EVENTS
Speaker Series Schedule
The Olympia World Affairs Council's program year runs September through May, usually on the third Thursday of the month. Speakers include professors, economists, diplomats, historians, scientists, non-profit organization leaders, business executives, and public officials.
Programs are free and open to the public, in-person and on Zoom!
When:
Third Thursday of the month
6PM Doors Open
6:30PM Start Time
Where:
SPSCC Lacey Campus
4220 Sixth Ave SE
Lacey, WA 98503
*With a couple of exceptions
Speaker Series Programs
September 2025 - May 2026
Friday, September 26
Special Event
What is Truth: Journalism, Podcasting, and Nuanced Storytelling in the Pacific Northwest
Join us for this special event, co-sponsored with Evergreen, on local public media journalists and podcast producers Maleeha Syed (KUOW) and Sara Bernard (Cascade PBS) for this public lecture on truth, nuance, and the idea of "objectivity" in journalism through the lens local audio storytelling.
Location: Evergreen | Com 107 - Recital Hall
Time: 6-7:50pm
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Monday, October 6
Special Event
Global Responsibilities of Higher Education in Uncertain Times
Join us for another special event co-hosted with The Evergreen State College, featuring Shalini Randeria President and Rector of Central European University.
Location: Evergreen | COM 107 - Recital Hall
Time: Door open at 6pm | Presentation 6:30-8pm
October 16 | 6:30pm
Global Displacement & Local Community Response
Join Medard Ngueita, Executive Director of World Relief for Western Washington for a discussion on the world refugee crisis and the work being done in Thurston County and globally.
November 20th | 6:30pm
Nuclear Nonproliferation
Join Joanne Dufour, retired educator and Peace Corps volunteer advocating for peace and nuclear disarmament through work with UN. She has served as a UN NGO representative, Red Cross humanitarian law trainer, and continues her advocacy for peace and nuclear disarmament through UN and international peace organizations.
Tuesday, January 6
Trivia Night
Get your team together for a night of laughs, friendly competition, and all-around trivia fun, all to support a great cause! Join the Olympia World Affairs Council for our Trivia Night Fundraiser to raise money for the OWAC Scholarship Fund, which helps local students broaden their global perspectives through education and exchange.
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7-830pm | River's Edge | 4611 Tumwater Valley Dr SE
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March 19 | 6:30pm
​Putin’s War and Climate Change: A Petrostate’s Ecological Dilemmas
​Join us for an engaging program with Dr. Tom Rainey, as he examines the intersection of Russia’s fossil-fuel economy, environmental degradation, and geopolitical ambition. As the world confronts accelerating climate change, Putin’s reliance on oil and gas exports both fuels conflict and deepens ecological vulnerabilities. He will explore how the war in Ukraine, global sanctions, and the energy transition reveal the contradictions and dilemmas facing a petrostate in a warming world.
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With his signature blend of insight and storytelling, Rainey connects past and present to help audiences better understand the challenges and opportunities these international dynamics pose for our future.
April 16 | 6:30pm | Saint Martin's University
Tariffs, Immigration, and International Economics
Join Andy Barenberg, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Economics at Saint Martin’s University, for a discussion on tariffs, immigration and international economics.
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This program will be at Saint Martin's University, Harned Hall, room 110​. Parking is available in Lot M.
May 21 | 6:30pm