Program Overview
We are currently offering both online and in-person Speakers Bureau events. Find an event near you, or learn how to host a Speakers Bureau event.
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 over 30 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.
To reach as many Washingtonians as possible, we partner with a wide range of nonprofit organizations, including libraries, schools, museums, historical societies, community centers, and civic organizations. Any nonprofit organization is welcome to apply 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 Thomas S. Foley Institute of Public Policy and Public Service at Washington State University, The Pacific Power Foundation, and generous contributions from other businesses, foundations, and individuals.
Upcoming In-Person Events
IN PERSON: Whiskey and Wiretaps: The Northwest’s Rumrunning King
On Thanksgiving Day, 1925, Roy Olmstead was trapped by federal prohibition agents and their Tommy guns on a lonely Puget Sound dock. His reign as the Northwest’s most prolific bootlegger had ended. But big questions—political, cultural, and legal—remained. Why did Olmstead, the youngest lieutenant in Seattle Police Department history, form a secret gang to take […]
- When
- 6:00 pm, Wednesday
May 25, 2022 - Where
- Anacortes Public Library
1220 10th St
Anacortes, WA 98221 United States
IN PERSON: Double Crossed: The American Missionary Spies of World War II
What made a good missionary also made a good spy, or so thought American intelligence agencies in World War II. These religious men and women carried out covert operations, bombings, and assassinations—confident that their nefarious deeds would eventually help them achieve their mission by expanding the kingdom of God. Historian Matthew Avery Sutton tells the […]
- When
- 1:00 pm, Thursday
May 26, 2022 - Where
- Garfield County Senior Center
695 Main St
Pomeroy, WA 99347 United States
IN PERSON: Drag Culture: Beyond Entertainment
Typically held at bars and nightclubs, drag is a form of entertainment in which a performer uses clothing and makeup to impersonate a particular gender identity, usually of the opposite sex. Yet drag is so much more than nightclub entertainment—it provides community, instills self-confidence, and can even save lives. Join drag king performer Ceasar Hart […]
- When
- 7:30 pm, Thursday
June 2, 2022 - Where
- Town Hall Seattle
1119 8th Ave
Seattle, WA 98104 United States
Upcoming Online Events
ONLINE: How Latina/Latino Representation Can Improve Democracy
Latinas/Latinos, the largest ethno-racial group in Washington State and in the nation, are grossly underrepresented in powerful segments of society, contributing to what some scholars refer to as a “demographic divide.” While the United States is an increasingly diverse society, this diversity is not reflected in important spheres of influence and power. In just one […]
- When
- 12:00 pm, Wednesday
May 25, 2022 - Register
- Click here to register
ONLINE: Double Crossed: The American Missionary Spies of World War II
What made a good missionary also made a good spy, or so thought American intelligence agencies in World War II. These religious men and women carried out covert operations, bombings, and assassinations—confident that their nefarious deeds would eventually help them achieve their mission by expanding the kingdom of God. Historian Matthew Avery Sutton tells the […]
- When
- 1:00 pm, Wednesday
May 25, 2022 - Register
- Click here to register
ONLINE: What Laughter Tells Us: Asian Americans, Comedy, and Belonging
Laughter shapes the way we listen to each other, and can be a signal of who belongs—and who doesn’t. While everyone finds different things funny, we all have experienced laughter. And what we find funny shapes how we interconnect. Through clips of Asian American stand-up comedians, Professor Michelle Liu explores how humor can change the […]
- When
- 11:00 am, Thursday
May 26, 2022 - Register
- We have not yet been able to confirm registration details for this event. Please contact the host via their website.
ONLINE: What I Learned from My #MeToo Journey
As long as there have been men in positions of political power, there have been young women working for them who face harassment in the workplace. While we know sexual harassment happens in many industries and professions, there seems to be a preponderance of such stories around elected officials. And in the days and weeks […]
- When
- 1:00 pm, Wednesday
June 1, 2022 - Register
- Click here to register
ONLINE: The Ancient Art of Madhubani Painting
For generations, women of a small region in Northeast India have been using Madhubani painting to tell the stories of their lives. Depicting mythological and social scenes, every painting reflects the belief systems, cultural practices, and social arrangements of a specific era in history. After centuries of being limited to its region of origin, the […]
- When
- 2:00 pm, Saturday
June 4, 2022 - Register
- Registration info to come