2010 IMYM Annual Gathering Keynote Speaker

The theme for the 2010 Yearly Meeting Annual Session is “Quaker Service in the 21st Century.”

Our Keynote Speaker and resource person will be Kara Newell, a long time public Friend from Reedswood Friends Church in Portland, Oregon, a part of Northwest Yearly Meeting (Evangelical). Kara has traveled and worked among/for Friends of all stripes. She served eight years with Friends United Meeting and eight years with the American Friends Service Committee, from which she retired in early 2000.

In addition to her work with Friends, she has been active with Mercy Corps, an international relief organization also active in development work abroad. She has traveled to many parts of the world, not as a tourist but as one who is passionate about finding ways to better living conditions for simple, wonderful people, especially with self-help training and support.

She has always been active in her local meeting and has just completed three years as Clerk. She is also interested in outreach and education. For the past few years she has become immersed in the issue of immigrants in this country, especially those from Latin America, and works with other churches in the Portland area to address the needs of immigrant families.

Friends who are present for the Early Days will have an opportunity to participate in a series of “Conversations with Kara,” on various questions about Quaker service. She will follow-up her keynote address with interest group times to explore the challenges of our witness in the world. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother who will bring her insights and love to our young people as well.