Friends and Friction:
Learning through Conflict Across Generations
In-Person at Powell House
March 7 - 9, 2025
What happens when different generations of Friends have different ways of responding to conflict? What is possible when we spend time listening to how people of different ages try to get along? In this INTERGENERATIONAL GATHERING (everyone 13 and up is invited!) participants will meet in breakout groups by age to consider what we've learned about conflict, and then share the wisdom we have gathered with members of other generations and listen for how Spirit/Love/God is inviting us into new ways of relating. We’ll also play games, sing songs, and enjoy each other’s company!
Our team of facilitators/elders includes: Beth Kelly, James Underberg, and nova sturrup, and Sarena Acheson!
Conference Rates
Adults: $280
Youth (13-22): $170
Child (2-12): $110
Family Room: $600
Beth Kelly (she/her) serves as Children, Youth, and Young Adult Community Director for New York Yearly Meeting. She is a convinced Friend who wishes she’d had access to conflict transformation skills as a child and teenager. Beth’s work among Friends focuses on building community so we can create a magnificent future for ourselves and our world TOGETHER. She has extensive experience as a facilitator, as well as in spiritual care for children and adults alike. Beth is currently convening the ad hoc group of facilitators for the Powell House Youth Program’s period between youth directors.
James Underberg (he/him) is a question-asker with roots in Quakerism, Theravada Buddhism, and Catholic mysticism. Seeking to live all of life as a prayer, James has trained and served as a spiritual care provider, a meditation teacher, and a facilitator of workshops and retreats in hospital, college, and other settings. He serves on New York Yearly Meeting's Conflict Transformation and Worship committees.
nova sturrup (all pronouns) is a whimsical wonderer interested in worship and the ways faith informs imaginings and realities regarding community, belonging, and inclusion. nova’s eyes light up in conversation about finding the sacred in virtual space, liberation theologies, black literature as sacred text, and art-making as everyday ritual and spiritual practice. nova is the creator and facilitator of the black femme bible study, a sacred text workshop series rooted in the Truth of the black American experience as theologically and spiritually significant. nova currently serves the Religious Society of Friends as the Community Organizer of the New York Quarterly Meeting.