Events & Opportunities
April 17, 2025
Beyond 250 Facilitation Training
Oregon Humanities will present three free trainings in 2025. These trainings will help participants strengthen their skills in leading conversations about vital issues and ideas across differences, beliefs, and backgrounds. With the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence as a jumping off point, participants will learn about facilitation and reflective conversation, practice new skills and techniques, and learn to design and facilitate conversations that allow people and groups to learn more about themselves and each other. The trainings are designed with staff, board members, volunteers, and program partners of Oregon libraries of all types (public, academic, school, and tribal) in mind, but all are welcome to participate.
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Pendleton Public Library, Pendleton
April 22, 2025
Conversation Project: What Matters at Life’s End?
Many of us know we should talk about what matters at the end of our lives, but we don’t always know where or how to start these conversations. Once people start exploring death and dying, they often realize it’s not so scary to talk about after all. It can be comforting and empowering to know more about your options and consider what would be helpful for those who may be making decisions on your behalf. Who do you want with you when you are dying? What environments feel most comfortable? Do you have a preference for what happens to your body and your possessions after you die? How do you want to be remembered? This conversation provides a space and dedicated time for reflecting and exploring your end-of-life wishes.
3:00 p.m., Tillamook Library, Tillamook
April 22, 2025
Tertulias . . . ¡de película!: Santuario
Este hermoso documental muestra de primera mano una hermosa iniciativa de protección ambiental para crear el santuario marino más grande de la Tierra en el Océano Antártico.
Tertulias . . . ¡de película! es un programa que busca proveer espacios de conexión para comunidades hispanohablantes. En Tertulias de película se habla abiertamente y sin prejuicios sobre nuestras ideas y sentires a partir de la interacción con el arte cinematográfico y documental. Un lugar en el que se le de rienda suelta al mundo de las ideas. Un espacio de autoeducación popular, con el lenguaje español como el vehículo que conecta.
Ubicación: Envía un correo electrónico a juliana@oregonhumanities.org para registrarte y recibir la dirección.
6:00 p.m., Ubicación por definir, Bend
April 26, 2025
CANCELED: Good Energy: Collaborating with Land, Story, Music, and Material with Fish Martinez
Due to the Trump administration’s abrupt termination of funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, this workshop has been postponed indefinitely. Read about what these cuts mean for Oregon Humanities—and how you can help.
Optional community-building and snacks: 12:00–12:30 p.m. & 3:30-4:00 p.m. | Workshop: 12:30-3:30 p.m., Newport Visual Arts Center, Newport
April 29, 2025
Conversation Project: The Science and Story of Awe
During times of great change, anxiety and overwhelm can keep us stuck asking “What can I do?” on repeat, often leading to fear and isolation. The experience of awe, as employed in both science and story, can help us all get unstuck. What is awe, and what good does it do? Join Amber Peoples for an experience and exploration of the transformative nature of wonder.
Register for this free online conversation.
3:00 to 4:45 p.m. Pacific Time, Virtual Event, statewide
May 3, 2025
Terroir Creative Writing Festival
Oregon Poet Laureate Ellen Waterston will participate in the 2025 Terroir Creative Writing Festival. The aim of the festival is to build a stronger literary community by encouraging and spotlighting local writers while also making connections with the writing and publishing community beyond Yamhill County.
9:00 a.m., Stoller Experience Center, Dayton
May 3, 2025
Conversation Project: Talking About Values Across Political Divides
“How can I be me without making it difficult for you to be you?” This question gets at the fundamental challenge of being in society together. We live in a contentious political world, and it’s difficult to talk about our deepest values and beliefs in safe, civil, and respectful ways. In 2021, the Pew Research Center found that nearly six in ten Americans felt that political conversations with those you disagree with are generally stressful and frustrating, as opposed to being interesting and informative. If we avoid such conversations, we lose opportunities to form a community with others that reflects our best selves. How can we learn to share our values in ways that bring us together rather than push us further apart?
2:00 p.m., First United Methodist Church of Portland, Portland
May 6, 2025
Conversation Project: Everyone Can Be a Leader
Popular understandings of leadership tell us that leaders look a certain way: they are in charge. They possess outward strength. They are extroverted and act pragmatically rather than emotionally. Perhaps most important, leaders are people in positions of authority and power. Is there an alternative type of leadership? When are we leaders in our communities? How can our unique senses of self contribute to our roles as leaders?
6:00 p.m., Happy Valley Library, Happy Valley
May 6, 2025
Talking About Values Across Political Divides
“How can I be me without making it difficult for you to be you?” This question gets at the fundamental challenge of being in society together. We live in a contentious political world, and it’s difficult to talk about our deepest values and beliefs in safe, civil, and respectful ways. In 2021, the Pew Research Center found that nearly six in ten Americans felt that political conversations with those you disagree with are generally stressful and frustrating, as opposed to being interesting and informative. If we avoid such conversations, we lose opportunities to form a community with others that reflects our best selves. How can we learn to share our values in ways that bring us together rather than push us further apart?
Register for this free online conversation.
4:00 to 5:45 p.m. Pacific, Virtual Event, statewide
May 7, 2025
Consider This: Reinventing American Democracy for the 21st Century with Danielle Allen
A conversation about the failings and challenges of democracy in the United States and what we can do about them with Danielle Allen, director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center. How can we find common purpose to build a stronger democratic society amid today’s complex political climate?
7:00 p.m., Tomorrow Theater, Portland