Since the earliest days of American Atheists, our opponents have accused us— the organization and atheists at large—of not believing in anything, being out of step with American values, and wanting to “ban” religion.
Although White Christian nationalists have often intentionally distorted our views and goals, it’s also true that too many people simply don’t know what it means to be an atheist in America or what is actually on the agenda for a group like American Atheists.
That’s why I’m so proud of the strategic plan our Board of Directors has just approved. If you were at our 2024 National Convention in Philadelphia, you’ve already gotten a first look at our plans for the future. Now, in this issue of American Atheist, I’m excited to share it with all of our members.
This strategic plan is the culmination of more than two years of hard work by members of our board, our staff and volunteers, and, crucially, the hundreds of members and supporters who shared their thoughts and feedback throughout this process.
Our plan not only articulates a compelling vision for the future, it lays out our approach to get there. It clarifies and explains our values as an organization, spelling out the “why” that’s at the core of our work representing atheists and other nonreligious people. And these values will help you, as a member of this organization, hold us accountable.
I’ve been with American Atheists for more than a decade now, and I’m tremendously proud of the work we’ve done together. This plan will help us continue that work while adapting to a rapidly changing landscape and the many threats our community, our nation, and our world already face today. The strategies laid out in this plan are, we believe, our best path to protecting civil rights, advancing political equality, achieving social inclusion, and empowering atheists and other nonreligious people through advocacy, education, and community building.
Most critically, this plan will allow us to meet the challenges of the next 60 years—including confronting the existential threat to our democracy posed by the White Christian nationalist movement.
We’re excited to put our values into action and build a truly people-powered, human-centered movement that takes the kind of bold actions necessary to accomplish our mission. And, as president, I’m honored to work with such dedicated staff, board members, volunteers, and members, like you, who share these values and our vision for a better future.
Now let’s get it done.