Eppchez’s work centered on gender justice also includes eir ongoing project for gender-affirming wearable art, Darb Garb. Darb Garb currently provides services such as extending tiny pockets in pants labeled as women’s, adding pockets, shoulder modifications, general mending and whimsical packers. Ey is working on developing more comfortable alternatives to chest binders. And experiments with sustainable materials like upcycling plastic bags and kombucha leather. Darb garb also takes commissions and does consultations with gender expansive people needing to be held in their journey.
Eppchez is especially eager to share about a new organizing effort ey’re embarking on under the leadership of Black Visioning Group working for housing reparations in Philly. The patreon ey run to support rent for The Earlings, combines a transformative fundraising model and wealth distribution for the Black activist-artists living communally with Eppchez. Ey is creating a supportive community of white and/or wealthy people committed to reparations for black and indigenous communities. These folks will help to hold each other accountable to anti-rascist goals and actions they commit to and develop creative strategies for mobilizing themselves and their networks.
What else is on the horizon for Eppchez?
Eppchez continues to write and make theater and music. Ey is steady in eir work with Friend’s General Conference (FGC), pushing the organization to stay accountable to their stated priority of becoming “an actively anti racist faith community.” In the near future Eppchez plans to pursue training as a spiritual companion in order to better serve as a doula for people on the journey of gender transition and people seeking to step more fully into anti-racist/racially reparative action in their lives.
Read More Alumni Spotlights & News
Stories of Service: QVS Alumni Panel Recording
The Philadelphia QVS Local Support Committee hosted a special QVS Alumni Panel, which featured four young adults who served in QVS and currently live and work in the Philadelphia area. Panelists shared about the transformational experience of QVS, and how they are engaged in spiritually-grounded service and community today.
Connecting Quaker Values & Money
Lucas Richie served in 2018-2019 with Bread & Roses Community Fund in Philadelphia. Bread & Roses was one of QVS’ first site placement partners when we expanded to Philadelphia in 2013. Since then, they have hosted ten QVS Fellows to support their Giving Project and grants administration.
2020 Alumni Impact Report
In Spring 2020, QVS conducted a major outreach survey to gather stories and impact from QVS Alumni. The following report offers testimonials, statistics, and learnings across the three pillars of the QVS experience: Community, Spirituality, and Service.