Category: Speaker

Category to indicate a forum is a single speaker.

California Primary Election

11 a.m., May 24, 2026

Join us this Sunday, either in person or online, as we discuss the California Primary Election. There are, fortunately, no proposition on the California Primary Election ballot which ends June 2, but it’s huge.
We will not cover every office on the ballot but Carl will give a presentation on the major candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Alex will present the candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives in district 17, candidates for the State Senate in district 10, and candidates for the State Assembly in district 26. Presentations will include funds raised, if available, and major endorsements.
After these presentations, we’ll open the floor to comments on other offices, districts, and general Q&A about the election.
Data on candidates are available on Ballotpedia.org.

Attend in Person:
Join fellow Humanists in the Manzanita Room of the Los Altos Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave, Los Altos, CA 94022. Lunch will be served after the forum. We request a $10 donation.

Attend Online
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 phone number to call:
here.

Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/humanistcommsv/

Visit the Humanist Community web site:
https://www.humanists.org/blog/2026-05-24/

RSVP on Meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/humanistcommunity/events/314082415/

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

Add this event to your Google calendar: Google Calendar

Trump’s War, Netanyahu’s War

Paul George

11 a.m., March 29, 2026

Join us, either in person or online, as we welcome our presenter.

On February 28, the US and Israel together launched a devastating war against Iran. It quickly became apparent that this assault would be far more destructive than the so-called Twelve-Day War the two countries carried out against Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities last June. That attack, it should be noted, marked the first time that a US administration engaged in a coordinated military action with Israel against a local regional power. While the June attack had a clear goal, it is not all clear that the two allies share a common goal this time around, beyond the physical devastation of Iran. That could seriously complicate the “end game” of this conflict and the future of the region. We’ll examine the implications.

Paul George has been the Director of Peninsula Peace and Justice Center for 36 years. He has been a grassroots activist virtually his entire adult life, beginning when he was a 16-year-old organizer and activist against the Vietnam War. Paul has traveled to war zones as a Central American solidarity activist and has been arrested for civil disobedience numerous times. In addition to his years at PPJC, Paul has worked for international solidarity groups, candidates for elected office, ballot measure campaigns, and as a community organizer for the country’s largest health care workers union. As a former radio and TV host and as a frequent public speaker, Paul has developed a reputation for breaking down complex issues and outlining effective ways to organize resistance.

Attend in Person:
Join fellow Humanists in the Sequoia Room of the Los Altos Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave, Los Altos, CA 94022. Lunch will be served after the forum. We request a $10 donation.

03/29/2026 Trump’s War, Netanyahu’s War from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

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 phone number to call: here.

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

Monthly Event Calendar:
https://www.humanists.org/blog/monthly-calendar/

Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/humanistcommsv/

Visit the Humanist Community web site:
https://www.humanists.org/blog/2026-03-29/

RSVP on Meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/humanistcommunity/events/313884541/

Click the Interested button or share on Patch:
https://patch.com/california/paloalto/calendar/event/20260329/90335321-9bf3-4041-8fd9-9222d755bbb1/trumps-war-netanyahu-s-war

Retweet our announcement on the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter:
https://x.com/HumanistCommSV/status/2035414772683047258

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

The Boy Scouts of America: Where are they Now?

Bob Wedig

11 a.m., May 3, 2026

Join us, either in person or online, as we welcome our presenter.

The Boy Scouts of America, now called Scouting America, started operation in the United States in 1910, and it has undergone significant changes since that time. This talk will be about the Boy Scouts, its mission, history, structure, and the current membership of the organization. We will discuss the inclusion of girls in the traditionally all-boys program and the recent government interaction in shaping the Scout program. There has been a lot of news about scouting in the last few years, so after an introduction and some background information, the talk will follow whatever path the audience wants to follow. Come with questions, and the speaker will do his best to provide the answers.
A short Bio:
Robert Wedig is a typical Silicon Valley engineer, now retired, who spends his time working with the Boy Scouts. He is an Eagle Scout and the father of two former scouts. He has been involved in scouting for over 40 years, and he is currently an assistant scoutmaster, unit commissioner, member of the advisory board for the Silicon Valley Monterey Council, and the chairman of the National Religious Relationships Committee. Robert believes scouting is the best youth organization to help young people become the ethical leaders of tomorrow, and he enjoys helping them achieve this goal.

05/03/2026 The Boy Scouts of America: Where are they Now? from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

Attend in Person
Join fellow Humanists in the Neutra House Conference Center, 181 Hillview Ave, Los Altos, CA 94022-3742. Lunch will be served after the forum. We request a $10 donation.

Attend Online
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 phone number to call: here.

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:
https://www.facebook.com/humanistcommsv/

Visit the Humanist Community web site:
https://www.humanists.org/blog/2026-04-03/

RSVP on Meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/humanistcommunity/events/313858676/

Click the Interested button or share on Patch:
https://patch.com/california/paloalto/calendar/event/20260503/a5261a30-0854-4aca-bc28-beb6ae58c79f/the-boy-scouts-of-america-where-are-they-now

Retweet our announcement on the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter:
https://x.com/HumanistCommSV/status/2034765488828686511

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

Racism

11 a.m., March 22, 2026
Our society condemns racism, a word loaded with negative connotations.

It’s also an uncomfortable word. Over the decades, we have heard of concepts associated with racism: stereotypes, microaggression and privileges. The slow introduction of these words reflect our society’s gradual and uncomfortable acknowledgement of certain facets of racism.

Still, we don’t have the complete picture. What is racism? The presentation is to analyze racism and find the causes. Basically, racism is the intersection of three psychological dynamics of human beings:

discomfort caused by difference
different treatment due to power differences
mistreatment due to problematic human desires
We are going to examine these dynamics in detail, like discomfort leads to avoidance. Unfamiliarity leads to distrust… and many others. It’s about human behaviors. Afterwards, you may understand others better. And you may see yourself differently.

Racism is not an evil that can be killed. It is part of human nature, similar to greed or aggression. It needs to be watched within us; we just need to know where to watch. A strong sense of justice and a caring heart, like we humanists try to develop, can reduce it further.

Please come and find out.

About the presenter:

Emma P. is a humanist. She has spent a lot of time thinking, observing and analyzing the problems of our society.

She came to the US as an Asian teenager. Even though she ventured into many groups of white people, during the first 3 decades in the U.S., the word “racism” rarely entered her mind. She didn’t know enough about racism.

On the other hand, she was drawn to every single discussion on racism she knew of. She found them unsatisfactory.

After almost five decades living the U.S., she began to see the pattern of racism that nobody talks about. She wants to share her realization with the world.

03/22/2026 Racism: From Condemnation to Awareness from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

Attend in Person:
Join fellow Humanists in the Sequoia Room of the Los Altos Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave, Los Altos, CA 94022. Lunch will be served after the forum. We request a $10 donation.

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 phone number to call: here.

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

Monthly Event Calendar:
https://www.humanists.org/blog/monthly-calendar/

Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/humanistcommsv/

Visit the Humanist Community web site:
https://www.humanists.org/blog/2026-03-22/

RSVP on Meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/humanistcommunity/events/313825116//

Click the Interested button or share on Patch:
https://patch.com/california/paloalto/calendar/event/20260322/53a97246-0513-49e4-b96d-4d1cc4bce7c1/racism

Retweet our announcement on the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter:
https://x.com/HumanistCommSV/status/2034134951982207280

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

“God: The Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction” with Dan Barker

Dan Barker

2:30-4:40 p.m., January 17, 2026

Join our friend Dan Barker in San Francisco, either in person or online.

What words come to mind when we think of God? Merciful? Just? Compassionate? In fact, the Bible clearly lays out God’s primary qualities: jealous, petty, unforgiving, bloodthirsty, vindictive, and worse.

Come join this tour through the Bible, guided by Freedom From Religion Foundation co-president (and former minister) Dan Barker, as laid out in his book, God: The Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction.

After meeting God — as portrayed in His own words, some would say — you might well run the other way. Dan did.

THIS IS THE SECOND of five stops on Dan Barker’s Western Tour in January, with events in Olympia WA, San Francisco CA, Palo Alto CA, Sacramento CA, and Salt Lake CIty UT. On January 18 in Palo Alto, enjoy an unusual opportunity for casual conversation with Dan and a recital of his secular songs.

HOSTED BY the San Francisco Bay Chapter, Freedom From Religion Foundation. Dedicated to the preservation of the constitutional principle of separation of church and state, FFRF is the nation’s largest freethought organization, with over 40,000 members and 25 chapters nationwide. SF Bay FFRF supports the national organization, does outreach tabling, sponsors speaking events and hosts a monthly social lunch. See www.sfbayffrf.org.

01/17/2026 God: The Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

Attend in Person
Join fellow Atheists, Freethinkers, and Humanists in the Latino/Hispanic Community Room on the lower level of the Main Library of the San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102-4705.

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.

Attend Online
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 phone number to call: here.

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:
https://www.facebook.com/humanistcommsv/

Visit the Humanist Community web site:
https://www.humanists.org/blog/2026-01-17/

RSVP on Meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/humanistcommunity/events/312648892/

Click the Interested button or share on Patch:
https://patch.com/california/paloalto/calendar/event/20260117/70355367-1477-41e9-bf95-c5e358a9ab2c/god-the-most-unpleasant-character-in-all-fiction-with-dan-barker

Retweet our announcement on the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter:
https://x.com/HumanistCommSV/status/2006245369940959697

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