifism and how it has looked different in regards to different conflicts. Additionally, Dr. Komoska uplifted the importance of listening to nurture peaceful relationships.
As I was on my way out of the Dolan Center after the workshops ended, I walked alongside families with the flowers or art that they had created at their own respective workshop. Seeing Ms. Moonsammy, our D.E.I. director, say goodbye to each and every attendant with a smile, I was reminded of FA’s direction towards inclusivity. It is a direction spearheaded by faculty members who truly care about every individual, and grounded by our Quaker testimony of community. To hold in the light every community member’s background, identity, and culture while celebrating the simple act of being together is what makes FAmily Night so special, and helps capture the essence of Peace Week’s purpose.
