Media Contact: Glenn Josey, Clerk of Trustees, 917.923.9348, trusteesclerk@nycquakers.org
For Immediate Release
New York, NY
24 February 2023
The Trustees of New York Quarterly Meeting, the governing body that embraces the five Quaker Meetings of New York City, have named Ted Bongiovanni as Executive Director.
In this new role, Ted will expand Friends’ historic work of stewardship bringing it into the 21st century, helping coordinate witness and outreach, engage with our dynamic and diverse surrounding communities, nurture the reach of our healing practice, and expand on the rich potential of Quaker life in New York City.
Ted is uniquely suited to meet these opportunities. He is an active member of Brooklyn Monthly Meeting and seasoned leader. At Brooklyn Monthly Meeting Ted is co-clerk of the Community Dinner Committee and serves on the Ministry and Counsel committee. He has also served on the New York Quarter’s Relief Committee. Professionally, Ted has led transformations, built teams, and launched new products and services at Consumer Reports, New York University, and the New York Times.
“We’re thrilled to have Ted join us and help shape this new role and expand the work and impact of Friends in New York City,” said Glenn Josey, Clerk of the Trustees for the Quarter. “We are at a transformational moment. Ted’s leadership skills coupled with his broad experience will help us define what it means to be a Quaker in NYC today.”
About Ted
Ted earned his BA from Susquehanna University and an MPA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He was a Coro Leadership New York Fellow. He earned a second master’s degree in Digital Media Design for Learning at NYU Steinhardt. He has also worked on Capitol Hill and been a Peace Corps Volunteer in Lithuania. More at Ted’s profile on LinkedIn.
About The New York Quarterly Meeting
The New York Quarterly Meeting is the governing body for five Quaker Meetings of New York City: Brooklyn Monthly Meeting; Fifteenth Street Friends Meeting; Morningside Monthly Meeting, Manhattan; Manhattan Monthly Meeting; Flushing Meeting; and Staten Island Meeting. The New York Quarter maintains Meeting Houses in Brooklyn and Manhattan and Friends Cemetery in Prospect Park. New York Quarterly Meeting is also the spiritual region for Flushing Monthly Meeting.
The Quarter maintains a spiritual connection with New York City’s three Quaker schools: Friends Seminary in Manhattan and Brooklyn Friends School and the Mary McDowell Friends School in Brooklyn.
About The Religious Society of Friends, “Quakers”
The Religious Society of Friends have lived and worshiped in New York City since the 17th century. Coming from diverse religious backgrounds, Friends look for spiritual guidance from many diverse sources, including direct, personal experience. We believe that within each person is a special power. Some call this power God, some the Holy Spirit; many Friends call it the Inner Light. We believe that everyone can experience this Light and that it can be the foundation for convictions and actions.
The Quaker way of worshiping together is a Meeting of people who seek the Inner Light. Meetings for worship begin in silence–no minister leads us; no formal prayers are said, nor hymns sung; no religious symbols are displayed. If someone is moved to speak, his or her words may enrich the understanding of those present. Both our silence and our spoken words bring us closer together. (Source, Brooklyn Monthly Meeting) Our diverse community also includes Manhattan Monthly Meeting.