"The Architecture of Life: TAOLISM" by Joe Simonetta
2025-09-21 14:30 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC
“The Architecture of Life: TAOLISM” will be presented by Joe Simonetta at the Sunday, September 21, 2025, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC. This will be a hybrid meeting. We will meet in-person. Joe will be with us by Zoom for interactive conversation on the big screen. All are welcome to attend.
Taolism is a modern philosophical movement and ethical framework founded by Harvard Divinity School graduate Joseph R. Simonetta. Rooted in science, reason, and sustainability, Taolism presents a reality-based understanding of sacredness—not through myth, but through action. It serves as a path for both personal well-being and collective sustainability, offering a practical approach to a healthier, more ethical, and environmentally responsible world. Taolism is built upon three foundational principles, expressed in seven words: Be Healthy. Be Kind. Respect the Environment.
Joe Simonetta (https://www.taolism.org and https://joesimonetta.com) is the author of ten books, nine available on Amazon.com. Titles include Interconnected, Interrelated & Interdependent World — Like it or Not, 7 Words That Can Change The World — The Simple Truth & The Death of Sacred Cows, A Message to Humanity from a Friendly Alien, and more. He writes books for humanists, progressives, freethinkers, agnostics, atheists, skeptics, and the like. He holds a BS in business from Penn State University, an MA in architecture from the University of Colorado and an MA from Harvard Divinity School where he studied ethics, global environmental issues, world belief systems, cosmology, and evolutionary biology. He has been a U.S. Army officer, professional athlete (tennis), entrepreneur and businessman, architect, real estate developer, home builder, environmental activist, senior editor of the World Business Academy, twice a candidate for the U.S. Congress, and a gold medalist in the sprint triathlon in the 2023 U.S. National Senior Games. He is the founder of Taolism, a philosophy and social movement rooted in science, reason, ethics, and sustainability—a universal framework for living well, both individually and collectively.
Recording of Presentation: Click Here

"Housing is a Human Right" by Jessie Figueroa and Abby Nelson
2025-10-19 14:30 - 16:00 | Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC
“Housing is a Human Right” will be presented by Jessie Figueroa and Abby Nelson at the Sunday, October 19, 2025, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC There will also be a hybrid Zoom option (see link below). All are welcome to attend.
Grounded in the belief that every person has intrinsic worth and dignity, we’ll explore the impact of Homeward Bound’s programs through collaborations with the city and partners, highlight stories of neighbors who have moved from homelessness into permanent housing, and reflect on what it means to build a community where everyone belongs. In 2024, Permanent Supportive Housing programs from Homeward Bound had a 96.5% retention rate of individuals not returning to homelessness and taking steps to rebuild their lives as neighbors in our community.
Jessie and Abby will also discuss the Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care (CoC) 2025-2028 Strategic Plan to address homelessness. The CoC objectives are to 1) Decrease unsheltered homelessness; 2) Increase exits from homelessness to permanent housing; 3) Coordinate and expand Homelessness Prevention, Diversion and Rapid Rehousing; and 4) Build housing-focused system capacity.
Join us to discuss challenges and successes of “Every Neighbor Matters: Homeward Bound’s mission to prevent and end homelessness”.
Jessie Figueroa has always had a passion for connecting with people. She served in the AmeriCorps VISTA program as a community organizer for homeless services, was a program manager serving homeless and low-income neighbors in Orlando and moved to Asheville in 2015. She joined Homeward Bound in 2021 as Housing Placement Director and in 2024 moved into the role of Resource Development Director. Jessie is a graduate of University of Central Florida, enjoys music, hiking, traveling, and spending quality time with her husband, friends, and family.
Abby Nelson is a dedicated nonprofit fundraising and events professional with a strong commitment to advancing housing-first solutions. In her role as Development Officer at Homeward Bound of WNC, she oversees strategic initiatives to secure funding and cultivate partnerships with businesses and faith communities, efforts that are essential to addressing homelessness across Western North Carolina. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality & Tourism Management with minors in Business Administration and Interior Architecture from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

"Becoming Compassionate Participants in our World—deepening self-awareness" by Sandra Smith
2025-11-16 14:30 - 16:00 | Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC
“Becoming Compassionate Participants in our World—deepening self-awareness” will be presented by Sandra Smith at the Sunday, November 16, 2025, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC. Sandra will be with us in-person for her presentation and Q&A. There will also be a hybrid Zoom option. All are welcome to attend.
This presentation will give focus to the nuance between being “present” and being in “presence” and the role receptivity plays in the quality of our lives. To be available to ourselves allows us to be available to others and to our deeper knowing. Being present to ourselves and developing inner spaciousness is the foundation of self-observation, an essential first step in using the Enneagram Map. Sandra will reference teachings from her recent book The Enneagram Map to Your Deeper Self: Living Beyond Your Type (2024) and invite participants to engage in some simple practices from this book.
The Enneagram (“ennea” is Greek for nine) is a map of our ego structures automatic patterns. This map names nine unique perspectives and ways humans filter information. No type is better than another type. We retain the same type throughout our lives, however, behaviors change as we become more self-aware.
Additionally, the Enneagram System suggests we have three centers of intelligence: head or thinking center, heart or feeling center, and body the center of sensing. Depending on our Enneagram type, one of these is our lead center of intelligence. Knowing our lead center shapes our communication, decision-making and problem solving.
Sandra Smith (https://alchemyworksevents.com/sandra-c-smith-enneagram-consultant/), is a Certified Narrative Tradition teacher, an Enneagram Consultant, and an IEA (International Enneagram Association) Accredited Professional and Spiritual Companion. Sandra began teaching this system in 2001 and founded AlchemyWorks in 2008, which began her full-time Enneagram Teaching and Consulting.
Sandra received her BS in Business from Wake Forest University and MDiv from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She is certified in nonprofit management through Duke University and is a trained community mediator. She spent 17 years in the corporate world and 14 years directing a nonprofit.
Click for a link to the Enneagram Graphic

Winter Festival
2025-12-21 14:30 - 16:00 | Cloisters Clubhouse, 2700 St. Augustine PL., Asheville, NC, 28805
Join us for a Holiday gathering – Food, Drink, Camaraderie

Note Location – NOT at our regular Friends Meeting House location
At Cloisters Clubhouse; 4302 Angelus Circle, Asheville
In person only – No Zoom

"Asheville Poverty Initiative" by Ben Williamson
2026-01-18 14:30 - 16:00 | Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC
“Asheville Poverty Initiative” will be presented by Ben Williamson at the Sunday, January 18, 2026, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC. Ben will be with us in-person for presentation and Q&A. There will also be a hybrid Zoom option. All are welcome to attend.
Join Ben for a presentation and discussion as Ben leads a discussion on API’s model of community-building as a response to poverty and homelessness, focusing on the human experience and systemic barriers.
Ben will discuss a collaboration with Unlabel Me and the Asheville Poverty Initiative, scheduled for Thursday, January 22, at Pack Library, designed to challenge stereotypes about people in poverty and experiencing homelessness.
Ben first learned about API as a teacher leading school groups on poverty walks. After years in education, Ben’s most recent experiences are in community organizing and non-profit management. When not working, Ben is usually at home with his two dogs, his wife Hayette, and his daughters Grace and Keira.

"Sin - An Ethical, Moral, Religious and Practical Perspective" by Andy Reed
2026-02-15 14:30 - 16:00 | Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC
“Sin – An Ethical, Moral, Religious and Practical Perspective” will be presented by Andy Reed at the Sunday, February 15, 2026, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC. Andy will be with us in-person for his presentation and Q&A. There will also be a hybrid Zoom option. All are welcome to attend.
Growing up a Unitarian in the Bible Belt (here in Asheville), Andy Reed was exposed to the concept and supposed repercussions of sin from an early age. He has spent a lifetime figuring out how to incorporate various ethical, moral, religious, and practical views of sin into his own belief system … and behavior. But in Ethical Humanism, there’s no god to judge us, no savior to redeem us, and no hellish eternity awaiting us for punishment.
This Sunday, he’ll ask you, our fellow Ethical Humanists and friends, to jointly address these questions: What does “sin” mean? How do we recognize it in ourselves? How do we “repent,” or “atone,” or “redeem” ourselves from its impacts on our lives? And should we even bother?
Andy Reed is an Asheville native, writer, editor, actor, and community advocate whose work has spanned publishing, theater, marketing, and social activism. A graduate of Columbia University where he majored in English literature, Andy began his publishing career editing outreach materials for nonprofit organizations before moving into advertising and marketing with NBC Television. After returning to Asheville, he became deeply engaged in the region’s creative and civic life — acting and directing in regional theater, editing numerous books, and founding Pisgah Press to publish works that illuminate the human condition. He currently serves as copy editor for The Urban News and has edited more than a dozen books across fiction and nonfiction.
Andy is a member of both the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville and the Black Mountain Unitarian Universalist congregation. He is an advocate for LGBTQ inclusion and civil rights, works to build bridges across communities and generations and brings to his endeavors a lifelong exploration of ethics, language, identity, and belonging.

"Hope, Mindfulness, and Success in the Midst of Political Chaos and Upheaval - A Former FBI Agent’s Perspective" by Ken Wheatley
2026-03-15 14:30 - 16:00 | Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC
“Hope, Mindfulness, and Success in the Midst of Political Chaos and Upheaval – A Former FBI Agent’s Perspective” will be presented by Ken Wheatley at the Sunday, March 15, 2026, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC. Ken will be with us in-person for his presentation and Q&A. There will also be a hybrid Zoom option. All are welcome to attend.
Ken will discuss the ground truth of law enforcement operations, checks and balances, resistance versus protest, and the tools, techniques, and action items for the path forward, drawing on lessons from his time in the military, Federal law enforcement, and international corporate leadership.
Ken Wheatley is a security management consultant and forensic expert witness. Ken’s varied experience includes a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force, FBI Special Agent, Senior Vice President / Chief Security Officer (CSO) with Sony Electronics’ global operations, a social impact CEO, entrepreneur, political volunteer, guest lecturer and interviewed on several radio and TV stations. He currently serves as one of the 14 members of the Senior Advisory Group with the FBI’s Domestic Security Alliance Council (DSAC) and as an Advisor to the FBI’s Threat Resilience Information Sharing Committee (TRISC). Ken lives with his wife Lorraine Kerz in Fairview, Buncombe County, NC.

"How to be Foolproof in Today’s News Environment: Bias, Misinformation, AI – what can you trust?" by Eric Schurenberg
2026-03-29 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Sunday, March 29 – 11:00 AM ET – All Society Program – Sponsored by the American Ethical Union

“How to be Foolproof in Today’s News Environment: Bias, Misinformation, AI – what can you trust?” will be presented by Eric Schurenberg on Sunday, March 29, 2026 – by Zoom only at 11:00 AM. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link.
Register Here Link to American Ethical Union Announcement
The founder of The Alliance For Trust in Media, veteran journalist and media executive Eric Schurenberg will take you through a crash course in navigating today’s chaotic news environment to uncover information you can trust. He’ll explain the economic reasons that news gets delivered the way it does, the effects of the growing seepage of AI into the information ecosystem, and some quick, non-partisan rules that you can deploy to avoid being misled online.
Eric is the former editor in chief of the publications Inc., Money, CBS MoneyWatch and BNET and the former CEO of Inc. and Fast Company. He’s now a distinguished instructor of journalism at University of Chicago and the host of the podcast In Reality.

"Asheville’s Housing Crisis: Stories, Systems, and Solutions" by Jen Hampton
2026-04-19 14:30 - 16:00 | Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC
“Asheville’s Housing Crisis: Stories, Systems, and Solutions” will be presented by Jen Hampton at the Sunday, April 19, 2026, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC. Jen will be with us in-person for her presentation and Q&A. There will also be a hybrid Zoom option. All are welcome to attend.
Jen’s presentation will explore the lived realities behind Asheville’s housing crisis, and the practical solutions communities can pursue together. Further talk summary in development.
Jen Hampton is a housing and labor organizer in Asheville for the Asheville Area Tenants Union. She is also a co-founder and leader of Asheville Food and Beverage United, advocating for fair wages, safe working conditions, and collective power for service industry workers.
Through organizing, advocacy, and coalition-building, she works to ensure that working people and tenants have a meaningful voice in the systems that shape their lives. She was recognized as one of USA TODAY’s Women of the Year for her community leadership and impact.

"Strategic Nonviolence Action" by Daniel Snyder
2026-05-17 14:30 - 16:00 | Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC
“Strategic Nonviolence Action” will be presented by Daniel O. Snyder at the Sunday, May 17, 2026, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC. Dan will join us in-person for his presentation and Q&A. A hybrid Zoom option will also be available. All are welcome to attend.
At a time of deep political polarization and democratic strain, this talk explores civil resistance as a practical and effective tool for protecting democracy. Dan will examine how power works, why violence often fails, the research behind the “3–4% tipping point” for successful movements and case studies.
Dan Snyder, PhD, is a teacher, spiritual director, and longtime practitioner of strategic nonviolence. Trained in clinical psychology and religion, he holds degrees from Pacifica Graduate Institute, Boston University School of Theology, Earlham School of Religion, and Guilford College. Over four decades, Dan has worked as a pastoral counselor, educator, and peace studies teacher, including faculty service at Pendle Hill, the Quaker center for study and contemplation.
His work integrates theology, depth psychology, and the nonviolent traditions of Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Gene Sharp to help communities cultivate both inner resilience and effective democratic action.

Annual Meeting
2026-06-21 14:30 - 16:00 | Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC
The Annual Meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville will take place on Sunday, June 21, 2026, 2:30 – 4:00 PM at 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC. A potluck meal will follow the meeting. All are welcome to attend (only members may vote).
An agenda will be available in advance of the meeting.
Board members will be elected. If you wish to serve as a member of the EHSAsheville Board, please let any current board member know.

“Levers of Change: Humanist Policy, Politics, and Advocacy in the Time of Christian Nationalism” by Rachel Deitch
2026-07-19 14:30 - 16:00 | Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC
“Levers of Change: Humanist Policy, Politics, and Advocacy in the Time of Christian Nationalism” will be presented by Rachel Deitch at the Sunday, July 19, 2026, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville. The program will take place from 2:30–4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Road, Asheville, NC. Rachel will join live via Zoom from Washington, DC, and will be featured on a large screen. Attendees are invited to gather in person at our regular meeting location. All are welcome.

Active engagement in the political landscape is essential for individuals and organizations committed to strengthening their communities. As an organization dedicated to creating a more just and humane world, the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville recognizes both the importance—and the responsibility—of civic participation.
In this program, Rachel will lead a discussion on how humanists can effectively engage in the political and electoral process. While nonprofits operate within certain legal limitations, there remains a wide range of permissible activities—including advocacy, education, and public engagement—that can meaningfully influence issues of shared concern.
Rachel will also introduce the work of the Center for Freethought Equality, including its mission, how it collaborates with local organizations, and ways individuals and groups can become more informed and engaged. The program will offer attendees an opportunity to better understand how national and local efforts can align to advance shared values.
Rachel Deitch is the Policy and Political Director at the Center for Freethought Equality (CFE) and the American Humanist Association (AHA). She oversees the organizations’ work to create a more humanist world through public policy, as well as CFE’s political program to increase humanist representation and influence at all levels of government.
Rachel is a seasoned strategist, advocate, policy wonk, and coalition builder. Most recently, she served as Director of Federal Policy at the National Coalition of STD Directors, where she founded and co-chaired a coalition of 65 national public health, sexual health, and LGBTQ organizations during the mpox public health emergency, bridging the gap between advocates and the White House. And prior to that, she worked at the AHA and CFE as Director of Policy and Social Justice.
Rachel holds a Master of Theological Studies in Religion, Politics, and Ethics from Harvard Divinity School and a BA in Religious Studies from Occidental College. She resides in Washington, DC., serves on the board of her local Planned Parenthood, and enjoys being an active Humanist celebrant.

Presentation TBA
2026-08-16 14:30 - 16:00 | Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC

"How to Live a Life of Great Value" by Jim Stokely & Lynn Brailsford
2026-11-15 14:30 - 16:00 | Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC
“How to Live a Life of Great Value” will be presented by Jim Stokely and Lynn Brailsford at the Sunday, November 15, 2026, meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 2:30 – 4:00 pm at 227 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC. Jim and Lynn will join us in-person for his presentation and Q&A. A hybrid Zoom option will also be available. All are welcome to attend.
