Last year, I attended the Summit for Religious Freedom virtually — just days before joining Americans United as the events manager. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of traveling the country with our President and CEO, Rachel Laser, helping to spotlight why church-state separation is essential to a thriving democracy.
This year was my first in-person SRF, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I experienced was powerful: inspiring speakers, passionate partners and a vibrant community committed to this work.
One theme that resonated throughout the summit was the power of personal stories to connect us, build empathy and mobilize action. In my travels, I am fortunate to hear stories directly from people across the country that highlight both the urgency of our mission and the hope that fuels it.
Last July, I met the Rev. Dr. Lori Walke in Oklahoma City, where over 300 people gathered to confront the growing threats of Project 2025. In September, I connected with Jerry Kelly in Buffalo at the annual Walk of Abraham, where over a hundred people — Christians, Jews, Muslims and non-believers alike — came together to explore the deep ties between democracy and religious freedom. And in January, I met Suzanne Perry, Marcy Woodruff and the Rev. Angela Denker at HumanistsMN’s National Religious Freedom Day Forum in Minneapolis, where panelists explored how church-state separation safeguards bodily autonomy.
All five of these remarkable individuals — Rev. Lori, Jerry, Suzanne, Marcy and Rev. Angela — were in D.C. for SRF 2025. Seeing them again reminded me that this movement is about more than policy: it’s about people, relationships and a growing community committed to freedom for all. I’m excited to continue building more connections throughout the year — and I hope to see many familiar faces at SRF 2026!