Friday June 27
3:00pm - 3:45pm
Building Communities of Belonging
How do we build engaging communities that create a sense of deep belonging? In this panel, organizers Audrey Kingstrom of HumanistMN and Evan Clark of Atheists United will reflect on their lived experiences building local secular communities. We'll dig into the challenges of creating lasting connection in an increasingly fragmented world, the need for both advocacy and emotional support, and the unique role humanism can play in offering meaning, purpose, and joy. Together, we'll explore how to create spaces that meet people where they are and how to build programs that bring people of all ages together with momentum and heart.
Speakers
Audrey Kingstrom
Audrey Kingstrom is board member of HumanistsMN, a chapter of the AHA, and coordinates their robust array of programs, as well as serves the broader community as a Humanist Celebrant. She is also a member of the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis where she has been creating and producing humanist, earth-centered seasonal celebrations for over twenty years.
Evan Clark
Evan Clark is a humanist entrepreneur, public speaker, and award-winning community organizer with over 16 years experience tinkering with secular communities. He is currently the Executive Director of Atheists United in Los Angeles, the North American Coordinator for Young Humanists International, and the Southern California State Director for American Atheists.
Evan was previously Chair of the Secular Student Alliance Board of Directors, co-founder of the Humanist Community of Ventura County, co-host of the Humanist Experience podcast, Outreach Director for the James Woods for Congress campaign, and founder of Spectrum Experience LLC.
As a student leader, Evan was the founder and president of the Secular Student Alliance at California Lutheran University and was also elected as the university’s first openly atheist student body president.
Jake Via
As the Organizing Director for the American Humanist Association, Jake Via is dedicated to building and mobilizing a strong grassroots network to advance humanist values across the country. With nearly two decades of experience in community engagement, program development, and leadership at the YMCA and Playworks, Jake has a deep understanding of how to bring people together around shared values.
A firm believer in the power of connection, Jake specializes in empowering individuals and local groups to take meaningful action, whether through community building, advocacy, or acts of service. He is currently leading efforts to expand and activate AHA’s membership base, ensuring humanists have a strong network and voice in their local communities and on the national level.
Jake holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Thomas Edison State University. He is passionate about the power of play, believing that shared play experiences foster empathy, strengthen communities, and break down barriers. Throughout his career, he has championed play as a tool for engagement, inclusion, and personal growth.
Jake lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with his wife, Anabel, and their three dogs. When he’s not working to organize humanists, you can find him exploring new ideas, writing, or dreaming about sailing.