Taylor Wicklund's QVS Fellowship Year

My name is Taylor Wicklund. I graduated early this June from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota with a degree in Geography and Political Science. I hope to explore various vocations in non-profit work, policy, and community development over the next few years before attending graduate school to further my education in Critical Human Geography. In September I will begin a year of service with Quaker Voluntary Service (QVS) in Minneapolis. QVS fosters dynamic relationships of service, witness, and worship in a living Quaker faith. In a world oppressed by the powers of violence, domination, exclusion and fear, QVS empowers transformative partnerships in the work of liberation and justice. QVS Fellows commit to a year of transformation through service, community, and the Quaker way. 

I am choosing to spend my next year in the QVS program post-graduation because I am hoping to focus my time and energies on transformation, growth, and community. I am especially excited by the unique opportunity to build a support network and live intentionally with other QVS fellows in my city, opportunities to explore my own spirituality while learning about Quakerism and being supported by the local Quaker community, and to work in a position that I feel matches my interests and abilities with positive community transformation.

For my site placement, I will be working for Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light (MNIPL) as a full-time Environmental Policy Organizer. MNIPL works to build the interfaith climate movement in Minnesota by empowering faith communities across the state to take action that is authentic, effective, and energizing in their context. My work with them as a QVS Fellow will allow this organization to further its mission and increase its capacity in ways that it would not otherwise be able to do.

All Fellows receive housing, medical care, a food stipend, and student loan counseling and support from QVS. I am aiming to raise $2,000 to help with my living expenses and program costs for the year in the program and hope you will consider donating. 

These funds will ultimately go towards the total cost of support QVS offers to me. Donating in my name will support my personal fundraising goal as well as the Minneapolis houses' collective goal. Examples of how these funds are used include: 

• $20 supports the costs of a monthly check in between a local coordinator and Fellow
• $40 covers one therapy session for any Fellow with mental health needs
• $100-150 provides each Fellow with a public transportation pass to get to & from their work placement
• $400 supports the cost of workshops and spiritual retreats allowing each Fellow the chance to continue education in social justice, faith, leadership, and community building work
• $600 offers a Fellow the opportunity to connect with the wider Quaker community through attending a conference and/or Quaker gathering

QVS is a registered 501(c)3 and all donations are eligible to be tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

If you would like to avoid credit card processing fees so 100% of your donation will go to QVS , please send a check with my name in the memo line to:

Quaker Voluntary Service
PO Box 8240
Atlanta, GA 31106

Thank you in advance for your support! I look forward to keeping you updated on my experience with QVS this year.