June 17, 2025

Misinformation and Propaganda: Telling Truth from Fiction

Overwhelmed with messages from politicians, news sources and online media? Distinguish truth from fiction using real-world examples. Become your own “fact-checker!” This workshop presented by Donna Cohen will cover social media posts, propaganda, AI/deepfakes, polls, cconomic data, graphs and charts, and finding good information.

This event is funded by a 2025 Mini Grant for Rural Libraries from Oregon Humanites.

, Lake County Main Library, Lakeview

June 18, 2025

Poetry Reading with Oregon Poet Laureate Ellen Waterston

Join Rogue River Library for a poetry reading with Oregon Poet Laureate Ellen Waterston. There will be time at the end of the program for a brief Q&A.  Ellen Waterston began her term as the eleventh Oregon Poet Laureate in August 2024.  The Oregon Poet Laureate fosters the art of poetry, encourages literacy and learning, addresses central issues relating to humanities and heritage, and reflects on public life in Oregon.

1:00 p.m., Jacksonville Branch Library, Jacksonville

June 18, 2025

Poetry Reading with Oregon Poet Laureate Ellen Waterston

Join Rogue River Library for a poetry reading with Oregon Poet Laureate Ellen Waterston. There will be time at the end of the program for a brief Q&A.  Ellen Waterston began her term as the eleventh Oregon Poet Laureate in August 2024.  The Oregon Poet Laureate fosters the art of poetry, encourages literacy and learning, addresses central issues relating to humanities and heritage, and reflects on public life in Oregon.

5:30 p.m., Ashland Public Library, Ashland

June 19, 2025

Conversation Project: Are You Doing Community Wrong?

We all belong to many communities—that is, groups of people with common interests—depending on where we live, the work we do, how we spend our leisure time, political and religious beliefs, and so on. In some communities, finding agreement is easy; in others, especially those that represent many different experiences and points of view, members must work harder to find commonality. It may be easier to find a location for your next book-club meeting than to achieve consensus about a road project at your neighborhood association. In such contexts, are we “doing” community wrong? Are we celebrating diverse points of view and our common effort to find solutions together? If not, why not? What stops us from engaging in more diverse communities?

Register for this free virtual event.

3:00 p.m., Virtual Event, statewide

June 24, 2025

What Matters at Life’s End? Exploring Your End-of-life Wishes

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.

Register for this free online program.

3:00 p.m., Virtual Event, statewide

July 2, 2025

Does Nature Have a Purpose in Our Lives? Exploring Our Relationships to the Land

Oregonians have long struggled to balance cultural, political, and values-based differences tied to our use of land and resources. As we enter an age of accelerating environmental change and scarcity, it is important to understand what drives these differences. In this conversation we will explore our attitudes and assumptions about the purpose of the environment in our lives and consider how those attitudes and assumptions shape our perception of environmental issues and policies.

Register for this free online program.

10:00 a.m. Pacific, Virtual Event, statewide

July 13, 2025

Studio Series Poetry Reading and Open Mic with Ellen Waterston

Oregon Poet Laureate Ellen Waterston will be featured at the July 13, 2025 Studio Series Poetry Reading and Open Mic hosted by Leah Stenson at the Ross Island Grocery & Cafe. The event is free and open to the public, and attendees are welcome to read at the open mic after Ellen Waterston's reading.

7:00 p.m., Ross Island Grocery and Cafe, Portland

August 9, 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., Jacksonville Branch Library, Jacksonville

August 9, 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., Jacksonville Branch Library, Jacksonville

October 18, 2025

Astoria Creative Writing Festival

Oregon Poet Laureate Ellent Waterston will appear alongside other writers at a weekend of readings, workshops, and literary happenings all centered in Oregon's oldest coastal town. Learn more about this event.

All day, Barbey Center, Astoria