The President’s Column

September, 2024

Dear AHC Members and Friends,

I'm writing to you from sunny Tampa, Florida, where we proudly call ourselves the place of “Eternal Summer.” Even though the calendar says it’s September, marking the start of the fall season—one of my favorites—I can't help but miss the autumn colors that we rarely see here in Florida.

Perhaps it’s the academic in me, but September always feels like a time for new beginnings, more so than January. A new school year brings new books, new clothes, and new opportunities. I’m excited and hopeful for my term as AHC president. We have so many new initiatives and opportunities to connect with one another and uplift each other as we navigate life together. I’m honored to be in this role, continuing the legacy of the many leaders before me who shaped this organization, nurturing it toward becoming the best version of itself—a journey that is still unfolding. Like the seasons, we are continually evolving, growing, and changing. Even though the seasons return each year, they look different every time, shaped by us and our perspectives.

Humanists are known for their appreciation of subjectivity. From my viewpoint, and perhaps for some of you as well, our world feels like it’s at a crossroads. We are navigating a tense political climate, the ongoing fallout from COVID, and the systemic barriers that so many of us face. While technology has brought us closer in some ways, it has also created distance and disconnection—a feeling that humanists, and most people, don’t like. But within this challenge lies an opportunity to manifest change, to reorient ourselves toward the missions and values that guide our deepest desires to connect with one another. This is something I hope to improve upon during my term.

This year at AHC, our theme of "Reimagining Connection: Cultivating Resilience, Empathy, and Growth" will serve as the foundation for what’s to come. My hope is that by focusing on inclusivity and connection, we can cultivate a desire to turn toward one another instead of away. More conversation and communication can create more opportunities to learn, care, and grow. I’m committed to being intentional about how we serve our members and each other. With every project or idea, we ask ourselves: How does this promote inclusivity? Who else needs to be part of this conversation but isn’t? How can we invite them in?

These questions have led me to reflect on the voices and leaders of the past who helped create AHC. Researching our history has been fascinating. Understanding our rich legacy is crucial to knowing how to move forward—and what we should avoid repeating. This year, we formed the Historian Committee to discover and capture the voices of past leaders who are part of AHC’s story. One of the committee’s goals is to create a project that captures these voices, serving as a foundational element in developing a humanistic leadership framework. We are excited and hopeful about reimagining connections as we bridge the past with the future, emphasizing and supporting all voices, especially those from marginalized backgrounds. Additionally, as we work to promote an equitable and sustainable leadership pipeline for the organization, we are reimagining our Emerging Leader program. Our JHC Journal Editor, Brett Wilkerson, has also been hard at work developing a practitioner-counselor educator writing collaborative project to promote the diverse voices of our counselors.

As we continue to reimagine connections, we are excited to announce that Dr. Joel Givens will be hosting his Fireside Chats again this year. Mark your calendars for this series, which will focus on Reimagining Connection in various realms. This fall, on Tuesday, September 24th, at 8 p.m. EST, Joel will facilitate a conversation on Reimagining Connection in the Age of Technology. On Tuesday, November 19th, at 8 p.m. EST, he will host a conversation on Reimagining Connection in the Age of Capitalism. More details and dates for the spring will follow!

I’ll conclude this letter with a bit of a teaser and a promise: we are committed to including and supporting as many humanists as possible. We’re planning to host the Annual AHC Conference in Tampa, Florida, on April 25-26 at the beautiful Safety Harbor Spa and Resort, where we will offer practitioner-focused sessions. This venue was chosen specifically for its shared vision with AHC, as a community that "serves as a primary contributor to creating a welcoming and inclusive community that respects all citizens." We are hopeful that everyone who attends the conference will enjoy the camaraderie and connections that serve to sustain us. 

I invite you all to engage with the content of this column and share your thoughts. Your feedback is invaluable as we strive to foster an inclusive and dynamic community. Let us continue to support one another and work towards our common goals of relational and humanistic counseling endeavors. 

Be well, 

Caroline Perjessy

2024-2025 AHC President

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