Way Opens Support Group

Every Friday. 1:00-2:00 PM. 17801 Meeting House Road.

The Maryland, Virginia, and DC region is poised to be hit hard by recent federal cutbacks, whether it’s the reduction of tens of thousands of federal jobs, cancelled contract work, or the loss of grant money supporting research at private institutions. Many people’s lives and livelihoods are facing unanticipated, and oftentimes painful, change.

Way Opens aims to help workers affected by federal cutbacks process the emotional and social experience of job loss and insecurity. We offer a space to share experiences, trade resources and information, and support one another without judgment.

The concept of “way opening” comes from the Quaker tradition. It’s a process of noticing the right path in the midst of change and disruption. When Quakers look for “way opening,” they work to notice the often subtle opportunities for progress during times when so much seems out of our control. Although our roots are grounded in Quaker practice, the Way Opens support group is welcome to individuals of any or no religious affiliation.

Way Opens is not a professional counseling service. We do not offer job search assistance or resume-building advice, although our volunteer facilitators are happy to refer participants to publicly available resources that do. Instead, Way Opens is a community-building project, allowing individuals to process complicated feelings around their job loss/insecurity in a safe, informal environment.

If you have questions about Way Opens, please email us office@sandyspring.org or call (301) 774-9792. Way Opens is available to all at no cost.