Program Overview
You don’t need to be a student or live near a college to hear an intriguing talk from a scholar or expert. In communities throughout Washington State, Speakers Bureau presenters give free public presentations on history, politics, music, philosophy, spiritual traditions, and everything in between.
Our roster of 33 Speakers Bureau presenters is made up of professors, artists, activists, historians, performers, journalists, and others—all chosen not only for their expertise, but also for their ability to inspire discussion with people of all ages and backgrounds. Hundreds of Speakers Bureau events take place each year. Each talk lasts about an hour.
To reach as many Washingtonians as possible, we partner with a wide range of organizations, including libraries, schools, museums, historical societies, retirement homes, community centers, and civic organizations. These organizations host and publicize the events.
Find a Speakers Bureau event near you. We also encourage nonprofit organizations to host a speaker.
Speakers Bureau is made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the State of Washington via the Office of the Secretary of State, and the Thomas S. Foley Institute of Public Policy and Public Service at Washington State University, and generous contributions from other businesses, foundations, and individuals.
Upcoming Events
From Homer to #hashtags: Our Changing Language
Though always evolving, language is undergoing an unprecedented shift, thanks to the digital age. Emojis, tweets, and hashtags are transforming how we write and converse. Some might argue that language has been diminished, but just as Homer’s epic Odyssey made sense of ancient Greece, a tweet can distill a feeling, a thought, or an idea. […]
- When
- 7:00 pm, Thursday
January 17, 2019 - Where
- Port Townsend Public Library – Carnegie Reading Room
1220 Lawrence Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368 United States
Washington on Wheels: Odd and Innovative Transportation Ideas from the Pacific Northwest
Though Boeing is the best-known innovator in travel to have emerged from Washington State, there are many others. From canoe journeys to flying cars (that actually worked!), explore the history and culture of travel in Washington State. Author and broadcaster Harriet Baskas takes audiences on a tour of notable highlights of state transportation history, examining […]
- When
- 7:00 pm, Thursday
January 17, 2019 - Where
- Mid-Columbia Libraries
1620 S Union
Kennewick, WA 99338 United States
Most people remember Atticus Finch from their high school English class: he’s the heroic lawyer defending an unjustly charged African-American man in To Kill a Mockingbird. So when a long-lost draft of this beloved novel was recently published, readers were shocked when Atticus expressed sympathy for White supremacists—a change that made for front page news. […]
- When
- 7:00 pm, Thursday
January 17, 2019 - Where
- Scarecrow Video
5030 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105 United States
Racism thrives in silence. It’s when we stop talking to one another about our beliefs that prejudices go unchallenged, and the gap between us widens. Yet race is one of the most difficult topics to discuss in American society. If we are to heal many of our country’s social, economic, and political divides, we can’t […]
- When
- 1:00 pm, Friday
January 18, 2019 - Where
- Vista Middle School
6051 Vista Drive
Ferndale, WA 98248 United States
Should I Still Watch This Show? Pop Culture in the #MeToo Era
In the wake of the #MeToo movement, in which dozens of high-profile individuals in the entertainment industry have been accused of harassment or abuse, many of us are asking: “Should I still be watching this?” Explore the cultural and economic issues inherent in consuming entertainment made by people whose behaviors we find questionable, distasteful, or […]
- When
- 10:00 am, Saturday
January 26, 2019 - Where
- Langley Library
104 2nd St
Langley, Washington 98260 United States
From Mexican to Mexican-American: A Family Immigration Story
As immigration has become more hotly debated in the United States, the arguments have become cartoonish, with one side often painted as naïve and another as xenophobic. What has become lost is the human story of immigration to America, with all its complexity, heartache, and hope. Professor Carlos Gil sought to understand immigration by tracing […]
- When
- 1:30 pm, Sunday
January 27, 2019 - Where
- Harstine Island Community Hall
3371 E Harstine Island Rd N
Shelton, WA 98584 United States
Racism thrives in silence. It’s when we stop talking to one another about our beliefs that prejudices go unchallenged, and the gap between us widens. Yet race is one of the most difficult topics to discuss in American society. If we are to heal many of our country’s social, economic, and political divides, we can’t […]
- When
- 1:00 pm, Wednesday
January 30, 2019 - Where
- Lower Columbia College, Health & Science Building, Room 104
1600 Maple St.
Longview, WA 98632 United States
Civil Conversation in an Angry Age
At what point does a conversation become a battle? Why do some opinions inflame our emotions, leading to anger, fights, and even the end of relationships with family and friends? Philosopher David E. Smith takes a deep look at those moments when civility breaks down. By mapping the structure of how we converse, and digging […]
- When
- 6:00 pm, Wednesday
January 30, 2019 - Where
- Puyallup Public Library
324 S Meridian
Puyallup, WA 98371 United States