Old barns are more than just functional farm buildings—they’re living symbols of Iowa’s agricultural heritage. In this engaging Speakers Bureau presentation, Rich Tyler explores the stories our barns tell about community, craftsmanship, and change. Drawing from his own experience restoring the historic Secrest farmstead and octagonal barn near West Branch, Tyler delves into the golden age of […]

Old barns are more than just functional farm buildings—they’re living symbols of Iowa’s agricultural heritage. In this engaging Speakers Bureau presentation, Rich Tyler explores the stories our barns tell about community, craftsmanship, and change. Drawing from his own experience restoring the historic Secrest farmstead and octagonal barn near West Branch, Tyler delves into the golden age of […]

Join the Elk Horn Public Library for a captivating presentation by Iowa-based storyteller, musician, and photographer Jason Walsmith. For more than 30 years, Jason has traveled across North America—touring with his rock band The Nadas, performing solo from Seattle to the Florida Keys, and photographing people and places for brands and publications around the world. His life […]

Join the NAACP Sioux City Branch on February 17th at 7 p.m. for a special narrated concert honoring the life and legacy of Coretta Scott King. Often remembered as the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King was a gifted concert soprano, civil rights leader, and lifelong advocate for peace and justice […]

Join the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council for "Beyond Divides in Iowa's City Black Community: Building Bridges Between Us" at the Iowa City Public Library. This Dream City community conversation will confront misconceptions and cultural divides, while also fostering solidarity and collaboration, between Africans and African Americans in the Iowa City area. All are welcome and encouraged […]

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. […]