The San Joaquin Town Hall Lecture Series invites a variety of speakers, who are often experts in their fields, to talk about history, foreign language, music, economics and other issues. The goal of this program, which has been in operation for over 74 years, is to expand educational interests in schools and young minds of the future generations.
This year a few of the key speakers will include Ben Vereen and Gloria Steinem.
Vereen is a legendary entertainer and broadway star who is recognized as an artistic legend. Vereen has been awarded several awards amony a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for his preformances, he has acted in Wicked, Pippin, Jesus Christ Superstar and many more productions.
The William Saroyan Theatre will host Steinem, an ardent spokesperson for Women’s Rights, who will be speaking on her accomplishments and encouragement at 10:30 a.m., Oct. 17. She is recognized as one of America’s most influential women and eloquent feminist.
Steinem has penned many books and is a widely-known author, she also is in the National Women’s Hall of Fame. She presently is living in New York and working on a memoir, Road to the Heart, which is about her life of becoming a womens’ activist.
Steinem has an assortment of accomplishments and she refers to herself as a “Hope-aholic.” Steinem travels the world to speak at lectures on organization issues of equality, and origins of sex and race. She is particularly interested in gender roles and the study of how abuse as a child affects the mind and is rooted to violence.
Among her many accomplishments, she co-founded the Ms. Magazine. This magazine has flourished among the female populating, brining information and awareness to women everywhere. The slogan of the magazine, “More than a magazine ? A Movement,” suggests the importance of what the magazine tries to portray.
On Nov. 14, Platon Antoniou will be speaking at the conference. He is a gifted storyteller who takes his audience on a rollarcoaster of emotions. He has shot photos for many publications including The New York Times.
Another speaker is Richard Preston who will be speaking Jan. 16, 2013. He is a critically acclaimed author, who has many accomplishments and is a regular contributor to The New Yorker. Robin Wright is a foreign correspondent and television commentator who has witnessed many amazing events in his life time. He will share those life changing stories on Feb. 20, 2013.
Another speaker, Robert Sapolsky, is a recognized biologist where for over thirty years he has made many acclaimed discoveries he will share with the audience, March 20, 2013. Robert Reich, an author who is very involved with the progress of the United States will also speak in this series, April 12, 2013. Reich has published over 13 books including four bestsellers.
To get tickets and for more information, you can reach Joan Schoettler via email. or via cell phone at 559.906.6557.
Tickets cost $25 for each speaker or $95 for a season ticket. The events are located at William Saroyan Theater on 700 M Street, Fresno, CA.
For more on Town Hall lectures, read the March 29 article, Cuban refugee educates through experience.
