The staff of Young Friends, who we call Resource People (RPs), are an amazing crew of adults volunteering many of their weekends to serve (hang out with & mentor to) the teenagers of New England Yearly Meeting.
RPs come from many walks of life and have many different skill sets, interests, passions, and experiences. Some are artists, some are mechanics, some are teachers and some are still figuring out what to do with their lives. Many RPs have been to college, a few are in school now, and a few want nothing to do with school at all. Many RPs grew up in the Young Friends program, almost all grew up Quaker, while a few others are recent additions to New England Yearly Meeting. Some RPs are the boisterous big-group type, while others are the more subdued small-group variety. Many Resource People are activists for a wide array of causes, including but not limited to: anti-racism, women's rights, environmentalism, anti-poverty, political campaigns, hunger prevention, & civil disobedience.
The common thread among all Resource People is their dedication and care of the Young Friends. All Resource People are volunteer and have been chosen by the Coordinator, whose job it is to supervise the staff of Young Friends. Resource People have completed an application, submitted three references, and engaged in an interview with the Coordinator. In addition to the initial process of becoming a Resource Person, the staff participate in ongoing training and education in relevant topics for work with teenagers. For 2009 we held a one-day training for trainers on racism, led by Lisa Graustein (former Coordinator of Young Friends). If you are interested in becoming a Resource Person, please contact Nia.