2025 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Family Experience: Truth
"What role am I meant to play in social change?" |
Have you ever asked yourself, "What role am I meant to play in social change?" The day's activities are organized by the four roles of social change, as described by authors Bill Moyer and George Lakey P’89, GP’27: Advocate, Helper, Organizer, and Rebel. During this event, you'll get to try something in each category and see what role resonates with you. |
Remember, educating ourselves about injustice is not enough. What we do with our knowledge is what matters. The four roles of social change can help you turn knowledge into action.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Family Experience Program
Monday, January 20, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Race Street Meetinghouse
9:15-10 a.m.
Welcome in the Meetinghouse
Brian Thomas P’37
Featured Speaker:
Robt Martin Seda-Schreiber, chief activist
Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice
Four Roles of Social Change
Brian Thomas P’37
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10-11:30 a.m.
Activities in the Cherry Street Room for Older Students and Adults
Organizer: Julia Tackett, Reclaim Philadelphia, on deep canvassing.
Helper: Denise Agosto, professor at Rutgers School of Communication, on identifying misinformation and disinformation online.
Advocate: Ingrid Lakey ’89 P’27 and Julie Jefferson P’27 on letter writing.
10-11:30 a.m.
Program for Young Minds and Bodies
Teachers Shay and Joe will lead activities in the Lucretia Mott Room.
11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Closing in the Meetinghouse
Meeting for Worship
This Little Light of Mine Ingrid Lakey ’89 P’27
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All are welcome to stay for Meeting for Worship from 1-2 p.m. in the Race Street Meetinghouse.
Special thanks to the Friends Select Family Association Social Justice Committee led by Brian Thomas P’37, who volunteered their time, talents, and connections to host this event, James Olstein P’37 for design work, the Race Street Meetinghouse for opening their doors to us, our activity leaders: Julie Tacket, Denise Agosto, Ingrid Lakey ’89 P’27, Julie Jefferson P’27, Robt Martin Seda-Schreiber, and to the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice for sharing their expertise.
Four roles of social change, as described by Bill Moyer and George Lakey: Advocate, Helper, Organizer, Rebel.
An Advocate uses mainstream institutions like courts, City Hall, and legislature to get new goals and values adopted. Uses lobbying, lawsuits, elite networking/coalition building for clearly stated demands often backed by research. Monitors successes to make sure they are implemented.
A Rebel protests and says "No!" to violations of positive American values. They employ nonviolent direct action and attitude, including civil disobedience.
An Organizer believes in people power, builds grassroots networks, nurtures growth of natural leaders, chooses strategies for long-term movement development, and uses training to build skills.
A Helper understands that charity cannot fix social problems, assists people in ways that affirm their dignity and respect. A helper shares skills and brings those impacted into the decision-making process, and educates about the larger social system.
