Inclement Weather Announcement

For Sunday Jan 18, 2026. We will be meeting as usual. Those who have unsafe conditions in the immediate area around home, may choose to stay home. 

If we need to cancel a NoVES Sunday Platform meeting because of unsafe weather, we will do our best to get the word out by 9:00 AM. Please check for a notice from NoVES through email, website, Facebook or Meetup to confirm the status of the meeting.

 We believe in Social Activism   

This will be our next social activity: 

How to Talk to Non-Humanists About Humanism

Sunday, January 25, 2 pm ET 
at AHA Headquarters 1821 Jefferson Pl. NW, Washington DC and Zoom
Co-Hosted by Washington Area Secular Humanists

RSVP to save your spot in-person or get Zoom link

Interested in learning how to talk to non-humanists about your values and be better understood instead of judged? Come join us in DC to hear how American Humanist Association's Executive Director Fish Stark does it. Enjoy a practical and engaging talk on how to communicate humanist values with clarity, confidence, and compassion. We’ll explore common questions non-humanists have, effective ways to explain humanism with empathy, and how to foster understanding across different worldviews.

Fish Stark, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association, is an organizer, educator, and social entrepreneur dedicated to belonging, social justice, and flourishing. Previously, Fish served as Head of Program & Curriculum at Legends, an education technology startup that built apps to improve children's mental health, and Director of Programs at Peace First, where he trained and funded youth activists in over 140 countries. Fish holds an Master's in Education from Harvard and a Bachelor's from Yale. A lifelong UU, he is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis and moonlights as an award-winning stand-up comedian.

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Actions you can take individually to spread empathy: 

TUESDAY Jan 20, 2026  Free America Walkout

January 20, 2026 will mark one year of this fascist regime as well as one year of Free DC's organizing to protect our people and communities. Organizers of the Women’s March—the largest single-day protest of Trump’s first term—are asking Americans to walk out of work on Tuesday to disrupt “business as usual” in protest of the Trump administration’s recent actions and policies, including its treatment of immigrants, attempts to curb democracy, recent abuse by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, and the recent fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.
More than 450 events are scheduled in all 50 U.S. states, as well as in Canada, France, Italy, and the Netherlands. These include school walkouts; marches to federal buildings, city halls, local court houses, and capitals; and more.

For a local event see this link: https://action.womensmarch.com/calendars/free-america-weekend?filter%5Blocation%5D=22152&page=1&utm_source=50501
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Sign up for the newsletter from your elected representatives.  If they have a town hall - attend it and ask questions.  Find out when the School Board meets and attend that meeting. Ask about LGBTQ policies. Watch for actions from the Board of Supervisors, and visit their office to discuss your opinion. 

Or consider these options

1. Make a donation to a local food pantry or clothing drive
2. Plant a tree  or clean up a park area.
3. Donate blood
4. Volunteer to drive someone from Assisted Living out for shopping. 
5. Hold conversations with friends about current events. Try to listen with empathy. 
6. VOTE in every election