Poughkeepsie Friends Quaker Meeting

08/17/2026

🍃 Earthcare in Action 🍃

One of the ways put our testimonies into practice is through care for the Earth.

Poughkeepsie Friends Meeting was pleased to partner with Oakwood Friends School in securing an Earthcare Grant from New York Yearly Meeting - NYYM. That grant allowed for the creation of new educational signage for the Henry Brecher Sustainability Trail on campus.

The trail showcases several important features including the greenhouse, apiary, wetlands, and solar array. These spaces provide hands-on learning opportunities while demonstrating sustainable practices that support both the campus and the wider ecosystem.

The new signs help students, families, and visitors better understand the environmental impact of these projects and the interconnectedness of all living things.

🌻☀ We are grateful to New York Yearly Meeting, Oakwood Friends School, and the individual donors whose support made this project possible.

07/23/2026

What a great way to enjoy our local history!

9 Partners Meeting House, Millbrook - This is one of the stops on the 2026 Dutchess County Quaker Meeting House Tour: visit on July 12, August 9, September 13, October 11. Visit Quaker Meeting House Tour website for the full list of dates for ALL sites on the tour!
The hamlet of Mechanic was founded by Quakers around 1740 on the south side of present-day Millbrook near Route 343. In 1745, they constructed a brick meeting house, which still stands today. They added a boarding school in 1796, the Nine Partners Boarding School, which once educated students from all over the Northeast. The meeting house reportedly served as a station on the Underground Railroad, and it has been said that teachers at the Nine Partners Boarding School offered up their homes as sanctuary for those escaping slavery. Among the students who attended the school were abolitionist and suffragist Lucretia Mott, along with Daniel Anthony, the father of suffragist Susan B. Anthony. The Nine Partners Boarding School moved from its Millbrook location in 1863; it's now in Poughkeepsie and is still operating as the Oakwood Friends School.

We are counting down 25 ways to celebrate Rev250 with our Story Finder mobile passport. Check in at these attractions and events for your chance to an immersive Revolutionary-history experience in Dutchess County. Get yours here: https://destinationdutchess.com/story-finder-rev250

9 Partners Meeting House, Millbrook - This is one of the stops on the 2026 Dutchess County Quaker Meeting House Tour: visit on July 12, August 9, September 13, October 11. Visit Quaker Meeting House Tour website for the full list of dates for ALL sites on the tour!

The hamlet of Mechanic was founded by Quakers around 1740 on the south side of present-day Millbrook near Route 343. In 1745, they constructed a brick meeting house, which still stands today. They added a boarding school in 1796, the Nine Partners Boarding School, which once educated students from all over the Northeast. The meeting house reportedly served as a station on the Underground Railroad, and it has been said that teachers at the Nine Partners Boarding School offered up their homes as sanctuary for those escaping slavery. Among the students who attended the school were abolitionist and suffragist Lucretia Mott, along with Daniel Anthony, the father of suffragist Susan B. Anthony. The Nine Partners Boarding School moved from its Millbrook location in 1863; it's now in Poughkeepsie and is still operating as the Oakwood Friends School.

07/22/2026

Join us! ☮🗣😍 This Saturday, July 25th at 10:30 AM, we'll gather beside Sojourner Truth, at the west/Highland entrance to the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park and will make our way across. We'll walk together, talk together, spend some time in silence together, and maybe even sing a song or two. Feel free to bring a bag lunch, water to stay hydrated, a sun hat and a friend - all are welcome.

07/04/2026

The American Revolution was a dangerous time to be a Quaker. Because of their commitment to pacifism, most Quakers refused to support either side in the war. They would not serve in the military, donate war supplies, swear loyalty oaths, or use Continental currency, believing it had been issued to finance the war. Although Quakers opposed both the British and Patriot war efforts, many Americans viewed their pacifism as evidence of Loyalist sympathies.

In September 1777, as British troops approached Philadelphia, Congress ordered the arrest of a group of prominent Philadelphia Quakers, describing them as among "the most dangerous enemies America knows."

Twenty men were taken from their homes and sent into exile on the Virginia frontier. They were never formally charged with a crime, never convicted, and never granted a hearing to defend themselves. They were told they would be released if they pledged an oath to the American government, but they refused. Held far from home for more than seven months, they petitioned, wrote letters, and published pamphlets arguing for their release.

Back in Philadelphia, their wives and families endured the hardships of British occupation without the support and income of husbands, fathers, and sons. The Quaker women who were left behind organized for the prisoners’ release with the first political petition in American history written by women. Four of the Quaker women made the dangerous journey from British-controlled Philadelphia to Valley Forge to petition George Washington for the men's freedom.

The exiles were finally released in April 1778 after gaining public sympathy, though two had died during their confinement and two were publicly hanged for treason. The rest returned to Philadelphia where crowds of Friends and well-wishers gathered to welcome them.

This episode forced the new United States government to remember and reaffirm its commitment to the Revolutionary ideal of liberty.

07/03/2026

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the true architects of its rebellious spirit might not be the founding fathers you expect. This week, on the podcast, Quaker historian Max Carter joins us to unpack the radical, plain-speaking movement that quietly hardwired the nation's legal system, culture, and architecture. Discover how a "holy experiment" accidentally fueled a revolution and shaped the foundational values that Americans still live by today.

https://quakerpodcast.com/how-quakers-invented-america/

06/29/2026

Summer Sessions [email protected]/session/summer-sessions-2026

Sunday, July 12, 2026 - 4:00pm to Saturday, July 18, 2026 - 12:00pm

06/27/2026

Simplicity. Peace. Integrity. Community. Equality. Stewardship.

Living authically, working for non-violence, being completely honest, valuing and supporting neighbors, treating everyone with fairness and respect, taking care of the Earth's resources

These are the Quaker S.P.I.C.E.S, our testimonies, the core values we live by and celebrate in the world.

Happy Pride Month!

Dutchess Pride Center@https://www.dutchesspride.org/
New York City Pride@ https://nycpride.org/

06/27/2026

Join us for our Pride Fun Run! 🏳️‍🌈

June 28
9:00 a.m.
Fleet Feet Poughkeepsie

$15 from every race entry and 100% of all donations will go directly to the Dutchess Pride Center.

🔗 Link below to sign up!

https://runsignup.com/fleetfeetpoughkeepsiespridefunrun

06/25/2026

Poughkeepsie Friends are among the amazing family of volunteers at the Pleasant Valley Community Gardens.
For years, the group of growers has planted, watered, weeded, and gardened together, harvesting thousands of pounds of fresh, free, organic produce that's been delivered to a local food pantry.

Last year, more than 2,000+ pounds of Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans, Swiss Chard,large and small Tomatoes, Potatoes, Summer Squash, Basil, Oregano, Sage, Pumpkins, Sweet Potatoes, Letttuce, Peppers, Cabbage, Kale, Zucchini, Broccoli and more that have helped nourish families in need.

Join the fun! New growers are always welcomer,
https://pleasantvalleycommunitygardens.com/

06/25/2026

Saturday 150 sandwiches from our PB&J Brigade at Poughkeepsie Friends Quaker Meeting went to friends at Hope on Mission@https://www.hopeonamission.org/… a street outreach ministry dedicated to restoring dignity, with love and grace, to homeless and addicted women and men in Poughkeepsie, NY, and beyond."

As Quakers we believe in treating everyone, everywhere as equally precious, and in supporting one another in times of joy and sorry; sharing with and caring for each other.

Join us, every Sunday at 10am, in the Oakwood Friends School Meetinghouse for Quaker silent worship AND to continue the conversations and works in the name of community.



Join us!