The Secular Student Alliance 2017 and 2018

Last  year, after a student approached me about starting a club for  non-religious students, I suggested to her that we attend the SSA at  Ohio State.  I knew very little about the group and about starting such a  club but knew this would be the place to learn.  I also could not guess  the potential impact that conference would have on me.  Over the  three-days, I was able to gain a better understanding of my student, and  of her father who also attended, as we reflected together on what the  club could do, how she could grow…and even just what to call it.  (More  on that in a later post…)

I was introduced to people who continue  to feed me, teach me, and model for me what being a good human being can  be.  Gerardo Rivera from Puerto Rico and I still communicate. (—And  congratulations to him for his award-winning SSA chapter, and leadership  award! He was even kind enough to be a primary source for a student  writing about Puerto Rico's recent hurricane.) Sean Omar Rivera, whom I  see only on Facebook, is heading the San Antonio/Texas MOVE getting  people registered to vote.  Mandisa Thomas who leads the Black  Non-Believers is a powerful, compassionate speaker and leader.  Kristin  Wintermute conducted a leader’s workshop that I loved and was where I  met some like-minded fellows. Lucien Grieves, founder of the Satanic  Temple, a group who (does not actually believe in Satan!) uses satire,  humor, and discord to draw attention to separation of church and state  issues, was not only entertaining, but enlightening!  And the attorneys  from the Freedom From Religion Foundation were supportive and  informative.

This year was no different so far as my learning  curve!  My student, now graduated and no longer leading the club, and  her dad, attended with me for the second time and gleaned more  inspiration to live our lives as humanists, and curated more information  to help us on our way.  We admired Ryan Bell’s new leadership of the  SSA.  (Despite his taking the conference to LA—closer to USC where he is  the Humanist Chaplain—we are sad to see it leave Columbus!) We enjoyed  listening to Holocaust survivor, a founder of the National Organization  for Women, and author, Sonia Fuentes; she even sent me a personal email  last week!   Keynote speaker Dr. Heather Berlin’s address on  neuroscience and the psychology of belief was engaging.  And Bart  Campolo, the speaker I most came to see:  former evangelical preacher,  and Humanist Chaplain at the University of Cincinnati, invited me to his  small humanist group’s potluck dinners.  (Though, through my messaging  on the Humanize Me Facebook page, his friend, Leah Helbling, already beat him to the invite…!)

These  two events, divided into smaller workshops and sessions did for me what  any conference should do:  solidify old information, stretch me with  new information, and provide me the chance to network with people.   People.  People who enjoy the world more through the lens we have in  common.  It was indulgent.  Moving.  I hope to always remember how those  days felt and to use them to do good work in the future.  I am hoping  all the things I am learning and all the people I am meeting can help  our burgeoning group here close to home.