For Immediate Release
Contact: Kate Uesugi, kuesugi@americanhumanist.org, 202-238-9088 (ext. 105)
(Washington, DC, October 12, 2022) – Today, the American Humanist Association (AHA) is announcing the appointment of Jasmine Banks as the organization’s new Director of Communications. She joins the AHA with more than 5 years of executive leadership, non-government organization, and nonprofit management experience. She has more than 10 years of progressive advocacy, movement-building, and organizing experience. Prior to joining the AHA, she spent 5 years dedicated to leading UnKoch My Campus. UnKoch My Campus is an intervention campaign addressing the impact of far-right billionaires leveraging their philanthropic donations in higher education to erode democracy and disrupt social and economic justice. In addition to her communication responsibilities, Jasmine will anchor new initiatives that bridge her UnKoch My Campus work into the AHA’s existing campaigns and expand the organization’s impact to address far-right billionaire influence on our climate, institutions, and broader democracy.
“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Jasmine to the AHA to lead our strategic communications and climate work which are crucial to our ability to execute on our 3-year Strategic Plan and deeply engage an entirely new audience. Jasmine has a sharp socio-political analysis that will help to educate our existing membership on key issue areas and develop and nurture the next generation of young humanist leaders.”
Jasmine is a national speaker and educator on issues ranging from mental health and well-being to building multi-racial coalitions. She was most recently honored to give the 2022 keynote for the Higher Education division of the American Federation of Teachers Conference. In 2019, Jasmine was a part of the Rockwood Strengthening Democracy cohort, and she is honored to be a part of the Higher Heights Black Women Civic Leader Fellowship 2020. She currently serves on an advisory committee for Liberation in a Generation and she is a Democracy and Belonging Forum participant with the Othering and Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley. She continues to support numerous organizations interested in developing and implementing anti-oppressive strategies as an organizer and consultant.
“I am beyond excited to join this transformative new chapter in the history of the American Humanist Association. The emergence of anti-democratic and authoritarian movements combined with overlapping threats to our climate and democracy are a clear and present danger. The ‘urgency of now’ calls us to abandon anemic and individualistic strategies that have fed toxic polarization and fractured our communities. Realizing a multi-racial abolitionist humanism can bridge the gap created by patriarchy, white supremacy, and capitalism. I am grateful for the opportunity to step into principled leadership, build power for humanists, and do my part to shift narratives toward a vision of a future where all people live with safety, dignity, and belonging.”
Jasmine is a mother of four, a proud Southerner, and a passionate supporter of her queer Black community. Jasmine co-founded Reconcile Arkansas and currently co-produces “Parenting is Political” with her wife, Mo. She has spoken with members of the media in many formats, from print (The New York Times Magazine) to podcasts, and a variety of outlets online, including The Nation, Progressive, WSJ, Teen Vogue, and more.
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The American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of humanists, atheists, and other nontheistic Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming worldview of humanism, which—without beliefs in gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.