About us
Minnesota Atheists is Minnesota's oldest and largest atheist organization. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational organization that seeks to promote the positive contributions of atheism to society, provides a community for nonbelievers, educates the public about atheism, and promotes separation of state and church. We help make atheism part of mainstream society. We look forward to meeting you!
We are a member-supported organization. Everyone who works for Minnesota Atheists is a volunteer, but getting our word out does cost money. This site, our website, mailing newsletters, filming a cable TV show and participating in public events like festivals and parades all add up. We can do all of this thanks to you!
To make a tax deductible donation, go here:
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Upcoming events
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“Atheist Refugee Assistance Program (ARAP)”
Merriam Park Library, 1831 Marshall Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, US“Atheist Refugee Assistance Program (ARAP)”
Minnesota Atheists - Hybrid Meeting
Free and Open to the PublicIn person and via Zoom
Zoom Meeting ID: 856 9893 7389; Passcode: 166449Merriam Park Library
1831 Marshall Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55104
(There is a small library parking lot, but there is also free parking in the neighborhood.)The room is one floor down in the basement level of the library, then down a hallway. You can get there by stairs or elevator.
1:00-1:30 pm - Library opens. Social Time. Zoom starts.
1:30-1:50 pm - Business Meeting. (Open to the public.)
1:50-2:00 pm - Break
2:00-3:30 pm - Public Meeting: “Atheist Refugee Assistance Program (ARAP)”
3:30 pm - Leave for Dinner ** Longfellow Grill
2990 W. River Pkwy.
Minneapolis, MN 55406
(1.4 miles west of the library, just over the Mississippi River, where Marshall Ave. in St. Paul turns into E. Lake St. in Minneapolis.)—————————————
Our speaker, Onur Romano, will appear live via Zoom. She will be projected on the library screen or you may watch from home.
—————————————“Atheist Refugee Assistance Program (ARAP)” by Onur Romano
Since we began, Minnesota Atheists has cared about atheists wherever they are. That’s why we are affiliated with Atheist Alliance International (AAI) and Humanists International (HI).
Onur Romano is an atheist refugee currently living in Victoria, BC, Canada. From 2012 to 2016, he helped establish multiple atheist organizations in the Republics of Turkey and Georgia. He is a board member of Center for Inquiry Canada (CFIC). In 2020, he created the Atheist Refugee Assistance Program (ARAP) for non-believer asylum-seekers in Turkey.
ARAP assists atheists whose lives are in danger, mostly because they have been outspoken atheists or critics of Islam in Muslim countries. ARAP is supported by five organizations, including Atheist Alliance International (AAI) and Center for Inquiry (CFI).
ARAP helps atheist refugees in the following ways:
- Accommodations: Assisting with short-term and long-term housing solutions.
- Job Search: Assisting in finding employment opportunities in Turkey.
- Legal Aid: Providing Turkish Immigration lawyers.
- Official Letters: Issuing letters of support/reference.
- Direct Guidance: Providing Financial, Educational and/or Mental Health consultations.
ARAP runs an atheist safe house in Turkey called “The Lighthouse”. This is a temporary shelter in Istanbul. Some refugees end up staying in Turkey permanently and some go on to seek asylum in other countries, sometimes in Europe and in Canada. You can see some of the people who have been helped at Saved Lives .
During this meeting and presentation, we will consider ways that Minnesota Atheists can help ARAP.
Please help support Minnesota Atheists by becoming a member or by making a donation
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