Mr. Fargo dresses in full Union Army regalia and focuses the first person presentation on an individual Iowa soldier’s Civil War experience. After a brief overview of the state’s involvement, the audience is introduced to a returning Civil War veteran (played by O. J. Fargo). He will detail the experiences of an Iowan during the […]

Join Humanities Iowa and CultureALL for an Open Book program at Coralville Public Library — an engaging hour of storytelling, dialogue, and authentic personal connection. Meet the Books: This free program invites participants to hear, reflect, and engage with these powerful stories — sparking dialogue and connection across diverse experiences and perspectives.

Join The Directors Council for the presentation "Still We Move: Migration, Memory, and the Making of Black Iowa" by speaker Abena Sankofa Imhotep. This talk traces Black movement through Iowa, from early migrations like Buxton and the Great Migration to the modern pursuit of justice and belonging, revealing how Black Iowans have not only survived […]

Join DeWitt Community Library for the Speakers Bureau presentation “Response to Coop, the Story of an Amish Conscientious Objector” by Mary Swander. Mary Swander will discuss her writing process and the research that went into her new drama called Coop. She will explain object theatre and why she embraced it for this work. She will recount […]

The City of Indianola Parks & Recreation will host historian John Liepa on February 23, 2026 at 1 p.m. for an engaging look at Iowa’s immigration history. From the state’s earliest Indigenous peoples to waves of European settlers, African Americans, Hispanics, and more recent immigrant communities, Liepa traces the diverse stories that have shaped Iowa’s […]

O.J. Fargo dresses in full Union Army regalia and focuses the first person presentation on an individual Iowa soldier’s Civil War experience. After a brief overview of the state’s involvement, the audience is introduced to a returning Civil War veteran (played by O. J. Fargo). He will detail the experiences of an Iowan during the […]

Join Storm Lake High School for Open Book, a dialogue-centered program that invites participants to reflect on history, culture, and civic life through conversations with culture bearers from their own communities. This program is part of By the People: Conversations Beyond 250, a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. […]

The Polk County Conservation Board will host Larry Stone on March 3, 2026 for a Humanities Iowa Speakers Bureau program. A longtime journalist, author, and nature photographer, Stone draws on decades of experience exploring Iowa’s outdoors to share the beauty and history of the state’s natural resources. His presentation, Iowa: Portrait of the Land, is […]

Join the Jesup Public Library for the Speakers Bureau presentation AI and the Human Future by Scott Samuelson. This presentation focuses on the big moral and political issues surrounding artificial intelligence. What exactly is AI? Can it make our lives and our communities better, or is it going to take all our jobs and kill […]

Join Grinnell College for Open Book, a dialogue-centered program that invites participants to reflect on history, culture, and civic life through conversations with culture bearers from their own communities. This program is part of By the People: Conversations Beyond 250, a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative […]

Join the Coralville Public Library for an Open Book program featuring Stefanie Kaylor and Sylvia Nemmers, two Iowans sharing powerful personal stories about identity and living authentically. In Life on Two Spectrums, Stefanie Kaylor reflects on recognizing and embracing her identities as both autistic and queer, weaving together the challenges of self-acceptance with the joy […]

The Greene County Historical Society will host Civil War historian O.J. Fargo on March 8, 2026 at 2 p.m. for a first-person presentation that brings history to life. Appearing in full Union Army uniform, Fargo portrays an Iowa soldier returning from the war, sharing vivid stories of battlefield experiences and the challenges of daily life […]