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.