Robyn Blumner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robyn Blumner
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Blumner in 2013
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Robyn Ellen Blumner
May 14, 1961 New York City, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Cornell University (BA) New York University (JD) |
| Occupation | Journalist, author, president and CEO at Center for Inquiry |
| Known for | Center For Inquiry Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science American Civil Liberties Union |
Robyn Ellen Blumner (born May 14, 1961) is an American writer, lawyer, and leader. She is the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Center for Inquiry (CFI). This organization promotes science and reason. She is also the executive director of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science.
Before leading these groups, Blumner was a lawyer. She worked for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), where she defended people's basic rights, known as civil liberties. She later became a well-known newspaper writer.
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Early Life and Education
Robyn Blumner was born in Queens, New York City, on May 14, 1961. Her parents were teachers who were active in politics. Her grandmother earned a law degree but couldn't become a lawyer because few women were given the chance to practice law back then.
Blumner's parents were both Jewish. She began to question religion when she was about 11 years old. She believes that having shared human values is more important to her Jewish identity than religious practice.
She grew up in Glen Cove, Long Island. She became interested in politics at a young age. In 1972, she helped hand out flyers for Senator George McGovern's presidential campaign.
University Studies
In 1982, Blumner earned a degree from Cornell University. She then went to New York University School of Law and graduated with a J.D. degree in 1985. A J.D. is the degree someone needs to become a lawyer.
While in law school, she started volunteering for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). She became very interested in their work protecting people's rights and decided to make it her career.
Career Journey
Blumner has had a long career working as a lawyer, a writer, and a leader for organizations that promote science.
Fighting for Civil Liberties
From 1987, Blumner was the executive director for the ACLU in Utah. She often spoke to the public about important issues like freedom of speech and women's rights.
In 1989, she became the director of the ACLU in Florida. There, she continued to campaign for people's rights, including the right to protest and protection from unfair treatment. The ACLU gave her two awards for her dedicated work.
While at the ACLU, Blumner stated her opinion against affirmative action. This is a policy that aims to give special advantages to people from certain groups. Blumner felt that giving someone an advantage based on their gender or skin color was a form of discrimination. She believed it reduced a person's individual achievements to a simple label.
Work as a Journalist
From 1998 to 2014, Blumner wrote opinion articles for the Tampa Bay Times newspaper. Her work was also published in other newspapers across the country.
In 2012, Blumner and her team at the Tampa Bay Times were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing. This is a very important award for journalists. They were recognized for their investigation into a state governor's actions.
She has also written for other publications, including Time magazine, sharing her knowledge on civil liberties.
Promoting Science and Secularism
Blumner supports secularism, which is the idea that religion should not be involved in government or public life. In 2004, the Freedom From Religion Foundation gave her the Emperor Has No Clothes Award. This award honors public figures who speak openly about religion.
In 2014, Blumner became the executive director of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science. Two years later, in 2016, this foundation joined with the Center for Inquiry (CFI). Blumner then became the president and CEO of the combined organization.
As the leader of CFI, Blumner started a program called Secular Rescue in 2016. This program helps non-believers and atheists who are in danger in countries where it is a crime to question religion. Secular Rescue provides emergency help, legal aid, and a safe way to escape threats. By 2018, the program had helped 30 people, including the award-winning writer Ahmedur Rashid Chowdhury.
Blumner often speaks at conferences about science, reason, and secularism, such as CSICon and Reason Rally.
Personal Life
Blumner identifies as an atheist, a secularist, and a liberal. She is married and lives in Washington, DC.
