Top 10 ways to support atheists in Los Angeles
Atheists United has been fighting for the separation of church and state and building secular community for atheists in Los Angeles since 1982. We get asked all the time how people can support our award-winning work and fight for a more secular society.
Here are our top 10 suggestions...
Become a sustaining member of Atheists United
Atheists United hosts over 20 events a month across greater Los Angeles, including volunteer events like our food distributions, support groups like SMART Recovery, and community-building adventures, like our Death Valley Star Party. We serve all ages and help people during every step of their atheist journey.
By becoming a member you commit to supporting Atheists United’s mission with a monthly donation and directly invest in impactful programs that help Atheists connect, grow, and get active regionally.
2. Fund a Secular Student Scholarship
Did you know the Secular Student Alliance helps local groups like Atheists United offer local scholarships to Los Angeles secular students?
Since 2020 we’ve been offering a $1,000 Southern California Secular Student Scholarship in partnership with local partners, Humanist Association of Orange County, Inland Empire Atheists Agnostics & Humanists, and Humanist Society of Santa Barbara.
3. March with us at a local rally
Since our founding in the early 1980s, Atheists United has been in the community protesting for peace, justice, and equity. From anti-war protests in the 1980s to AIDS Walks in the 1990s to Women’s Marches in the 2010s, we’re continually standing up for our values and challenging those annoying misconceptions about our ethics.
Now more than ever leaders need to see that secularism and the separation of government and religion isn’t some niche issue that can be thrown aside for short-term political gain. A strong, secular democracy is the only thing protecting us from Christian nationalism and the Atheist community is a leader in this fight.
4. Join or create a local Meetup
Love hiking? Join our Humanist Hikers meetup!
Love reading? Join our book club meetup!
Love singing? Join our choir meetup!
We help host and promote over a dozen local meetup events across greater Los Angeles each month. Whether it’s joining one of our existing groups or working with us to launch a new one, we’re excited to help you find a unique and supportive atheist community.
5. Volunteer at our Food Distribution
Atheists United members LOVE to volunteer. Every month we organize two highway cleanups and a food distribution in LA to give back to our local community.
On the 3rd Friday of each month, we pick up, organize, package, and give away over 3,000lbs of groceries for those in need locally with our partner Sunday Assembly Los Angeles.
Volunteers arrive between 9 am and noon and stay until all 1.5 tons of food is gone.
6. Fight illegal religious signs with the Atheist Street Pirates
Have you ever been driving around Los Angeles and noticed a religious sign on a highway overpass or telephone pole that clearly didn't belong there? Well, for some reason a handful of religious people think laws don’t apply to them.
In 2021 Atheists United launched the Atheist Street Pirates program to track and remove illegal religious signage in LA. Since the program launched it’s attracted international media attention, from NPR to US News & World Report, and today is tracking over 100 signs across Southern California.
If you’re a fan of clean, secular streets like we are, we hope you’ll consider joining the Atheist Street Pirates.
7. Sign your kids up for our secular youth group
Every teen deserves access to safe, supportive, and fun spaces where they can just be a kid. Unfortunately, most of the groups that offer this type of space are explicitly Christian youth groups that are unwelcoming (if not hostile) to secular students and their atheist beliefs.
Bella Harris, a teenager at Hollywood High School, decided she wanted to form her own group for youth like her. Together with Atheists United, she founded Evolve Youth Group. In 2021 and 2022 they hosted multiple scavenger hunts, movie nights, and even a hike to the Hollywood Sign.
8. Support our secular addiction recovery program
SMART Recovery Los Angeles is a secular, science-based support group that assists people with their addictive behaviors. Unlike “higher power” recovery programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, SMART uses a self-empowering model that builds up the confidence of its members.
Hundreds of LA residents benefit from this unique program each year and we have plans to rapidly expand it across the city with more funding. All donations go directly to promoting, facilitating, and expanding meetings regionally while keeping meetings free and open to as many as possible.
9. Put Atheists United in your will
As atheists, we know we’re all going to die someday. Why not plan ahead then?
A bequest in your will is a powerful way to guarantee Atheists United’s work for generations to come. Making a bequest through your will can be as simple as adding a few sentences. We even have sample language on our website for how to do it!
No matter how modest your gift, a bequest is a way to make a lasting investment in Atheists United’s mission and programs while still providing for your loved ones or other nonprofit organizations.
10. Sing in our atheist choir
Want to get together and sing with a bunch of fellow atheists? We host one of the only atheist choirs in the world, Voices of Reason!
Voices of Reason sings secular a cappella and choral music with an atheist/humanist twist. They practice twice a month and perform a few times a year for conferences, community centers, and atheist community events.
The group is free and welcoming to all.
Looking for other ways to get involved?
