EthicalStL.org Ethical Society of St. Louis

No Roe in MO! Allison Hile, an expert in the fields of abortion care and sexual health education, will answer your burning questions: How could this have happened? What are people doing now? What can I do? And a few positive things on the horizon! Allison Hile has a master’s degree in counseling psychology with an emphasis in human sexuality. She is the retired executive director of a statewide organization training adults to be better sexuality educators. She has worked in the fields of abortion care and sexual health education for over 30 years. She is a founding board member of the Missouri Abortion Fund and their current board secretary. Allison and her husband are longtime members of the Ethical Society of St. Louis.

We live in a world, and a nation, beset by enormous challenges. Rising extremism, political dysfunction, and social polarization have created an increasingly mean and rancorous public square. Events like the overturning of Roe v. Wade suggest that American society is moving further from the progressive ideals the Ethical Society represents, while the attack on the Capitol showed how sick American democracy is. In such a challenging climate, how can Ethical Humanists live their values? Should we fight fire with fire, or should we be peacemakers?

Dave Warnock, author of the memoir Childish Things, argues that moving away from childish thinking means embracing the complexity and nuance in the world. Fundamentalist thinking keeps individuals and societies in an infantile state of mind. We must move away from that if we are to progress.

How Missourians of all stripes must be vocal and involved in protecting our democracy and not wait for anyone else to save it, including real-world tips on putting yourself in the activist and legislative arena. Stacey Newman condenses ProgressWomen’s popular long-running statewide #GOV101 series into urgent doable actions, compelling you to get off the couch and do something while you still can.

Life doesn't always turn out the way we expect, for better or for worse. However, through it all there is always hope- and a reason to look ahead. Persevering through challenges and finding purpose and meaning in serving others becomes the true measure of success. Teaching has been a journey of finding the joy in fulfilling the calling of a lifetime while learning my own invaluable lessons.

Carissa L. Philippi will present evidence from individuals with brain injury as well as brain imaging research in prison inmates which demonstrate the role of the frontal and temporal lobes in criminal behavior. In the context of this neuroscientific research, she will discuss legal and ethical considerations regarding concepts of individual responsibility and the limitations of neuroimaging.