May 24, 2025

CANCELED: A Thousand Hands: Art and Spiritual Healing with Crystal Meneses

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.

Join interdisciplinary artist, death doula, and hospice chaplain Crystal Meneses in a transformative So Much Together workshop that explores art as a tool for healing. Through storytelling, conversation, mindfulness activities, and art making, participants will learn to access insights using the practice of art divination.

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

May 28, 2025

The People and The Public

Peter Sv-gvs (Black Bear) Hatch leads an evening of learning and discussion of historic Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians' contributions to Lincoln County. This event is supported by a mini grant for rural libraries from Oregon Humanities.

5:00 p.m., Oregon Coast Community College Community Room, Newport

May 30, 2025

"The Quill of Umatilla County" Launch and Reading

Pendleton Public Library presents a reading to celebrate the launch of The Quill of Umatilla County Literary Magazine featuring poetry and prose by 17 county residents. Desserts and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. The event is free, but registration is requested. (Register here.)

The publication and reading are supported by a Mini-grant for Rural Libraries from Oregon Humanities.

5:30 p.m., Vert Clubroom, Pendleton

May 31, 2025

Rhythm, Rhyme, and Revolution: Crafting Transformative Messages

Join cultural activist, emcee, poet, and writer Mic Crenshaw for an interactive workshop exploring the power of rhythm, rhyme, and storytelling as tools for self-expression and social change. Through rap, poetry, spoken word, and call-and-response, participants will discover how to craft meaningful, original, and transformative messages that reflect their perspectives and purpose.

Optional community-building and snacks: 12:00–12:30 p.m. & 3:30-4:00 p.m. | Workshop: 12:30-3:30 p.m., Leaven Community Center, Portland

June 3, 2025

Conversation Project: A Bunch of Animals

Between twenty-five and one hundred fifty species of life on earth are lost to extinction every day. As human animals, we are implicated in the lives—and deaths—of many other animals besides members of our own species. Conversations with and about other animals are crucial to our shared planetary future. And animals are also just plain interesting. Many of us have relationships with animals. We rely on them economically, physically, and interpersonally. We may have had profound experiences with (nonhuman) animals. There is no one right way to be in relationship with animals, much less to approach the topic of animals. The goal of this conversation is to spend time together “thinking with animals,” to share ideas, and reflect together on what we can learn from “a bunch of animals.”

Register for this free online conversation.

2:00 p.m. Pacific, Virtual Event, statewide

June 7, 2025

POSTPONED Peace, Dreams, and Love Supreme: Embodying Turtle Wisdom with Betty LaDuke

Due to the Trump administration’s abrupt termination of funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, this event is postponed indefinitely. Read about what these cuts mean for Oregon Humanities—and how you can help.

Join Betty LaDuke for a So Much Together workshop that will expand possibilities for how we experience and imagine the personal, playful, and political in our own lives and communities. 

Optional community-building and snacks: 12:00–12:30 p.m. & 3:30-4:00 p.m. | Workshop: 12:30-3:30 p.m., Leaven Community Center, Portland

June 7, 2025

Advanced Media Literacy and Civic Engagement (Part 3)

The North Bend Public Library presents the final part of a three-part workshop on media literacy for teens and adults  During this session, facilitator Liam Gleason will lead a conversation focusing on the tools to navigate today’s complex media landscape and to act against misinformation and disinformation.

Each session is designed to be engaging, inclusive, and politically neutral. The workshop is free to attend, and lunch will be provided. Registration is required as space is limited. Please register for the June workshop here.

1:00 p.m., North Bend Public Library, North Bend

June 17, 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., Medford Library, Medford

June 17, 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.

3:30 p.m., Rogue River Library, Rogue River

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