American Ethical Union

10/08/2026

The Ethical Culture community mourns the loss of Leader Edward L. Ericson, who died on October 1, 2026, at age 97.

Edward dedicated his life to Ethical Humanism through decades of service as a Leader, author, activist, and former president of the American Ethical Union. His leadership, scholarship, and advocacy helped shape the Ethical Culture Movement, advance social justice and human dignity, and strengthen connections with the broader Humanist community.

We invite you to read more about Edward’s life, work, and enduring impact on the Ethical Culture Movement: https://aeu.org/2026/10/remembering-edward-l-ericson

10/07/2026

The Ethical Culture community mourns the loss of Leader Lois Kellerman, who died on September 21, 2026.

Lois brought heart, imagination, and deep commitment to Ethical Culture throughout decades of service as a Leader, educator, organizer, officiant, and mentor. Her work helped shape the Eight Commitments of Ethical Culture / Ethical Humanism, strengthen Leadership training, and deepen the Movement’s approach to ethical development across generations.

We invite you to read more about Lois’ life, work, and enduring impact on the Ethical Culture Movement: https://aeu.org/2026/09/remembering-lois-kellerman-a-life-of-heart-leadership-and-ethical-commitment/

10/03/2026

💸 SAVE THE DATE: Making Friends with Money

What would it look like to approach money, fundraising, and generosity through the lens of our Ethical Culture values?

Join friends from the Ethical Culture Movement on Saturday, November 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET for Making Friends with Money, a free, interactive program led by Carlton E. Smith of Shared Vision Consulting.

Together, we’ll explore the stories we tell about money, connect financial resources with our deepest values, and imagine new possibilities for generosity, fundraising, and the future of our Societies.

✨ Free to attend. Registration details are coming soon.

Learn more: https://aeu.org/2026/09/save-the-date-making-friends-with-money/

This course is sponsored by the American Ethical Union Fundraising committee through through the Leadership Formation Initiative. Dr. Richard L. Koral and Thomas Castelnuovo serve as co-chairs for the committee.

10/01/2026

Ethical Culture has always depended on both professional and lay leaders to help our Societies grow, serve their communities, and carry our Movement forward.

On November 29, join Dr. Sheron Fraser-Burgess, AEU Leadership Dean, for an interactive All-Societies Platform exploring what healthy, collaborative leadership can look like now and in the future.

The conversation will include opportunities to share your own questions, experiences, and ideas, and you can help shape the discussion in advance.

Read the full article and learn how to take part: https://aeu.org/2026/09/developing-ethical-culture-leadership-for-our-future.

09/22/2026

Rethink the Holidays, Keep the Joy! Register for the Ethical-izing Holiday Celebrations Workshop Series.

How can we celebrate holidays without setting aside our values around sustainability, waste, food, commercialism, and competition?

This three-part workshop series offers practical ways to rethink familiar celebrations with greater ethical intention. Participants will explore creative approaches to planning holidays with more integrity, sustainability, and joy.

The series is led by Audrey Kindred, AEU Leader in Training and Children, Youth, and Family program leader at the New York Society for Ethical Culture, and Anne Klaeysen, Leader Emerita of the New York Society for Ethical Culture and former Leader of the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island.

Workshops will meet on Zoom on the first Wednesday of October, November, and December, beginning Wednesday, October 7 at 7 p.m. ET.

Registration required: https://aeu.org/2026/09/ethical-izing-holiday-celebrations-workshop-series/

09/18/2026

If you missed the recent AEU All-Societies Platform, you can now watch the conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and journalist Kai Bird on YouTube.

Bird discusses his new book, American Scoundrel: Roy Cohn’s Dark Journey from Joe McCarthy to Donald Trump, tracing the life and career of Roy Cohn and his place in modern American political history. Bird is also the coauthor, with Martin J. Sherwin, of the Pulitzer Prize-winning American Prometheus, which inspired the film "Oppenheimer."

Save the Date: The next AEU All-Societies Platform will be held on November 29. Stay tuned for more details.

Kai Bird, Pulitzer Prize winning author of American Scoundrel, the ...

09/14/2026

What does it take to grow ethical leaders for the work ahead?

Leadership is more than a set of skills. It is shaped through character, relationships, reflection, cultural awareness, and responsibility to the communities we serve.

In our newest feature, Leadership Dean Dr. Sheron Fraser-Burgess shares her vision for the Leadership Training Initiative and for cultivating leaders who can help Ethical Culture communities flourish.

Read more: https://aeu.org/2026/09/forming-ethical-leaders-for-the-work-ahead

09/02/2026

Registration is now open for the Fall 2026 cohort of We Are Ethical Culture! 💙

This introductory course invites members of the Ethical Culture Movement to explore our history, values, identity, and lived practice together through reflection, conversation, collaboration, and ethical action.

We’ll meet on Zoom every other Tuesday for four 90-minute sessions:

📅 Sept. 29 • Oct. 13 • Oct. 27 • Nov. 10
⏰ 6 p.m. CT (7 p.m. ET)
💻 Online via Zoom

Whether you’re newer to Ethical Culture or want to deepen your connection to the Movement, you’re warmly invited to join us.

Register by September 21:
https://forms.gle/MehzUxM5N16MsfbU7

Please share with anyone who might enjoy learning, reflecting, and connecting with others across the Ethical Culture Movement.

08/24/2026

Join the American Ethical Union for an All-Societies Platform featuring Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer and journalist Kai Bird, coauthor of American Prometheus, the inspiration for Oppenheimer.

Bird will discuss his new book, American Scoundrel: Roy Cohn’s Dark Journey from Joe McCarthy to Donald Trump, and explore Cohn’s lasting influence on American political life.

• Sunday, August 30, 2026, at 11 a.m. ET
• In person at the New York Society for Ethical Culture and on Zoom.

Registration required: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_38HHZmt6SESFXURgdcQgzA #/registration

Learn more: https://aeu.org/2026/07/all-societies-platform-american-scoundrel-with-kai-bird/