Friday, June 27
1:00pm - 1:45pm
Saturday, June 28
2:00pm - 2:45pm
The Power of Play
Remember those playground classics that made the whole world feel like teammates? Jake Via spent years traveling the country showing schools how a simple game of Rock-Paper-Scissors can flip on the empathy switch in our brains. In this session we’ll dust off a few favorites, remix them for grown-ups, and laugh our way into a deeper conversation about why playing more often can change everything. You’ll “choose your own adventure” for every activity so there’s zero pressure and plenty of room for every body and ability. We’ll wrap by swapping concrete ideas for weaving play into meetings, organizing, and everyday life, because when adults model joy and connection, empathy stops being a theory and starts becoming a habit. Come ready to move a little, laugh a lot, and leave with practical tools to build a more playful—and more humanist—world.
Speakers
Jake Via
As the Organizing Director for the American Humanist Association, Jake Via is dedicated to building and mobilizing a strong grassroots network to advance humanist values across the country. With nearly two decades of experience in community engagement, program development, and leadership at the YMCA and Playworks, Jake has a deep understanding of how to bring people together around shared values.
A firm believer in the power of connection, Jake specializes in empowering individuals and local groups to take meaningful action, whether through community building, advocacy, or acts of service. He is currently leading efforts to expand and activate AHA’s membership base, ensuring humanists have a strong network and voice in their local communities and on the national level.
Jake holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Thomas Edison State University. He is passionate about the power of play, believing that shared play experiences foster empathy, strengthen communities, and break down barriers. Throughout his career, he has championed play as a tool for engagement, inclusion, and personal growth.
Jake lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with his wife, Anabel, and their three dogs. When he’s not working to organize humanists, you can find him exploring new ideas, writing, or dreaming about sailing.