The Secular Student Alliance will host Jim Helton, national field organizer for American Atheists, for a presentation titled "The Time Is Now" at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (Nov. 14) in Oglebay Hall room 102. Helton will discuss how American Atheists redefines what an atheist issue is and will lay out a plan to work toward equality and the true separation of religion and government. "If you are not happy with the way things are, then the time is now to make a change."
Helton is the National Field Organizer for American Atheists. His activism at the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter landed him appearances in the 2017 documentary film Bill Nye: Science Guy and the forthcoming documentary We Believe in Dinosaurs. He has been quoted in countless news outlets, including The New York Times, Miami Herald and Washington Post. He works with affiliates, local partners, and state directors to challenge religious privilege and fight to protect church/state separation at the local level by building coalitions around specific issue campaigns, including medically accurate sex education, LGBT non-discrimination ordinances, and religious exemptions.