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As an organization, AEU is currently at a crossroads. This is the time for us to change and adapt to maintain our existence in a world where we want to be the ones addressing the key issues. However, just because we have a plan, doesn’t mean it will be easy to execute. In our latest Message from the President, Carolyn Parker explores what changes need to be made and why this new chapter in AEU’s history is not to be feared but instead, something to look forward to.

AEU Assembly 2023 Restorative Justice Events and Trainings

Brought to you by Assembly Co-Chairs Anya Overmann and Rachel Pfeffer

The 2023 American Ethical Union Assembly will be a multicultural and multigenerational experience beginning May 31st. We will be offering Society-wide trainings to make our Ethical Culture communities healthier and stronger. If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Pfeffer at rpfeffer@aeu.org.

Click on the links below to learn more about this Assembly & RSVP today!

Also, please mark your calendar to attend our AEU 2023 Assembly Business Meeting on July 29th. Stay tuned for more information about this wonderful event for all Societies to participate in.

AEU 2023 Assembly Offering Multi-Society Grants Are Now Available!

AEU will provide $500 grants for a multi-Society potluck/gathering in June, July, or August. All you have to do is contact at least one nearby Society and come up with a date/time for your joint-Society party (hopefully outside in some beautiful spot). Once you have the plan, complete this Google Form with a description of your party plans, day/time, and which society you will be partying with. Once we receive your plan, AEU will send you the grant which will be provided on a first-come-first-serve basis. 

PS. If you are not within driving distance of another society and you want to have a party- you could party with your local community instead. If you have another idea on how to use this grant for your Society’s party, let us know by filling out the form. We look forward to hearing all about it!

Our Statement Affirming the Rights of Trans, Non-Binary, and Intersex People

In response to the vile and inhumane State-sanctioned attacks on the LGBTQIA+ community, American Ethical Union demands justice for Trans, non-binary, and inter-sex folk nationwide. Click on the link below to read our full statement.

AEU Visiting Leader Request Form 2023

If you want a Leader to provide a platform or workshop please complete this form. The AEU will pay the Leader with Societies responsible for providing hospitality if it is an in-person meeting. Questions? contact Rachel Pfeffer rpfeffer@aeu.org.

Event Name: Resurrecting Poetry

Host: Philadelphia Ethical Society

Date: Sunday, April 9th   

Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET

Today marks the holiday of Easter in the Christian calendar, a time of rejoicing in that faith’s community and celebrating a miracle that provided a feeling of hope to countless individuals. Just as the belief in this miracle has the power to change lives, poetry too has that ability in a way that may not be as miraculous but is in no way less profound. During this morning Platform from our friends at the Philadelphia Ethical Society that falls on National Poetry Month, Leader Anne Klaeysen will share poems that celebrate life and may give hope to others. For more information on this event and to answer any questions you may have, email PES at office@phillyethics.org. 

Event Name: EHSR April Meeting

Host: Ethical Humanist Society of Rochester

Date: Wednesday, April 12th

Time: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM ET

Is honesty the best policy? Our friends at the Ethical Humanist Society of Rochester will discuss this and much more at their upcoming April meeting. Other topics include “white lies”, dishonesty, and the ethics of withholding information. To learn more about what will be a fascinating event, click on the link below.

Event Name: Celebrating the Life of Richard Kiniry

Host: Philadelphia Ethical Society

Date: April 15th 

Time: 2:00 pm

The Philadelphia Ethical Society invites you to join us in celebrating the life of its Leader Emeritus Richard Kiniry who passed away on December 18, 2019. The program will be held in person in the PES Auditorium but will also be shown over Zoom. In addition to the scheduled speakers, participants will be afforded the opportunity to share brief recollections about Richard. Zoom participants are encouraged to record their recollections on video and forward it to Hugh at LeaderHugh@phillyethics.org. If you have any questions, please contact the Society at office@phillyethics.org or call (215) 735-3456.

Event Name: Let’s Go Dutch: A Heritage of Dutch Humanism

Host: Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle

Date: Sunday, April 16th

Time: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM ET

Jacob Klaeysen settled his Dutch family in western New York in the 20th century. For this week’s program courtesy of the Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle, Leader Anne Klaeysen explores her roots through the works of two Dutch Humanist philosophers, Erasmus and Spinoza.

Event Name: “Reparations” by Dr. Dwight Mullen

Host: Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville

Date: Sunday, April 16th

Time: 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM ET

We congratulate the City of Asheville and Buncombe County for establishing the Community Reparations Commission. They are charged with making recommendations to address the harm caused by systemic racism. The Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville will be hosting Dr. Dwight Mullen, Chair of the Commission who will discuss the challenges they’ve faced and their future plans.

Event Name: Cultivating Creativity and Ethical Humor

Host: Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture

Date: Sunday, April 16th

Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET

Part of the Felix Adler to Modern Ethical Humanism series brought to you by the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, Leader-in-Training Louise Jett will lead a discussion on how our movement can harness the power of creativity to grow as well as reach new audiences. We will also explore where we can find Humanism (or our values) in popular culture and which historical and modern creative Humanists we can look to for inspiration.

Event Name: Our Climate Future with Our Children’s

Trust All-Societies Platform

Host: American Ethical Union

Date: Sunday, April 30th

Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET

We are thrilled to announce that our next All-Societies Platform is taking place this month with special guest, Our Children’s Trust who recently appeared on the front page of The New York Times! We’ll hear from the lawyer and some of the children who are plaintiffs in what will be the first-ever constitutional and children's climate trial in U.S. history. To learn more about what will be a truly memorable event, mark your calendars and click on the links below!

A few weeks ago, we uploaded the first interview from our Ethical Living Interview Series which features interviews of people who are engaged in Ethical Actions that benefit our communities. Part one is a conversation between Chris Kaman and Solomon Gibson III from the Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle. They discussed Chris's efforts supporting those currently incarcerated and recently paroled people. Click on the link below to watch Humanism in the Prison System and keep an eye out for the next video from this profound series.