DATELINE DENVER: The American Humanist Association Plans another Great Conference

(Please see AHA’s statement on sexual harassment allegations against Dr. Krauss here.)

Do you like diverse culture, art, sunshine, picturesque mountain views, and like-minded free-thinkers? Sounds like you should go to Denver!

The American Humanist Association’s 74th Annual Conference is rapidly approaching and we cannot contain our excitement!  This year’s event is co-hosted by the Colorado Coalition of Reason and the Humanists of Colorado and will be held May 7-10 at the beautiful Grand Hyatt Hotel in Denver, Colorado. Informative lectures, book signings, celebrity guests, networking opportunities, child care, fun activities and more await conference attendees!

This year’s lineup of award winners and speakers is as impressive and varied as always. We’re especially proud to welcome our 2015 Humanist of the Year, Lawrence Krauss. Krauss has had an extensive career publishing over 300 scientific writings and is a frequent contributor to the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. He is also Foundation Professor at Arizona State University’s School of Earth and Space Exploration and is the director of ASU’s Origins Project. He frequently travels the world promoting scientific education and reason, as seen in the documentary The Unbelievers made with fellow freethinker, Richard Dawkins.

We are also thrilled to announce our 2015 Humanist Heroine, Jean Kilbourne, who is recognized for her groundbreaking work on the image of women in advertising. She is the author of Can’t Buy My Love: How Advertising Changes the Way We Think and Feel (2000) and So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids (2009). Our 2015 Religious Liberty Award winner, Marci Hamilton, is one of the country’s leading church-state scholars and is the Paul R. Verkuil Chair in Public Law at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University. And our youngest award recipient this year, Humanist Pioneer Isaiah Thomas, is a high school student from Texas whose inspiring humanist activism caught the attention of TIME magazine, among other major media. And, finally, we are excited to present the Humanist Media Award, which for the first time is going to a publication—the award-winning satirical news site, the Onion!

Our keynote speaker for the 2015 AHA conference is author, producer, and performer Kelly Carlin. As the daughter of famed atheist comedian, George Carlin, Kelly experienced the entertainment industry at a young age. Having appeared on several of her father’s television shows as a child and then writing and producing as an adult, Kelly now travels the world telling stories of growing up with her father and shares her ongoing search for meaning in life.

We are eager to share this year’s presenters with you as well. Speakers will be covering topics ranging from scientific exploration to race and inequality to the study and practical applications of cannabis. Our sessions this year are sure to inspire with speakers like researcher Dr. Robert Melamede, neuroscientist Ginger Campbell, a panel discussion with The Clergy Project, and much more!

On the final day of the conference you will have the opportunity to join your fellow humanists on a bus tour of Denver, with stops at the headquarters of EvolveFISH (the largest seller of freethought merchandise); the infamous Ten Commandments statue on Capitol Hill; and a wine-and-cheese reception with entertainment at the Secular Hub , a community center in Denver serving the secular humanist and atheist community. This event is not included in the registration price, however bus transportation and lunch is included in the $79 per-person price. A fun-filled afternoon in Denver with the AHA? Yes, please!

Join hundreds of humanists, atheists, and freethinkers in Colorado to celebrate four fantastic days of mile-high humanism. For more information about the conference and accommodations, please visit AHA’s conference website. If you or someone you know is interested in exhibiting at the conference, more information can be found on the exhibitor’s page. Ready to sign up?  Please visit our conference registration page to secure your spot today!