EXPERTS & AFICIONADOS
FROM AROUND THE CORNER AND ACROSS THE GLOBE
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1 | UGANDA HUMANIST SCHOOLS TRUST
Uganda Humanist Schools Trust was set up as a charity in November 2008 to raise funds to help Ugandan Humanists to establish schools that offer inclusive education based on reason, compassion and tolerance. All schools teach the Uganda national curriculum and prepare students for public examinations. At the same time, they aim to develop self-confident students who care for each other and for their local communities. The schools encourage students to be open minded and questioning. They are taught to respect evidence and to appreciate the need for shared human values. In order to foster a spirit of understanding, students are introduced to both religious, as required by the national curriculum, and secular humanist life stances |
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10 | A CELEBRATION OF GRATITUDE | WITH HELP FROM THE WISE WORDS OF ROBIN WALL KIMMERER
"Give thanks for what you have been given. Give a gift, in reciprocity for what you have taken. Sustain the ones who sustain you and the earth will last forever." With a Robin Wall Kimmerer prerecorded talk, followed by members reading the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, and help from our SEEKers, we explored the beautiful world of gratitude, reciprocity, and The Honorable Harvest exquisitely explained by Robin Wall Kimmerer. As a botanist and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Kimmerer embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. She brings these lenses of knowledge together to show that the awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgment and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world. For only when we can hear the languages of other beings are we capable of understanding the generosity of the earth, and learning to give our own gifts in return. |
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NOVEMBER 3, 2024 | MUSIC SUNDAY | HOME GROWN TALENT AND ENTHUSIASTIC LISTENING
Music Sunday, one of our favorite events! This is our opportunity to enjoy musical entertainment from within our Society. Do you play a musical instrument? Do you enjoy singing? If so, please plan now to participate! This is NOT a talent show or competition of any kind. All levels of performance are welcome. If you'd like to collaborate with others and perform together, that's great! Serious music, parodies, cover songs, original work...anything goes! |
Louise Jett, Ethical Culture Leader
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OCTOBER 13, 2024 | ETHICAL THINKING AND DECISION-MAKING | LOUISE JETT, ETHICAL CULTURE LEADER
Every day, moral questions pop up all around us—in the news, at work, even on the sidelines of our kids’ soccer games. We face tough questions about the fairness of our country’s approaches to foreign policy, the ethics of life-extending medical treatments, the rights of people experiencing homelessness, and more. It’s not easy to tackle these issues. How do we start thinking about them? What questions should we ask? What should we keep in mind? Join Ethical Culture Leader Louise Jett as she explores Ethical Thinking and Decision-Making. Curious and compassionate, Louise Jett (she/her) is an Ethical Humanist, media specialist, graphic designer, writer and artist. In short, she is an educator and storyteller who strives to approach challenges with optimism and enthusiasm. An American Ethical Union certified Leader, she is truly inspired by people who are dedicated to empowering and caring for others. Louise loves connecting with new friends and old. She enjoys thinking deeply, good conversations, reading, playing video games and spending time with her family and pets. |
Dr. Layla Goushey
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OCTOBER 6, 2024 | PALESTINIAN HISTORY | DR. LAYLA GOUSHEY
This presentation was helpful for teachers and anyone who wanted to learn more about Palestinian history and related regional events that occurred during the late 1800s through 1948. We reviewed primary source documents from archival records to invite discussion about the roots of contemporary events. Dr. Layla Goushey (she/her) holds a Master of Fine Arts in CreativeWriting, an M.A. in History, and a PhD in Adult Education: Teaching and Learning Processes. |
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
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SEPTEMBER 29, 2024 | BUILDING AN INTERGENERATIONAL MOVEMENT FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE | VIRTUAL AEU PLATFORM: CROSS-GENERATIONAL CLIMATE ACTIVISM with THIRD ACT AND FRIDAYS FOR FUTURE
As Climate Week comes to a close, a panel convenes to look at the unique intergenerational nature of the Climate Justice Movement. Humans of all ages are teaming up to meet the ethical imperative of Climate Justice and to grow this movement. This panel will explore the intergenerational modes and methods that youth and elders have employed, in connecting across their generational divides for this global movement. |
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SEPTEMBER 22, 2024 | INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE OBSERVANCE | 2024 GLOBAL PEACE DAY THEME: CULTIVATING A CULTURE OF PEACE
Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.But achieving true peace entails much more than laying down arms. It requires the building of societies where all members feel that they can flourish. It involves creating a world in which people are treated equally, regardless of their race. The 2024 Global Peace Day Theme is Cultivating a Culture of Peace. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. Learn more here. |
Eric Johnston, Battalion Chief, O’Fallon Fire Protection District
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SEPTEMBER 15, 2024 | CPR TRAINING | ERIC JOHNSTON, BATTALION CHIEF WITH THE O’FALLON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
With a half-million cardiac arrests each year, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) can help save a life if a person's breathing or heart stops. It's not just for healthcare workers and emergency responders. In fact, CPR can double or triple the chance of survival when bystanders take action. Learn CPR so you're prepared for the minutes that matter the most. Battalion Chief, Eric Johnston with the O’Fallon Fire Protection District will conduct a CPR training class. Eric holds Missouri certifications in Firefighter I & II, Officer I & II, Fire Service Instructor I, and Paramedic. |
Tina Meier, Founder and Executive Director, Megan Meier Foundation
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AUGUST 25, 2024 | MEGAN'S STORY: THE LASTING IMPACT OF BULLYING, CYBERBULLYING, AND SUICIDE | TINA MEIER
Tina Meier, Founder and Executive Director of the Megan Meier Foundation, shares her daughter’s story and shows first-hand the devastating effects of bullying, cyberbullying, and suicide. Megan’s story touches students, parents, and educators in a deeply profound way reminding us to think before we speak, click, or act. Through Tina’s inspirational and educational message, the audience develops an empathetic awareness and understanding of others and are empowered to: “Be Megan’s Voice... Be the Change!” On October 16, 2006, Tina Meier’s life took a devastating turn when her 13-year-old daughter, Megan Taylor Meier, took her own life after being cyberbullied by an adult neighbor posing as a fictitious boy on MySpace. In 2007, Tina Meier founded the Megan Meier Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to support and inspire actions to end bullying, cyberbullying, and suicide. The Megan Meier Foundation has evolved into a global bullying, cyberbullying, and suicide prevention foundation serving over 685,000 people. |
Allison Hile
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AUGUST 11, 2024 | ABORTION IN MISSOURI—WHAT’S NEXT AND WHY | ALLISON HILE
What if the ballot initiative reinstating Roe doesn’t pass? What if it does? What will be different for people seeking abortion care in Missouri? What has changed in the past two years since Roe fell? Get an inside view of what’s going on and what you can do. Allison Hile has a master’s in counseling psychology with an emphasis in human sexuality. She worked at Hope Clinic, an independent abortion clinic across the river in IL, for 30 years, ran a statewide organization that trained adults to be better sexuality educators, and when she retired, she helped found the Missouri Abortion Fund and continues to serve on their board. Recently, a nurse asked her if she had any questions and she replied, “Yes! Do you know about the Missouri Abortion Fund? We help Missourians pay for care wherever they have to travel!” Allison and her husband, Matthew, have been members of the Ethical Society of St. Louis for 40 years. |
Rabbi Jordan Gerson
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AUGUST 4, 2024 | PERSPECTIVES ON ISRAEL, THE ONGOING CONFLICT, AND THE RISE OF ANTISEMITISM | RABBI JORDAN GERSON
Rabbi Jordan Gerson, WashU Hillels Silk Foundation Campus Rabbi and Chief Experience Officer will be discussing the connections of the Jewish people to the land of Israel, the founding of the modern state, the conflict with her neighbors and the Palestinian people including the current cycle of violence, and the rise of antisemitism here in America and around the world. Rabbi Jordan Gerson grew up in St. Louis. After graduating from Binghamton University with his bachelor's in Jewish Studies with a concentration in Jewish History, he attended the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles, California. In 2011 he was ordained and also received his Master’s degree in Rabbinic Studies. After three years in a small congregation in Northwest Florida, Rabbi Jordan returned to St. Louis as WashU Hillel’s Silk Foundation Campus Rabbi. For nearly 10 years Rabbi Jordan or RJ, as he is affectionately called by his students, has worked to support pluralism within the Jewish community at WashU and build connections with the broader campus community. During his time at WashU, Rabbi Jordan has led nearly 20 trips to Israel for both Jewish and non-Jewish students bringing almost 700 students to Israel to learn about Jewish identity and coexistence. |
Gary Sudin
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JULY 28, 2024 | THE SECRET AND HIDDEN MEANINGS OF COMMON NURSERY RHYMES AND FOLK SONGS | GARY SUDIN
Did you ever wonder where Humpty Dumpty came from? The meanings behind "Three Blind Mice", "Pop, Goes the Weasel", and other nursery rhymes? Or the meaning of the song, "Oh! Susanna"? All of these have history that has changed considerably over time. Gary Sudin shared his knowledge about the meanings behind your favorite childhood songs and rhymes through story telling and live musical performance. Gary has lectured around the world on emerging technologies for 15 years, and has run a computer networking company for 46 years. His vocation and hobbies include photography, travel, old cars, music, guitars, recording, humor, acoustics, technology, and his family. He takes all his hobbies to extremes. He has played guitar and been onstage throughout the world, with the likes of Tommy Emmanuel, Muriel Anderson, and Martin Simpson. |
Dr. Christopher Harris
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JUNE 30, 2024 | ALL-SOCIETIES PLATFORM: STANDING UP TO BOOK BANNING | DR. CHRISTOPHER HARRIS
Attempts to ban books from all types of libraries continue to rise at an unprecedented level across the country. The American Library Association reported attempts to censor 4,249 unique titles of library books and resources in 2023. This is the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago and a 65% increase over 2022. Learn how concerned people can support the Freedom to Read along with the many partners of the Unite Against Book Bans campaign led by the ALA. Dr. Christopher Harris is the Director of a School Library System in Western New York and a Senior Policy Fellow with the American Library Association. He was a participant in the first American Library Association Emerging Leaders program in 2007 and was honored as a Library Journal Mover and Shaker in 2008. His policy work with the ALA has included equity of access to ebooks, coding for youth, and most recently the Unite Against Book Bans campaign. Dr. Harris is an author, speaker, gamer, and member of his local public library board of trustees. |
Hugh Taft-Morales, Ethical Culture Leader
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JUNE 23, 2024 | BEYOND WAR AND SILENCE | HUGH TAFT-MORALES, ETHICAL CULTURE LEADER
On April 4, 1967, at New York City’s Riverside Church, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the speech “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence.” In it, he condemned the harm done by the war to poor people here and in Vietnam. And he called for its immediate end by nonviolent means. As the current heartbreaking violence in the Middle East leads to both angry shouting and fearful silence, Hugh Taft-Morales looks to King’s wisdom for guidance in discussing the crisis without becoming polarized. How can we avoid dehumanizing people and planting the seeds for future killing? How can we speak up constructively? Hugh Taft-Morales serves as Leader of the Baltimore and Philadelphia Ethical Societies. He is Secretary of the National Leaders Council and is a member the American Ethical Union’s Lifespan Education Team. He taught history for twenty-five years in Washington, D. C. He lives in Takoma Park, Maryland, with his wife, they have three wonderful adult children. Hugh's hobbies include yoga, playing guitar, singing, and watching way too much sports. |
Amy Miller, Interim Director, Ethical Society Saint Louis
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MAY 5, 2024 | AMY MILLER, INTERIM DIRECTOR AT ETHICAL SOCIETY SAINT LOUIS | EASYISH: KEYS TO (RELATIVELY) EASY RELATIONSHIPS
From a decade of marriage and relationship counseling and coaching comes a working theory that relationships should be hallmarked by relative ease and moreover, can be whatever you want them to be! Clinical social worker, mediator, author, and current Interim Director of the Ethical Society of St Louis, Amy L. Miller, offered a candid and interactive exploration of what healthy relationships look like. |
Dan Zarlenga, Missouri Department of Conservation
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APRIL 21, 2024 | BRINGING BACK NATURE | DAN ZARLENGA
Dan Zarlenga from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will discuss efforts to bring back native species and habitat, from deer and turkey in Missouri's forests, to prairies in St. Louis' urban cemeteries. Dan is the Media Specialist for MDC's St. Louis region, where he has served for the past 16 years. Prior to that he worked for 12 years in the audio/video production unit at MDC's state headquarters in Jefferson City. With a BA in Communications, he began his career in radio and video production prior to coming to MDC. |
Greg Bonin,
Ethical Culture Leader |
APRIL 14, 2024 | JOY IS AN ACT OF RESISTANCE | GREG BONIN, ETHICAL CULTURE LEADER
What is the work of human relationships, and what role does joy have in resistance, survival, and thriving? Ethical Culture Leader Greg Bonin explores the concept of Durable Joy. “Joy is an act of resistance” originates from a title published by poet Toi Derricotte. Ethical Culture Leader Greg Bonin is the AEU's Director of Administration and Organizational Culture, and a Candidate for ministerial fellowship with the Unitarian Universalist Association. Greg specializes in institutional and organizational facilitation, bringing a praxis grounded in embodiment, humanistic interdependence, and reflective inquiry as a method for lifelong formation. Greg is especially curious about queering practices that create spaces where transformative paradigms can emerge. |
Rick Beemer, NASA Solar System Ambassador
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APRIL 7, 2024 | SOLAR ECLIPSE | RICK BEEMER
Rick Beemer has had a passion for space exploration since watching the first lunar landing live as a child. Even then he was educating the neighborhood kids about the Apollo program with demonstrations using models of the Saturn V rocket, space photographs, and other space related items. During his lifelong career in the financial services industry, he learned that what he enjoyed most was learning and educating others, which led him to working as a professional trainer, presenter, facilitator, and voiceover artist. In the role of Solar System Ambassador, Rick is able to combine his two passions of space exploration and helping others to learn.) |
Randy Best, Ethical Culture Leader
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MARCH 24, 2024 | ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | RANDY BEST, ETHICAL CULTURE LEADER
Randy Best recently had a conversation with ChatGPT. It was informative, and did not illustrate any of the misinformation and creativity that Artificial Intelligence often presents. Although his experience was all right, Artificial Intelligence is a subject of concern in many areas. Randy spoke about his experience with A.I. along with his concerns about how it may alter humanity’s future. A life-long member of Ethical Culture, Randy was born in St. Louis and grew up attending the St. Louis Ethical Society. Since 2016 Randy serves as the Leader of the Northern Virginia Ethical Society. Previously, he was Leader of the Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle and the Ethical Society Without Walls. Randy received a B.A. from Grinnell College and a Master’s Degree from Harvard University. He is also a graduate of the Humanist Institute, certified Mediator, and Pastoral Counselor. Randy has four grown children who were homeschooled. Randy is also an avid bicycle rider. |
Melanie Williams,
President, Pursuit 3416 |
MARCH 10, 2024 | END ALL CRIMES AGAINST THE INNOCENT | MELANIE WILLIAMS
Melanie Williams is Founder and President of Pursuit 3416, a network of passionate people partnering with various entities to bring awareness and equip the community with tools to be advocates to end Grooming, Social Media Manipulation, and Human Trafficking. Pursuit 3416 believes there is a desperate need for education and awareness of the impact and tragedy grooming and human trafficking is having on this generation. Their objective is to provide tools to help stop this heinous crime. Fiercely driven to end all crimes against the innocent, Melanie has seen first hand the effects of those manipulated and abused. Working with Sex Trafficked Survivors for over 9 years lead Melanie to enter the battle on the other side. Her goal is to squash this insidious crime before it begins. |
John Daken
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MARCH 3, 2024 | PERSPECTIVES ON ETHICAL SOCIETY LEADERSHIP | JOHN DAKEN
The philosophy undergirding the movement of Ethical Societies in the U.S. is egalitarian — recognizing the inherent worth of every individual and inviting its adherents to help those around them to achieve their full potential. Such a philosophy calls for inclusive decision-making and humble leadership. Yet the movement’s founder Felix Adler assumed a heroic role that has served as a model for the movement’s professional leaders ever since. This address will examine what might have led Adler to fall short of his own philosophy, then propose how the movement can revitalize itself by embracing a new kind of leadership. John Daken has been a member of the ethical movement for over 25 years. He pursued training for professional Ethical Culture leadership in 2005-07 before disenrolling in favor of lay leadership roles. He went on to serve as President of the Washington Ethical Society and is presently a Board member of the American Ethical Union. He makes his home in Silver Spring, MD. |
Cheri Crockett
Don Crozier
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FEBRUARY 25, 2024 | LWV: PARTICIPATING IN DEMOCRACY AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS | CHERI CROCKETT & DON CROZIER
Participating in democracy is a right and obligation that goes far beyond voting in the national elections. Governments on the local and state levels are every bit as important but it can be much harder to find information about what is going on at these levels of government and to know how to make your voice heard about the issues you care about at these levels of government. This League of Women Voters presentation will provide you with the information and the tools you need to fully participate in your state and local governments so that you can help to shape the policies that your elected officials adopt for your state and community. The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization whose primary role is registering voters, ensuring access to the ballot and helping citizens to be informed about the issues important to them. Cheri Crockett is a retired CPA who moved to St. Charles with her husband Jack in 2019 to be closer to their daughter and son-in-law. Since moving to the area, she has taken up voting rights as her new unpaid profession becoming actively involved in the League of Women Voters through serving on the LWV Metro St. Louis Board of Directors, Co-Chairing the Membership Committee and Co-Leading the St. Charles Unit. When she is not doing League work, Cheri and her husband coordinate the Walk-up Food Pantry at New Hope Presbyterian Church and she enjoys walking, reading and contemplative practices. Don Crozier is a retired aerospace engineer who has been involved with voting rights for a number of years. He's done volunteer work for the League of Women Voters and the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition and is the St Charles County coordinator for the nationwide Election Protection program. Don ran unsuccessfully for Missouri State Senate in 2010. |
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FEBRUARY 11, 2024 | DARWIN DAY | CELEBRATING SCIENCE, EDUCATION, AND HUMAN WELL-BEING
A fun day of interactive learning about science, life on our globe, and the theory of evolution. It was a great time for humans 1 to 100! International Darwin Day is celebrated on February 12th to inspire people throughout the globe to reflect and act on the principles of intellectual bravery, perpetual curiosity and learning, scientific exploration, and hunger for truth. Darwin Day is a day of celebration, activism, and international cooperation for the advancement of science, education, and human well-being. |
Darwin's theories and belief in human unity was in direct contrast to the majority of his contemporaries. To learn more about Darwin's intellectual bravery, his involvement in the abolitionist movement, and understand what he risked by publishing On the Origin of Species, we recommend the following well-researched book, Darwin's Sacred Cause: Race, Slavery and the Quest for Human Origins by respected Darwin scholars, Adrian Desmond and James Moore. You can also watch James Moore's lecture on the book here.
Ashwini Kherdekar
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FEBRUARY 4, 2024 | ENGAGING IN COLLECTIVE RACIAL HEALING WORK | ASHWINI KHERDEKAR
Systemic racism is embedded into the structures that surround us as helping professionals, including in our schools, government offices, legal systems, and non-profit entities. Yet, although racism exists, we don't often talk about its effects on us. Ashwini (Ash) Kherdekar (Ash-win-ee, she/her/hers) believes that we can all begin to heal from the effects of systemic racism by changing our intra- and interpersonal interactions. In this workshop, participants "leaned in" and tried some practical activities that engage a collective healing process. Ash is a Clinical Social Worker whose work, in recent years, has centered on building cultures of understanding through leadership development, interpersonal communication development, and by building strong relationship within groups. Ash has had a long career working with diverse populations in a variety of organizational settings. It is Ash's desire to help organizations improve their cohesion, connection, and communication AND do so mindfully, with a focus on diversity, inclusion, and equity. Ash has two graduate degrees, one in Interpersonal Communication from New York University and one in Social Work from the City University of New York. |
Mama Lisa,
Fundisha Enterprises International |
JANUARY 28, 2024 | TRADITIONS FROM THE DIASPORA | MAMA LISA
Mama Lisa is the president, founder, and artistic director of Fundisha Enterprises International, which focuses on empowering the community through the preservation of African culture and the celebration of performing arts traditions from the Diaspora. With more than 40 years of professional performance experience, Mama Lisa brings seasoned expertise in academics, percussion, dance, storytelling, craft and oral history. The University City Municipal Commission on Arts & Letters has named Mama Lisa Gage as its Returning Artist for the 2023-24 school year. The renowned artist entered the school district of University City as a sixth grader and graduated from University City High School in 1980. We are very excited to welcome Mama Lisa Gage. |
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JANUARY 7, 2024 | YOU'RE THE ENEMY—WELCOME BACK | PANKAJA BROOKE DOCUMENTARY
This documentary tells the story of how some brave American veterans of the war in Vietnam have found resolution and healing by coming back to the place their country devastated, to help heal the legacy of the war. The amazing forgiveness and optimism of the Vietnamese people as they welcome these former enemies with open arms is the most potent form of therapy for the Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, and the guilt, which made the lives of many U.S. veterans so painful when they returned home. You can watch YOU'RE THE ENEMY—WELCOME BACK here. Pankaja's film received an Honorable Mention at the My Hero 10th Annual Film Festival, and was an Official Selection of the Impugning Impunity Alba Human Rights Documentary Film Festival, and the London International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema. |
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DECEMBER 17, 2023 | HUMANLIGHT | REASON, COMPASSION, AND HOPE
HumanLight is a secular holiday that occurs annually on December 23rd. It's a day to celebrate and express the positive, secular, human values of reason, compassion, humanity and hope. HumanLight illuminates a positive, secular vision of a happy, just and peaceful future for our world, a future which people can build by working together, drawing on the best of our human capacities. |
Winnie O'Leary
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DECEMBER 3, 2023 | THE KINDNESS INITIATIVE: FOSTERING A COMPASSIONATE SOCIETY | WINIFRED O'LEARY
The Kindness Initiative, is a program developed by Winifred (Winnie) O'Leary and her colleagues. It is designed to promote kindness as an ethical imperative. In this presentation, Winnie explored the significance of kindness in our lives and society and the research that supports the intentional instruction of kindness. We learned about the instigation and creation of the curriculum, diving into the four pillars of the initiative--respect, appreciation, understanding, and empathy—and highlighted their potential impact. Winnie lead a discussion on how to integrate kindness and extend its reach. She stressed the importance of intentional kindness education for personal and societal development and concluded with a call to action to embrace and spread kindness. |
Winnie O’Leary has spent close to thirty years in education as a classroom teacher, school board member, a family advocate, special education teacher, curriculum writer, National Intervention Specialist and Educational Initiative Manager. She has recently joined the Kindness Collaboration to write and implement The Kindness Initiative. Winnie earned a BA from Mary Washington College and an MEd from the University of New Orleans. Her experiences have allowed her to work with districts all over the country where she finds something new and exciting every day.
Andy Stanton
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NOVEMBER 12, 2023 | THE THREAT TO AMERICAN DEMOCRACY | ANDY STANTON
Andy discussed the problems facing American democracy, including the ideological roots of our democratic government and its founding document, our Constitution. Andy pointed out the many flaws in the Constitution and attempts to redress them. He showed a 15 minute video of an excellent talk given by Harvard Law School Professor Michael Klarman to the 2023 graduating class of law students concerning the current threat to American democracy. |
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NOVEMBER 5, 2023 | ST. CHARLES CITY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION | CHUCK LOVELACE AND KATHLEEN THOMPSON
Chuck Lovelace and Kathleen Thompson from the St. Charles City Human Relations Commission (HRC), join us to discuss their work. The purpose of the HRC is to:
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The Human Relations Commission employs various means to inform and engage the Saint Charles community in an effort to fulfill their purpose. They sponsor and participate in events, and have created a Learning Library to provide educational materials for those interested. They keep the community up-to-date and involved via the City's printed and emailed newsletters and Facebook page. The HRC uses the Municipality Equality Index to measure how welcoming the City is to people in the LGBTQ+ community, and they recognize a Person of the Year who represents their vision and ideals.
Sam Pizzigati
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OCTOBER 29, 2023 | ALL SOCIETY PLATFORM: ADLER AND INEQUALITY | AUTHOR AND LABOR JOURNALIST, SAM PIZZIGATI
Felix Adler established America’s first free kindergarten for working families in the late 19th century. In the early 20th century, he led the first successful national campaign against child labor and came very close to achieving his egalitarian vision in the mid-20th century. Recently, we have moved in the completely opposite direction with the widening of the wealth gap making inequality in this country too obvious for anyone to ignore. How can we best turn things around? As Adler puts it, how can we tax away “pomp and pride and power”? Sam explored some of the fascinating new approaches to addressing inequality both here and abroad by demonstrating how the best way to chip away at this issue is to start locally. |
Sam Pizzigati is currently an Associate Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies and co-editor of Inequality.org, an online portal that has been tracking global inequality for over 20 years. He was the Director of Publishing at the National Education Association, our country’s largest union, for over ten years. Sam is also an esteemed labor journalist with his op-eds appearing in outlets across the globe from The New York Times to Le Monde Diplomatique. He has written multiple books on inequality as well, exploring Adler’s story in his 2012 book, The Rich Don’t Always Win. To read his latest work, check out The Case for a Maximum Wage.
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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22 | BANNED BOOK READINGS
The book club members will read selections from banned books. Missouri is one of the top ten states when it came to the number of book bans according to a recent report by PEN America. There have been dozens of books challenged or pulled from the shelves at Missouri school districts in the last year, and it is part of a growing national trend that has the American Library Association (ALA) reporting it is set to see more book challenges than the record set in 2021. The report found over 2,500 instances of individual books being banned, affecting 1,648 unique book titles. The ALA found that between January 1 and August 31, 2022, there were 681 documented attempts to ban or restrict library resources, and 1,651 unique titles. In all of 2021, there were 729 reported attempts to censor resources, the highest number since it began compiling lists over 20 years ago. |
Jeff Bender
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OCTOBER 8, 2023 | WORKING TO CREATE A WORLD IN WHICH ALL FEEL SAFE, CELEBRATED, AND FULLY ACCEPTED | JEFF BENDER
Jeff Bender has been recognized for his insightful works that promote inclusion, acceptance, and positive change in our community. His company, The Lion and The Owl, mirrors these values, further extending his reach and impact. Jeff's latest books explore the depths of human relationships, understanding, and acceptance. "Oh, I Just Didn't Know; 11 Thoughtful Conversations for Grandparents and Grandchildren" opens a heartwarming dialogue between generations, while "Apparel Has No Gender" provides a thoughtful commentary on gender identity and acceptance from the perspective of a father raising a transgender daughter. At the event, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in insightful discussions and participate in Q&A sessions. |
"As a father to two exceptional and distinct daughters, I recognize the importance of providing my children with the necessary support to lead authentic and satisfying lives. It is especially crucial for my 9-year-old transgender daughter, Caden, to have her identity accepted and safeguarded by society. That's why I made the courageous choice to leave my job and dedicate myself to advocating for her rights and welfare.
My wife Anna and I are dedicated to creating a world in which our daughters can feel safe, celebrated, and fully accepted for who they are. We believe that everyone should be able to embrace their true selves without fear of judgment or discrimination. Our hope is that through our dedication and passion, we can help create a brighter and more inclusive future for all."
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OCTOBER 1, 2023 | ANNUAL MUSIC SUNDAY
All members were welcome to sign up to share their musical abilities. From beginner to experienced musicians, serious, humorous, thoughtful, long, short, kids and adults, whatever was performed was warmly welcomed and appreciated! This is always such a fun celebration of our community. |
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2023 | OVERDOSES AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER IN ST. CHARLES COUNTY AND CRUSH OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY COALITION | JESSICA McHUGH & BRENNAN BURK
Jessica McHugh, with St. Charles County Government, Public Health joined us to discuss C.R.U.S.H.(Community Resources United to Stop Heroin). This coalition serves as a centralized resource hub to ensure that accurate, relevant, and up-to-date information about the epidemic use of heroin and other opioids is available to both the general public and to those organizations actively working to address the issue in the region. |
Jessica discussed data on substance use disorder and overdose in our community, along with some resources and efforts that are currently underway. She also discussed the local coalition that is addressing substance use disorder and overdoses through prevention and educational efforts.
Jessica McHugh has been an Epidemiologist with St. Charles County Department of Public Health, for 6.5 years and has been in the public health field for over 8 years. Brennan Burk is an Epidemiologist with St. Charles County Department of Public Health and has been with the county for over a year.
Jessica McHugh has been an Epidemiologist with St. Charles County Department of Public Health, for 6.5 years and has been in the public health field for over 8 years. Brennan Burk is an Epidemiologist with St. Charles County Department of Public Health and has been with the county for over a year.
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SEPTEMBER 10, 2023 | 2023 GLOBAL PEACE DAY THEME: ACTIONS FOR PEACE: OUR AMBITION FOR THE #GLOBALGOALS.
We celebrated our observance of International Peace Day. We honored the day with three actions:
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Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on September 21. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. Achieving true peace entails much more than laying down arms. It requires the building of societies where all members feel that they can flourish. It involves creating a world in which people are treated equally, regardless of their race.
The 2023 theme is a call to action that recognizes our individual and collective responsibility to foster peace. Fostering peace contributes to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will create a culture of peace for all. The SDGs aim to bring us closer to having more peaceful, just, and inclusive societies, free from fear and violence. Learn more here.
The 2023 theme is a call to action that recognizes our individual and collective responsibility to foster peace. Fostering peace contributes to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will create a culture of peace for all. The SDGs aim to bring us closer to having more peaceful, just, and inclusive societies, free from fear and violence. Learn more here.
Andrew Stevenson
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AUGUST 27, 2023 | THERAPY ON YOUR TERMS: MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IN ST. CHARLES COUNTY | ANDREW STEVENSON
Andrew Stevenson from Ellie Mental Health discussed new mental health services available in our neighborhoods, working to destigmatize and normalize access to mental health services in our local communities. Founded in 2015, Ellie's mission is to compassionately transform the culture of mental health care by providing creative solutions that make wellness accessible in every community. Caring for your mental health, and being vulnerable with someone you just met can seem scary, Ellie strives to make each appointment as comfortable and as fun as possible. Andrew is the owner of the St. Charles, Lake St. Louis, and Wentzville Ellie Mental Health territories. He is a St. Louis/St. Charles native and Webster University alum. |
Jonathan Losos
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AUGUST 13, 2023 | THE CAT'S MEOW: HOW CATS EVOLVED FROM THE SAVANNA TO YOUR SOFA | AUTHOR, JONATHAN LOSOS
Biologist Jonathan Losos asks, does your cat’s cry for food sound different from it's meow for attention? How come Mr. Whiskers is “making biscuits” on your belly? Losos made his career studying lizards, but he’d pet cats every chance he got. And his new book, “The Cat’s Meow, How Cats Evolved from the Savanna to Your Sofa” applies an evolutionary lens to the domesticated pet, exploring why they — yes — meow, but also trill, howl, growl, hiss, snarl, purr and chirp. It also looks at where outdoor cats like to prowl and whether our cats are really that different from lions and tigers. Losos joined us to share more about our feline friends. Losos has written two books, most recently The Cat’s Meow: How Cats Evolved from the Savanna to your Sofa. He is also an author of a leading college biology textbook. Losos has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and is the recipient of the Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal from the National Academy of Sciences, among other awards. |
Jonathan Losos is a biologist known for his research on how lizards rapidly evolve to adapt to changing environments. Jonathan was born and raised in Saint Louis. He went to college at Harvard University and received his PhD in Zoology from the University of California, Berkeley. After a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at U.C., Davis, Jonathan came to Washington University for his first faculty position. While here, he served as the Director of the Tyson Research Center and the Environmental Studies program, before leaving in 2006 to become a professor of biology at Harvard. He returned to Washington University in 2018 as the William H. Danforth Distinguished University Professorship and Director of the Living Earth Collaborative, a partnership between Wash U., the Saint Louis Zoo and the Missouri Botanical Garden. The collaborative’s mission is to advance knowledge of biodiversity and to ensure the future of earth’s species.
Louise Jett: Ethical Culture Leader In Training
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AUGUST 6, 2023 | ETHICAL FOUNDATIONS – FELIX ADLER & THE BIRTH OF A MOVEMENT | LOUISE JETT: ETHICAL CULTURE LEADER IN TRAINING
Ethical Culture Founder Felix Adler strived to create a movement that was free of supernatural underpinnings and dogma, one that would focus on the intrinsic worth and dignity of people. Adler envisioned communities that are committed to living ethically and dedicated to moral action in the absence of eternal rewards or damnations. Adler’s vision led to the birth of our movement. |
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JULY 30, 2023 | THE ENCAMPMENT FOR CITIZENSHIP | ALL-SOCIETIES PLATFORM
Since its founding in 1876, the Ethical Culture movement has founded or co-founded several organizations. One of them is The Encampment for Citizenship, a progressive youth leadership program that met for the first time in the summer of 1946. Today, it has been reinvigorated by alumni determined to offer a new generation an experience similar to one they had as teenagers that changed their lives forever. They became leaders in their chosen fields, always advocating for participatory democracy for everyone. During this Platform, we will hear from them and recent Encampers about youth activism and intergenerational social justice. |
Dr. Nori Rost
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JULY 23, 2023 | SPIRITUAL LESSONS OF SUPERHEROES | DR. NORI ROST
It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! No, it’s... it’s... it's...? In this presentation, Dr. Rost will explore the spiritual lessons of superheroes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and what they can teach us mere mortals about how to live an ethical, fulfilling life. Nori will be live, but on the screen as she lives in NYC. |
Nate Kennedy, Veterans Community Project
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JULY 9, 2023 | VETERANS COMMUNITY PROJECT | NATE KENNEDY
Join in for a presentation on the history of Veterans Community Project (VCP). Nate will discuss the Veteran population VCP serves, the services provided, and opportunities for the Community to support in VCP's efforts. Nate Kennedy is the Community Engagement Coordinator for VCP St. Louis. In this role he organizes volunteers and third-party events, recruits members for the VCP Honor Corps monthly giving program, and manages social media. Kennedy is from Poplar Bluff, Missouri.He holds a degree in Sociology from the University of Missouri and a Masters degree in Public Service from the Clinton School of Public Service. In the past, Nate has worked for political campaigns from the local to the statewide level in Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee. He has also worked with several nonprofits including Hope North, a school for former child soldiers in Uganda, and the Learning Lab, which he helped launch with his mother, achieving her lifelong dream of opening a nonprofit tutoring center in their hometown. |
Louise Jett: Ethical Culture Leader In Training
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JUNE 25, 2023 | 10:30 AM | REASON, DISCUSSION, COMPASSION: THE WOMEN OF ETHICAL HUMANISM | LOUISE JETT: ETHICAL CULTURE LEADER IN TRAINING
Women have helped shape Ethical Humanism into the movement it is today, and they continue to impact and lead our congregations. During this Platform Address, we will take a deep dive into the women Humanists who championed our values and strived to make the world a more just and fairer place for all people. A lifelong learner, Louise is an educator at heart. She loves to share knowledge. As Creative Director, she collects and publishes Ethical Society stories and news to spread awareness of our incredible community. She also creates slides and other graphics to keep people informed. Louise is an Ethical Humanist and American Ethical Union Leader-in-Training. She is dedicated to growing the Ethical Culture movement and helping others cultivate meaning in their lives. She works full-time at Lewis and Clark Community College as a faculty member and coordinator for the Graphic and Web Design programs. In her downtime, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Luke, and their adult son, Keenan. |
Deana Tucker Dothage
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JUNE 4, 2023 | THE ENGAGED NEIGHBOR PROGRAM | DEANA TUCKER DOTHAGE, MPA
Being an active and engaged neighbor can help people, organizations, and communities to expand participation while respecting differences and embracing the diversity that makes communities vibrant places to live, work, and play. The "Engaged Neighbor" program goal is to create a more connected and caring community, and to create people who live with kindness and concern for neighbors. |
Brett Bartrum
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MAY 7, 2023 | SHOW-ME ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | BRETT BARTRUM
A walkthrough of today's consumer useable Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, how they work, what they are capable of and what they can do in the future. This discussion explored the ethical implications of AI. Brett Bartrum is a technology enthusiast. Has spent the past 16 years working in information technology. Hobbyist AI researcher who likes to inject the latest technology into his life. Has researched and tested Self-flying AI Drones, self-driving AI cars, AI human and facial recognition, AI generated content and prompt engineering. |
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APRIL 30, 2023 | YOUTH V. STATE OF MONTANA | OUR CLIMATE FUTURE WITH OUR CHILDREN’S TRUST
The All-Societies Platform will feature special guests from Our Children’s Trust who recently appeared on the front page of The New York Times! This is a great opportunity to meet the lawyer and some of the youth plaintiffs in the upcoming lawsuit Held v. State of Montana, the first-ever constitutional and children’s climate trial in U.S. history- which will begin on June 12th in Helena, Montana. |
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APRIL 8, 2023 | GREENWOOD CEMETERY MAINTENANCE | ETHICS IN ACTION
Ethical Society members met at Greenwood Cemetery to work alongside members of the Greenwood Cemetery Preservation Association. Greenwood Cemetery was organized in 1874 to serve the needs of the growing black population of post-civil war St. Louis and St. Louis County. It was the first commercial non-sectarian cemetery for African Americans in the St Louis metropolitan area. More than 50,000 Africans Americans are buried within Greenwood’s 31.85 acres, including Harriet Scott. Greenwood Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 26, 2004. |
This is part of an ongoing movement to honor Black Lives in America and to reclaim black cemeteries across the country. Greenwood had been featured on MSNBC.
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APRIL 9, 2023 | DESCENT INTO AMERICA'S NEO-NAZI MOVEMENT—AND HOW I GOT OUT | CHRISTIAN PICCIOLINI-TED X
At 14, Christian Picciolini went from naïve teenager to white supremacist -- and soon, the leader of the first neo-Nazi skinhead gang in the United States. How was he radicalized, and how did he ultimately get out of the movement? In this courageous talk, Picciolini shares the surprising and counterintuitive solution to hate in all forms. |
Alex Bingham, President
Zack Diebold, IT Director, Resources Department Director
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APRIL 2, 2023 | FIND THE LIGHT FOUNDATION | ALEX BINGHAM AND ZACK DIEBOLD
We will welcome Alex Bingham and Zack Diebold from the Find the Light Foundation. They will share the importance of strong mental health environments in schools in order to end suicide and death from overdose in our youth. In addition, they will share some exciting free resources available to your group and the community at large from the Find the Light Foundation to help both before crisis, and when those moments come. Find the Light arose from heartbreak. After losing a member of our community to suicide, students and alumni of a Missouri school district looked around and realized that nearly everyone had lost someone to a mental health crisis in their teens or early twenties. This inspired a group of students, alumni, family, and teachers from all walks of life to come together for a single purpose: to make sure that #NotOneMore young person is lost to the epidemic of addiction and suicide. We work to reduce death by suicide and overdose by advocating for more open and effective mental health curriculum and conversations at school and home. Find the Light is entirely operated by students and young adults, with one parent representative on the board. Our governance is intentional in that way, so that we are always driven by the needs of our students. |
Daniel A. Helminiak,
STL, PhD, PhD, LPC |
MARCH 26, 2023 | WHAT THE BIBLE REALLY SAYS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY | DANIEL HELMINIAK
Daniel Helminiak teaches psychology and spirituality as Professor at the University of West Georgia. He is also a psychotherapist, Catholic priest and theologian, author, and lecturer. He holds a PhD in psychology from The University of Texas at Austin and a PhD in theology from Andover Newton Theological School and Boston College, where he was teaching assistant to Prof. Bernard Lonergan, whom Newsweek magazine called the Thomas Aquinas of the 20th Century. He is certified as a Fellow of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and is licensed as a Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia. His book, What the Bible Really Says about Homosexuality (Alamo Square Press, 1994, 2000), is an international best-seller. |
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The Bible supplies no real basis for the condemnation of homosexuality. Therefore, people must stop opposing homosexuality merely by quoting the Bible because, taken on its own terms, the Bible simply does not support their case. If they have some other reason for their opposition, they ought to get clear what that reason is and state it up front.
That is the challenge Daniel poses with this book—for those who oppose homosexuality. For those who are homosexual or who support those who are, he offers this book as some consolation: the Bible is not against them. |
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MARCH 19, 2023 | A MORNING WITH THE NTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/AEU | RACHEL PFEFFER
With more than 25 years of experience as an executive manager, organizational development coach and fund developer, Rachel has managed 17 different social justice focused agencies through their transitions in the nonprofit, philanthropic, public, and educational sectors. She enjoys doing the-heavy-lifting by embracing the conditions for organizations to thrive. She has been called the “Mary Poppins” of nonprofits. Rachel lives and works as a visitor within the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Tumwater, Watlala bands of the Chinook, the Tualatin, Kalapuya, and many other indigenous nations of the Willamette, Columbia River regions in Oregon with her wife. |
Louise Jett, Ethical Culture Leader in Training
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MARCH 12, 2023 | AMPLIFYING VOICES OF COLOR – ETHICAL CULTURE & BLACK HISTORY | LOUISE JET: ETHICAL CULTURE LEADER IN TRAINING
Under Ethical Culture Founder Felix Adler’s leadership, the voices of prominent civil rights leaders were amplified within our congregations. People of color were given space within Ethical Culture to share ideas and advocate for equality. During this Platform Address, we will discuss the connections between our movement and Black history. A lifelong learner, Louise is an educator at heart. She loves to share knowledge. As Creative Director, she collects and publishes Ethical Society stories and news to spread awareness of our incredible community. She also creates slides and other graphics to keep people informed. Louise is an Ethical Humanist and American Ethical Union Leader-in-Training. She is dedicated to growing the Ethical Culture movement and helping others cultivate meaning in their lives. She works full-time at Lewis and Clark Community College as a faculty member and coordinator for the Graphic and Web Design programs. In her downtime, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Luke, and their adult son, Keenan. |
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FEBRUARY 26, 2023 | BOOK BANNING CONTROVERSY | ASHLEY RUNYON
Librarian, Ashley Runyan, will speak about available resources and latest in book banning controversy. Ashley holds a Masters of Library Science form the University Missouri Saint Louis, the 2015 Public Library Leaders Fellowship, and the Youth Collection Development Librarian for Saint Charles City County Library |
Randy Best,
Ethical Culture Leader |
FEBRUARY 12, 2023 | VIOLENCE IS NOT THE ANSWER, EVEN FOR UKRAINE | RANDY BEST, ETHICAL CULTURE LEADER
The Russian invasion of Ukraine and Ukraine’s vigorous resistance dominate the News. It has become clear that it was an unwarranted act of aggression by Russia and Ukraine’s actions are portrayed as heroic in the media. Is this a textbook example of a “just war”? This conflict has generated over a million refugees and cost thousands of lives. I believe that responding to violence with violence is never justified. There are no good options. Violence only increases human suffering. War is a tragedy for all involved. Come and hear my personal views on this conflict and share your thoughts as well. Randy Best, Ethical Culture Leader A life-long member of Ethical Culture, Randy was born in St. Louis and grew up attending the St. Louis Ethical Society where his mother is still an active member. Since 2016 Randy serves as the Leader of the Northern Virginia Ethical Society. Randy is also Dean of Leader Training for the American Ethical Union. Previously, he was Leader of the Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle and the Ethical Society Without Walls. Randy lives in Bethesda, Maryland and has four grown children. |
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FEBRUARY 5, 2023 | THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT (FLSA) & POST COVID-19 IMPACT ON WORKER RIGHTS | SONIA GRANADOS
Sonia Granados joined us to discuss workers rights. Sonia is a retired Federal Investigator with over 22 years of experience with the United States Department of Labor, Wage & Hour Division (DOL-WHD). Sonia administrated and enforced a number of federal laws which set basic labor standards, among them: The Fair Labor Standards Act, The Family and Medical Leave Act, Government Contracts & Prevailing Wage. During her employment with DOL-WHD, Sonia served in many roles including Assistant District Director at the Saint Louis, Missouri DOL-WHD District Office, Strategic Planning Initiative Team Lead, Community Educational Outreach Liaison, Human Trafficking Enforcement Liaison, H-2B Visa Program Team Lead and Government Contract Team Lead. |
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As Community Educational Outreach Liaison, Sonia provided services and educational outreach to various immigrant & nonimmigrant cultural organizations, such as: Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival, Cinco de Mayo Festival, Fiesta in Florissant, and Café with Business. Educational outreach and community cultural development via Red Latina (Hispanic Newspaper), International Institute of St. Louis (Community Immigrant Services), Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis, Latino Round Table (Fairmont City, Illinois), and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Project event coordinator with the Mexican Consulate to promote diversity and inclusion of Hispanic customs within the community.
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JANUARY 29, 2023 | THE FUTURE IS NOW: OUR CHILDREN PUTTING ETHICS INTO ACTION
Our amazing team of Ethical Education Directors, as well as the parents, shared what goes into raising our ethical leaders of tomorrow. Parents told us about why it’s important that they teach their kids about the value of Ethical Action and service. For the stars of the show, children from societies around the country were featured including our Mid Rivers kids, with a performance of an original composition by Cash. The kids will also give their thoughts on what they need from the adults as they embark on their own ethical journeys. |
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JANUARY 22, 2023 | HUMAN LIBRARY | "CHECK OUT" OUR MEMBERS
ESMR members taught us about working in a free clinic as a nurse, how to get your message to the right people through marketing strategies, what it takes to make a living making video games, growing up and realizing the dream of becoming a fire fighter, and what it's like to be a girl in a boy scout troop. That is what we learned about, at our own all-ages “Human Library Platform.” |