Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Ell.
Hi Lauren, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is Lauren Ell. I am an outspoken atheist speaker and community organizer. Since 2017 I have launched five atheist organizations.
I come from a subtle Christian upbringing, or what I call a “secular Christian” upbringing. While I was taught basic Christian beliefs at a young age, my family was not a regular church-going family. We never prayed or read the Bible, and religion was not a major factor in my life.
In 2007 when I was 18 I decided to become an atheist for personal reasons. I was completely unaware of atheist speakers and organizations. I just continued to live my life as I had been doing, no big changes.
When I was 21, I learned about a nearby atheist group through the website Meetup and decided to attend one of their meetings. This was when I began learning there was an atheist community of sorts in the United States, and I began to join online atheist groups and observe atheist organizations such as American Atheists and Secular Student Alliance.
Over time I started launching atheist organizations to fill in gaps that I felt were empty in the atheist community. I launched Atheists We Are, Republican Atheists, Atheist Moms, Christian Atheist Society and Atheists United for Israel.
Gradually people began to connect with my organizations primarily through the web, though I have met many supporters in person across the United States. We even had a group gathering in Phoenix, Arizona. They were glad to connect with atheists they could relate to and feel represented.
As of now, I have done many interviews representing my organizations and have become a point of contact for people seeking perspective on the US atheist community and broader atheist society.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the main struggles has been gaining recognition. Established atheist organizations are fairly cutthroat in who they promote because they want people who fit a strict way of thinking. I tend to think out of the box so they have not featured me and I have been building recognition from the ground up.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Professionally I am a marketing consultant with an emphasis on community development and media creation. I am most proud of my projects that promote community, communication and critical thinking. This is not only with my atheist organizations but also with projects I have launched for the community I live in. What makes me unique is that I am particular about motivating people to meet in person to create a lively, vibrant community.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The main characteristic that has contributed to my success is persistence. I have continued to invest time into my projects for years and little by little, have been gaining more recognition.
Contact Info:
- Website: atheistsweare.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atheistsweare/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/atheists_we_are
