Women You Need to Know

Whose stories are remembered, and whose are overlooked? Women You Need to Know spotlights the lives and legacies of remarkable women who helped shape movements for justice, equality, and social change.

This Sunday Platform talk will be led by Muriel Tillinghast, a Brooklyn Ethical board of trustees member and leader of Lucy’s Children. Muriel brings her deep commitment to ethical action and community engagement to this exploration of women whose courage, vision, and leadership transformed their times and continue to influence ours.

Join us for an inspiring gathering that honors the women who expanded rights, challenged injustice, and helped build a more equitable world.

With music by Chris Oledude.

As a member of SNCC, Muriel Tillinghast was one of three female project directors in the state of Mississippi during “Freedom Summer” of 1964. As director, she was responsible for voter registration and other work in three river counties within the second congressional district. At a later point, Ms. Tillinghast headed state operations out of Jackson, MS, after which she handled regional administrative work at SNCC headquarters in Atlanta, GA. Government interference and reaction to a published recommendation for a 2-state solution on the issue of Palestine brought about the collapse of the organization. Since that time, Muriel Tillinghast has pioneered in domestic violence abuse, worked at River’s Island and the Brooklyn House of Detention, built St. Margaret’s House for Trinity Church, aborted scientific experimentation on a child, worked in reviving landlord abandoned housing, tried to save a church and worked in a community garden. Muriel Tillinghast is a member of BSEC’s board of trustees and chairs two committees. One of the committees, Lucy’s Children, named after one of mankind’s oldest fossilized remains, was established for and is dedicated to the study of Black life in America and selected peoples’ history and events from around the world. She spends a great deal of time doing historical research as is a recognized autodidact in Black and American History. She and her cat live in Brooklyn, NY.

Chris Owens is a Puerto Rican-born, African American, white-Jewish artist with a songwriter’s lifelong dedication to truth-telling. Part of a creative family, Chris grew up harmonizing with his two brothers in a household where classical, folk, pop, funk, and protest music all had a place. His mother, the late Ethel Werfel Owens, was his first music teacher, and his father, the late Major R. Owens, was a librarian-turned-elected official and Chris’ first political hero.

Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture (Brooklyn Ethical) is a humanist community grounded in ethics, social justice, and collective care. Located at 269 4th Ave in Park Slope, we host community programs that uplift dignity, foster belonging, and promote action rooted in shared values.We are part of a larger movement of Ethical Societies across the country dedicated to nurturing human potential and working together for a more just world.

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