Hello HumanistsMN members – As election season draws near, the coronavirus pandemic has underlined the importance of fighting for public policy that reflects humanist values, for example science-based decision-making, affordable health care, help for people in need, and racial equality. In Minnesota, we have upcoming opportunities to vote our humanist values: a primary election takes place on August …
Category: Humanism In Action
‘Say His Name’: A Protest Diary
By Christine Retkwa
In this time of COVID-19, I do not need to shop or get my hair cut or go to the gym. I do need to risk exposing myself to protest someone’s life being squished out of them like they were an insect while in yet another act of inhumanity.
Board Resolution on Racial Justice and Policing
HumanistsMN (HMN) is deeply distressed at the violent death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, while detained by members of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). As humanists, we believe in the dignity of all human beings and in racial justice, two principles that were severely violated in this case. As a result, the Board …
HumanistsMN Members Donate More Than $11,000 to Food Bank
By Harlan Garbell
As we know, the Covid-19 pandemic forced all local “non-essential” business activities that involve close human interaction to shut down. Even many “essential” economic activities have suffered during this public health crisis. As a result, wage earners without sufficient savings have been hard pressed to cover their routine living expenses, including most importantly, food.
Humanists Offer More Than Thoughts and Prayers
The Secular Week of Action, which takes place from May 1 to 10, aims to mobilize secular people across the country to demonstrate our shared commitment to making this world, here and now, a better place. This year’s emphasis will be on offering a compassionate response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Humanist Offers to Match Donations to Help Food Banks During COVID-19 Crisis
The following is written by a HumanistsMN member who wishes to remain anonymous.
During the current public health crisis, families’ incomes are being lost and kids and parents may soon be going hungry. Need is currently at an all-time high, and there is no way to know how long this will last, or how bad it will be. Young, developing brains need good nutrition to maintain their optimal development. These kids are the future workforce, and will determine our futures as well. And this time, the humanitarian crisis is perched on our own doorsteps.
HMN Collaborates to Promote Second Chances for Those Who Have Paid Debt to Society
By Christine Retkwa
HumanistsMN believes in collaborating with groups whose goals align with the humanist value of enabling all humans to thrive , recognizing that collaboration is the key to forming the mass needed to make an impact. December’s newsletter highlighted our work with Compassion & Choices to promote medical aid in dying. Now HumanistsMN has stepped up again by becoming an organizational-level member of Minnesota Second Chance Coalition, which works to ensure that persons who have been punished for crimes have meaningful opportunities to live, work, and grow as people after serving their debts to society.
Medical Aid in Dying: Gearing Up for the 2020 Legislative Session
By Marcy Woodruff
As we head into the next legislative session, which begins February 11, HumanistsMN’s Social Action Team is working to make it easy for our members and followers to take action on legislation dealing with an issue team has identified as a priority — medical aid in dying.
National Day of Reason Event Marks New Humanist Collaboration (Photo Gallery)
By Suzanne Perry
HumanistsMN for the first time this year joined hands with two other humanist organizations to plan a major event at the Capitol to observe the National Day of Reason, which honors the principles of secular lawmaking and separation of religion and government.
Momentum Grows on Campaign-Spending Curbs: Federal and State Bills Introduced
By Vicki Barnes
Humanists of Minnesota has endorsed efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore our ability to regulate campaign spending and curb the influence of money in politics. This would reverse damaging Supreme Court rulings, including Citizens United, which struck down restrictions on political spending by corporations and billionaire donors on free-speech grounds Vicki Barnes, Minnesota state coordinator for American Promise, reports on recent legislative developments.
NEW HUMANIST VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: FOOD PACKING AT THE FOOD GROUP WAREHOUSE
By Nathan Curland
Last month, Humanists of Minnesota launched a new monthly volunteer opportunity for its members. We secured a two-hour monthly slot at the Food Group’s Warehouse in New Hope to pack food boxes for the secular nonprofit’s 170 statewide food-shelf partners.
Board Endorses Resolution to Fight Big Money in Politics
By Sharon Tornes
The Humanists of Minnesota board has agreed to endorse a resolution aimed at curbing the influence of wealthy special interests in our elections.
Let’s Build the Power of Secular Voters
By Suzanne Perry
Want to help counter the political influence of the Religious Right? Humanists of Minnesota has a deal for you! Several of us met in August with representatives of the Secular Coalition for America, which is working to build the power of secular voters across the country. We agreed to follow up by organizing a voter-registration drive and encouraging our members to sign up for the coalition’s Rapid Response Network.
A HUMANIST JOINS THE FIGHT TO COUNTERACT BIG MONEY IN POLITICS
By Michael Anderson
When I joined Humanists of Minnesota in January, I had no idea what I was getting into. And it’s all good! One of the first events I attended as a member was a presentation in February by Jeff Clements, President of American Promise, with Social Action Team leader Meline Juarez.
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