Dialogue Winter 2016 In This Issue Long Island Honors Young Activist Grant Winner Letter from Executive Dir 2 (From Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island newsletter)

Opening Doors and Hearts: The We had seven worthy applicants for Art of Welcome 3 the Young Activist Grant which awards Letter from Board President 4 up to $500 to a middle school or high Wall of Remembrance 4 school student in Nassau County who designs a social action project FES Question Gender Equality & for the betterment of humankind. Sexuality 5 Our grant is “seed money” to get the Teens Explore Racism at YES project underway. The Young Activist Conference 5 Grant committee has chosen Matthew Berman, a 10th grader from Roslyn Matthew Berman (right), with his parents Notes from AEU Board 6 High School, for his project called Russell and Susan, and his sister Talia EE Conference and Family “M.E.D. Rx—Medication, Education Weekend Focuses on and Disposal. Repurpose.” Matthew will be working with the Town of Interdependence 7 North Hempstead STOP program to collect medicine bottles, have them professionally washed, and shipped to Malawi (via the Malawi Project) Notes from National Leaders where they have few pill bottles. He will also be working with East Williston Council (NLC) 7 / Roslyn Community Coalition for Drug-Free Youth to have an educational Democracy Spring 8 component to the problem of expired meds and substance abuse. We 2016 Assembly will be “Bending were intrigued with Matthew’s project because it addresses multiple issues: the Arc of History” 9 substance abuse (kids getting into medicine cabinets), pollution (medicines and pill bottles in the waste stream), education about abuse, and helping an Make Your 2016 Summer Plans impoverished nation get a basic necessity in medicine containers. Matthew Now! 9 was awarded at our Winter Festival and will attend the Social Justice Televisiting Services at NYSEC 10 Leadership Award Dinner to describe his work. Thanks to committee members Tina Keane, Sylvia Silberger, and Alison Pratt for making this Ethical Action Social Media Intern difficult decision! Needed 12 My View 12 AEU Seeks National Director for IHEU Freethought Report is Available Ethical Education 13 The Freedom of Thought Report is an annual Ethical Device Use 13 survey on discrimination and persecution From the United Nations: against non-religious people in countries US Racism 14 around the world. The report is produced by From the United Nations: the International Humanist and Ethical Union Refugees 15 and published each year on 10 December, International Human Rights Day. Download the Humanist Television 16 latest report at http://freethoughtreport.com/download-the-report. 2 Winter 2016 Dialogue organizations with which we have common interests. Letter from Executive Director Bart Worden Funding from the 100 x 100 Campaign will also support a new venture offered by the National Leaders Council, the Visiting Leaders Bureau. The goal of the bureau is to make it possible to send more leaders to more Societies more frequently. Participating Leaders can In this time of growing secularism there Annual Appeal has again brought in provide workshops as well as speak at are exciting opportunities for the growth more in donations than the prior year, Platform Meetings, and the AEU office of the Ethical Movement. Increasingly, and the generosity of our larger donors will help with arranging the visits. A people in the report continues to provide significant support fund has been set up by the board to not being members of any religious our programs. help with expenses and the Societies are organization. Also on the rise are the responsible for $75 per Leader per day On the personnel side, our Outreach numbers of people who say they do and for providing hospitality, if needed. Team has been communicating not believe in a god. Put the two trends You will soon be able to view the with about twenty people who together and you have a lot of prospects! participating Leaders list on the AEU have expressed interest in having website from the NLC page. But most people who are leaving an Ethical Society near them. The their churches, temples, and mosques inquiries have come in from Arizona, Lay Leadership Summer School will are probably not looking for a California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, be offered in August this summer, and replacement group. It’s a tough time Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, scholarship money will be available. We for congregations to attract new South Carolina, Texas, and Utah as well hope every Society will be sending at people as members when there are so as from Canada and Nigeria. We are still least one—and up to three—people for many options for entertainment and in the beginning stages but are hopeful this very rich and rewarding week of enrichment that don’t require joining a that in the next year we will help some learning and engagement with Ethical group, making a commitment, or even of these individuals form leadership Culture people from across the country. leaving home. As a congregational groups with others in their areas and movement, these trends affect us, too. start holding meetings. On the Ethical Education front, we are thankful to Dale McGowan for his To meet the challenges and realize To help these groups get going, we are efforts to re-energize ethical education. the benefits of the opportunities, the making support materials available with Dale visited a good number of Ethical American Ethical Union is looking to guidance on ways to get organized and Societies and offered very helpful ideas deploy available resources effectively program materials that can be used for and recommendations. Unfortunately, to reach more people in more places facilitating meetings. These materials Dale experienced some health problems and also to support the efforts of will also be available for use by existing along the way and realized that he our current member Societies. These Ethical Societies. As our new Program needed to restructure his work in order available resources are financial, Exchange grows with ideas and to address those concerns, and he has personnel, and relational. program materials collected from across felt the need to resign his position with the country, we hope people spend the AEU. We are currently inviting Financially we are aiming to expand less time “recreating the wheel” and applications for the National Director our base of support without increasing more time implementing well-regarded for Ethical Education position and Society apportionments. The 100 x 100 programs used by other Societies. hope to begin interviews very soon. campaign is already doing just that. We haven’t yet reached our target of 100 I expect to have more time and energy We are increasingly recognized as a individuals pledging $100 per month for to support this effort as the board has significant player in the humanist/ three years but we have raised enough approved the expansion of my time freethought/atheist world and can to get a good head start toward the five from about 10 hours per week to about expect to have some interesting goals: funding the Executive Director 17 hours. In addition to supporting the opportunities for collaborations in position, scholarships for lay leader outreach effort I will use these added the near future. All in all things look training, more support for Ethical hours to work on our fundraising positive for the AEU as we head into Education, expanded outreach efforts, efforts, enhance our communication 2016 and I expect we’ll have some and engaging on the national stage. Our capacity, and connect with other exciting days ahead! Winter 2016 Dialogue 3 Opening Doors and Hearts: The Art of Welcome Laura Steele, Washington Ethical Society Save These Dates For details visit www.aeu.org How’s your Ethical Culture elevator speech? Do you begin with, “Have you heard of Ethical Culture?” Do you use terms like “Humanist” and “Community”? Do you AEU Board Meetings tell your own story of finding your Ethical Society and how much it means to you? Individual members of In October 2015 folks representing eleven Societies gathered for the annual AEU Societies are welcome to Membership and Growth Conference to hear about and practice our elevator attend. (Usually held at New York speech—and much more. Big thanks to the Ethical Society of Bergen County, Society for Ethical Culture) which beautifully hosted the conference, with a special shout out to Linda Bennett, Sat. March 19 -- NYSEC their administrator. Here are some incredible gifts our workshop presenters shared. Sat. May 21 -- NYSEC Terri Karp (Bergen) and Emily Newman (NYSEC/Brooklyn) presented “Making Thu. July 14 - Sun. July 17 -- your Society More Clickable,” an almost dizzying array of smart, usable ways to use Assembly in St. Louis technology through our websites, social media, etc. They included many ways to use searches that will give our Society more visibility, placement of buttons on our Democracy Spring (see pg 8) website to get the highest interest, and using keywords and graphics. The key idea is Sat. April 2 - Mon. April 18 that the main way people are finding us now is online, so having something to click -- Phildelaphia to DC on that is appealing and raises visibility is essential. Future of Ethical Societies Jone Johnson Lewis (Riverdale-Yonkers/Brooklyn) brought us “First Impressions,” Conference (see pg 5) asking how we remember our first-ever experience walking into our Society. Did we Fri. May 27 - Mon. May 30 feel welcomed or invisible? Were people friendly or cliqueish? Those first moments -- Brooklyn, NY are SO important in creating an environment that says, “We hope you’ll come back, we’re really happy to see you”—from the moment you walk in the door straight AEU 101st Annual Assembly through the whole platform experience. (see pg 9) Thu. July 14 - Sun. July 17 -- Continuing with our “welcome” theme James Croft (St. Louis) took us through St. Louis, MO “Lasting Impressions: Engaging and Connecting Newcomers.” Every newcomer is a potential new member. Is there a clear path to membership and maintaining an Lay Leadership Summer effective outreach program? How are newcomers recognized and engaged during School (see pg 9) platform? Is there a built-in way for newcomers to get connected, such as colloquy or a deepening circle, a meditation or mindfulness group? Are there regular Sat. August 13 - Sat. newcomer meetings with a Leader or your president? Do you have membership August 20 -- The Mountain cards? Are there activities that appeal to different ages? These and many more Retreat & Learning Center, topics were covered in a lively interchange. Highlands, NC

While we all want to foster an environment that is welcoming all of the time, once in a while every organization, even Ethical Societies, will experience internal AEU Membership Conference left to conflict. Diane Kirschner (Brooklyn) approached conflict from the viewpoint of right: Sandi Sacks, James Croft, Jan “Learning from Conflict: Creating an Intentional Process for Conflict.” What can Broughton, Bart Worden, Elinore Kaplan, we learn about our Society and ourselves when conflict shows up? If we ignore Laura Steele, Liz Singer, Liz Collier, it—pretend everything is all right—that only makes it worse because the negative Emily Newman energy inevitably is still going to be felt. Diane led the group through a productive series of experiential exercises such as practicing reflective listening, engaging empathetically, and discussing what our shared values are when there’s conflict.

At the end of an incredibly rich day of learning, sharing, laughing, and finding new friends, it was time to say our goodbyes. The AEU Membership Committee thanks all those who joined together to further strengthen and grow our Societies and the Ethical Culture Movement. See you next year! 4 Winter 2016 Dialogue is currently looking for an intern to help with social media to organize and enhance collaboration. Letter from AEU Board President Jan Broughton I find hope for the future of Ethical Culture in the number of inquiries coming from around the country by people interested in learning more about Ethical Culture and how to start a Society of their own. As I write this it is the time of and ideas, broadening minds and Packets of information created the Winter Solstice, the shortest opening up new possibilities. by an Outreach Team were sent day of the year—the most hours Conversely, negative emotions cause out to answer basic questions and of darkness. It would be easy to the mind to constrict and limit the maintain a connection. ‘How To’ concentrate on the terrible events ability to consider new ideas and packs on setting up Colloquies that have recently occurred and we build relationships. and Community Circles are being do take them seriously, advocating prepared for use by Societies and for gun control and better mental Needless to say, this concept appeals others looking to enrich their health care or working for better to me. The thought that being programming. With adequate representation in Congress to stop positive actually strengthens the funding a paid leader or other the logjam that prevents progressive ability to develop new solutions staff person could provide on-site legislation from being passed. to problems and to create new assistance and support. friendships is one I would embrace. However, I am a glass-half-full person So I will continue in my optimistic In working with groups of people and tend to see this time of year when way, tempering it with realism and within the Ethical Humanist the days lengthen and bring more acknowledging challenges. community, I am often struck by light into our lives as an opportunity the spirit of cooperation present to feel hope for the future. I find a lot to be positive about in along with a desire to bring a the work being done by our AEU positive change to the world. It is At the Ethical Humanist Society committees and staff. The Ethical this outlook that lifts up my spirits of the Triangle we had as speaker Action committee, under the and makes me glad that I found Prof. Barbara Frederickson. A leadership of Chair Kate LaClair, this organization that resonates world-renowned professor in the is reaching out to the Society EACs so perfectly with my beliefs and Psychology Department at UNC to encourage the sharing of ideas needs. Together we can ensure the Chapel Hill, Dr. Frederickson and projects. The anticipation is that continuing presence of Ethical spoke on Positivity. In her first any Society can find an idea that fits Culture. book, she asserts that positivity is its members in scope and purpose. more important than happiness. And, of course, support each other’s Here’s to a happy and productive According to her research positive common efforts to give more New Year. emotions lead to creative actions effective strength to the cause. Kate

Wall of Remembrance Compiled from Societies’ newsletters and websites, and newspaper obituaries Barb Barnum (St. Louis) – Barb died on December 15.

We are fortunate to have lost few Ethical Culture members this season. However, we do mourn the many we have lost nationally and internationally due to violence. May we have a more peaceful 2016. Winter 2016 Dialogue 5

FES Question Gender Equality & Sexuality Future of Ethical Societies (FES) is planning an awesome conference in Brooklyn, NY May 27-30. Our theme is “Gender Equality & Sexuality.” We are developing workshops and a service project that focus on education and awareness of personal, national, and global concerns. The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture will host our Friday opening potluck and game night—members and friends are welcome to join—and the FES Platform on Sunday. Details and registration will be available on the AEU website soon.

Teens Explore Racism led a fascinating discussion about We had 32 teens and 9 adults for the issue of race and how it affects the weekend and we thank all of the at YES Conference opportunities and expectations. Billie chaperones who came to support Trish Cowan, YES Conference Teneau, a member of the Ethical their teens. Attendees traveled from Coordinator Society of St. Louis and longtime Bergen, Long Island, Mid Rivers, activist, shared her experiences from New York, St. Louis, Washington, The teens of Ethical Culture held the Civil Rights Movement of the and Westchester. We also want a powerful and relevant conference 40s, 60s, and into today. James Croft, to thank our speakers and our 17 on Race in Modern America this Outreach Director for the Ethical drivers from the St. Louis Society November. Sabrina E., Reid H., Society of St. Louis, told us about who took shifts transporting us Hazel H., and our Society reps his involvement in the Black Lives between the airport, the Ethical planned a full weekend of dialogue, Matter movement and encouraged Society, and Camp Sunnyhill. presentations, games, and critical the teens to think about the changes Congratulations to our teens for thinking for this year’s Youth of they would like to see happen and planning such a full and memorable Ethical Societies (YES) Conference the differences—no matter how weekend. We look forward to YES in St. Louis. Recognizing that small—they can begin to make now. 2016 in DC! race is a heavy subject—and one that requires deep insight and Believe it or not, we still had time experience—the teens decided to for group discussions, zip lining, invite community leaders to speak hiking (it was a sunny weekend with them, which is a first for this with 70-degree temperatures!), a teen-driven conference. campfire, sight-seeing at Forest Park and the Delmar Loop, ceremonies, Dr. J.B. Kwon, Assistant Professor skits, and elections. The plans were of Anthropology at Webster ambitious and everything worked University, presented a history of out fantastically! race in St. Louis and the US. He 6 Winter 2016 Dialogue AEU Communications Coordinator accounting firm that audits the AEU’s Notes from Your AEU Emily Newman reported on plans for books and processes. The Board is Board the 2016 Assembly, which will have the now considering having an annual Karen Elliott, AEU Board Member theme “Bending the Arc of History” review done rather than a full audit. focusing on social justice work. The Reviews contain most of what audits The American Ethical Union Board met Assembly will be held in St. Louis do but with less investigation of fraud on Saturday November 21, 2015 at the July 14-17, 2016 and the Committee risk, internal controls, examination New York Society for Ethical Culture. is making some format changes to of source documents, etc. A review is provide for more opportunities for what a lender would typically want, and Executive Director Bart Worden interaction among those attending. provides most of the assurances of reported that the new Outreach Team Staff is also developing an Assembly an audit. The savings gained from this has created “Starter Packs” to help App to help those attending. Meeting change would then be used to further those interested in beginning new planner Sue Walton reported that enhance our accounting practices and Ethical groups. Ideally, an Ethical the Harrisburg location did not work help us develop additional ways of Culture Leader would be hired to work out for the 2017 Assembly and the monitoring our financial situation, on this project on a part-time basis. Assembly Committee is busy lining up which would benefit the Union long- Board members shared ideas on ways a different mid-Atlantic location. term. The Board had many questions the team would help new groups as well about this since fiscal responsibility as where to find funding for this work. Bart continues to make connections is a high priority for us, and we will with other groups, but the AEU doesn’t continue to explore what changes will Bart also talked about the continuing always have formal ways to define the help us best handle that responsibility, development of the AEU’s new Visiting different types of relationships we with additional input from advisors and Leaders Bureau. This is intended are developing. Emily created a grid member Societies. primarily to help Societies without to show the types of relationships we Leaders but can also be used by those currently have and those relationships Although much time was spent talking who have Leaders in order to obtain defined in the AEU’s Bylaws. It about financial issues, the Board additional support. Details are still being was suggested that a group work was also brought up to date with all developed, and the Board discussed on a rewrite of the By Laws, with upcoming planned activities of the specifics about how it could work and the possibility that they will both AEU and its Committees. We continue where funding could be obtained to better define the possible types of to work on formalizing processes, and help smaller and starting Societies get relationships and make some other re-emphasized our desire to maintain the professional Leadership that can changes that will more clearly reflect a strong connection to the IHEU make a positive difference without the the way the Union currently functions. (International Humanist and Ethical expense being prohibitive. We will begin Members have been recruited from the Union), of which we are founding with a limited pilot program and then Board and various AEU Committees members. Several officiants had adjust the processes of the Visiting and the group is expected to present a additional terms approved along with Leaders Bureau based on experience preliminary report to the Board at its one new officiant. We also discussed before opening it up to all. January 2016 meeting. how we could best support member Societies, particularly those dealing with Another pilot is a 7-hour a week Treasurer Tom Weishaar had continued difficult situations. We briefly reviewed increase in the Executive Director good news to report—all Societies what is needed to do outreach at events position. The recent fundraising efforts are paid up to date, funds from the and plan to discuss that more fully in have been sufficiently successful 100x100 campaign are beginning the future. that this and some other expansion to come in, we are getting ready to of the AEU’s work have been made conduct our regular annual fundraising The next AEU Board meeting will possible. A task force has been formed campaign, and the Union continues be held on Saturday, January 16, 2016 to determine the uses of the funds to keep its spending within its budget starting at 9 am at the New York provided by the 100x100 campaign, (and within its income). But there are Society for Ethical Culture. Members of which is still running. Additional things we can do better financially, and member Societies are always welcome fundraising opportunities were we discussed some of them supported to attend. discussed and plans are underway. by detailed information provided by Tom and a representative of the Winter 2016 Dialogue 7 Too often we toil in isolation, EE Conference and hammering feverishly on our own Family Weekend programs in our individual Societies, Focuses on often re-inventing the wheel, while the Interdependence talent and ideas we need to flourish and Dale McGowan grow are readily available in another Society. The goal of the weekend was Stony Point, New York in the gorgeous to move the EE program closer to the Hudson River Valley was the site of the barn-raising model, learning to more annual Ethical Education Conference effectively match needs and offerings and Family Weekend November 6-8. throughout the Ethical movement. AEU kids and parents joined EE teachers and directors from across To this end, the conference was the country for a weekend devoted built more around brainstorming to a single theme: how our individual and discussion than structured Top: Dale McGowan enjoying campfire with children attendees Ethical Education programs can presentations. A spirit of cooperation become more connected and mutually and a desire to help—and a willingness supportive. Bottom: Participants recreate a famous to be helped—permeated the event. image as part of photo challenge

The metaphor for the gathering was But it wasn’t all seriousness and hard barn-raising—an inspired solution to work! Evening bonfires, storytelling, a very real problem in early American joke sharing, and a children’s talent farm communities. Every family in a show helped to bring us together given community needed a barn for as friends and family united for a their livelihood, but building an entire common purpose—building a better barn was beyond the abilities of one Ethical Education program and helping family. So the whole community would to grow the Ethical movement into a come together to raise one strong greater cultural presence. barn after another, doing collectively what each family could only dream of We hope to see you all next year in accomplishing. Stony Point!

be facilitated by virtual NLC business Notes from National meetings via Podio a couple of times The Leaders are working to improve Leaders Council (NLC) during the year. connections within and outside of the Ethical Culture network. They are In February 2015 the NLC decided During the Fall 2015 meeting the responding to an initiative suggested to emphasize a different purpose for NLC crafted elements of the 2016 by Executive Director Bart Worden each of their three annual in-person Assembly in St. Louis. Following the to create a Visiting Leaders Program meetings. The Summer NLC meeting Assembly theme “the arc of history to facilitate greater connections across will emphasize continuing education— that bends toward justice,” the NLC the Movement. They are also exploring for the Leaders, Leaders-in-Training, recommended that the first day of national affiliation and partnering and the Movement as a whole as it the Assembly be internally focused on with other organizations leading would immediately precede the AEU capacity building, while the second day progressive work, especially in areas of Assembly. The Fall NLC meeting will is outwardly directed on social justice prime concern to the AEU, including focus on planning for the Movement, issues, especially racial justice. The NLC racial justice, reproductive justice, with an emphasis on planning the next suggested that invitations be made to environmentalism, and LGBTQ rights. Assembly and supporting the priorities encourage attendance by people in the Finally, the NLC plans to support the and projects of the AEU Board and the larger community. The NLC hopes work of Communications Coordinator Executive Director. The Winter/Spring to facilitate creation of a racial justice Emily Newman by creating more NLC meeting will focus on Leader resolution addressing the concerns of content for the AEU website. retreat and renewal. This new plan will the Black Lives Matter movement. 8 Winter 2016 Dialogue make the 2016 elections free and fair should belong to the People as a whole Ethical Action Feature: for all people as equal citizens, or be or to the billionaire class alone. Democracy Spring prepared to send thousands of patriotic Dan Hanson, New York Americans to jail simply for demanding While I plan to take part in the civil an equal voice. disobedience and risk arrest, I know Society for Ethical Culture there are many of you who cannot. I Note: Details on Democracy Spring are When we arrive at the Capitol on April invite you to come to Washington in 11th, thousands who’ve come from April to support the sit in through legal available on AEU website under Events. across the country to make a stand for protest and let our leaders know that the If you would like to be involved please our freedom will join us. At that point, government belongs to the people, not contact Kate LaClair, Chair AEU either Congress will have miraculously the dark money and large corporations. Ethical Action Committee at come to its senses and passed the I hope to see many members of Ethical [email protected]. perfectly viable reform bills now Societies from around the country pending before it, or those who protect involved in Democracy Spring. That’s The American Ethical Union, corruption will leave us no choice but a referendum we will win, creating a 99Rise, Food & Water Watch, along to reclaim the “People’s House” in powerful mandate—backed by a surging with a growing coalition of over massive, disruptive, nonviolent sit-ins. movement—for the fundamental 50 organizations, are organizing reform that will give us real democracy. Democracy Spring—the largest Beneath the dome of the rotunda, American civil disobedience action in on the steps outside the Capitol, We are ready to take this bold step, and a generation planned for next April in and in the offices of our supposed will provide the necessary training and Washington, DC. representatives, we will engage in legal support to all who join us. But peaceful civil disobedience for at least to do it successfully, we need to know Now is the time! The 2016 election a week. Day after day, with millions we can do it on an historic scale. We will be the most big money-dominated, of people watching an unprecedented need to know that enough people who secret-money-drenched, voter- believe as we do and love our country suppression-marred contest in modern are ready to join us. American history. If the status quo goes unchallenged, this election may well The moment is ripe for this escalation. yield a President and a Congress more Poll after poll shows transpartisan bound to the “masters of big money” public frustration with the corrupt than ever before—crushing hopes for status quo. Voters in Maine and Seattle progress on climate change, economic just passed bold new anti-corruption inequality, mass incarceration, and drama unfold, Congress will probably laws enacting citizen-funded elections. more. Our planet and people simply put thousands of disciplined, dignified A growing democracy movement has cannot afford that. But there is another democracy defenders in handcuffs lifted this issue into the public debate. possibility. If we intervene in the instead of simply doing its job: listening Yet Congress refuses to act. The stage is business-as-usual of this election cycle to the people and fixing this problem. set for our historic intervention to turn in a way that no one can ignore, we can Whether Congress acts or not, we will the tinder of passive public frustration make it a turning point toward reform. win by focusing the nation’s attention— into a fire that transforms the political climate in America. Here’s the plan: On April 2nd, in the as never before—on the urgency of this crisis, the existence of solutions to it, heart of the primary season as the From Selma to , and the strength of the popular demand national election takes center stage, a from Tar Sands Action to Black Lives to enact them. pioneering group of Americans will Matter, everyday people have proven gather at the Liberty Bell in With leaders like , that mass nonviolent action can rapidly and embark on a 10-day march to , , and Mark shift the political weather and open the the U.S. Capitol. I plan to walk the Ruffalo already pledged to risk arrest, door to reforms previously considered whole route and I hope other AEU and over 50 organizations signed on to unwinnable. Now it’s our turn. members will join me for some or all help, we can create a watershed moment of the way. Before setting out, we will This is no ordinary task. But these are in America that will force this issue into present a simple choice to Congress: not ordinary times. This is the hour to the spotlight and make the election a take immediate action to end the stand tall, to dream big, and to challenge referendum on whether our democracy corruption of big money in politics and continued on page 9 Winter 2016 Dialogue 9 continued from page 8 ourselves. It is our Together we can change the course of history and open the duty to honor the door to a bright, beautiful future. For further information and legacy of generations of Americans who have demanded a to pledge your support, visit www.DemocracySpring.org. better world. With love, and with courageous hope invested not in any one leader but in each other, we must act with a determination matching the urgency of this crisis.

2016 AEU Assembly will be “Bending the Arc of History” Ethical Humanists believe that the arc of history is shaped by our collective actions. Together we can bend the arc of history toward justice. At the 2016 Annual Assembly of the American Ethical Union, the Ethical Society of St. Louis and Ethical Society Mid Rivers invite you to engage with critical contemporary issues of justice and learn how we can be part of creating a more just future for all humanity. The Assembly is an opportunity for Ethical Society members and activists from across the nation to build relationships, strengthen communication, and experience the Ethical Movement in a larger context. Thursday, July 14 - Sunday, July 17, 2016 at St. Louis City Center Hotel Schedule, speakers, registration details, and more will be available early 2016. Check our event page for updates: aeu.org/event/aeu-101st-annual-assembly.

Make Your 2016 Summer Plans Now! Attend the Lay Leadership Summer School (LLSS) sponsored by the American Ethical Union August 13-20 at The Mountain Retreat Center near Highlands, NC. “Summer School was an energizing experience that brought clearer focus to what I was looking for in my community, and ways to begin creating it. How can we go beyond the words of what we ‘should’ do and cultivate the skills that bring our ideals toward reality? How can we guide our communities to address our needs? Summer School provides tools to begin answering these questions, and empowers participants to be our best selves. Take advantage of this unique experience!” - Kate LaClair, 2014 LLSS Grad; Chair, AEU Ethical Action Committee & member of Baltimore Ethical Society Our week-long journey offers presentations and activities that will: • Build connections and a shared sense of purpose • Expand our understanding of Ethical Culture history, philosophy, and future • Explore and take risks to connect to life's potential • Stimulate reflection on communication practices • Improve as a leader, decision maker, problem solver, and celebrations creator Be part of this exciting week where we come together to create, nurture, and inspire ethical communities! The 2016 LLSS staff looking forward to seeing you there include Diane Kirschner, Jan Broughton, Mary Herman, Paulo Ribeiro, Ken Novak, and Hugh Taft-Morales. To receive information and registration materials, please contact L Miller in the AEU Office, 212-873-6500 or [email protected]. 10 Winter 2016 Dialogue

Televisiting Services at Televisiting Keeps a library specifically chosen to address Families Connected the needs of children with incarcerated NYSEC Separation from a supportive, loving parents. We can also arrange for the Frank J. Corligliano, parent can be devastating to children. parent to have a copy of the same book, Ph.D., Director, Supportive Visits with mom or dad at the jail are which means mom and daughter can often all-to-infrequent and come with read the same book together, page-by- Televisiting Services, Social many restrictions and limitations on page, line-by-line. Service Board how a child can interact with their parent. In addition to contact-visits Ethical and Inclusive Approach A National Ethical where a child can touch, hold, and smell to Program Development Dilemma for Children their mother or father, families who The televisiting program was designed Most Americans think of February as a participate in Supportive Televisiting with direct input from children and time for love, togetherness, and sharing Services can increase the number and parents, as well as professionals and joy. However, this year, in the United quality of contacts that a child has researchers in clinical psychology, social States, over two million children will with their parent. A psychologist and work, and psychiatry, who integrate be separated from their mom or dad knowledge about attachment theory, due to policies that have contributed to developmental stages, resilience, an epidemic of imprisonment and the and strengths-based research. With phenomena of mass incarceration. In resources from our collaborative New York City, on Rikers Island alone, organizations such as the New York there are between 9,000 and 13,000 and Brooklyn Public Libraries, and people jailed on any given day. Sesame Workshop, our televisits are enriched with books, toys, games, and An Ethical Home to art materials. Our families are supported Empowering Healthy Children in televisiting room before, during, and after the visits Connections by caring professionals, specifically For over 130 years, the New York trained in cultural-competence with Society for Ethical Culture (NYSEC) children and families involve in the and its affiliate United Social Services, justice system. While participating in Inc., affectionately known as the Social Supportive Televisiting Services, parents Service Board (SSB), have consistently build collaborative-parenting skills, served the New York area community and use a child-first approach, which with programs and public service prioritizes the children’s needs. initiatives to help uplift the lives of the underserved. The Social Service Board Investing in Empowering has developed Supportive Televisiting Children with Services, an innovative community- a social work intern, who are able to Incarcerated Parents based program that enables children support the child, the family, and the If you are interested in learning to video-visit with their incarcerated parent before, during, and after the more about televisiting, starting parent on a television screen, similar to visit support Televisits at NYSEC. a televisiting program in your video-chat. The Social Service Board “Incarcerated parents can still parent community, or supporting the Social provides a child-friendly televisiting from behind bars by being involved Service Board’s televisiting efforts at room conveniently located on Central with their child’s development and NYSEC, then please visit us at www. Park West and 64th Street in Manhattan. growth,” says Will Iverson, a 2015 SocialServiceBoard.org where you Each visit is 45 minutes long, and Social Work Intern. The social work can also register for the Dr. Phyllis they typically occur every two weeks. intern is supervised by a licensed Harrison-Ross Public Service Award The program is run by Dr. Frank J. clinical social worker, Susan Needles, May 5th, 2016 at the New York Society Corigliano, a psychologist with expertise who is also a member of the New for Ethical Culture. You may also email in “leveraging technology to address York Society. Televisits are enriched [email protected] or clinical and social issues,” and an active with books from the New York and call 212-874-5210 Ext. 143. member of the New York Society for Brooklyn Public Libraries. For example, Ethical Culture. children are able to select a book from Winter 2016 Dialogue 11

Dear Members and Friends, “As Chair of the National Leadership Committee, I have come to appreciate the support of our AEU The AEU had another great year in 2015—full of staff. Without them, I don’t think I could serve inspiring conferences including Future of Ethical effectively as Chair. Without the financial support Societies, our 100th Assembly, Membership, Ethical from the AEU, we could not train new Leaders for Education, and Youth of Ethical Societies. We expanded our Movement. AEU programs and events make me our outreach by sending representatives to or having realize that our Ethical Culture Movement is larger tables at conferences such as Clearwater Festival, than being a member of the St. Louis Society.” American Humanist Association, Common Ground, Carol Bartell, AEU Board member, Parliament of the World’s Religions, International committee chair, and member of St. Louis Society Humanist and Ethical Youth Organization, and many local events. Thank you to all who participated. We look “This year I’ve had some amazing discussions forward to joining more events in 2016 to celebrate our with longtime members, new visitors, and Movement’s 140th anniversary. people interested in joining us in growing ethical communities. I love the ideas people have shared We are proud of how close we are to our fundraising about how we can connect with each other and goals, which will enable us to offer Societies more make a positive, sustainable impact on our world. I services and grow our membership. Beginning in 2015, look forward to putting these ideas into action with the American Ethical Union (AEU) will be offering support from the whole Union.” a Visiting Leaders Bureau to provide Ethical Leaders Emily Newman, AEU Communications Coordinator, to member Societies at discounted rates and free and member of FES, Brooklyn & New York Societies transportation. We also hope to share special webinars and develop live streaming opportunities in 2016. Your contributions help to support the Movement’s current initiatives and grow the vision of Ethical “I contribute to the American Ethical Union Culture/Ethical Humanism. Please send a check to because I see the impact the AEU has had on the the AEU (2 West 64th Street, Suite 408, New York, lives of others and on my own life. For people NY 10023) or donate online at www.aeu.org. Your gift like me, who are agnostic in regard to deity but is tax deductible and will be recognized with an AEU passionate about building and cultivating Ethical acknowledgment for tax purposes. For planned giving Culture, the Union has long offered a place and testamentary gifts, please contact the AEU office. to gather, to plan, and to act. As a five-time participant with the Lay Leadership Summer To learn more about the programs and activities of the School (first as a student then as faculty) I have American Ethical Union, please explore our website, experienced firsthand what we have to offer.” www.aeu.org. From all of us at the American Ethical Bart Worden, AEU Executive Director and Union, thank you for your support, which is critical to Leader of Westchester Society advancing our mission.

Yours in Ethical Community, Jan Broughton, Bart Worden AEU Board President Executive Director 12 Winter 2016 Dialogue

Ethical Action Social Media Intern Needed The Ethical Action Committee (EAC) brings Ethical Societies together to strengthen Action, create alliances that make Actions more sustainable, and contribute to a sense of community and common purpose across the Ethical Culture Movement. This position will provide extensive experience in social media communications and online community building for a national non-profit and will allow the intern to cultivate skills relevant for successful career advancement. Applicants should be tech-savvy, organized and self-motivated, and ideal candidates will have a passion for social justice. Intern will work closely with the Ethical Action Committee Chair and Communications Coordinator, and will be encouraged to employ their unique talents and creativity.

See full description and how to apply at www.aeu.org/2015/12/social-media-intern-for-ethical-action.

My View To me there is a mystery of life, a of Ethical Culture is the acceptance life force that permeates all sentient of ALL—humanist, atheist, theist, Kay Dundorf, President of the and non-sentient beings. Felix Adler agnostic, etc., bringing out the National Ethical Service and talks about “the interconnectedness best in each other and the call to Executive Team Member of of all being.” Einstein has said grow morally and ethically. With Riverdale-Yonkers Society for everything is energy. I love the so much emphasis on the secular Ethical Culture comparison to electricity—an humanist perspective, it seems to unseen energy that we tap into when me that we are focusing on the This writing solely expresses Kay’s personal we plug a device into an electric head and leaving out the heart. We view and not necessarily those of her outlet. I cannot explain it but I know need to include all expressions of associations. that electricity exists. Similarly I have being human regardless of which a deep “knowing” that Einstein dogma, creed or none that people I am regularly inspired by the view is correct in saying everything embrace. Ethical Culture has long from my 12th floor apartment is energy. Yet it and life is also a espoused that acceptance of all and window overlooking the Hudson mystery. I don’t hear this mystical, the interconnectedness of all being. River and the Palisades. It is ever awe-inspiring aspect of being human That is so needed now as we are changing with the weather and expressed through the AEU. moving to greater globalization. the moon’s pull on the tides of the river—sometime white caps, It is that life force that I feel ever That brings me to wonder whether sometimes like a mirror of all that drawing me towards expansion, there are others in the Movement surrounds it. towards a fuller expression of who feel like I do. That the this unique being that I am and Humanist voice is so strong that the That view provides a daily impulse each of you are. When I am in the gift of Ethical Culture—accepting for reflection. I am regularly in awe fuller expression of “me” I am in the other, bringing out the best of the ever changing and somehow alignment with the ever-expanding in each other and the call to grow also constant aspect of the energies Universe. It’s like I’m connecting to morally and ethically—is being of the universe as it causes the tides the electrical outlet - the energy that left behind. It is not my goal to to change, etc. There is so much surrounds us all. And I cut myself convince anyone else of my view. I written now about these changing off from that source when I get into just want to use this opportunity to times we are in, the need for a a contraction of that expression— open the conversation. I welcome global perspective, inclusivity while when I hold back. your thoughts. I can be reached at acknowledging diversity. We cannot [email protected]. solve the problem in the same The full expression of Ethical energy in which it was created. What Culture is so needed at this time in is needed is transformation. our humanity’s evolution. The gift Winter 2016 Dialogue 13

AEU Seeks National their applicability for program and dissemination of Ethical Director for Ethical development Education program materials • Ability to communicate, • Encourage communication Education organize, motivate and direct among those working with the efforts of others, both staff Ethical Education programs in RESPONSIBILITIES: and volunteers Societies Work in cooperation with the • Experience with computer • Oversee or carry out other Ethical Education Committee, databases, work processing, activities as deemed necessary the Executive Director, and with spreadsheets software a must by the Ethical Education Ethical Education Directors of • Experience in the Ethical Committee individual Ethical Societies to Movement or other humanist • Keep current on new ideas in develop, promote, and implement organizations preferred ethical education and pedagogy Ethical Education programs for • Position requires national travel generally, as well as those related children and youth for the AEU. to the ongoing development of PRINCIPLE ACTIVITIES: ethical philosophy of education QUALIFICATIONS: Work in cooperation with the • Degree in education, religious Ethical Education Committee and Part-time position can mostly studies or related field preferred the Ethical Education Directors be done remotely. Salary will be • Minimum of three years of of individual Ethical Societies, discussed at the interview. experience in the area of ethical and under the oversight of the education, ethical development, Executive Director to: Send resume and cover letter to program administration, and • Develop, promote and [email protected] or mail community development with to Bart Worden, Executive Director, the not-for-profit sector implement Ethical Education programs for children and youth American Ethical Union, 2 West • Knowledge of educational and 64th Street, New York, NY 10023. developmental processes and • Support the coordination

sharing, a surprising and noteworthy compelling or deeply uncomfortable to Ethical Device Use development took place. Some children them. With help transcribing, and the Audrey Kindred, Ethics for expressed indignant feelings at having prompt of "What request would you Children Director at New to limit their time on "devices," while like to make of your families," they each looking up to adults who never put chimed in to create the letter above. York Society for Ethical down their devices. Expanding upon Culture that, they expressed how overwhelming It is poignant that this young generation it was to be around adults who are is expressing gut-level fairness issues in "Dear Families, constantly using devices. From a mad the realm of technology. Fathers asked We are asking you to put away complaint about wanting more video their computer-loving sons, "Are you your phones. Please limit your game time emerged a yearning for being silly or serious?!" The boys stamped time on your devices. You're something unexpected. A yearning for their feet and said, "We mean it!" using them too much. Please fairness and attention. Some children pay more attention to the outside can't pull themselves away from video Children expressed so clearly the world—including children. games, and even when the machine is value of an age-old adage: that we Thank you." not there, they can't unlock their minds teach by example. Let's limit device from video games. Others are already use! Make device-free commitments The Ethics For Children group at reeling with the device-over-dosing in your family's time together. Email NYSEC met to honor Dr. King's of their generation. Some are able to [email protected] to let me birthday. In doing so, each child (ages identify a kind of cultural peer pressure know how this goes down in each of 2-10), took "the Ethical Pulpit" to share around device use that is either deeply your families. their hopes for a fair future. From this 14 Winter 2016 Dialogue From the United Nations: that very same poll showed the number bred since their children represented increased to 51 percent. increased wealth to their owners, and US Racism their families could be broken up and Dr. Sylvain Ehrenfeld, IHEU The recent incidents of the killing of sold for profit. They were not allowed and National Ethical Service unarmed Black men—for example Eric to learn to read. representative to the UN Garner in Staten Island, New York and Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri Generations of slavery, and after Dr. Reba Goodman, Ethical by white police officers—has sparked the Civil War, years of Jim Crow, Culture Society of Bergen a renewed look at racism in the US. have created conditions that make it County In both cases, Grand Juries failed to difficult for them to make their way indict the officers involved. This ruling, out. Furthermore kids are relegated Watch United Nations briefings online at justifiably, provoked a wave of protests. to inferior schools, live in horrible http://webtv.un.org. neighborhoods, and often grow up The current state of inequality of in broken families. In more recent Racial and ethnic divisions are global Blacks and others is stark. Blacks are issues with a long and tortured history. times, many of the jobs that were once nearly three times as likely as non available are gone due to Globalization During the Constitutional Convention Hispanic Whites to be poor, almost (1787) in the US, black slaves were and Automation. Only recently, the US six times as likely to be in jail, and Supreme Court revisited the Voting counted as three fifths of a person in only half as likely to graduate from a compromise that enabled Southern Right Act making it more difficult for College. The average wealth of white Blacks to vote. states to increase their representation households is 13 times higher than that in the House of Representatives in of black households. Of course, some Blacks succeed but Congress, which is a cynical symbol of overwhelmingly the odds are stacked dehumanization. How does one explain these against them. Many grow up without inequalities? One widespread approach Racism in the US was brutal, starting hope. Recently a telling interchange is to attribute racial inequality to took place between Hillary Clinton and with the bitter Atlantic crossing, legal minorities themselves. This attitude is in treatment of slaves as property and some leaders of the Black Lives Matter tune with the American traditional focus movement. The issue was promoting wealth, a savage Civil War, followed on individuals. Whites often view Blacks by lynching, Jim Crow laws, and racial progress: Which comes first: as lazy and irresponsible. Everyone can changing hearts or changing laws? the difficulties of the civil rights succeed if they try and those who don’t movement. Much later Civil Rights Clinton said, “I don’t believe you succeed just aren’t trying and there is change hearts. I believe you change laws laws were passed including the Civil no use crying “racism.” The failure of Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting and you change allocation of resources, African Americans to prosper is seen you change the way the system works.” Rights and Fair Housing Acts of as a personal failing. In a 2013 Gallop 1968. The Supreme Court ruled in Poll, 83 percent of whites said factors We applaud the Black Lives Matter favor of integration of US public other than discrimination are to blame movement for they correctly have schools. However, long after official for lower levels of employment, lower put the lives of Blacks on the agenda. desegregation US public schools are incomes and lower quality housing. Laws are, of course, important as long actually more segregated today than A plurality of whites in a recent Pew as they are funded and implemented. they were in the 1960s. This is due, survey said that the issue of race is The allocation of resources seems in part, to residential segregation. getting more attention than it deserves. hopeless given the increasing skewness The Fair Housing Act has been only A common remark in the same vein is of the income distribution favoring partially effective. that Irish, Italians, and Jews overcame the rich. Given the current divisions Barak Obama’s election as the 44th prejudice and worked their way up so in Congress passing and funding laws president was met with pride by some, Blacks should do the same without any reducing poverty and fixing broken but has created a racial backlash in special favors. neighborhoods is not in the cards. others and a significant increase in anti- Another approach is to point out the To quote the historian Doris Kearns black attitudes. In 2008, the Associated powerful role that history plays. Blacks Goodwin “Hearts can change and it’s Press released the results of attitudes didn’t come here voluntarily. They were often social movements that create it.” toward black showing that 48 percent treated brutally on the transatlantic trip. of whites admitted having prejudices They were dehumanized and treated against blacks. Four years later in 2012 like animals. Often Black women were Winter 2016 Dialogue 15 or natural disasters. Some massive International Law. The 1951 refugee Refugees examples: convention defines who is a refugee and Dr. Sylvain Ehrenfeld, IHEU • Half a million Irish came to the outlines their basic rights. and National Ethical Service US to escape starvation and disease representative to the UN (1845-1850) with millions more Absorbing many refugees in European Dr. Reba Goodman, Ethical by the end of the century. Many countries will be difficult and produce a Culture Society of Bergen Italians came to the US to escape backlash—fueling the rise of Europe’s County poverty and natural disasters in right wing. The anti-immigrant sentiment southern Italy. About two million is in many ways anti-Islam. Often this It is heartbreaking watching the stream Jews from Central and Eastern religion is associated with terrorism. of refugees fleeing the war in Syria on Europe arrived in the US between The recent terrorist attack in Paris will TV. It has awakened in me (Sylvain 1880 and 1920. Later the number probably increase the support of the Ehrenfeld) the memory of being a skyrocketed after Russia erupted right wing. Poland has elected one of refugee coming to the US from Belgium into deadly anti-Jewish riots and Europe’s most right wing parliaments. a few months before the Germans systematic discrimination against The Danish People’s party and the invaded and saved me from being a the Jewish population. Swedish Democrats—both anti candidate for extermination. • A particularly horrible example European Union and anti-immigration— of mass migration stemmed have gained huge support. This crisis in Europe has promoted and from is the partition in India provoked a range of responses from In spite of the difficulties of the upon independence from Britain. Germany’s decision to accept many refugee crisis does Europe benefit or Violent divisions between the refugees to the anti-immigration attitude lose? The World Bank in a major new subcontinent’s Hindu and Moslem in Hungary sealing their borders. report claims that the current flow communities led to the partition The crisis has been going on for a of refugees will ultimately, if handled plan dividing the area into India number of years. However, attention properly, have a positive effect on the and Pakistan. Many millions were is focused on Europe. Yet, most of economy. If countries with ageing eventually displaced and one million the Syrian refugees have been taken in populations and declining numbers killed in the sectarian violence that not by Western countries but by Syria’s of people of working age can create a followed partition. In total, as many neighboring states: Jordan, Lebanon, path for refugees to participate in the as 9 million Moslems migrated and Turkey. Lebanon has about one economy, everyone will benefit. from India to Pakistan and over 5 million, Jordan 630,000 and Turkey million, Hindus and Sikhs, migrated two million. The refugees mostly live in Many of the refugees are young and to India. camps. The capacity of these countries educated and will work hard and • Another example is the Great has been overwhelmed. This situation contribute more in taxes than they Migration of 6 million African has been written about but not covered consume in social services. Money for Americans from the rural South in as dramatically as the situation in social services is important with rising the US to the cities in the North Europe. WHY? numbers of older people. from 1916 to 1970. They were The recent Annual Global Trends driven from their homes by a lack Not everyone agrees. The British home Report by the UN refugee agency of economic opportunities and secretary in a speech at the Conservative (UNHCR) states that the worldwide harsh segregationist laws. They took party conference said that mass migration human displacement is at an all time advantage of the need for industrial has close to zero economic upside. The high. The number of forcibly displaced workers in the North. While they effect of refugees will vary from country persons at the end of 2014 (and maybe found work in the North they also to country. For example, in Greece more now) was a staggering 60 million, experienced widespread racism and 25% of the population are out of a job, half of whom are children. The report prejudice in the North as well. whereas Germany needs workers. indicates the flow of refugees results The media has created confusion Refugees will also contribute to the from 15 conflicts: eight in Africa (Libya, in the use of the words refugee and culture. Genetically, refugees will create Mali, South Sudan), three in the Middle migrant. Refugees are people forced families within the countries leading to East (Syria, Iraq and Yemen), one in to flee their home countries because a more varied and stronger gene pool, Europe (Ukraine), and three in Asia. of armed conflict or persecution. known as hybrid vigor. The transition The worst currently is Syria. Migrants are people who choose to will be difficult but it is the right Throughout history, people have resettle to another country in search of thing—as well the smart thing—to do. moved fleeing persecution, war, famine, a better life. Refugees are protected by 16 Winter 2016 Dialogue

American Ethical Union Write for the Dialogue We are accepting submissions for Spring 2016! 2 West 64th Street, #406 New York, NY 10023 Send submissions to [email protected] 212-873-6500 by Wednesday, March 25, 2016. [email protected] Please include a headshot and relative images with your submission. Board of Directors Jan Broughton, President Humanist Television Ken Novak, Vice President Emily Newman, AEU Communications Coordinator Tom Weishaar, Treasurer Karen Elliott, Secretary In Ethical Culture, we often discuss our beliefs. Sometimes we explain to Carol Bartell believers why we don’t follow a traditional religion or believe in their god. Hank Gassner Sometimes we talk to unaffiliated people about why we value being part of Linda Napoli our Society and living ethically. It is often difficult to find the right words, Bob Gordon especially when facing family members with different views. I recommend John McCormick watching these episodes to see how humanist fictional characters handle it: Jone Johnson Lewis, NLC President Hugh Taft-Morales, NLC Vice Pres The Carmichael Show – Prayer (NBC: Season 1, Episode 5) Anne Klaeysen, NLC Alternate When the reverend visits the Carmichael family for dinner, discussion turns Xavier Mack, FES Rep to the importance of prayer and they learn how much they disagree. Bart Worden, Board ex-officio

Truth Be Told – Psychic Chicken (NBC: Season 1, Episode 4) Staff When their daughter’s favorite chicken at school dies, Mitch and Tracy Bart Worden, Executive Dir. struggle with what to say to her because they are a mixed-faith couple. Their Law’nence Miller, Dir. of Admin. friends Angie and Russell get into a fight when they discover they’re not on Donna Pang, Admin. Assistant the same page about God. Trish Cowan, YES Coordinator Emily Newman, Comm. Coord. The Mindy Project – My Cool Christian Boyfriend (originally Fox, now Susan Rose, Dean of Leadership Hulu: Season 1, Episode 19) Training A young Christian minister takes an interest in Mindy until he realizes they value different things in life. Thank you to Richard Reichart, our Dialogue Copy Editor! Black-ish – Churched (ABC: Season 2, Episode 5) When the family is invited to church by the neighbors, Dre goes against his instinct of always saying “no” and agrees. When the whole family ends up enjoying it, they begin to consider going regularly and compare “white church” to “black church” or lazy Sundays.

Watch on your own or with others and consider these questions: • Do you relate to any of these characters? • Have you had discussions about religion, church, beliefs, and God with loved ones similar to these situations? • Do you think these shows represent humanists/freethinkers/atheists in a positive and realistic way? If not, what would you change? • What other issues do you hope television shows will address?