SoCal Secular Coalition (SCSC)

All are welcome to join a discussion of the following books on the 2nd Saturday of each month at 4:30 pm in our Zoom Chat Room.

Come ready to dive into topics brought forward by the book on how together we can progress.

How to Join Meeting:

Video Call Link: https://zoom.us/j/92673372535?pwd=VTEycFpxRnN4Zi9qOVB1MVVjN05ndz09

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Meeting ID: 926 7337 2535
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Book List:

January 9: The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston

February 13: Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell

March 13: If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

April 10: Lizard In A Zoot Suit by Marco Finnegan AND
Zoot Suit and Other Plays by Luis Valdez

May 8 Capitalism: A Ghost Story by Arundhati Roy

June 12 Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

July 10 Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

August 14 Karukku by Bama Faustina

September 11 Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

October 9 The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui

November 13 Braiding Sweetgrass By Robin Wall Kimmerer

December 11 Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social
Justice Movements
editors: adrienne maree brown & Walidah Imarisha

January 8 Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds
by adrienne maree brown

In this talk Samantha McGuire, Director of Grassroots & Advocacy at American Atheists, will be outlining how white Christian Nationalism threatens both democracy and the true principle of religious freedom by tracing the movement's evolution from Cold War-era propaganda through today's coordinated attacks like Project 2025, examining legislative trends both nationally and California, and providing strategies for protecting our rights and our communities.
McGuire has a diverse background in counseling, education, event planning, and volunteer management. As Director of Grassroots Organizing & Advocacy she works to expand the organization’s grassroots network, shapes state-level advocacy initiatives, and builds strong coalitions with allied organizations. In this role, she oversees volunteer organizers, community leaders, and field staff to mobilize supporters, influence policy, promote secular values, and foster thriving communities.

Sam became involved in secular organizing and activism following the 2012 Reason Rally, first becoming a founding member of the Southern Maryland Chapter of the Washington Area Secular Humanists (WASH) and later President of the regional organization. Sam has volunteered for the American Humanist Association, Camp Quest Chesapeake, and the Secular Coalition for America.

In 2016, she was the volunteer coordinator for over 200 volunteers for Reason Rally, as well as helping coordinate on-site logistics. She was elected to the Board of Directors and as President of the Reason Rally Coalition. Sam previously served as a volunteer regional director overseeing the local activism in the Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland areas for American Atheists, earning her the Atheist Activist of the Year award in 2019. She joined American Atheists’ staff that same year as National Field Director.

McGuire has a Bachelor’s of Science in Neuropsychology from the University of Massachusetts and a Master’s of Science in Counseling from Johns Hopkins. She is a National Certified Counselor and a Certified Humanist Celebrant.