The SCSC Conference is now over but the work has just begun.  Stay tuned for more video recordings of the event and follow-up info.   Put the conference into action by joining and supporting some of these organizations and the great work they are doing to support humanism and humanitarian efforts locally and around the world.  

Videos we have ready so far are HERE.

The Southern California Secular Coalition (SCSC: a committee of The Freethought Society) is pleased to present a hybrid, one-day conference entitled “Life Beyond Bars: Compassion and Reform” on Saturday, November 12, 2022. The event is being cosponsored by the American Humanist Association and The Freethought Society.

The event starts at 9:00 AM (PDT)/Noon (EDT) to 6:00 PM (PDT)/9:00 PM (EDT) with a welcome from Dave Rice, Margaret Downey, and the star of “Adam Ruins Everything” Adam Conover

There are three great options to attend.

1. Register and Attend online via Zoom HERE.

2. To join IN PERSON with The Humanist Society of Santa Barbara at Live Oak UU, register HERE.

3. To join IN PERSON in Orange County at the OC Human Relation Council in Santa Ana, register via Eventbrite HERE. 

A complete schedule, speaker list, bios, speech titles, presentation descriptions, and a list of the in-person site locations can be found at the above registration link.

This one-day conference will exam the issue of how our society treats incarceration, from all sides, including the perspective of those with "lived experience." We seek to better understand the causes, effects and challenges of our current system, and review ways to reform from a humanistic perspective. A wide range of expert speakers will provide valuable insight, and help us understand how we can all become advocates for a better, more humane, and effective system.

Speakers include Professor Jordan Hyatt, who will present an overview of the “Little Scandinavia” Chester, Pennsylvania prison project modeled on the humane Nordic system, and Andy Thompson, evolutionary psychiatrist, and spokesperson from Recovering From Religion Foundation.

Click HERE for more details.  


Our conference is intended to educate the members of our individual groups (humanists, freethinkers, skeptics, atheists and agnostics) about the reality of our carceral system today and potential, effective, humane reforms. We support reforms that endeavor to protect society from further harm while utilizing science based, compassionate rehabilitation & reintegration of incarcerated people into the world. Our groups, although they have various secular focuses and intentions, all tend to believe that this is the only life any of us will ever have and we support having this one precious life be the best that it can be for all people.

Judy Flattery
President & Editor
Humanist Society of Santa Barbara

Purpose

The Southern California Secular Coalition allows secular groups throughout
Southern California to connect with each other, share resources and grow, providing more opportunities for all members to serve in the areas of community building,
advocacy, service, and education.  

 

SCSC Leaders Summit Retreat #2

What we've done

We have organized two annual leadership retreats so far and are planning for more.  We just finished our SECOND ANNUAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SECULAR COALITION (VIRTUAL) CONFERENCE.  Videos Now available.  

We also currently have three sub-committees that meet bi-weekly to help address the needs of our group members, Connect, Share and Grow.  

We also have an advocacy focus for those that are interested in social justice and policy change.  

 


SCSC Leaders Retreat Video 2019


SCSC Leaders Retreat Video 2019