The AHA Center for Education strives to provide educational opportunities that serve humanist and secular communities. The center offers a wide range of resources designed for humanist individuals and groups across the spectrum. Our programs take an innovative approach to teaching humanism, fostering ethical leadership and growing community for the humanist movement. The center also supports the efforts of the Humanist Society which provides endorsements for humanist Celebrants, Chaplains, Invocators, and Lay Leaders.
Promotion of Ten Commitments and Humanist Values
Parliament of the World’s Religions: AHA actively publicized and normalized humanist values by featuring adult and kids booths at the Parliament of the World’s Religions. These efforts encourage individuals and groups to explore and incorporate humanist principles into interfaith dialogue and community engagement.- Middle School Curriculum on Ten Commitments: We developed a middle school curriculum focusing on the Ten Commitments, allowing students to engage in self-guided education and projects centered on humanist values. The course was piloted successfully, with students enthusiastically creating their own projects, such as a video game based on the commitments.
- Local Groups: AHA facilitated education on the Ten Commitments by providing presentations and materials to local groups. These presentations serve as valuable resources for leading discussions on humanist beliefs and values within communities.
Educational Programs and Courses
Multi-Session Courses: AHA offered two instructor-led multi-session courses aimed at deepening understanding and reflection on various topics. “The Science of Consciousness” explored the mysteries of subjective experience and neuroscience, while “Humanist Roots Across the Globe” examined humanist developments worldwide, fostering dialogue and learning across cultures.- Humanist Family Life Ceremonies Course: Our newest online course focused on family life ceremonies, offering guidance on incorporating humanist values into family rituals and celebrations. This course provides individuals with tools and frameworks for creating meaningful and authentic ceremonies aligned with humanist principles.
Community Events and Engagement
Speaking of Humanism Events: AHA hosted a series of events exploring humanist values and action, featuring notable speakers and authors. Topics ranged from historical perspectives on humanism to discussions on empathy and altruism, drawing significant attendance and engagement from the community.- Critical Minds Discussions: AHA organized Critical Minds events, including discussions on religious intolerance and the role of the Supreme Court, fostering critical thinking and dialogue on pressing societal issues.
- AHA’s 82nd Annual Conference: The AHA’s 82nd Annual Conference was the first time that humanists met in person for an annual conference since the start of the pandemic. Over the course of the conference, we embarked on a remarkable journey of thought-provoking discussions, attended enlightening workshops and lectures, and had the privilege of hearing from our inspiring awardees: Michael E. Mann, Stephon Alexander, and David Breeden. The passion and dedication displayed by our diverse community as we explored the values of humanism, fostered the growth of our movement, and worked towards a more just, equitable, and compassionate society was truly invigorating.
Organizational Growth and Outreach
Humanist Society: The Humanist Society endorses and prepares humanist professionals to lead life celebrations and support people during difficult times. Celebrants, chaplains, lay leaders, and invocators provide millions of people with a meaningful alternative to traditional religious services and ceremonies across the nation. The Humanist Society assists professionals with training, resources, and networking with a wider humanist support network. The Humanist Society saw a significant increase in endorsees, expanding its board of directors and forming committees to oversee development and marketing efforts. New endorsement levels and initiatives were introduced to support the diverse needs of humanist celebrants and chaplains.- Expansion of Chapters and Affiliates: AHA experienced growth in its network of chapters and affiliates, with the addition of new local groups. These grassroots efforts contribute to the expansion of humanist communities and outreach initiatives.
- Holiday Letters to Incarcerated Individuals: AHA continued its tradition of sending holiday letters to incarcerated individuals, offering support and connection to those in need during the holiday season.