Program Overview
Out of concern for the health of communities across the state, we and our partners are holding only online Speakers Bureau events. Find online events on our calendar, or learn how to host an online Speakers Bureau event here.
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 34 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 Online Events
ONLINE: What’s Age Got to Do with It?
“You look good for your age.” “You’re too young to understand.” In employment decisions, family discussions, medical care, and even in birthday cards, assumptions about being “over the hill” or “a lazy kid” are common. What do you wish society would stop saying about your generation? How can we talk about age and aging in […]
- When
- 7:00 pm, Wednesday
May 12, 2021 - Register
- Click here to register
ONLINE: The Poetic Apothecary: Poems for Healing and Comfort
Just as a cup of tea can settle and sooth us, the right poem at the right time can be a powerful sustaining remedy. Poet and performer Judith Adams explores poetry’s restorative powers by reciting and exploring poems that help us understand grief, fear, sadness, loss, and much more. By sharing her love of poetry, […]
- When
- 11:00 am, Tuesday
May 18, 2021 - Register
- Registration info to come
ONLINE: What’s Age Got to Do with It?
“You look good for your age.” “You’re too young to understand.” In employment decisions, family discussions, medical care, and even in birthday cards, assumptions about being “over the hill” or “a lazy kid” are common. What do you wish society would stop saying about your generation? How can we talk about age and aging in […]
- When
- 11:00 am, Wednesday
May 19, 2021 - Register
- Registration info to come
ONLINE: Sometimes Heroes: America’s Changing Relationship with Its Veterans
“Support our troops” is a common phrase, seen on lawn signs and bumper stickers across America. Veterans are welcomed home by enthusiastic crowds, and thousands of service organizations help veterans find jobs, secure housing, and heal from the experience of war. But it wasn’t always this way. Veterans returning from Vietnam were often greeted by […]
- When
- 1:00 pm, Wednesday
May 19, 2021 - Register
- Click here to register
ONLINE: Sometimes Heroes: America’s Changing Relationship with Its Veterans
“Support our troops” is a common phrase, seen on lawn signs and bumper stickers across America. Veterans are welcomed home by enthusiastic crowds, and thousands of service organizations help veterans find jobs, secure housing, and heal from the experience of war. But it wasn’t always this way. Veterans returning from Vietnam were often greeted by […]
- When
- 12:00 pm, Thursday
May 20, 2021 - Register
- Click here to register
ONLINE: 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
- 6:00 pm, Friday
May 21, 2021 - Register
- Click here to register
ONLINE: 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
- 2:00 pm, Saturday
May 22, 2021 - Register
- Registration info to come
ONLINE: Higher Power: The History of Evangelicals in American Politics
Explore the history and meaning behind a uniquely American movement: Evangelical Christianity. Evangelicals are the strongest religious voting block in America, despite being a relatively new coalition. How did they come to hold such power? In this balanced and respectful talk, WSU professor Matthew Sutton traces the history of the religious right in America, from its […]
- When
- 7:00 pm, Saturday
May 22, 2021 - Register
- Click here to register