You're receiving this email because you've expressed an interest in Yale Humanist Community. Add yalehumanists@gmail.com to your address book if you want to be sure future messages land in your inbox.
November 12, 2015
Thank you to everyone who came out to this week's Carl Sagan Day celebration! It was wonderful to see so many of you on Monday night; we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. Of course, we especially want to thank our special guest Nick Sagan for sharing such inspiring insights and stories, as well as Yale Professor of Astronomy Dr. Debra Fischer, YHC faculty adviser Dr. Laurie Santos, and Yale Undergraduate Humanist Society treasurer Rich Baker for offering such thoughtful reflections. Click here to see photos from the event.

This Sunday, we'll be joined by another special guest: Broderick Greer, who is coming up from Tennessee to talk about #BlackLivesMatter. He will be joined by Nicole A. Tinson -- a current Yale Divinity School student who works as a graduate assistant at the Afro American Cultural Center at Yale -- and Onyeka Obiocha -- co-founder of the Happiness Lab at The Grove, which opens up their space to us weekly to host our discussion groups, SMART Recovery meetings, and undergraduate student dinners -- who will also be offering reflections. We hope you'll join us this Sunday for an important conversation on #BlackLivesMatter and how Humanists and people of all beliefs can work together to build a more just world.
 
Please read on for more information about Sunday's event and other upcoming programs. We hope to see you soon!
 
Best,
Chris Stedman, Executive Director
#BlackLivesMatter: A Movement or a Moment?
Humanist Haven welcomes Broderick Greer on 11/15.
 
Within the Yale community and across the country, the struggle for racial justice continues. Join Broderick Greer as he leads a community discussion on the inherent humanism in the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag -- and the ways in which people of secular and theist perspectives at Yale and across our nation can partner to forge a better world. Click here to RSVP to the event on Facebook, if you'd like.

Humanist Haven is YHC's community gathering where people from all across Yale and New Haven come together to ask big questions, explore what gives our lives meaning and purpose, and act to make the world a better place. Join us at The Grove -- 760 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT -- on the second Sunday of November (11/15) at 1 PM for Humanist Haven with Broderick Greer. 
 
Humanist Haven meets on the first and third Sunday of each month; meetings are free and open to the public, with child activities offered on the first Sunday of the month. Want to join a group walking over from campus? A group of students will leave Phelps Gate at 12:45 PM to walk to The Grove.

The Rev. Broderick Greer is curate at Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Memphis, Tennessee where he is program director of City of Soul Episcopal Service Corps community, is one of the chaplains to the G.S.L. day school, oversees young adult formation, and walks with people through birth, baptism, marriage, and death. He is a 2015 graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary and holds a degree in Social Work from Freed-Hardeman University.
Needs of New Haven: What we learned from Columbus House -- and how you can learn from Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven next month
 
At our second Needs of New Haven meeting, Alison Cunningham, Executive Director of Columbus House, spoke about her decades-long involvement in addressing homelessness in and around New Haven. Community members discussed strategies for assisting members of the homeless community through political advocacy, financial support, and humanizing interpersonal interactions. YHC hopes to learn more about Columbus House's network of communities housing the homeless through the Abraham's Tent program, and invites any interested community members to reach out and join us in learning more. We thank Alison for her time and look forward to partnering with Columbus House for future events. 

Next month -- on Monday, December 7 -- our third Needs of New Haven guest will be with Donna Violante, Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven. Bring your questions and join us at 7:30 PM at the Happiness Lab at the Grove. Have a suggestion for a local nonprofit or activist you would like to see invited to a Needs of New Haven meeting? We are still looking to book some of our remaining meetings in Spring 2016 and encourage you to email ideas to yalehumanists@gmail.com.

Needs of New Haven is just one of our discussion groups, which meet on the first, second, third, and fourth Mondays of the month. Visit the Discussion Groups page on our website to learn more about each group and how you can get involved.
Volunteer with our new STEAMMM program!


On the first Monday of each month, YHC partners with Clemente Leadership Academy to provide a monthly after school STEAMMM (science, technology, engineering, art, math, and medicine mentoring) activity for their middle school-aged students. The program is designed to foster an interest in STEAMM fields and an understanding of how important and useful STEAMM is for society in these young students.

YHC volunteers have an opportunity to share their unique expertise in a STEAMM field with local at-risk students and provide a valuable service for the larger New Haven community. The activities will take place from 3-5 PM on the first Monday of every month.

For Yale students who would like to travel to the service site together from campus, a group will be meeting at Phelps Gate at 2:30 PM to take the Red shuttle route. Others can email us to coordinate ride sharing and other info.

Sign up here to volunteer; you are still welcome to serve if you don't sign up in advance, but you will be serving in an assistant capacity. For more information please contact yalehumanists@gmail.com and include "STEAMMM volunteering" in the subject line.
Save the date for our big solstice celebration and Green Light Project kick off event: 12/20
We want your ideas and input for this public art initiative!

Image courtesy of Creative Commons
We are continuing to spread the word about our new Green Light Project, which will officially launch at our solstice celebration on Sunday, December 20 at 4 PM on the New Haven Green. This solstice event has a two-fold purpose: to celebrate the season from a nonreligious perspective in a spirit of interfaith respect, and to kick off the Green Light Project -- an initiative that seeks to create a light-based art installation celebrating human values, with the goal of having it installed on the Green during the 2016 holidays. 

This year's winter solstice event will be an opportunity for members of the community to come together, reflect, and create light and warmth during the coldest and darkest time of the year. It will feature members of Connecticut's Humanist community and special guest Mary Johnson, a Humanist Celebrant and acclaimed author. A former nun, Johnson is highly experienced at officiating meaningful ceremonies-the New Hampshire A-List named Johnson as the top wedding officiant in their state. A reception at The Grove will follow, and the full event will be moved to YHC offices at The Grove on Chapel Street in the event of bad weather.

Be sure to save the date for our December 20 solstice event, which will kick off a year of community events leading up to the unveiling of the art installation. Click here to RSVP on Eventbrite, if you'd like. If you would like to be part of the community-wide artistic project, please contact Nancy Kelly at nancykelly.yhc@gmail.com. 
Join us at the Twain House on December 15
A conversation with Daniel Dennet and Colin McEnroe.

Join us at the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, CT on December 15 at 7 PM for a conversation with philosopher Daniel Dennet. YHC is co-presenting the event with the Mark Twain House, and the evening will be introduced by YHC's Executive Director Chris Stedman and moderated by WNPR's Colin McEnroe. 

Daniel Dennett is an American philosopher, writer, and cognitive scientist whose research centers on the philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, and philosophy of biology, particularly as those fields relate to evolutionary biology and cognitive science. He is currently the co-director of the Center for Cognitive Studies, the Austin B. Fletcher Professor of Philosophy, and a University Professor at Tufts University. Dennett is an atheist and secularist and a member of the Secular Coalition for America advisory board. This event is generously supported by The Hartford. Tickets are $25 / $20 for Mark Twain House members. Please call (860) 247-0998 or visit marktwainhouse.org and click on Events.
Dinner for undergrad students on Wednesdays
 
Weekly undergraduate student dinners, hosted by our affiliated 
undergraduate student group, occur Wednesdays at 6 PM. While most of the undergraduate dinners take place on campus, on the first Wednesday of each month they happen off campus at the Happiness Lab coffee shop. At these off campus dinners, free dinner is provided. Want to join but not sure how to get there? A group of students will walk over from Phelps Gate at 5:45 PM. To contact the student directors and join the official list serv to get updates, email them at HumanistYalies@gmail.com.
Lunch for Divinity School students on Thursdays

The None/Others (formerly known as the Open Party) at the Divinity School host round-table lunches on Thursdays at 12:30 PM. To find out more about joining, volunteering, speaking opportunities, or for general inquiries please contact the None/Others at YDSNoneOthers@gmail.com.
Monthly young adult pub night & board game night

YHC's group for graduate students, professionals, and young adults hosts two events every month! 

The first is a board game night, every second Sunday of the month at 6 PM. For location details, email yalehumanists@gmail.com. 
 
The other is a pub night, every fourth Friday of the month at 8 PM at Firehouse 12. We hope to see you there!
Support YHC: Become one of our 20 for 50!



As you can see from our schedule of recurring events, YHC makes a meaningful contribution to Yale and the Greater New Haven community, and especially to those who participate in our many activities and programs. 
 
Most of these events take place at The Grove. The 20 for 50 campaign will ensure that YHC's work can continue. We're seeking 20 individuals who will pledge to donate $50 per month and help us cover the most basic cost of our space -- the rent.  That's just $1.67 a day, or less than a cup of coffee at many coffee shops.
 
Will you be one of the 20 for 50? 
 
As a 501(c)(3), YHC relies entirely on your donations, with no financial support from Yale University. Your donation is fully deductible. Click here to make a one time gift or set up a recurring donation.

"During my time as a Master of Divinity student, I often found myself feeling quite isolated from the other students because I identify as agnostic and Humanist. Yale Humanist Community provided a space where I could be myself without being judged. I was shown love, kindness, and, most importantly, that being nonreligious in no way diminishes one's ability to do good for others." -Mesha Arant, 2015 Yale Divinity School graduate
Weekly YHC Programs

See below for our lineup of recurring programs and visit yalehumanists.com to learn more!

Sundays
 
1 PM: Humanist Haven
First and third Sundays of each month
Location: The Grove
Who: Open to the public
 
6 PM: Grad Students, Professionals, and Young Adults Board Game Night
Second Sunday of each month
Location: Email for details
Who: Open to the public
 
Mondays

3-5 PM: STEAMMM (science, technology, engineering, art, math, and medicine mentoring) service program
First Monday of each month
Location: Clemente Middle School
Who: Email for details
 
7:30 PM: Discussion Groups
-Needs of New Haven (first Monday of each month)
-Practical Humanism (second Monday of each month)
-Unsacred Sacred Texts (third Monday of each month)
-WTF (fourth Monday of each month)
Location: The Grove
Who: Open to the public
 
Tuesdays
 
Existential counseling office hours (also available other days by appointment)
Location: YHC Office at The Grove or Davenport College
Who: Open to the public
 
2-3 PM: Chat with Maytal (from the Yale Chaplain's Office) and Chris
Location: Breathing Space (Old Campus)
Who: Undergraduate and graduate students only
 
Wednesdays
  
6 PM: Undergraduate dinner
Location: First Wednesday of the month at The Grove, all other Wednesdays on campus
Who: Undergraduate students only

7 PM: SMART Recovery
Location: The Grove
Who: Open to the public

Thursdays

Existential counseling office hours (also available other days by appointment)
Location: YHC Office at The Grove or Davenport College
Who: Open to the public
 
12:30 PM: None/Others lunch
Location: Yale Divinity School
Who: Yale Divinity School students only

Fridays
 
8 PM: Grad Students, Professionals, and Young Adults Pub Night 
Fourth Friday of each month
Location: Firehouse 12 (unless otherwise stated)
Who: Open to the public
Get YHC Gear!

Want to wear your Humanism on your sleeve? (Or your laptop, or your...?) Check out our YHC tees, buttons, and stickers -- and let us know if you want to learn more about how to get your own by donating to YHC!
Drink YHC coffee!

Have you enjoyed the coffee at Humanist Haven? Want to make it at home? 

Get your caffeine fix with our locally-roasted, small batch, ethical coffee. Proceeds support YHC! 

Click here to buy.
Alumni: Get involved in Humanist Alumni of Yale!

The Humanist Alumni of Yale (HAY) is a shared interest group for Elis committed to exploring nonreligious perspectives on living an ethical life and finding personal fulfillment. HAY connects Humanist alumni around the world with resources, enabling its members to organize social and service events with other Humanist alumni in their community-both at Yale and more broadly. HAY will also provide alumni with opportunities to connect with and help current Humanist students and groups. Want to learn more about Humanist Alumni of Yale and get involved? Click here to learn more, or sign up by visiting http://bit.ly/YHCalumni.
Volunteers needed for
Humanist Haven
 

From the thoughtful reflections offered at every Humanist Haven, to the dedicated set up and clean up support we rely on in order to make the space comfortable and welcoming, our Humanist Haven gatherings are driven by the generous service of our volunteers. This year, we're doubling the number of Humanist Havens, which means we need your help more than ever. 
 
Have you enjoyed a Moment of Reflection, or participated in a Moment of Connection, and thought: "I could do that!" Do you want to help us with our new children's story time initiative? Well now's your chance to get involved. Click here to submit your interest and availability to volunteer.
 
P.S. We're looking for books -- especially ones with Humanist themes -- to use for our children's programs. If you'd like to lend us one, or donate one to our library, please let us know!
Struggling with addiction? Join us for SMART Recovery

 
Are you struggling with addictive behaviors? Our weekly SMART Recovery support group mees every Wednesday at 7 PM in the Happiness Lab coffee shop, which is attached to The Grove at 760 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT. 
 
The goal of SMART, which stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training, is to provide quality, science-based educational tools and community for individuals struggling with addictive behaviors-and a nontheistic alternative to twelve-step programs, which rely heavily on God and Christian theology. People of all faiths and beliefs are welcome to attend. Please click here for updates regarding weather-related or other cancellations of our meetings.
If you received this newsletter as a forwarded email and would like to sign up to receive future newsletters directly, 
please click here.


Copyright © 2012. All Rights Reserved.