Program Overview
Out of concern for the health of communities across the state, we and our partners are temporarily canceling all in-person Humanities Washington events. However, we will be holding online Speakers Bureau events with our partners. 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 Events
Is Truth Really Dead in America?
Alternative facts, fake news, post-truth—these phrases have flooded the American conversation over the past several years. But how bad is it really, and what can we, as a society and as individuals, do to be better informed? WSU professor Steven Stehr investigates the roots and consequences of the erosion of truth, with a focus on […]
- When
- 7:00 pm, Wednesday
July 15, 2020 - Where
- Online Speakers Bureau Event
Issaquah, United States
ONLINE: 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
July 16, 2020 - Where
- Online Speakers Bureau Event
1620 S Union St
Kennewick, WA 99338 United States
Comic-Book Reality: Superheroes and the Power of Representation
Since their debut in the 1930s, comic books have been a regular part of our pop-culture landscape. While often dismissed as escapist entertainment, these pulp treasures also provide a fascinating lens through which to view our nation’s past, present and potential future. In this interactive presentation, journalist and educator T. Andrew Wahl explores how everything […]
- When
- 3:30 pm, Friday
July 17, 2020 - Where
- Online Speakers Bureau Event
Concrete, United States
From Crime to the Classroom: How Education Changes Lives
According to statistics, Omari Amili’s story should have turned out much differently. His parents suffered from addiction which led to him growing up in poverty and struggling in school. Eventually, he ended up serving prison time—which was no surprise considering the combination of life factors that would suggest a lifetime of struggles with the criminal […]
- When
- 7:00 pm, Tuesday
July 21, 2020 - Where
- Online Speakers Bureau Event
Duvall, United States
ONLINE: Heating Up: The Ethics of Climate Change
What if we could tell ourselves a new story about climate change—and, in doing, so, alter our relationship to our planet? With larger, longer wildfire seasons, accelerating species extinction, ocean acidification, and sea-level rise, it’s increasingly clear that climate change isn’t something that’s about to happen—it’s here. But while the laundry list of problems wrought […]
- When
- 7:00 pm, Tuesday
July 21, 2020 - Where
- Online Speakers Bureau Event
7312 35th Ave NE
Marysville, WA 98271 United States
Comic-Book Reality: Superheroes and the Power of Representation
Since their debut in the 1930s, comic books have been a regular part of our pop-culture landscape. While often dismissed as escapist entertainment, these pulp treasures also provide a fascinating lens through which to view our nation’s past, present and potential future. In this interactive presentation, journalist and educator T. Andrew Wahl explores how everything […]
- When
- 1:00 pm, Wednesday
July 22, 2020 - Where
- Online Speakers Bureau Event
4610 Stephens Ave
Carnation, WA 98014 United States
Heating Up: The Ethics of Climate Change
What if we could tell ourselves a new story about climate change—and, in doing, so, alter our relationship to our planet? With larger, longer wildfire seasons, accelerating species extinction, ocean acidification, and sea-level rise, it’s increasingly clear that climate change isn’t something that’s about to happen—it’s here. But while the laundry list of problems wrought […]
- When
- 1:00 pm, Sunday
July 26, 2020 - Where
- Online Speakers Bureau Event
1934 108th Ave
Bellevue, WA 98004 United States
Tangled: Why Your Hair Matters to Society
Hair is simply a collection of protein filaments that sprout from our scalp, yet it carries great meaning for us and our society. From twists and tapers to braids and buns, what’s on top of our head and how it is received by others often reflects society’s standards of beauty and desirability. Using song, video, […]
- When
- 7:00 pm, Monday
July 27, 2020 - Where
- Online Speakers Bureau Event
Tacoma, United States