Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville

“Hope, Mindfulness, and Success in the Midst of Political Chaos and Upheaval – A Former FBI Agent’s Perspective” will be presented by Ken Wheatleyat the Sunday, March 15, 2026, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC. Ken will be with us in-person for his presentation and Q&A. There will also be a hybrid Zoom option. All are welcome to attend.

Ken will discuss the ground truth of law enforcement operations, checks and balances, resistance versus protest, and the tools, techniques, and action items for the path forward, drawing on lessons from his time in the military, Federal law enforcement, and international corporate leadership.

Ken Wheatley is a security management consultant and forensic expert witness. Ken’s varied experience includes a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force, FBI Special Agent, Senior Vice President / Chief Security Officer (CSO) with Sony Electronics’ global operations, a social impact CEO, entrepreneur, political volunteer, guest lecturer and interviewed on several radio and TV stations. He currently serves as one of the 14 members of the Senior Advisory Group with the FBI’s Domestic Security Alliance Council (DSAC) and as an Advisor to the FBI’s Threat Resilience Information Sharing Committee (TRISC). Ken lives with his wife Lorraine Kerz in Fairview, Buncombe County, NC.

“Asheville’s Housing Crisis: Stories, Systems, and Solutions” will be presented by Jen Hampton at the Sunday, April 19, 2026, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC. Jen will be with us in-person for her presentation and Q&A. There will also be a hybrid Zoom option. All are welcome to attend.

Jen’s presentation will explore the lived realities behind Asheville’s housing crisis, and the practical solutions communities can pursue together. Further talk summary in development.

Jen Hampton is a housing and labor organizer in Asheville and the Housing and Wages Organizer with Just Economics of Western North Carolina. She is also a co-founder and leader of Asheville Food and Beverage United, advocating for fair wages, safe working conditions, and collective power for service industry workers.

Through organizing, advocacy, and coalition-building, she works to ensure that working people and tenants have a meaningful voice in the systems that shape their lives. She was recognized as one of USA TODAY’s Women of the Year for her community leadership and impact.

“Strategic Nonviolence Action” will be presented by Daniel O. Snyder at the Sunday, May 17, 2026, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC. Dan will join us in-person for his presentation and Q&A. A hybrid Zoom option will also be available. All are welcome to attend.

At a time of deep political polarization and democratic strain, this talk explores civil resistance as a practical and effective tool for protecting democracy. Dan will examine how power works, why violence often fails, the research behind the “3–4% tipping point” for successful movements and case studies.

Dan Snyder, PhD, is a teacher, spiritual director, and longtime practitioner of strategic nonviolence. Trained in clinical psychology and religion, he holds degrees from Pacifica Graduate Institute, Boston University School of Theology, Earlham School of Religion, and Guilford College. Over four decades, Dan has worked as a pastoral counselor, educator, and peace studies teacher, including faculty service at Pendle Hill, the Quaker center for study and contemplation.

His work integrates theology, depth psychology, and the nonviolent traditions of Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Gene Sharp to help communities cultivate both inner resilience and effective democratic action.