Agenda

Check in, meet your fellow secular advocates, and join us for a continental breakfast!

Our Acting Executive Director, Debbie Allen, offers opening remarks to kick off the day.

Our Acting Executive Director, Debbie Allen, will present the Herb Silverman Lifetime Achievement Award to Rita Swan, founder of CHILD Inc. Swan, a longtime advocate against child abuse and neglect related to religious or cultural practices, will share her story.

Sarah Levin, Director of Governmental Affairs for the Secular Coalition for America will introduce Maryland Representative Jamie Raskin, who will share his experience as the Co-Chairman and Founding member of the Congressional Freethought Caucus.

Sarah Levin, Director of Governmental Affairs for the Secular Coalition for America will introduce California Representative Jared Huffman, who will share his experience as the Co-Chairman and Founding member of the Congressional Freethought Caucus.

To offer insight into this year’s lobby issue, secular addiction recovery options, the Coalition is honored to welcome Barry A. Grant to speak. Grant, who currently serves as Director of Outpatient Programs for the Hope House Treatment Center in Crownsville, MD, is a former member of the SMART Recovery Board of Directors and international facilitator of self-empowerment through natural recovery.

To help attendees prepare for their meetings on Capitol Hill, Jason Lemieux, Director of Government Affairs for the Center for Inquiry, and Rachel Deitch, Policy and Social Justice Manager at the Center for Freethought Equality, will lead a Secular Lobby Day Training. Lemieux will share best practices for lobbying lawmakers and congressional staff and help attendees develop an in-depth understanding of this year’s core issue, secular addiction recovery options. Rachel will offer background and context on H. Res. 512, which calls for a global repeal of blasphemy laws.

By popular demand, these breakout sessions will give you an opportunity to rehearse for your meetings and ask us questions. Practice makes perfect and this session will give you time to prepare with fellow attendees from your state.

Boxed lunches will be available starting at 11:00 AM through the end of the day.

We will split off into assigned groups to attend meetings with your Congressional Offices, walking to other buildings on Capitol Hill as necessary.

Afternoon snacks will be available for advocates as they gather between meetings in the Gold Room.