- Humanists in Action: Gardening With Open ArmsCancelled
Have you always wanted to garden but never had the time or space? Would you like to work the soil with others, developing your horticultural skills while making new friends? Or maybe, after our long Minnesota winter, you'd just like to spend some time doing mild physical labor out-of-doors? If any of these reasons apply, we've got an event--indeed, a series of events--for you.
HumanistsMN is partnering with Open Arms, a Twin Cities-based non-profit that provides healthy meals to critically ill Minnesotans and their families. In the news last year when they opened their St. Paul Kitchen and Campus, Open Arms encompasses Open Farms, five metro-area locations where they grow produce to include in their meals. As at their kitchens, much of the work done in Open Farms' gardens is performed by volunteers. This is where we come in: HumanistsMN is "sponsoring" the Open Arms' "Abundance Farm" at 668 Victoria Street in St. Paul, providing volunteer gardeners as well as funds for site improvements. This Meetup announcement is for our first event in the 2024 gardening season, which will run through October. Other events in this season will be announced several weeks before they occur.
Each event is a two hour shift involving from six to twelve volunteers supervised by a master gardener from Open Arms. Over the course of the growing season, volunteers will perform such tasks as weeding, prepping beds, planting, harvesting, and mulching. Volunteers should dress for the weather and wear proper footgear. They should bring a refillable water bottle and anything else they need to feel comfortable working outdoors. A water jug and treats will be provided, as well as tools, gloves, and materials needed for required tasks; a portable restroom is on site. This event will be held unless weather conditions--high heat, heavy rain--are prohibitive.
Children aged six and above can participate if accompanied by a parent. Use the following link to learn about child participation: https://www.openarmsmn.org/volunteer/volunteer-youth/.
To participate in this event, you will need to sign up through Open Arms' volunteer website. To do so, just follow this link which is specific to our group: http://vhub.at/humanistsfarm2024 . If you are a Current Open Arms volunteer, click "Sign In." If you haven't previously volunteered with Open Arms, click “Create Account” in the upper-right corner. You will be prompted to acknowledge their Safety & Liability Waiver. This done, scroll to the bottom and check the box to acknowledge that you have read and understand the waiver. Click "Finish" and your account is all set.
After you have created an account or signed into your existing account, enter the following “JOIN CODE”: Humanistsmn2024. Then click “Next” to sign up for our current event: Humanists Group Farm Shift April27th - St. Paul.
This event is sponsored by HumanistsMN. If you are not yet a member, please consider joining to help us cover our costs and build the humanist movement. Not ready to join? Donations are gratefully accepted. Donate or join here.
- Happy Hour with Ron Millar: How Nontheists Can Stop Christian NationalistsMoscow on the Hill, St Paul, MN
NThe separation of church and state, civil rights, secular government, and our pluralist democracy are under attack by a powerful white Christian nationalist movement. Meet with Ron Millar of the Center for Freethought Equality, the political arm of the American Humanist Association, over appetizers and drinks to hear how we can fight back.
In "Invisible No Longer: Politically Empowering the Humanist and Atheist Community," Ron will tell us why the rapidly growing nontheist constituency is the one that can help stop Christian nationalism's anti-democratic, bigoted, anti-science, racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, and homophobic crusade.
We will gather at Moscow on the Hill in St. Paul. We are asking for $10 to help us with the cost of food and room rental. Please register and pay here.
There will be a cash bar.
Ron, who is based in Washington, D.C., is coming to Minnesota to speak at our National Day of Reason event at the State Capitol on May 1. We hope to see you there as well. (Please register here to stand up for secular government!) But if you can't attend, or want to see Ron in more relaxed surroundings, please join us to hear from a national expert on secular political power.
We will also be joined by Ryan Dudley, state policy manager for the Freedom From Religion Foundation, who will say a few words about FFRF's work to uphold separation of religion and government nationwide.
Ron Millar manages the Center for Freethought Equality's PAC (political action committee), which is working to achieve equality for our community by increasing the number of open humanists and atheists in public office at all levels of government.
He was instrumental in the announcement by California Rep. Jared Huffman that he is a humanist and agnostic and in the establishment of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, a model for the Minnesota Legislature's Secular Government Caucus.
Ron has spent more than 40 years in the nation’s capital working for nonprofit education and advocacy groups, including serving as the associate director of the Secular Coalition for America from 2005 to 2009.
This event is sponsored by HumanistsMN. If you are not yet a dues-paying member, please consider joining to help us cover our costs and build the humanist movement. Not yet ready to join? Donations are gratefully accepted. Donate or join us at humanistsmn.org.
- National Day of Reason Breakfast and Reception: Show Up for Secular Government!Minnesota State Capitol, St Paul, MN
Christian nationalism is taking its toll across the country: limits to reproductive freedom, attacks on trans students, book bans, efforts to damage our public schools, political leaders who say they are following God's instructions, and more. Let's show up in force to say Not in Minnesota!
The National Day of Reason was initiated by the American Humanist Association and other secular advocates to counter the National Day of Prayer. Your presence at the Capitol will send a message to lawmakers that public policy should be based on science and reason, not religious dogma.
Let's be sure our Minnesota policymakers hear as much from us as they do from the prayer advocates.
Guest speakers:
Ron Millar on "The True Meaning of Religious Freedom: Fighting the White Christian Nationalist Threat.” Ron is the Political Action Committee coordinator for the Center for Freethought Equality, the advocacy and political arm of the American Humanist Association. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, a model for Minnesota's Secular Government Caucus.
Deepinder Singh Mayell on “Congress Shall Make No Law: Preserving the Separation of Church and State.” Deepinder is executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota. The ACLU has a long history of fighting for church-state separation and is working nationwide to fend off attacks on abortion rights, transgender rights, voting rights, and more.
Members of the Secular Government Caucus, a group of lawmakers who have united to stand up for separation of religion and government. All legislators are invited.
Help make this year's National Day of Reason breakfast and reception our biggest event yet. Show up to insist that our government must remain secular, without favoring one religion over another or the religious over the nonreligious – as guaranteed by our Constitution.
NOTE: THE EVENT IS FREE BUT WE ARE ISSUING TICKETS SO WE KNOW HOW MUCH FOOD TO ORDER. IN ADDITION TO RSVPING TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, PLEASE REGISTER HERE.
Agenda:
8:30 a.m. Doors open. Help yourself to continental breakfast.
9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Remarks by humanist leaders, guest speakers, and Secular Government Caucus members.
10 a.m. Fill out postcards to deliver to your legislators urging them to uphold secular values. Visit advocacy tables.Our Day of Reason events are free but if you are able to make a donation to help cover speaker and food costs, it would be most appreciated! Contribute here and select "National Day of Reason" in the dropdown menu.
This event is sponsored by HumanistsMN, the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, and Or Emet - the Minnesota Congregation for Humanistic Judaism.
- Secular Grief Support Group ONLINE: Grieving for a BrotherLink visible for attendees
Guest Speaker: Mark Flaten will speak on "Grieving for a Brother." Mark grew up in a small Wisconsin town with his parents who had five boys. He has a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Mark spent the last 20 years of his career as a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice in Golden Valley, until his retirement a few years ago. He has worked extensively with grieving people throughout his professional career. Mark has 3 grandchildren and loves to travel.
This grief group is for secular people who have experienced a recent or not-so-recent loss. For those who want a place to process that loss and their on-going grief. A place to remember a loved one and to express difficult emotions -- or a place to process "ambiguous" grief. A place to share with and support others in a life riven with grief.
Currently, we meet on-line on the first and third Thursdays of the month.
This is a peer-led group for people with no belief in a higher power or consciousness and for those who have no belief in an afterlife. We offer no professional grief counseling. Participants are encouraged to speak to their own loss and share their current challenges with grief.
This event is sponsored by HumanistsMN and First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, a humanist congregation. Please consider supporting one or both of these associations to help us cover our costs and build the humanist movement. Click on the embedded links above to donate or join.
- SMART Recovery Support GroupFirst Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN
Looking to beat an addiction? SMART Recovery is a stigma-free and self-empowering secular program serving those with an addictive behavior -- whether a particular substance or an activity/process addiction. Participants design and implement their own recovery plan to create a more balanced, purposeful, fulfilling, and meaningful life.
Anyone seeking a secular recovery program is invited to attend our twice-monthly support group sessions, but especially those who identify as humanist, atheist, and/or agnostic. We meet in person regularly the first and third Saturdays of the month from 1:00 - 2:30pm.
Sessions are led by Belit Flores, a trained volunteer facilitator, who draws on evidence-based motivational and cognitive behavioral theories. Within a mutually supportive group environment, SMART participants are empowered to develop their ability to:
- Build and maintain motivation
- Cope with urges and cravings
- Manage thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
- Live a balanced life
Whether you are seeking a course of recovery for yourself or have been mandated to attend a recovery program, SMART Recovery provides a path to life beyond addiction.
These sessions are sponsored by HumanistsMN. If you are not yet a dues paying member, please consider joining to help us cover our costs and build the humanist movement. Not yet ready to join? Donations are gratefully accepted! Donate or join us at humanistsmn.org.
- Science Fiction Book Club: H. G. Wells Novellas @ SECULAR SATURDAYFirst Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN
Welcome to our monthly HumanistsMN Science Fiction Book Club! Join us every month -- or come as you are able.
For our May session we will be reading two classic novellas by H. G. Wells, “The War of the Worlds” and “The Time Machine." The first is about Martians invading earth and the second one is about an inventor of a time machine who travels to a distant future where humans are almost two different species.
The book discussion will be from 3:00 -- 4:30. Afterwards, join other Secular Saturday session attendees in the gallery for refreshments and socializing.
Our book club facilitator is Scott Lohman, a long-time activist with HumanistsMN, serving as president, vice-president, and board member at various times. He is a life-long science fiction reader and chairs a small local sci-fi con held annually in the summer.
This event is sponsored by HumanistsMN. If you are not yet a member, please consider joining to help us cover our costs and build the humanist movement. Not ready to join? Donations are gratefully accepted! Join or donate at humanistsmn.org.
- The Power of the Situation: An Intro to Social Psychology @ SECULAR SATURDAYFirst Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN
Situations are much more powerful than most people realize. Persuasion, conformity, group think, bystander indifference, and mob behaviors are all examples of how situations can push people to behave in ways that are inconsistent with how they understand themselves. It is easy to blame people for being influenced by situations, but all people can be susceptible to these tendencies (even you!), and we ignore the power of situations at our own peril. Self understanding is key to living with integrity. Come join us for an introduction to social psychology, and learn something about yourself you may not have known before.
The presentation and discussion will be from 3:00—4:30, led by HumanistsMN member, Scott Ode. Afterwards, join other Secular Saturday attendees in the gallery for refreshments and socializing.
Scott Ode earned a PhD in Social Psychology from North Dakota State University in 2011. The majority of his graduate work work focused on the interaction between dispositional variables (e.g., personality) and emotional responsiveness. Since earning his degree most of his work has been in the area of healthcare and health care economics. In his spare time he coaches ultimate frisbee (go Narwhal!), watches ultimate frisbee (go Grey Duck!), and plays ultimate frisbee, though poorly (go old people!). When asked what he likes that is not related to ultimate frisbee he says, "I really really really like talking about ideas. Ideas are my favorite."
This event is sponsored by HumanistsMN. If you are not yet a member, please consider joining to help us cover our costs and build the humanist movement. Not ready to join? Donations are gratefully accepted! Join or donate at https://humanistsmn.org
- Make Life More Wonderful with Nonviolent CommunicationFirst Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN
Join us at this session to learn about the principles and practices of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) that help one communicate with mutual compassion and understanding. The way we talk often includes judgment and criticism, so subtly and so pervasively that we don’t even notice when we or someone else is doing it. But we notice how it makes us feel: disconnected, misunderstood, judged.
With NVC, by contrast, both parties feel understood and can get their needs met.
This presentation uses real-life examples to illustrate the “empathy blockers” that keep us from connecting, and how an NVC response can make it better.
The goal is to get people acquainted with NVC and show where to learn more. We also hope to connect people who might like to form an NVC practice group.
The presenter, Rebecca Chesin, has a Master’s degree in Counseling and Psychology and for many years practiced Marriage and Family Therapy.
The presentation and discussion will be from 3:00 – 4:30. Afterwards, join other Secular Saturday attendees in the gallery for refreshments and socializing.
This event is sponsored by HumanistsMN. If you are not yet a member, please consider joining to help us cover our costs and build the humanist movement. Not ready to join? Donations are gratefully accepted! Join or donate at https://humanistsmn.org