We are excited to announce our new spring lobbying conference: Friends Changemaker Weekend (FCW)! This event will take place April 11–14, 2026, bringing together constituent leaders from across the country for education and action.
For those familiar with our previous Spring Lobby Weekend (SLW) and Quaker Public Policy Institute (QPPI), FCW is a new kind of gathering. We will no longer host SLW or QPPI; instead, this intergenerational conference will bring together students, advocates, and community leaders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Friends Changemaker Weekend?
This Spring 2026 FCNL is hosting first annual intergenerational advocacy conference: Friends Changemaker Weekend (FCW)! This event will bring together advocates from all over the country, building power and community across generations. From April 11-14, 2026, participants will learn about one of FCNL’s core legislative issues and take action together.
Will there be opportunities for people to participate virtually?
Yes! This event will take place both in-person and online. Here are in-person and virtual schedules. Virtual participants will not be lobbying with in-person participants, but they will have their own virtual action to take with FCNL staff. The virtual registration is already live and can be found here if you are interested.
What will we be lobbying for at FCW?
At FCW 2026 we will push back against this administration’s unprecedented, militarized actions, which have undermined congressional and constitutional authority. Claiming national security threats, the administration continues to justify violence, repression, and militarization in both international waters and U.S. city streets. Under the theme “No War at Home or Abroad,” constituents at Friends Changemaker Weekend will learn about and advocate for Congress to oppose this militarized approach.
Is there a schedule for the event?
Yes! You can find both in-person and virtual schedules on this page. The virtual schedule is only three days, and the in-person schedule is four days. Much of the programming will be hybrid, but there will also be virtual-only spaces and in-person only spaces.
What do you do if you’re interested in attending? The virtual registration is already live and can be found here if you are interested. In-person participation is limited, and we are inviting some leaders within our grassroots programs or General Committee to make up the in-person audience. These leaders will organize advocates in their community into a delegation, bringing a group to lobby together. If you need assistance to come to the event, here is an application for financial aid and here is an application for a discounted hotel room.
Where will the in-person event be held?
Friends Changemaker Weekend will take place at the Hilton Arlington National Landing Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. That address is 2399 Richmond Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202. We will also have programming at St. Marks Episcopal Church on the last day of the event. That address is 301 A St. SE. Transportation from the hotel to the church will be available, and if you register, there will be spaces to share any accessibility needs.
How much will the event cost to attend?
Virtual attendees must pay a 40-dollar registration fee. In-person attendees will be responsible for registration fees, lodging costs, and transportation costs. The registration fee is on a self-select range from 200-600 dollars. In-person registration is not yet open, and there will be more guidance on how to select your registration fee on the registration form. Housing and transportation costs depend on your own arrangements, but FCNL does offer discounted housing that you can apply for.
