Secular Student Alliance 2024 National Conference

Conference Schedule

We are in the process of updating the conference schedule on a regular basis. Events, workshops, meals, and times may change. Please check back soon for more information.

Thursday, June 13

Arrival Day

Plan to arrive on Thursday to make your travel plans easier. The campus housing will be available for students. Usually, students hangout in the lobby and welcome other students as they arrive.

Residence Hall Check In

More info coming soon!

Friday, June 14

Conference Registration Open

Starting at 9am

Exhibit Table Set-Up

9am to 12pm

Pre-Conference Workshop 10am to 12pm

Darrel Ray: There Are No Shortcuts to Leadership

Why the hell do you want to be a leader? It can be a thankless job. It is a job you can never do right in many people’s eyes.
Let’s explore why you want to be a leader and what it requires to effectively lead. We will examine the hazards of leading, what happens when you take shortcuts, what motivates people to follow you as a leader, how to find and keep strong members, and how to organize for success.

Welcome and Opening Plenary 1pm

Conference Workshops 2pm

Coming Soon!

Resisting Authoritarian Discourse In and Outside of The Secular Movement

Presented by Kristina Lee

In 2021 a PRRI survey found that about 12% of the religiously unaffiliated agreed with the statement "Because things have gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country." Two years later, in 2023, that number jumped to 23%. In this workshop we will discuss how demagogic discourses can create climates where violence seems like a logical solution and how such violence can undermine democracy. We will workshop how to address this climate in our daily conversations and engagements in order to advocate for democratic deliberation rather than authoritarian demagoguery.

Break 3pm

Conference Workshops 3:15pm

Anti-Organizational Attitudes: Core Values Or A Recipe To Lose?

Presented by Chris Borecky

There are more Nones than at any time in American history, yet we are losing to the hyper-organized Religious Right. Yet, most secular people are still not organized in a way that could plausibly lead to political or cultural change or that could enrichen their lives. In this workshop, we discuss anti-organizational attitudes, the tradeoffs between hyper-individualism and close teamwork, the risks of conformity or groupthink, the role of the internet in our connection or isolation, the differences between secularism and anarchism, and the boundaries of what is possible for secular organizers. Can freethinkers be members of close-knit communities, or is the idea self-contradictory?

Coming Soon!

Friday Afternoon Plenary 4:15pm

Dinner

Friday Night Event 6:30pm

Seth Andrews VS. God: Who is the Better Intelligent Designer

Religious apologists often get misty and reverent about the "obvious" design in nature, yet Seth Andrews thinks God did a pretty shoddy job. Join us for an entertaining, often funny, and sometimes alarming examination of the world's faulty wiring...and how humans could have easily done better.

Saturday, June 15

Breakfast 8am

Saturday Opening Plenary 9am

Conference Workshops 9:30am

Reframing Humanism: Inclusive Events and Conversations

Organizing for Change: Choosing a Winnable Issue

Presented by Alicia Johnson

Building communities where all people can believe as we choose and live as ourselves, and where laws don’t allow anyone to use their religious beliefs to harm others, requires organizing for and advocating for change. But often as activists we have so many ideas that it’s hard to know where to start. In this workshop, participants will be invited to reflect on ways to create change in their communities and learn how organizers can narrow in on a winnable issue.

There Are No Shortcuts to Leadership

Presented by Dr. Darrel Ray

Conference Workshops 10:30am

So You Want To Be An Organizer

Presented by Christina Iacono and David Brown

Every one of us has the power to be an agent of change. As we witness the advancement of White Christian Nationalism, it's easy to feel hopeless. But Americans in overwhelming numbers hold firmly that our nation must remain a pluralistic democracy free from religious oppression. And therein lies our power to fight back! There's important work to be done and it starts with each of us. But how can we harness that power and convert it into action items that make a real difference?

Join us for this workshop on a deep dive into the mechanisms of effective organizing. It will consist of a primer for organizers, followed by a sequence of campaign-building stations designed to help customize and solidify your personal plan to help preserve church-state separation, democracy, and civil liberties in your community and beyond. This year. more than ever before, each of us must be ready to hit the streets. This workshop will provide your roadmap for success.

Why Aren't Facts Changing Minds?

Presented by Seth Andrews

How often have we entered a conversation with strong data and valid concerns only to walk away frustrated that things went nowhere? What are Identity Beliefs? How are they formed, nurtured, and defended? And in what seems like a Post-Truth era, how can we carve the cracks that let in the light? Bring your own perspectives, and let's talk about talking. Perhaps if we can find a shared humanity with our interlocutors, minds can be changed...including our own.

Coming Soon!

Saturday Plenary 11:30am

Miss Major Griffin-Gracy :: Backbone Award Recipient

Miss Major is a Black, transgender activist who has fought for over fifty years for her trans/gender nonconforming community.

Major is a veteran of the infamous Stonewall Riots, a former sex worker, and a survivor of Dannemora Prison and Bellevue Hospital’s “queen tank.” Her global legacy of activism is rooted in her own experiences, and she continues her work to uplift transgender women of color, particularly those who have survived incarceration and police brutality.

Lunch 12pm

Conference Workshops 1pm

Street Epistemology - How to Have Better Conversations

Presented by Pierce Watkins

My presentation, 'Street Epistemology - How to have better conversations' directly aligns with this year's theme, 'Cultivating Curiosity: Nurturing Minds, Igniting Change.' Through the lens of Street Epistemology, a method focused on encouraging open and reflective conversations about beliefs, this workshop aims to ignite a passion for inquiry and critical thinking among students. We'll explore how this approach can be a powerful catalyst for change, particularly in discussions surrounding beliefs in gods, the separation of religion and government and other secular concerns. By teaching participants to engage in respectful, thought-provoking dialogues, we not only nurture minds but also foster an environment where curiosity leads to substantial, positive transformations within campuses, communities, and future political leaders. The session will be interactive, with exercises designed to practice these techniques in real-world scenarios, thereby equipping our future leaders with the skills to effectively express their priorities and drive societal progress.

Shaping the Future: Your Voice, Our Vision

Join us for a dynamic session at this year's student conference where your voice will directly shape the future of the national organization! As part of our strategic planning efforts, we are eager to hear from you—our vibrant community of secular students. This is a pivotal opportunity to influence our SSA national mission, vision, and strategic objectives for the next 3 to 5 years.

Whether you're passionate about advocacy, community building, or promoting secular values, your input is crucial in setting a course for sustained impact and activism. This session will be interactive and collaborative, designed not only to gather your valuable feedback but also to spark discussions that inspire and challenge our collective goals.

Why You Should Attend:

Influence Change: Your ideas can lead to significant transformations in how we support and empower student activists like you

Be a Part of Something Bigger: Help us craft a vision that aligns with the needs and aspirations of secular students today and into the future.

Networking Opportunity: Connect with fellow attendees who share your passion and dedication.

We are excited to engage with you and incorporate your perspectives into our strategic roadmap. Come prepared to share, brainstorm, and help us envision a future where every secular student can thrive!

Session Outcomes:

Directly contribute to the updated mission, vision, and values of our organization.

Help define clear strategic goals and objectives that resonate with our community's current needs and future aspirations.

We look forward to your active participation and the unique insights you bring to the table. Let's create something extraordinary together!

Coming Soon!

Break 3pm

Conference Workshops 3:15pm

Straight Outta Mass Effect: Activism and Coalition Building in Red Craighead County

Let’s Talk About Sex(uality and Gender): Taking On the Christian Nationalist Attack on LGBTQIA+ Rights

How to Reach Rational Americans About Abortion Rights

Presented by Ben Bayer

With the overturn of Roe v. Wade, the future of reproductive freedom depends on persuading ordinary Americans at the state level to repeal anti-abortion laws. This is possible, even in traditional "red states," as referenda in Kansas, Kentucky, and Ohio have demonstrated. But what rhetoric and what ideas can motivate Republican voters to vote for abortion rights? In this talk I'll outline the ideas these voters find appealing--and for good reason--because they appeal to core American values of individual freedom. I'll also indicate how the same principle can be used to answer ordinary objections to abortion rights.

Saturday Afternoon Plenary 4:15pm

Dinner

Saturday Night Plenary 6:30pm

Documentary Screening: BAD FAITH reveals how Christian Nationalist leaders have spread fear and anger for decades, distorting political issues into Biblical battles between good and evil. Financed through the secretive Council for National Policy, Christian Nationalists have succeeded in taking over the Republican Party, turning it into a powerful weapon to demolish democracy from within. Discover the origins of this organized grasp for power and the grassroots coalition of secular and interfaith leaders bravely confronting the unholy forces threatening democracy.

Sunday, June 16

Breakfast 8am

Residence Hall Check Out

If your travel plans have you leaving on Sunday afternoon, Residence Hall checkout is between noon-2pm.

Sunday Opening Plenary 9am

Conference Workshops 10am

Leadership Development and Transitions: Rising Through The Ranks

Presented by Hayden Miller

Organizations that do good work need strong leaders, and it is possible for you to grow into that role. I feel that my experience as the leader of a group or organization, as well as someone that has worked my way through the ranks of many of them, gives me insight I would love to share. We will be discussing how to overcome introversion as a leader, how to build others around you into leadership roles, how to pick the best leadership roles to have in your organization early and how to grow your goals effectively from there, as well as how to handle the weight of this process.

Discovering and Leveraging Your Leadership Story

Presented by Hilary Trudell

There are few tools as effective in evoking empathy as storytelling. In this engaging workshop, participants will learn the elements of an effective story. Participants will explore their core values and begin to build their leadership stories around these values. The workshop will culminate with participants sharing the beginning of their stories with partners or small groups. This workshop is intended to build trust and understanding among group members and empower individuals to use their voices for causes they believe in.