Events & Opportunities
December 2, 2025
Wine-down with us at Ora et Labora
Enjoy a cozy evening of conversation and carefully-curated wines, all while supporting Oregon Humanities' Give!Guide fundraising campaign at Ora et Labora.
5:30 to 7:00 p.m., Ora et Labora Wine Shop and Vinum Lounge, Portland
December 13, 2025
Winter Issue Release: "Consume" at Lloyd Center
We’re marking the release of our Winter 2026 issue, Consume, at the Lloyd Center Food Court. Join us on Saturday, December 13, for coffee, winter treats, and conversation with fellow readers and contributors. We’ll also be gathering adult clothing items for donation to Blanchet House.
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.,
January 14, 2026
Milwaukie Poetry Series: Ellen Waterston
Ellen Waterston, Oregon's Poet Laureate, will read from her own work. Her reading is sponsored by the Milwaukie Poetry Series will be livestreamed on the Ledding Library YouTube channel and available for viewing after the reading.
6:00 p.m., Ledding Library of Milwaukie, Milwaukie
January 22, 2026
Conversation Project: 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.
2:00 p.m., Bethany Library, Portland
January 23, 2026
Tough Shit with Oregon Humanities
Tough Shit is an onstage conversation about the most challenging questions Portlanders are facing. We’ll bring together three people with very different experiences of and perspectives on the city to talk through some shit with help from the audience and a moderator.
7:00 p.m., Tomorrow Theater, Portland
February 3, 2026
Consider This: The Stories We Tell About Our Nations with Colum McCann
Join us for a conversation with Colum McCann, award-winning writer and founder of Narrative 4. February 3, 2026, at the Alberta Rose Theatre in Portland and online.
7:00 p.m., Alberta Rose Theatre, Portland
February 12, 2026
Reflective Conversation Training (in-person)
During this in-person facilitation training, participants will:
- learn about facilitation and reflective conversation
- have an opportunity to practice new skills and techniques
- reflect on and share your own beliefs and assumptions and listen to beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences different than your own
- design and participate in reflective conversations and debriefs that analyze facilitation tools and choices.
This training will take place in the Oregon Humanities office in Portland (610 SW Alder St., Suite 1111) over the following days:
- Day 1: Thursday, February 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Day 2: Friday, February 13, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
To register for the February in-person training, click here.
In-person trainings are limited to the first twelve to sixteen people to sign up. Over the course of two days, we’ll spend our time together talking in large and small groups, in small to mid-sized rooms. We’ll provide coffee and tea and a light lunch on both days.
7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Oregon Humanities, Portland
June 18, 2026
Consider This with Naomi Shihab Nye
A conversation with the extraordinary poet and novelist Naomi Shihab Nye about nations and communities. What makes this nation, the United States, what it is? How do nations change over time, and what moves those changes? How do communities become what we hope them to be? How should we strive to live together in community?
7:00 p.m., Alberta Rose Theatre, Portland
October 8, 2026
Reflective Conversation Training (in-person)
During this in-person facilitation training, participants will:
- learn about facilitation and reflective conversation
- have an opportunity to practice new skills and techniques
- reflect on and share your own beliefs and assumptions and listen to beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences different than your own
- design and participate in reflective conversations and debriefs that analyze facilitation tools and choices.
This training will take place in the Oregon Humanities office in Portland (610 SW Alder St., Suite 1111) over the following days:
- Day 1: Thursday, October 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Day 2: Friday, October 9, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
To register for the October in-person training, click here.
In-person trainings are limited to the first twelve to sixteen people to sign up. Over the course of two days, we’ll spend our time together talking in large and small groups, in small to mid-sized rooms. We’ll provide coffee and tea and a light lunch on both days.
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Oregon Humanities, Portland