Amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, narratives of peace and solutions-oriented work have been harder to find. That’s part of what motivated Paul Parker and his fellow members of Eugene’s Quaker peace and justice committees to organize Gaza Today — and What We Are Called to Do in 2026. It is a presentation and discussion that brings voices with knowledge of what’s happening on the ground. The presenters are Jennifer Bing and Zoe Jannuzi, two national leaders with the American Friends Service Committee, who recently returned from public service work in Palestine. The event centers around a discussion of the current situation in Gaza and what actionable steps forward look like in 2026. Bing taught at Ramallah Friends School in Palestine in the late 1980s and has returned regularly as AFSC’s national director for Palestine activism, while Jannuzi serves as the organization’s activism program coordinator for Palestine and is an experienced policy analyst. Parker describes the situation in Palestine as “the canary in the mine shaft” for global justice, arguing that upholding international law has implications far beyond the Middle East. The presentation is about 30 minutes, followed by discussion and Q&A. Parker emphasizes that the event is open to everyone, regardless of religious denomination. “It’s really an important event for all persons who are interested in worldwide systems of justice, and how Palestine fits into that formula,” he says. — Mirandah Davis-Powell

Gaza Today — And What We Are Called to Do in 2026 is 4 pm to 5:30 pm on Friday, Jan. 23, at Eugene Friends Church, 2274 Onyx Street. Free. For more information, call 541-484-9998, email EugeneFriends3495@gmail.com or visit EugeneFriendsChurch.org.