History
Michigan Humanists is a new group organized by founding members and past leaders of the West Michigan Freethought Association and Center for Inquiry Michigan.
The Freethought Association of West Michigan was founded in 1997 by Jeff Seaver, Don Hansen, and Charles Leedy. Starting as an informal group of less than a dozen, membership eventually grew to 400 freethinkers, with over 550 attendees at some featured lecture events. In 2007, the Freethought Association merged with Center for Inquiry and became Center for Inquiry Michigan.
Originally, the group met at the home of Don Hansen. Since then, events have been held at Schuler Books, Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, Wyoming Public Library, Grand Rapids Community College, Yankee-Clipper Library, the Women’s City Club, Wealthy Theatre Annex, and most recently, on Zoom.
Michigan Humanists was founded in 2022 to carry on the 25 years of work started by Jeff, Don, and Charles.
Our programming is made possible only by tax-deductible donations from supporters like you.
Freethinker & Volunteer of the Year Awards
The Freethinker of the Year Award was created in 2003 in honor of the contributions of Don Hansen, founding member of the Freethought Association, to recognize an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution to advocating/promoting reason/rational inquiry, critical thinking, freethought, science, and/or protecting secular rights and advocating for secular values within Michigan. Awards can be modified to recognize lifetime achievements, and a Student Freethinker of the Year has been awarded some years in addition. Recipients are selected by the Michigan Humanists Board of Directors from nominations made by board members and fellow volunteers.
Honorary recipients below were awarded by the West Michigan Freethought Association or Center for Inquiry Michigan prior to the formation of Michigan Humanists.
Honorary Recipients
- 2024 Recipient — Roger Brewin
- 2023 Recipient — Stacey Murphy
- 2022 Recipient — Kyle Kooyers, Associate Director of the Kaufman Interfaith Institute
- 2021 Recipient — Jennifer Beahan, Former Executive Director, CFI MI
- 2019 Recipient — David Gorski, Editor of Science Based Medicine
- 2018 Recipient — Jeffrey Falick, Rabbi, Birmingham Temple
- 2017 Lifetime Service Award — Jeff Seaver, Founding Executive Director, West Michigan Freethought Association
- 2017 Recipient — Carl Bajema
- 2016 Recipient — Cathy Seaver
- 2015 Recipient — Robert Goodrich
- 2014 Recipients — Shirley Draft & Mike Rainwater
- 2013 Recipient — Jacob Slomka
- 2013 Student Recipient — Maria Beelen
- 2012 Recipient — Luke Galen
- 2012 Student Recipient/Volunteer of the Year — AJ Bunker
- 2011 Recipient — Ed Brayton
- 2011 Student Recipient — Ellen Lundgren
- 2010 Recipient — Jeremy Beahan
- 2010 Student Recipient — Erin Ribbink
- 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award — Arlene-Marie, President, Michigan Atheists
- 2009 Recipient — Adrienne Asselmeier
- 2008 Recipient — Josh Dunigan
- 2007 Recipient — Charles LaRue
- 2006 Recipient — Gregory Forbes
- 2005 Recipient — Jason Pittman
- 2003 Recipient — Don Hansen
The Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to an outstanding volunteer who has gone above and beyond to support the Michigan Humanists community in the past year. Recipients are selected by the Michigan Humanists Board of Directors from nominations made by board members and fellow volunteers.
Honorary recipients below were awarded by the West Michigan Freethought Association or Center for Inquiry Michigan prior to the formation of Michigan Humanists.
Honorary Recipients
- 2024 Volunteer of the Year — Randy Kuipers
- 2023 Volunteer of the Year — Franklin Crownover & Jessica Wolin
- 2022 Volunteer of the Year — Dean Tersigni
- 2021 Volunteer of the Year — Charles Van Ark
- 2019 Volunteer of the Year — Susan Johnson
- 2018 Volunteer of the Year — Brian Liepe
- 2017 Volunteer of the Year — Shel Lynn Hawthorne & Dave Jensen
- 2016 Volunteer of the Year — Cindy Krieg
- 2015 Volunteer of the Year — Lukas Schroeder
- 2014 Volunteer of the Year — Tim Hamlin
- 2012 Student Recipient/Volunteer of the Year — AJ Bunker
- 2011 Volunteer of the Year — Renee Ruedisueli
- 2010 Volunteer of the Year Award — Dr. Robert and Sherron Collins
