Sunday Morning Programs
Our Sunday morning programs alternate weekly between a guest speaker and one of our Community Days, which are designed to foster community engagement and social action. From June through August, all of our programs will be in-person only and will not be livestreamed. Some of these programs will be recorded and posted on our YouTube channel for later viewing.
Our Sunday morning programs alternate weekly between a guest speaker and one of our Community Days, which are designed to foster community engagement and social action. We’ll welcome a live audience in our auditorium, and also continue livestreaming our guest speakers to our YouTube channel. The Community Days are in-person only.
Sunday, March 8, 10:30 am
Brandon Pope
Journalist, podcaster, and media critic
“Oscars Preview and the Future of Film”
In advance of the 98th Academy Awards ceremony, journalist and media critic Brandon Pope will discuss the stand-out movies of 2025, his picks for Oscar-worthy performances, and which films he thinks were snubbed. He will also explore how streaming has changed the film industry and the movie-watching experience, and whether we’re likely to ever see people return to theaters.
Brandon Pope is an Emmy-winning journalist, TV host, podcaster, and columnist, covering everything from politics to sports. He also reviews film and TV on his Substack, “Brandon Pope’s Screening Room,” and is the president of the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists.
Sunday, March 15, 10:30 am
Community Day: Humanist Passions
For this mini-conference, we will explore and share our individual human experiences and how they are understood within a humanist framework. In small group discussions, we will consider themes of beauty, joy, wonder, and hope. Each facilitated discussion will explore the nature of our experiences, their meaning, and how they are inspired and expressed in our lives.
Our Community Days are programs designed to bring us together to learn, grow, and volunteer. They are open to the public, in-person only, and will not be livestreamed.
Sunday, March 22, 10:30 am
Holly Greenberg
Founder and director of Bird Collisions in the Anthropocene
“Community Crafting to Stop Bird Collisions”
Holly Greenberg is the founder of Bird Collisions in the Anthropocene, a national nonprofit conservation and community art project based in Evanston, IL. They use art and public education to prevent bird building collisions, and they need our help!
The project seeks to crowd-source the handcrafting of 10,836 birds, to match the number of birds found on the streets of Chicago in 2023 by the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors after they hit glass. Holly will lead participants in crafting birds while teaching us about bird migration, explaining why birds collide with glass, and providing free resources for treating windows.
All of the artworks will be sewn together into a huge 300-foot-long “carpet” of birds that will travel the country as an educational art installation, raising awareness about the toll of building collisions on our bird populations.
This hands-on workshop will be in-person only and will not be livestreamed.
Sunday, March 29, 10:30 am
Community Day: Spring Cleanup
Spring is right around the corner, and it’s time once again to tidy up our spaces, inside and out. Join us for this working Community Day, when we’ll clean up our garden and grounds, and organize some of our indoor storage. Dress for the weather!
Sunday, April 12, 10:30 am
Josephine Ferorelli
Writer, illustrator, and yoga instructor
“The Conceivable Future: Planning Families and Taking Action in the Age of Climate Change”
Josephine Ferorelli, co-author of the book The Conceivable Future, will explore the ways in which the climate crisis is affecting our personal decisions about family planning, parenting, and political action. She will offer fresh, timely answers to questions such as: How do I decide to parent a child amidst climate uncertainty? How do I talk to the kids in my life about the climate crisis? What can I actually do to help stop global warming?
Sunday, May 17, 10:30 am
Dana Cole
Professor of sociology at Harold Washington College
“Valuing Diversity Through the LGBTQIA+ Lens”
Dana Cole, professor of sociology at Harold Washington College, will explain how to foster inclusive and affirming environments by understanding and valuing diversity through an LGBTQIA+ lens. We will gain a foundational understanding of current terminology, identities, and inclusive language, while exploring how these concepts apply in a range of settings. Dr. Cole will offer tools for effective allyship, including strategies for addressing bias, supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals, and creating equitable spaces for all. Expect to leave with actionable resources to continue learning and advocating for LGBTQIA+ inclusion.
the views of our speakers do not necessarily represent those of the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago.
Covid Policy for Attendees
For our in-person audience, we will be adhering to the following policy:
- ALL attendees must be FULLY VACCINATED.
- A face mask completely covering the nose and mouth is required for all audience members during the program whenever the CDC rates Cook County at High Risk for Covid transmission.
- A mask-optional social hour will follow the program.
Have you missed some of our recent programs? You’re in luck!
Recordings of many of our programs from the last several years reside on our YouTube channel. Click this button to see a list of our broadcasts from the past year with links to the videos.
FAQ
Here are answers to some common questions, but feel free to contact us if you have any others!
We welcome you to join us for any Sunday morning program! No RSVP necessary–just drop in. There will be greeters at the door to direct you to our auditorium and answer any questions you may have.
If you can’t make it in person, we livestream most of our Speaker Series programs so you can watch live from home! Just hit the “Join the Livestream” button under any of the programs listed above at the appointed time, or go directly to our YouTube channel.
All our Sunday programs are free and open to the public. No reservations are needed.
Although attendance is free, we do offer an opportunity during the program for freewill donations. We suggest $5, or whatever you’re comfortable with.
Yes! Our Humanist Kids program runs concurrently with the adult program. Your children, from infants to 8th grade, can enjoy stories, discussions, crafts, and social action projects designed to encourage living life ethically and joyfully.
For more information see our Humanist Kids page, or contact the Humanist Kids Program Director.
Yes! See our Activities page for other ways that we get together, or our Social Action page (Coming Soon), for upcoming projects that you can help with.
