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 35 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, the Satterberg Foundation, the Women’s History Consortium, The Boeing Company, the Norcliffe Foundation, and generous contributions from other businesses, foundations, and individuals.
Upcoming Events
The Ethics of Eating Meat on a Small Planet
What are the implications—for humans, animals, and the Earth—of raising more than 87 billion animals annually for food? And what will happen when the human population reaches a projected nine billion people at midcentury, causing the production of animals to double? Research is increasingly suggesting that the mass production and consumption of animals is a […]
- When
- 6:00 pm, Monday
September 25, 2017 - Where
- Shadle Library
2111 W Wellesley Ave
Spokane, WA 99205 United States
The High Road: Fighting Selfishness through Dialogue
Many of us fall into habitual patterns of selfishness when speaking with others: interrupting, not listening, and constantly shifting the conversation to ourselves. Living in such a “me-centered” version of reality leaves little room to accommodate divergent perspectives. Dialogue is a special partnership–based on mutual respect–that that is the central method for discovering and exploring […]
- When
- 5:00 pm, Tuesday
September 26, 2017 - Where
- Tonasket Public Library
209 N Whitcomb Ave
Tonasket, WA 98855 United States
Crazy Politics: Populism, Conspiracy Theories, and Paranoia in America
Anti-establishment candidates rail against the government they seek to lead; populist groups like the Tea Party or Occupy Wall Street howl about corruption in political and economic institutions; and wild conspiracy theories abound. Has American politics always been so crazy? With political science professor Cornell Clayton, explore how American politics has become an arena for […]
- When
- 6:30 pm, Tuesday
September 26, 2017 - Where
- Leavenworth Public Library
700 Highway 2
Leavenworth, WA 98826 United States
What Our Teachers Never Told Us about the American Revolution
Discover the American Revolution you never learned about in school. Why did Native Americans and African Americans support the British? How did a Muslim general come to fight the British with a French ally named Admiral “Satan”? Why did the fighting spread around the world, from Hudson Bay to South America, India to Africa, Arkansas […]
- When
- 1:30 pm, Wednesday
September 27, 2017 - Where
- Panorama Auditorium
1670 Circle Loop
Lacey, WA 98503 United States
Crazy Politics: Populism, Conspiracy Theories, and Paranoia in America
Anti-establishment candidates rail against the government they seek to lead; populist groups like the Tea Party or Occupy Wall Street howl about corruption in political and economic institutions; and wild conspiracy theories abound. Has American politics always been so crazy? With political science professor Cornell Clayton, explore how American politics has become an arena for […]
- When
- 6:30 pm, Wednesday
September 27, 2017 - Where
- Wenatchee Public Library
310 Douglas Street
Wenatchee, WA 98801 United States
Crazy Politics: Populism, Conspiracy Theories, and Paranoia in America
Anti-establishment candidates rail against the government they seek to lead; populist groups like the Tea Party or Occupy Wall Street howl about corruption in political and economic institutions; and wild conspiracy theories abound. Has American politics always been so crazy? With political science professor Cornell Clayton, explore how American politics has become an arena for […]
- When
- 5:30 pm, Thursday
September 28, 2017 - Where
- Soap Lake Public Library
32 E Main Street
Soap Lake, WA 98851 United States
The Razor’s Edge: The Washington Razor Clam Phenomenon
What brings thousands of men, women, and children to Washington’s sandy coastal beaches every year, braving weather and surf? The buried treasure known as the Pacific razor clam. Hunting and gathering these creatures has preoccupied Northwesterners from the time of the Native peoples to the present moment. Challenging to dig, delicious to eat, and providing […]
- When
- 2:00 pm, Saturday
September 30, 2017 - Where
- Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum
115 SE Lake St.
Ilwaco, WA 98624 United States
The Razor’s Edge: The Washington Razor Clam Phenomenon
What brings thousands of men, women, and children to Washington’s sandy coastal beaches every year, braving weather and surf? The buried treasure known as the Pacific razor clam. Hunting and gathering these creatures has preoccupied Northwesterners from the time of the Native peoples to the present moment. Challenging to dig, delicious to eat, and providing […]
- When
- 2:00 pm, Monday
October 2, 2017 - Where
- Coupeville Library
788 NW Alexander Street
Coupeville, WA 98239 United States