Beyond Pink and Blue

Registration is now closed for this conference

If you would like to register within one week of the conference please send an email to us at sarahandmartin@powellhouse.org. Please note that all registrations within one week of the conference will be charged a $40 late registration fee.

11th-12th Grade and Young Adults, January 24-26

We live in a world that tries to divide people and identities and put them in narrow boxes, when in truth we form a wide spectrum of possibilities of every kind. We are a rainbow. We are many rainbows! Come explore your colors together, the nuances and unique aspects of yourself that make you you! Let’s dance along these rainbows until we find the pot of gold where they all come together and we can truly welcome and cherish each other for who we truly are.

ONLINE & IN-PERSON AT POWELL HOUSE
January 31 - February 2, 2025

Members of the committee attend Powell House Committee meetings and serve on subcommittees such as Fiscal Management, Personnel, Program, Property, and Fundraising. They serve as channels of communication between Powell House and the Yearly Meeting and their own local and regional meetings.

Powell House supports a staff that includes the directors, office staff, facilities support (grounds and housekeeping), and cooks. Staff offices are presently in Pitt Hall.

Powell House was established by New York Yearly Meeting in 1960 as the result of a gift of residential property from Elsie K. Powell Sr. This property, with subsequent additions and improvements, now consists of Pitt Hall, the Anna Curtis Center, a director’s residence, a youth directors’ residence, and fifty-seven acres of land with a campground and two wildlife ponds.

Powell House is used primarily for religious conferences and similar gatherings of members and attenders of meetings belonging to New York Yearly Meeting. It is also used for meetings of Yearly Meeting committees or conferences sponsored by them. The programs include a wide variety of educational, inspirational, and organizational activities for youth and adults related to the religious, benevolent, and social concerns of the Religious Society of Friends. The facilities are available for use by affiliated Friends’ organizations and other religious or educational groups having interests compatible with those of Friends. Short-term sojourners may sometimes be accommodated.

Winter Wonderland

A Family Retreat

In-Person at Powell House
February 7 - 9, 2025

A conference for Families and those who like to be with Families. Come join us in the heart of winter for your favorite winter activities. We hope for snow and cold for sledding and ice skating. Regardless there will be hiking, a bonfire, star gazing, sipping warm drinks, stories by the fireplace, crafts and games galore. Good food, Good company, Good fun.

Those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Special family room rate $600.

In-Person at Powell House
February 14-16, 2025

Time after time, early Friends returned to meeting for worship because of their direct experiences of transformation and the loving support of their community. Their spiritual transformation led them to order their lives, listening to Spirit’s direction. 

As we listen together for Spirit’s guidance, we will practice building authentic community. We will build on our skills of supporting one another, addressing harm, and spiritually navigating conflict to hear our collective truth and leadings.

A living Quakerism includes the spirituality of our interdependence upon one another and upon the Earth. Through exploring care of community, we will weave how right relationship with all of Creation is a part of how we tend ourselves and our faithfulness.

Anne Pomeroy, member of New Paltz Monthly Meeting, is a seasoned retreat facilitator and elder. Anne is a spiritual director and mentor for many people. Anne supports individuals and communities in deep listening to Spirit to facilitate their faithfulness. Anne is deeply committed to continuing revelation as a key aspect of our faith. Anne travels widely among Friends, ministering to people in monthly meetings, yearly meetings and beyond.  Anne helped establish the NYYM mentorship program, serving as a mentor and as part of the Mentorship Advisory Committee since the program’s inception. Additionally Anne serves FGC as clerk of the Development Committee, and as a NYYM representative to the FGC Central Committee. Anne’s ministry focuses around living into a broadly welcoming and inclusive faith community which can be called ‘care of community’. Anne brings their passion and joy to this ministry.

Lu Harper (Rochester) has served NYYM as a recording clerk for Ministry and Witness Coordinating Committees, as well as the yearly meeting body in sessions.  She is called to spiritual accompaniment of individuals and groups, and has served as elder/co-facilitator of retreats within and outside of NYYM. She is currently drafting a book, Opening Eyes and Ears, Journeying out of Ancestral American Colonialism and Privilege, reflecting on the ways her ancestors contributed to colonial genocide, enslavement, and displacement of indigenous peoples as settlers moved westward, and how she is called to help repair the harm for generations to come.

with Steve Mohlke and ,O

In-Person at Powell House
February 21-23, 2025

This is a workshop for everyone who wants to deepen their understanding of Quaker decision-making; it’s for clerks, but not just for clerks. For clerks, it will be an opportunity to learn and sharpen skills. For others, it will be an opportunity to get better grounded in what Quaker decision-making is all about. It is expected that each person will leave the weekend with new energy and enthusiasm for participating in meetings for business, well grounded in both the theoretical and the practical. There will be handouts, exercises and opportunities for experience sharing. 

The workshop will address racism in the context of Friends’ decision-making and clerking. We need to pay attention to racism because it affects (infects) nearly everything in this society, and we will be lifting up decision-making processes that seek to liberate the Spirit among all participants.

Among other topics, we will consider:

• The fundamentals of a Quaker meeting for business  

• What is a “sense of the meeting,” and how is it different from consensus?

• What is the meaning of “unity?”

• Why “standing in the way” is no longer a useful concept.

• Techniques of “good” clerking.

• Dealing with difficult situations

Steve Mohlke is a longtime Friend and former clerk of Ithaca Monthly Meeting. He served as co-clerk for the 2017 Friends General Conference Gathering. He currently serves as General Secretary of New York Yearly Meeting.

,O is a Friend and co-clerk of Racial Healing and Wholeness Committee at Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. They engage in Environmental Racial Justice work as a community activist in the Philadelphia area. They serve as Elder for Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and have facilitated programming for Annual Sessions Spiritual Formation Retreat. ,O has also provided workshops with PYM Quaker Life Counsel, on Truth & Transformation exploring the transformative practice of deep listening to increase our capacity for healing by responding compassionately to incidents of racial wounding.

Schedule

Friday

• 07:00 Supper

• 08:15 Session

• 09:15 Adjourn for the evening

Saturday

• 08:00 Breakfast

• 09:00 to noon Session with a break in the middle

• 12:15 Lunch

• 01:30 to 05:30 Session with about an hour break at around 3 pm

• 06:00 Supper

• 07:15 Session

• 09:00 Adjourn for the evening

Sunday

• 08:00 Breakfast

• 09:00 to 11:45 Session with a break

• 12:00 Lunch

• 1:15 Session

• 3:15 Adjourn

6th - 8th Grade

In-Person at Powell House
February 28 - March 2, 2025

How do we show our love for others? How do we like to be shown that people love us? What ingredients are essential for healthy relationships (friendships, family, or romantic connections)? At this conference we will discuss these questions and figure out key ingredients for happy, healthy ways of connecting. We will spend the weekend cooking delicious heartfelt concoctions and add plenty of love to fill our bellies.

Becks Anacheka-Nasemann, 23 (they/them). Becks grew up at Powell House as a 3rd generation attendee and as one of Chris and Mike’s kids. After graduating from the youth program in 2020, they have been working as an AP for all age groups and have loved seeing the ways that young people playfully build and uphold the community they hold so dear. Becks is a Mount Holyoke senior currently working towards a career in science education, and has worked as a babysitter, nanny, and tutor for children since age 13. When not at PoHo, Becks lives in Amherst, MA and enjoys hiking, watercolor art, cooking, and playing with their menagerie of pets (1 dog, 2 cats, and 2 pet rats).

Samy DeBellis Age 28 (they/she): Meet Samy! She graduated from the PoHo youth program in 2014 and has experience APing and Co-Facilitating since 2015. She has been a member of Purchase Meeting since 2018 and serves on their Board of Trustees. Outside of her Quaker life, Samy works as a Speech-Language Pathologist on Long Island. When she is not working or volunteering at Powell House, you can find Samy cross-country running, reading, and spending quality time with friends and family.

IN-PERSON AT POWELL HOUSE
March 21-23, 2025

Join us as we embark on a journey of self-expression and a deeper exploration of how we understand both lament and joy in our lives.

Over the weekend, we will delve into the transformative power of expressive writing and the arts for creating openings for healing and spiritual depth. Together, we will navigate emotional highs and lows, discovering the “joy unspeakable joy” that can be found in even the most challenging moments.

We’ll engage in a communal lament practice as a vehicle for authenticity and vulnerability, allowing us to deepen our connection with ourselves, the Divine, and one another, leading to a newfound appreciation for the interplay of both in our faith walk.

Lynette Davis, SFCC, is an author, spiritual companion, and mental health advocate who believes stories can change the world and create meaning in life. She has been a convinced Friend since 2016 and is a member of Ujima Friends Meeting and an ecumenical Sister with The Sisters for Christian Community.

Sticky Situations

9th - 12th Grade

In-Person at Powell House
March 28 - 30, 2025

Relationships are all around us. From our classmates, to our family, to our friends, to our Powell House community. How do we relate to the people (and communities and living things) around us? What can we learn from different models about the way we connect to each other and support each other?

Jillian Smith Age 36:  she/her or they/them: Poho youth alumni class of 2006! I identify as a feminist universalist Quaker who dabbles in Hinduism & I’m a member of NYYM. I was a JC back in the day and a co-facilitator with Mike. I served on the board of Poho for 9 years. I obtained my American Montessori Society certification in ages 3-6 during the pandemic. I’ve worked in a variety of industries.

Monya Relles, 27 (they/them). Monya grew up as one of Chris and Mike’s kids and now their real job is at the Hitchcock Center for the Environment, training other educators and working with young people to learn about nature, science, engineering, and leadership. When they’re not working they can be found dancing, doing circus, hiking, and making weird zines. Their favorite memories of Powell House are tied between sardines on Friday nights and silent late night walks on Saturdays.

Cai Quirk, 28 (any gender neutral pronouns). Cai is a lifelong Quaker who grew up in Ithaca Meeting and attending youth conferences at Powell House, and has now been APing and co-facilitating Powell House youth conferences for 10 years. Cai also works for Friends General Conference in the Spiritual Deepening Program and on the Gathering Team, helping form Quaker events around the country. As a multi-disciplinary artist, Cai creates work around queerness, gender, spirituality, nature, mythology, and storytelling. They have published a book, given hundreds of talks and workshops around the country, exhibited work in 14 states and 4 countries. At Powell House, their “Map of Genderland” and tapestries from the “Queer Temple” series are often appreciated by attenders for expanding and celebrating ideas around queerness.

Creativity!

6th - 8th Grade

In-Person at Powell House
April 25 - 27, 2025

Creativity is a gift that everyone can share! At Powell House, we believe that creativity isn’t about being perfect—it's about expressing yourself and having fun! This weekend, we'll explore all kinds of creative activities like drawing, writing, dancing, making piñatas, and more. No experience or special skills needed—just bring your curiosity and an open heart! Come join us for a weekend full of art, fun, and connection with Friends.

Omen Cullinane Weaver, 27, (any pronouns): Howdy Friends! I have been attending Powell House since the 4th grade and have been APing since I graduated in 2016. I live in Rochester with my partner Malice. I'm best known with the PoHo Crew for stickers, art, and being the crazy old man who sends children in search of wild people in the woods. I can't wait to see y'all soon!

Malice Garcia, 23, (He/They): Hello Friends! I am relatively new to PoHo and Quakerism, having discovered and unofficially joining both back in 2022 but I’ve fallen in love with the program. I have butlered for middle school conferences and attended many young adult weekends and I cannot explain the amount of joy, comfort, and belonging that the program and those involved have brought to my life. I live in Rochester NY with my partner, Omen and we’ve been doing what we can and offering our very best to every conference we possibly can! I have spent many years caring for and teaching children on and off and I love every second that I’ve been able to share my gifts with this community and help these already amazing kids continue to grow and flourish!

Cai Quirk, 28 (any gender neutral pronouns). Cai is a lifelong Quaker who grew up in Ithaca Meeting and attending youth conferences at Powell House, and has now been APing and co-facilitating Powell House youth conferences for 10 years. Cai also works for Friends General Conference in the Spiritual Deepening Program and on the Gathering Team, helping form Quaker events around the country. As a multi-disciplinary artist, Cai creates work around queerness, gender, spirituality, nature, mythology, and storytelling. They have published a book, given hundreds of talks and workshops around the country, exhibited work in 14 states and 4 countries. At Powell House, their “Map of Genderland” and tapestries from the “Queer Temple” series are often appreciated by attenders for expanding and celebrating ideas around queerness.

In-Person at Powell House
April 25-27, 2025

In this retreat we will explore our call today to live in ways that demonstrate justice, integrity, inclusion, equality and wholeness. We will deepen our understanding of individual and systemic barriers to faithfulness.

Prophetic messages call us individually and collectively to turn back to the Truth and move into new patterns of being. The prophetic experience of early Friends led to and committed them to building a new social order based in truth, equality, and justice. We will explore ways in which our faithfulness can be supported by our communities today.

Anne Pomeroy, member of New Paltz Monthly Meeting, is a seasoned retreat facilitator and elder. Anne is a spiritual director and mentor for many people. Anne supports individuals and communities in deep listening to Spirit to facilitate their faithfulness. Anne is deeply committed to continuing revelation as a key aspect of our faith. Anne travels widely among Friends, ministering to people in monthly meetings, yearly meetings and beyond.  Anne helped establish the NYYM mentorship program, serving as a mentor and as part of the Mentorship Advisory Committee since the program’s inception. Additionally Anne serves FGC as clerk of the Development Committee, and as a NYYM representative to the FGC Central Committee. Anne’s ministry focuses around living into a broadly welcoming and inclusive faith community which can be called ‘care of community’. Anne brings their passion and joy to this ministry.

Lu Harper (Rochester) has served NYYM as a recording clerk for Ministry and Witness Coordinating Committees, as well as the yearly meeting body in sessions.  She is called to spiritual accompaniment of individuals and groups, and has served as elder/co-facilitator of retreats within and outside of NYYM. She is currently drafting a book, Opening Eyes and Ears, Journeying out of Ancestral American Colonialism and Privilege, reflecting on the ways her ancestors contributed to colonial genocide, enslavement, and displacement of indigenous peoples as settlers moved westward, and how she is called to help repair the harm for generations to come.

Wiggle & Think

4th - 5th Grade

In-Person at Powell House
May 9 - 11, 2025

When is the last time you wiggled or giggled? Stuck in a chair all day is a drag. What movements does your body, heart, and mind need to feel free? Is there spirituality in movement? Let’s explore looking inward at what we think about all of the ways, places, and spaces we move and groove. We will explore different ways of moving our bodies with dance, games, improv, and more. We will be having lots of fun with old and new friends!

Jillian Smith Age 36:  she/her or they/them: Poho youth alumni class of 2006! I identify as a feminist universalist Quaker who dabbles in Hinduism & I’m a member of NYYM. I was a JC back in the day and a co-facilitator with Mike. I served on the board of Poho for 9 years. I obtained my American Montessori Society certification in ages 3-6 during the pandemic. I’ve worked in a variety of industries.

Rosalie Presser, 21 (she/her).  Rosalie has been attending Powell House since 7th grade, first with Chris and Mike, then Sarah and Marty. Since graduating from the youth program in 2022 she has been attending Young Adult conferences, APing, and working in the kitchen with Kim. She enjoys her work on a small farm in Cambridge, NY. In her free time she loves to garden, dance, hike, play, and read.

Beth Kelly, 46 (she/her): Hello, old and new friends! I serve New York Yearly Meeting as Children, Youth and Young Adult Community Director – and am the point person for Powell House’s youth programming teams this spring. I have worked with kids (tutoring, baby-sitting, camp-counselor-ing) since I was a teenager and worked as a pediatric hospital chaplain from 2013-2021. My favorite things to do at Powell House include listening to the wisdom of the group, singing songs, playing Primate Bellows, and walking to Dorson’s Rock. My favorite things to do when not at Powell House include singing, crossword puzzles, and physical play with my 4-year-old niece.

EarthSong 2025

7th - 12th Grade

In-Person at Powell House
May 23 - 25, 2025

EarthSong is a time of celebration and care for our community. It includes our annual send-off ceremony for our seniors as they enter a new phase of life. You can expect deep conversation, fun activities, and joyful games. We hope you join us for this warm and vibrant conference!

Beth Kelly, 46 (she/her): Hello, old and new friends! I serve New York Yearly Meeting as Children, Youth and Young Adult Community Director – and am the point person for Powell House’s youth programming teams this spring. I have worked with kids (tutoring, baby-sitting, camp-counselor-ing) since I was a teenager and worked as a pediatric hospital chaplain from 2013-2021. My favorite things to do at Powell House include listening to the wisdom of the group, singing songs, playing Primate Bellows, and walking to Dorson’s Rock. My favorite things to do when not at Powell House include singing, crossword puzzles, and physical play with my 4-year-old niece.

Lucas Quintana, 23 (he/him).  Lucas has been attending the Powell House Youth Program since 5th grade.  He has become more involved in the last year working in the kitchen with Kim, attending committee meetings, volunteering and being an AP. Outside of Powell House Lucas works seasonally in the ski industry (as a slopes groomer) in Wyoming and in the Capital Region during the summer. He loves to spend his free time outdoors, skiing, backpacking, swimming, and enjoying sunlight whenever possible.

Cai Quirk, 28 (any gender neutral pronouns). Cai is a lifelong Quaker who grew up in Ithaca Meeting and attending youth conferences at Powell House, and has now been APing and co-facilitating Powell House youth conferences for 10 years. Cai also works for Friends General Conference in the Spiritual Deepening Program and on the Gathering Team, helping form Quaker events around the country. As a multi-disciplinary artist, Cai creates work around queerness, gender, spirituality, nature, mythology, and storytelling. They have published a book, given hundreds of talks and workshops around the country, exhibited work in 14 states and 4 countries. At Powell House, their “Map of Genderland” and tapestries from the “Queer Temple” series are often appreciated by attenders for expanding and celebrating ideas around queerness.

Omen Cullinane Weaver, 27, (any pronouns): Howdy Friends! I have been attending Powell House since the 4th grade and have been APing since I graduated in 2016. I live in Rochester with my partner Malice. I'm best known with the PoHo Crew for stickers, art, and being the crazy old man who sends children in search of wild people in the woods. I can't wait to see y'all soon!

Malice Garcia, 23, (He/They): Hello Friends! I am relatively new to PoHo and Quakerism, having discovered and unofficially joining both back in 2022 but I’ve fallen in love with the program. I have butlered for middle school conferences and attended many young adult weekends and I cannot explain the amount of joy, comfort, and belonging that the program and those involved have brought to my life. I live in Rochester NY with my partner, Omen and we’ve been doing what we can and offering our very best to every conference we possibly can! I have spent many years caring for and teaching children on and off and I love every second that I’ve been able to share my gifts with this community and help these already amazing kids continue to grow and flourish!

Nature & Me

4th - 5th Grade

In-Person at Powell House
June 13 - 15, 2025

A lot of people think of themselves as separate from nature. The truth is that we are as much a part of nature as any living being. Maybe you know this because some mornings you wake up and feel like a wild animal running through the house. Or maybe you feel connected to the slow and steady life of a plant, content to stay in one place as you are fed sunlight and water. Or maybe you just don’t feel like part of nature at all! At this conference we will explore what connects us to nature and how it feels to be in nature. You can expect games and plenty of time in the woods around Powell House.

Becks Anacheka-Nasemann, 23 (they/them). Becks grew up at Powell House as a 3rd generation attendee and as one of Chris and Mike’s kids. After graduating from the youth program in 2020, they have been working as an AP for all age groups and have loved seeing the ways that young people playfully build and uphold the community they hold so dear. Becks is a Mount Holyoke senior currently working towards a career in science education, and has worked as a babysitter, nanny, and tutor for children since age 13. When not at PoHo, Becks lives in Amherst, MA and enjoys hiking, watercolor art, cooking, and playing with their menagerie of pets (1 dog, 2 cats, and 2 pet rats).

Rosalie Presser, 21 (she/her).  Rosalie has been attending Powell House since 7th grade, first with Chris and Mike, then Sarah and Marty. Since graduating from the youth program in 2022 she has been attending Young Adult conferences, APing, and working in the kitchen with Kim. She enjoys her work on a small farm in Cambridge, NY. In her free time she loves to garden, dance, hike, play, and read.

Jillian Smith Age 36:  she/her or they/them: Poho youth alumni class of 2006! I identify as a feminist universalist Quaker who dabbles in Hinduism & I’m a member of NYYM. I was a JC back in the day and a co-facilitator with Mike. I served on the board of Poho for 9 years. I obtained my American Montessori Society certification in ages 3-6 during the pandemic. I’ve worked in a variety of industries.

Lucas Quintana, 23 (he/him).  Lucas has been attending the Powell House Youth Program since 5th grade.  He has become more involved in the last year working in the kitchen with Kim, attending committee meetings, volunteering and being an AP. Outside of Powell House Lucas works seasonally in the ski industry (as a slopes groomer) in Wyoming and in the Capital Region during the summer. He loves to spend his free time outdoors, skiing, backpacking, swimming, and enjoying sunlight whenever possible.

Young Adults (18+)

In-Person at Powell House
August 15 - 17, 2025

The mythical heroes of the world -- from Hercules to T'Challa to Katniss Everdeen -- have stories that explain how they came to have the powers and concerns they possess. What does it mean to consider our own origins? What superpowers -- or Kryptonite -- do our own pasts give us? Let's spend a weekend exploring the mythologies of our own lives and build community based on our strengths!

Beth Kelly, 46 (she/her): Hello, old and new friends! I serve New York Yearly Meeting as Children, Youth and Young Adult Community Director – and am the point person for Powell House’s youth programming teams this spring. I have worked with kids (tutoring, baby-sitting, camp-counselor-ing) since I was a teenager and worked as a pediatric hospital chaplain from 2013-2021. My favorite things to do at Powell House include listening to the wisdom of the group, singing songs, playing Primate Bellows, and walking to Dorson’s Rock. My favorite things to do when not at Powell House include singing, crossword puzzles, and physical play with my 4-year-old niece.

Monya Relles, 27 (they/them). Monya grew up as one of Chris and Mike’s kids and now their real job is at the Hitchcock Center for the Environment, training other educators and working with young people to learn about nature, science, engineering, and leadership. When they’re not working they can be found dancing, doing circus, hiking, and making weird zines. Their favorite memories of Powell House are tied between sardines on Friday nights and silent late night walks on Saturdays.

Lucas Quintana, 23 (he/him).  Lucas has been attending the Powell House Youth Program since 5th grade.  He has become more involved in the last year working in the kitchen with Kim, attending committee meetings, volunteering and being an AP. Outside of Powell House Lucas works seasonally in the ski industry (as a slopes groomer) in Wyoming and in the Capital Region during the summer. He loves to spend his free time outdoors, skiing, backpacking, swimming, and enjoying sunlight whenever possible.

In-Person at Powell House
September 26 - 28, 2025