Friends Welcomes Peace Week 2025 Speaker

We are excited to announce the details of Peace Week 2025, taking place January 21-24. For nearly two decades, Friends Seminary has set aside this special week to reflect on the Quaker testimony of Peace. This year’s theme, Growing Together through Silence and Dialogue, aligns with our school-wide focus for the 2024-2025 academic year. Throughout the week, we will explore how intentional silence and meaningful dialogue can be transformative tools for fostering peace in our communities and the wider world.

We are thrilled to welcome Meredith Evans '90, Director of the Carter Presidential Library in Atlanta, as our keynote speaker. Many of you may recognize Meredith from her moving contributions to the Larry Carter Legacy Fund video. Meredith, the first Black woman to direct a presidential library, was appointed to this role in 2015 by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). In her work, she emphasizes civic engagement, the role of the presidency in public policy, and expanding access to the records of President Carter and his administration. Meredith’s expertise spans the acquisition and preservation of diverse collections, community engagement, fundraising, and staff development. She is also an accomplished writer and speaker on the value of museums, libraries, and archives. Meredith holds advanced degrees in library science, public history, and a doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She will deliver her keynote on Thursday evening, January 23, at 6 PM and will also engage Upper School students in a lunch discussion earlier that day. To attend this evening event, please click here. This event is free and open to the greater Friends community, and will be preceded by a reception starting at 5:30 PM in the Common Room.

In addition to Meredith's visit, our Peace Week student assemblies on Friday, January 24, will feature two inspiring speakers:

• Lesa Cline-Ransome, a beloved children’s book author, will lead presentations for Lower School students and Grades 5-6.

• Dylan Marron '06, a critically acclaimed writer, actor, and podcaster, will address Grades 7-8 and Upper School students in two separate sessions.

Throughout the week, students across all grades will engage in classroom activities, division-wide programs, and all-school events that deepen their understanding of core values, social and environmental responsibility, and their role in bringing about a more peaceful world. Look out for more details in the coming weeks!