Speakers
Nick Fish
Since 2018, Nick Fish has served as the president of American Atheists. Nick first joined American Atheists in 2012 and has spent his career defending the separation of religion and government, advocating for equality under the law, and protecting civil rights for all Americans. Nick was born and raised in Michigan but now calls Philadelphia home.
America Beyond 250: Building a Better Democracy to Defeat Christian Nationalism
The White Christian Nationalist movement offers a small, divided, exclusionary vision of America. We're proposing something more compelling: a genuinely responsive democracy and a broader, truer definition of who belongs. Nick Fish makes the case that the way to defeat Christian nationalism isn't to out-argue it, but to out-build it.
Chris Line
Chris Line is Rapid Response Counsel with the Freedom From Religion Foundation, where he works on the front lines of defending the separation of state and church and the rights of nonreligious Americans. He joined FFRF in 2015 as a legal intern while attending the University of Wisconsin Law School and became a full-time staff attorney after earning his Juris Doctor in 2017. For more than a decade, Chris has worked to challenge government-sponsored religion and defend secular government, with a particular focus on monitoring and confronting the growing influence of Christian nationalism.
The Christian Nationalist Playbook: How We Defend Our Freedoms and Win
Christian nationalism is a serious threat, but its victory is far from inevitable. Understanding their playbook can empower us to defend our freedoms and defeat it.
Amanda Knief
Amanda Knief is on the board of American Atheists. She received her B.S. in Journalism and Communication from Iowa State and her J.D. from Drake University Law School. She worked as legislative counsel for the Iowa Legislature before working for the Secular Coalition for America and American Atheists as lobbyist and legal director, respectively. She is an avid birder, bibliophile, and traveler. September 19 is "Talk Like a Pirate Day" and one of Amanda's favorite days of the year.
How Pirates Saved the American Revolution
This talk explores the daring exploits of American privateers who played a pivotal role in undermining British naval dominance during the Revolutionary War. These seafaring rebels disrupted British supply lines, captured enemy vessels, and bolstered the fledgling American economy through prize money and trade. Through gripping stories and historical analysis, the talk highlights how these unofficial naval warriors helped turn the tide of war in favor of independence.
Jake Via
As the Organizing Director for the American Humanist Association, Jake Via is dedicated to building and mobilizing a strong grassroots network to advance humanist values across the country. With nearly two decades of experience in community engagement, program development, and leadership at the YMCA and Playworks, Jake has a deep understanding of how to bring people together around shared values. Jake holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Thomas Edison State University. He is passionate about the power of play, believing that shared play experiences foster empathy, strengthen communities, and break down barriers. Jake lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with his wife, Anabel, and their three dogs. When he’s not working to organize humanists, you can find him exploring new ideas, writing, or dreaming about sailing.
Humanism, Community, and the State of the AHA
In an era defined by a growing loneliness epidemic and rapid secularization, millions of Americans are walking away from traditional religion—but leaving behind the vital communities that once brought people together. Join Jake for an inspiring look at why building healthy, real-world humanist community is a frontline necessity today.
Drawing on modern psychology, public health data, and political realities, Jake will share how the AHA is actively transforming. From pioneering legal victories to launching innovative creator funds and youth programs, discover how we can offer the next generation a powerful sense of purpose and belonging grounded in reason, compassion, and human potential—without asking them to distrust their own eyes and ears.
Dr. Pearlie Johnson
Based on historical records, secondary sources, and oral history interviews with quilters across Kentucky, Johnson discusses 19th century quilts made by black women living and working on slave plantations, traditional quilts made by African American women of the 20th century, as well as contemporary art quilts made by women of all cultural groups of the 21st century. Her work explores women’s history, storytelling, identity politics, social activism, and empowerment. Her study of quilts in Kentucky is aimed at examining cross-cultural parallels in technique and assemblage, as well as revealing unique designs.
Chris Hartman
Chris Hartman is the first director of Kentucky’s Fairness Campaign and a steering committee member of the Fairness Coalition. Chris has helped pass anti-discrimination LGBTQ Fairness Ordinances in 21 Kentucky communities, including the state capital Frankfort and small Appalachian town of Vicco. Chris previously served as Congressman John Yarmuth’s campaign press secretary, an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer In Service To America) in St. Louis, and Philadelphia director of the Democratic National Committee’s open-air Grassroots Campaigns in the 2004 presidential election. He holds an M.A. in Drama from Washington University in St. Louis. Chris previously served on the board of the national Equality Federation and as Chair of the Louisville Metro Landmarks Commission. He was named the Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau’s “Partner of the Year” and is a former Community Foundation of Louisville Alden Fellow and LGBTQ Fellow of the Rockwood Leadership Institute. Chris uses the pronouns he/him.
