Category: Forums

Category for all Forum posts.

John McWorter and Richard Dawkins at the Scopes Trial Centennial

John McWorter

11 a.m., August 10, 2025

Join us this Sunday, either in person or online, as we watch and discuss a video from the 2025 Scopes Trial Centennial Conference.

In this special session, evolutionary biologist and author Richard Dawkins presents the 2025 Richard Dawkins Award to John McWhorter, Columbia University linguist and New York Times columnist. The award honors individuals who champion reason, science, and secularism.

Following the award presentation, Dawkins and McWhorter engage in a thought-provoking on-stage conversation exploring the origin and evolution of language, touching on linguistics, human cognition, and the nature of communication itself.

The Scopes Trial Centennial Conference, co-hosted by the Center for Inquiry (CFI) and the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), commemorates the 100th anniversary of the famous 1925 “Monkey Trial,” a pivotal moment in American history that tested whether science or religious dogma would shape public education.

You can preview this 55-minute video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov-S1w_fU1Y

Attend in Person:

This Sunday, you can attend our forum in person with fellow humanists in the Orchard Room at the Los Altos Library, 13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos, CA 94022. Lunch will be served after the forum. We request a $10 donation.

If you can join us in person, please email vp@humanists.org to help us make sure we have room for you. If you have symptoms that may be COVID, kindly attend on Zoom.

———-

Also, we will continue to present our forums on Zoom. To join and be able to ask questions and make comments, click here.
No password is needed — our host will admit you from the waiting room. Joining the meeting via the link will download and install the Zoom app on your desktop computer (if it’s not already installed), and then take you to the meeting. You can also install the Zoom app on your computer or smartphone, and then enter:
Meeting ID: 816 5389 0712
Passcode: 250634

Join the meeting by phone: +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)

Find an international number to call: https://zoom.us/u/afYkAuvE6

———-

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Click the Interested button or share on Patch:
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Watch videos of our past Forums: https://vimeo.com/user2798508

The Future of Truth

Prof. Hammond, Mr. Balasubramaniyan, Ms. Paillon, and Prof. Wolcot

11 a.m., August 3, 2025

Join us this Sunday, either in person or online, as we watch and discuss a video from the TWIN Global 2023 conference. Professor Robert Wolcot, Co-Founder and Chair of The World Innovation Network (TWIN), interviews an international panel on the meaning of and search for truth in a world where it is becoming increasingly hard to identify.

The panel consists of Marjorie Paillon, Journalist and Anchor with TV France; Vijay Balasubramaniyan, Co-Founder CEO and CTO of Pindrop Security; and Kristian Hammond, Professor of Computer Science at Northwestern University and Chief Scientist at Narrative Science.

TWIN is an invitation-only connective that brings together decision-makers from over 30 countries who impact business, government, arts, and philanthropy.

You can see this 32 minute video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDx9kyo7NKk

Attend in Person:
On the first and fourth Sunday of the month, like this Sunday, attend our forum in person with fellow humanists at the Neutra House Conference Center, 181 Hillview Ave, Los Altos, CA 94022. Lunch will be served after the forum. We request a $10 donation.

If you can join us in person, please email vp@humanists.org to help us make sure we have room for you. If you have symptoms that may be COVID, kindly attend on Zoom.

———-

Also, we will continue to present our forums on Zoom. To join and be able to ask questions and make comments, click here.
No password is needed — our host will admit you from the waiting room. Joining the meeting via the link will download and install the Zoom app on your desktop computer (if it’s not already installed), and then take you to the meeting. You can also install the Zoom app on your computer or smartphone, and then enter:
Meeting ID: 816 5389 0712
Passcode: 250634

Join the meeting by phone: +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)

Find an international number to call: https://zoom.us/u/afYkAuvE6

———-

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Like us on Facebook:
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Visit the Humanist Community web site:
https://www.humanists.org/blog/2025-08-03/

RSVP on Meetup:
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Click the Interested button or share on Patch:
https://patch.com/california/paloalto/calendar/event/20250803/6c1562e8-4c08-4c2c-ac60-71240a4debcd/the-future-of-truth

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How Will the World Change?

Humanist Community Board of Directors

11 a.m., July 20, 2025

Join us this Sunday, either in person or online, as we hold a short panel discussion about emerging technological innovations and their possible effects on culture.

The automobile, television, and smart phones have had a dramatic effect on people’s lives in the last century. The changes we can expect in the coming years due to AI, virtual reality, city planning, electric cars, and other advances promise to be even more dramatic. Dramatic, but hard to predict.

Nevertheless, four members of the Humanist Community — Michael Abramson, Carl Angotti, Alex Havasy, and Scott Wakefield — will take a stab at how emerging technologies might affect us. After they talk, we will open the forum to attendees and what you think we got right or wrong and what you think may have the biggest effect on our lives.

07/20/2025 How Will the World Change? – Humanists Board of Directors from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

Attend in Person:

This Sunday, attend our forum in person with fellow humanists in the Huddle at the Google Visitor Experience, 2000 N Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View, CA 94043.

Free parking is available at:
Alta Garage, 1001 Alta Ave (~8 minute walk). EV charging is available at Alta Garage.
ADA parking is available at Alta Garage. Additionally, an ADA-accessible drop off zone is located at the western building entrance in front of the Google Store.

Public Transportation: The VTA Route 40 bus operates daily, and stops at Charleston & Huff.
Bicycle Parking: There are bicycle racks located outside of Gradient Canopy for your use. Please bring your own lock to secure your bike.
Rideshare: Using Uber or Lyft, set your location as Gradient Canopy, and you will be dropped off in front of the building, off Joaquin Rd.

If you can join us in person, please email vp@humanists.org to help us make sure we have room for you. If you have symptoms that may be COVID, kindly attend on Zoom.

———-

Also, we will continue to present our forums on Zoom. To join and be able to ask questions and make comments, click here.
No password is needed — our host will admit you from the waiting room. Joining the meeting via the link will download and install the Zoom app on your desktop computer (if it’s not already installed), and then take you to the meeting. You can also install the Zoom app on your computer or smartphone, and then enter:
Meeting ID: 816 5389 0712
Passcode: 250634

Join the meeting by phone: +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)

Find an international number to call: https://zoom.us/u/afYkAuvE6

———-

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https://www.humanists.org/blog/2025-07-20/

RSVP on Meetup:
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Click the Interested button or share on Patch:
https://patch.com/california/paloalto/calendar/event/20250727/0fd3a5ce-341f-4450-912c-eb87ce555a7c/pro-bono-photo-serving-the-photo-needs-of-action-organizations-in-the-bay-area

Retweet our announcement on the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter:
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Watch videos of our past Forums: https://vimeo.com/user2798508

Pro Bono Photo: Serving the photo needs of social action and environmental organizations in the Bay area

Chris Cassell

11 a.m., July 27, 2025

Join us this Sunday, either in person or online, as we welcome Chris Cassell to tell us about Pro Bono Photo, which serves the photo needs of social action and environmental organizations in the Bay Area.

PBP (https://www.probonophoto.org/) is a clearinghouse that matches worthy organizations that need photographic and videographic services with volunteer photographers and videographers who wish to donate their time and expertise. PBP was founded in early 2017 by Jack Owicki; the first Women’s March was the initial large event that we covered. Chris Cassell has been a photographer for PBP since that beginning.

In the years since then, and as PBP has become increasingly known to social and environmental non-profit organizations, two different roles of PBP have become increasingly separate and sometimes in tension with each other in terms of their ground rules. Those roles are (1) covering protests, and (2) helping non-profits document their meetings, conferences, etc. The protest coverage role had receded somewhat during the Biden administration, but, needless to say, has exploded in activity since the start of 2025.

Chris will describe the evolution of Pro Bono Photo and those roles over the years, highlighted by photos (taken mostly by Chris) from events that PBP has covered. He will also explore the aspirational notion that the effect of PBP’s activities has been “necessary, though not sufficient”. That is, through documenting protests, PBP multiplies the effectiveness of those actions so that protest becomes more than just a bunch of left-coast people waving signs in each other’s faces. Helping to demonstrate that a critical mass of Americans share their anger with the current direction of politics is a necessary step. But that step plus several others, may be needed to effectively change the direction that American society is headed.

Chris is a retired aerospace engineer; Lockheed Martin brought him to the Bay Area in 1997, but in 2012, he transitioned to being a co-founder and the astrodynamics lead of Deep Space Industries, Inc. DSI had the long-term goal of near-Earth asteroid mining, but failed as a business in 2018. Chris’ education includes a B.A. in Physics from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences from UC, San Diego.

He is a member of two “religious humanist” organizations: the Ethical Culture Society of Silicon Valley (past Treasurer), and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto, where he is currently a member of the Action Council (for social action).

Chris has been a serious amateur photographer since the late ’70s. Currently, in addition to Pro Bono Photo, Chris is active with the Los Gatos-Saratoga Camera Club, where he is Judge VP, responsible for arranging judges for the club’s monthly photo competitions. He also regularly judges photo competitions at other camera clubs around the Bay Area.

07/27/2025 Pro Bono Photo: Serving the photo needs of organizations in the Bay Area – Chris Cassell from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

Attend in Person:
On the first and fourth Sunday of the month, like this Sunday, attend our forum in person with fellow humanists at the Neutra House Conference Center, 181 Hillview Ave, Los Altos, CA 94022. Lunch will be served after the forum. We request a $10 donation.

If you can join us in person, please email vp@humanists.org to help us make sure we have room for you. If you have symptoms that may be COVID, kindly attend on Zoom.

———-

Also, we will continue to present our forums on Zoom. To join and be able to ask questions and make comments, click here.
No password is needed — our host will admit you from the waiting room. Joining the meeting via the link will download and install the Zoom app on your desktop computer (if it’s not already installed), and then take you to the meeting. You can also install the Zoom app on your computer or smartphone, and then enter:
Meeting ID: 816 5389 0712
Passcode: 250634

Join the meeting by phone: +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)

Find an international number to call: https://zoom.us/u/afYkAuvE6

———-

Subscribe to our events in your Apple Calendar:
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Add this event to your Google calendar: Google Calendar

Like us on Facebook:
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Visit the Humanist Community web site:
https://www.humanists.org/blog/2025-07-27/

RSVP on Meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/humanistcommunity/events/309687829/

Click the Interested button or share on Patch:
https://patch.com/california/paloalto/calendar/event/20250727/0fd3a5ce-341f-4450-912c-eb87ce555a7c/pro-bono-photo-serving-the-photo-needs-of-action-organizations-in-the-bay-area

Retweet our announcement on the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter:
https://x.com/HumanistCommSV/status/1944983794571714676

Watch videos of our past Forums: https://vimeo.com/user2798508

This is what a digital coup looks like

Carole Cadwalladr

11 a.m., July 13, 2025

Join us this Sunday, either in person or online, as we watch and discuss a video of Carole Cadwalladr, who is a journalist who probes the nexus of politics and Silicon Valley power. A longtime feature writer for the UK’s Guardian and Observer, she now explores “How to Survive the Broligarchy” in her Substack newsletter. Her reporting has won a Polk Award and the Orwell Prize for political journalism; she was also a Pulitzer finalist for National Reporting in 2019 with the New York Times, investigating Facebook, Cambridge Analytica and the misuse of data in the Brexit referendum and the 2016 US presidential election.

“We are watching the collapse of the international order in real time, and this is just the start,” says investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr. In a searing talk, she decries the rise of the powerful tech executives who are using their global digital platforms to amass unprecedented geopolitical power, dismantling democracy and enabling authoritarian control across the world. Her rallying cry: resist data harvesting and mass surveillance, and support others in a groundswell of digital disobedience. “You have more power than you think,” she says.

In April 2019, she gave a TED talk about the links between Facebook and Brexit, entitled “Facebook’s role in Brexit — and the threat to democracy”. British businessman, political donor, Arron Banks objected to her statement that Mr. Banks had told untruths about a secret relationship he had with the Russian government and initiated a libel suite the settlement of which is now to be taken to the European Court of Human Rights.

You can watch this 17-minute talk at: https://www.ted.com/talks/carole_cadwalladr_this_is_what_a_digital_coup_looks_like/

Attend in Person:

On the second Sunday of the month, like this Sunday, you can attend our forum in person with fellow humanists in the Orchard Room at the Los Altos Library, 13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos, CA 94022. Lunch will be served after the forum. We request a $10 donation.

If you can join us in person, please email vp@humanists.org to help us make sure we have room for you. If you have symptoms that may be COVID, kindly attend on Zoom.

———-

Also, we will continue to present our forums on Zoom. To join and be able to ask questions and make comments, click here.
No password is needed — our host will admit you from the waiting room. Joining the meeting via the link will download and install the Zoom app on your desktop computer (if it’s not already installed), and then take you to the meeting. You can also install the Zoom app on your computer or smartphone, and then enter:
Meeting ID: 816 5389 0712
Passcode: 250634

Join the meeting by phone: +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)

Find an international number to call: https://zoom.us/u/afYkAuvE6

———-

Subscribe to our events in your Apple Calendar:
webcal://p162-caldav.icloud.com/published/2/Mjk3Nzk1MTgyMjk3Nzk1MRBa7aU6zKSIJMfDjhqBP8r3muvKK3GLLCRnZoCneHpXv08CyGJAJRVI5yyh-SVWxGJE9xHfdUs72pmiBNlOBpY

Add this event to your Google calendar: Google Calendar

Like us on Facebook:
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Visit the Humanist Community web site:
https://www.humanists.org/blog/2025-07-13

RSVP on Meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/humanistcommunity/events/309098715//

Click the Interested button or share on Patch:
https://patch.com/california/paloalto/calendar/event/20250713/b67c7100-723b-4785-a281-d707857207bb/this-is-what-a-digital-coup-looks-like

Retweet our announcement on the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter:
https://x.com/HumanistCommSV/status/1943077837453627751

Watch videos of our past Forums: https://vimeo.com/user2798508