Monthly Program (AM)
Location : DuVal Auditorium, 1501 N. Campbell Ave.
Charitable Choice, Faith Based Initiatives and RFRA-Religious Freedom Reformation Act – What does it all mean?
What every secular humanist needs to know about the encroachment of religious organizations into taxpayers' pocketbooks. This will be a very intense discussion with a take home message to share with others. You will want to take notes.
About the Speaker
Toni Van Pelt is Vice President of the Center for Inquiry and Director of Public Policy of the Center for Inquiry's Office of Public Policy in Washington DC. She has successfully introduced the Center for Inquiry into the world of National legislative and policy communities. As the lobbyist for the Center she asks Congressional members and staff to base law and policy on scientific fact and empirical evidence as opposed to faith. She lobbies for state church separation; women and lesbian-gay rights; and defense of democracy and secularism. She participates in coalitions with like-minded organizations on issues of mutual concern.
Before moving to Washington, Toni was the first Executive Director for the Center for Inquiry-Florida. Toni served as the president of Florida National Organization for Women (NOW) where she developed and honed her lobbying expertise with the Federal and Florida legislatures. She helped write and establish new law in Florida. She is a veteran of Congressional and state political campaigns for candidates and for ballot initiatives and on issues campaigns. She ran for national president of NOW and came within 30 votes of being elected to the office.
Toni has been interviewed by national and international media, including press, radio, internet and broadcast. Her past career as the owner of a travel agency specializing in international travel has given her the opportunity to expand her worldview through global travel. As director of the Center for Inquiry's Travel Club, she has connected her past career in travel and business with her commitment to skepticism and secular humanism.
