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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260323T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260323T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20260210T040853Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260210T042556Z
UID:10000068-1774292400-1774297800@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Liz Murray
DESCRIPTION:Liz Murray is an author and inspirational speaker whose journey from homelessness to Harvard continues to inspire audiences worldwide.\n\n\nLiz Murray – From homeless to Harvard…it is an unlikely turn of events. Liz Murray’s life is a triumph over adversity and a stunning example of the importance of dreaming big. Murray was raised in the Bronx by two loving but drug-addicted parents. She grew up in poverty\, often without enough food\, chronically absent from school and most of all\, struggling to connect her education to a viable future. \nBy age 15\, Murray’s mom had died and she was homeless—living on the streets\, riding the subway all night\, and eating from dumpsters. Amidst this pain\, Murray always imagined her life could be much better than it was. “I started to grasp the value of the lessons learned while living on the streets. I knew after overcoming those daily obstacles that next to nothing could hold me down.” Determined to take charge of her life\, and with the support of an upstairs neighbor and trusted family friend named Arthur\, Murray finished high school in just two years and was awarded a full scholarship to Harvard University\, all while camping out in New York City parks and subway stations. \nMurray’s story is exhilarating and inspirational. Her delivery is innocently honest\, as she takes audiences on a very personal journey where she achieves the improbable. Her story sounds like a Hollywood movie—and it practically is. Lifetime Television produced a movie about Murray’s life story entitled Homeless to Harvard\, which was nominated\nfor three “Emmy Awards”. \nMurray is the recipient of the White House “Project’s Role Model Award” and Oprah Winfrey’s first-ever “Chutzpah Award”. Her memoir\, Breaking Night\, is a New York Times bestseller and an international bestseller published in twelve countries\, in eight languages. \nToday\, Murray is a passionate advocate for underserved youth. As Co-Founder of The Arthur Project\, a mentoring program that works intensively with at-risk youth through the duration of middle school\, Murray is working to end generational poverty through relationship-based learning. She believes that when it comes to a child facing even the most extreme adversity\, it is having a relationship with at least one caring\, dedicated adult that can make all the difference. Murray graduated from Harvard in 2009 and received her Master’s degree in the Psychology of Education at Columbia University. \nShe is passionate about speaking on the importance of personal motivation\, transforming problems into opportunities\, and what it takes to make a difference in people’s lives.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-liz-murray/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/3a33e9b6d487e81e94a65ff48f9c6eb2-jvsQQh.tmp_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260223T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260223T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20260119T180712Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260224T150138Z
UID:10000048-1771873200-1771878600@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Jerry Rice
DESCRIPTION:Hall of Famer Jerry Rice\, 3x Super Bowl champ and NFL record holder\, is celebrated as the greatest wide receiver of all time.\n\n\nJerry Rice is a Hall of Fame wide receiver and three-time Super Bowl champion\, widely regarded as the best wide receiver to ever play in the National Football League\, and arguably the greatest player of all time. During his 15-year career with the San Francisco 49ers\, Rice won three Super Bowls (Super Bowl XXIII (’88)\, Super Bowl XXIV (’89) and SB XXIX (’94)) and one Super Bowl MVP. He enjoyed three seasons with the Oakland Raiders\, including a Super Bowl appearance and one season with the Seattle Seahawks before retiring in 2005. Rice was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in January 2010\, his first year of eligibility. Rice’s meticulous preparation and work ethic during his 20-year NFL career became legendary. He holds 36 NFL records – a record in itself. Has scored the most touchdowns in NFL history (208) and holds virtually every significant career receiving record\, including receptions (1\,549)\, yards receiving (22\,895)\, all-purpose yards (23\,546)\, touchdown receptions (197) and consecutive games with at least one catch (274). \nAfter his retirement\, Rice’s celebrity grew beyond the football field. He finished second in the second season of the ABC hit reality show Dancing with the Stars\, led his team to victory on the golf course against other NFL legends on Big Break NFL Puerto Rico and has appeared on numerous other television shows. He has extensive broadcasting experience including as an analyst for ESPN\, NBC and is a contributor on 95.7 The Game FM radio in the Bay Area. He co-authored the New York Times Bestseller\, Super Bowl 50: 50 years 50 Moments as well as\, America’s Game: The NFL at 100 with Randy O. Williams and published by Harper Collins. \nThis success off the field and renowned work ethic has appealed Rice to numerous corporations\, including NIKE\, Mitchell & Ness\, Fanatics and Panini\, where he is working as a brand ambassador and spokesperson. He is also an Honorary Chairman for the San Francisco 49ers Foundation\, whose mission is to educate and empower Bay Area youth. \nIn 2020\, Rice and his family launched G.O.A.T. Fuel\, a privately held lifestyle brand that empowers individual and collective greatness. G.O.A.T. stands for “Greatest of All Time”\, a nickname that has been widely used when describing Rice. G.O.A.T. Fuel promotes the unstoppable strength of a hopeful mindset through energy infused products\, content and\nexperiences. \nBorn in Crawford\, Mississippi\, Rice did not start playing football until he was a sophomore in high school. He was not recruited by many major college football programs and attended Mississippi Valley State University\, public\, historically black university and Division I-AA school. As a senior\, he broke NCAA records for receptions\, yards and touchdowns and acquired the nickname “World” because there wasn’t a ball in the world he couldn’t catch. He was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006. \nRice was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers and Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh as the 16th overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft. During his career\, Rice was selected to the Pro Bowl a record 13 times\, won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award in 1987 and was Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl XXIII. In 1999\, he was ranked No. 2 in The Sporting News’ list of 100 Greatest Football Players – the highest-ranked active player and receiver – and in 2010\, was voted the No. 1 player in the NFL Network’s The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players. In 2019\, he was voted Greatest Player in NFL History by USA Today Sports and was also named to the NFL’s All Time Team. \nRice resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife\, Latisha\, and has four children.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-jerry-rice/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Jerry-Rice.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260113T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260113T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20251216T182610Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251230T175546Z
UID:10000047-1768330800-1768336200@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:A Screening of the Liz Cheney Conversation at Sebastiani Theatre - SOLD OUT
DESCRIPTION:Join us for The Conversation Continues\, a screening of the recorded In Conversation with Liz Cheney event.\n\n\nDue to overwhelming interest in our sold-out conversation with Liz Cheney\, we’re creating a special community evening the following night at Sebastiani Theatre. \nJoin us for a screening of the “In Conversation with Liz Cheney” event\, paired with wine\, books\, and the charm of our historic small-town theater. \nWhile Liz Cheney will not be appearing live\, this shared experience offers a meaningful way to take part in the conversation so many of you wanted to join. \nPlease note: Tickets are limited to two per person to ensure as many people as possible have access to this event.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/a-screening-of-the-liz-cheney-conversation-at-sebastiani-theatre/
LOCATION:Sebastiani Theatre\, 476 1st Street East\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/c4e4fd4c9a8dfad6f4c23ba46984f388-DG8dOL.tmp_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260112T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260112T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20251123T061933Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T200244Z
UID:10000018-1768244400-1768249800@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Liz Cheney
DESCRIPTION:Liz Cheney served as the U.S. representative for Wyoming’s at-large congressional district from 2017 to 2023. She chaired the House Republican Conference\, the third-highest position in the House Republican leadership\, from 2019 to 2021\, and served as the Vice Chair of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. She was also a member of the House Armed Services Committee\, China Task Force\, Natural Resources Committee\, and the House Committee on Rules. Cheney served previously at the State Department as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs\, and in positions for USAID and the Department of State working in Poland\, Hungary\, Russia\, and Ukraine. Cheney practiced law with White and Case and at the International Finance Corporation. \nShe is the author of the newly released memoir\, Oath and Honor\, which tells her firsthand account of the moment our democracy threatened to unravel and the story of the brave men and women who fought to save it. A specialist in national security and foreign policy\, she is the co-author\, along with her father\, former Vice President Dick Cheney\, of Exceptional: Why the World Needs a Powerful America. \nCheney received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado College and received her Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School. In 2022\, Cheney\, along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky\, received the the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library’s prestigious Profile in Courage Award\, with a commendation for her “consistent and courageous voice in defense of democracy.”
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-liz-cheney/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Headshot-from-Agency.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251201T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251201T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20251112T210054Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251123T063733Z
UID:10000016-1764615600-1764621000@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Dr. José Hernández
DESCRIPTION:Tickets for Dr. José Hernández can be purchased until December 1st at 2pm and are expected to sell out. \nDr. José Hernández is a former NASA astronaut\, engineer\, entrepreneur\, and author whose groundbreaking career spans the worlds of aerospace\, medicine\, and education. He currently serves as a University of California Regent and is the President and CEO of Tierra Luna Engineering\, an aerospace engineering consulting firm. During his decade at NASA’s Johnson Space Center\, he served in key technical and leadership roles — including flight engineer on the penultimate mission of Discovery\, where he and his crew delivered more than seven tons of equipment to the ISS. Before joining NASA\, Dr. Hernández spent 17 years at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory\, contributing to the X-ray laser project and co-developing the first full-field digital mammography system now widely used for early breast cancer detection. \nHe holds a Master’s degree in Signals and Systems Engineering from the University of California\, Santa Barbara\, and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of the Pacific\, and has been awarded nine honorary doctorates for his contributions to science and society. His autobiography\, Reaching for the Stars\, served as the foundation for the film A Million Miles Away starring Michael Peña. When he’s not advancing aerospace technology or championing access to education\, he is proudly rooted in the land — owning and operating a vineyard\, and producing wine under his Tierra Luna Cellars label. \nTICKET OPTIONS: \nVIP Ticket Buyers: VIP Reception is held in the Legacy Center at Hanna from 5:45-6:45pm. Includes complimentary beer\, wine\, sparkling water & light appetizers\, a ‘meet and greet’ with the speaker\, plus priority seating in the first 4 rows of the auditorium for the speaker presentation (7-8:30pm) \nGeneral Admission: Doors open at 6:15pm. Open Seating. Beer ($5)\, Wine ($7) & Sparkling Water ($3) is available for sale before the Speaker Presentation (7-8:30pm). Cash & credit cards accepted. \nCODE OF CONDUCT \nThe SSS encourages the airing of diverse viewpoints. We provide a forum for speakers; however\, we do not take a position regarding the viewpoints these speakers hold. \nWe respect and value free expression\, including the lawful expression of dissent. Dissent is welcome as long as it does not interfere with the ability of the speaker to deliver the message\, or the ability of the audience to receive the speaker’s message. \nOur goal is to have a peaceful and respectful event. We appreciate your cooperation.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-dr-jose-hernandez-3/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Astronaut-body-shot.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251117T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251117T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20251107T185319Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251112T205436Z
UID:10000010-1763406000-1763411400@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Amy Wallace
DESCRIPTION:Join author Amy Wallace for an inside look at Nobody’s Girl\, Virginia Giuffre’s powerful new memoir of survival\, justice\, and courage.\n\n\nAmy Wallace is the journalist and author who spent four years working closely with the late Virginia Roberts Giuffre to write Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice — the first and only time Giuffre’s story has been told fully in her own words. Published this week\, the memoir is a powerful and unflinching account of Giuffre’s childhood abuse\, the years she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell\, and the extraordinary courage it took to reclaim her life and fight for justice. \nGiuffre’s decision to speak out not only brought her abusers to justice but also sparked a global reckoning around sexual exploitation\, accountability\, and survivor advocacy. Through years of interviews\, research\, and collaboration\, Wallace helped bring that story to the page — preserving Giuffre’s voice and legacy for generations to come. \nAn award-winning journalist\, Wallace’s work has appeared in The New Yorker\, The New York Times Magazine\, GQ\, Wired\, Vanity Fair\, and the Los Angeles Times\, among others. In this conversation\, she will share insights from their collaboration\, behind-the-scenes stories from writing Nobody’s Girl\, and reflections on Giuffre’s extraordinary strength and the movement she helped ignite. \n \nTICKET OPTIONS: \nVIP Ticket Buyers: VIP Reception is held in the Legacy Center at Hanna from 5:45-6:45pm. Includes complimentary beer\, wine\, sparkling water & light appetizers\, a ‘meet and greet’ with the speaker\, plus priority seating in the first 4 rows of the auditorium for the speaker presentation (7-8:30pm) \n \nGeneral Admission: Doors open at 6:15pm. Open Seating. Beer ($5)\, Wine ($7) & Sparkling Water ($3) is available for sale before the Speaker Presentation (7-8:30pm). Cash & credit cards accepted. \n \nCODE OF CONDUCT \nThe SSS encourages the airing of diverse viewpoints. We provide a forum for speakers; however\, we do not take a position regarding the viewpoints these speakers hold. \nWe respect and value free expression\, including the lawful expression of dissent. Dissent is welcome as long as it does not interfere with the ability of the speaker to deliver the message\, or the ability of the audience to receive the speaker’s message. \nOur goal is to have a peaceful and respectful event. We appreciate your cooperation. \nRead the Full Code of Conduct HERE.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-amy-wallace/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/a1b4454f72ad67724d60c7d8a224474b-fueqIW.tmp_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250210T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250210T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20251210T061354Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T061416Z
UID:10000028-1739214000-1739219400@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Huey Lewis
DESCRIPTION:Born in New York City\, Huey Lewis moved to Marin County\, California\, at the age of four\, where he grew up surrounded by the vibrant West Coast music scene. His passion for music began at an early age\, and by the time he attended the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey\, he had already picked up the harmonica\, an instrument that would become central to his sound. \nAfter high school\, Lewis spent a year hitchhiking across Europe\, playing his harmonica wherever he could. He briefly attended Cornell University\, where he balanced his time between performing in bands and attending classes. Ultimately\, his love for music took precedence\, and Lewis left Cornell to return to California\, where he joined the country-rock band Clover. For six years\, Clover played tirelessly across the U.S. and Europe\, earning a record deal with Phonogram Records. The band recorded two albums in Wales before disbanding in 1977. \nIn 1980\, Lewis formed the iconic rock band Huey Lewis and The News with bandmates Johnny Colla\, Bill Gibson\, Sean Hopper\, Chris Hayes\, and Mario Cipollina. Their self-titled debut album launched a successful career that would produce chart-topping hits like “The Power of Love\,” “Hip to Be Square\,” and “If This Is It.” Known for their energetic live performances and classic blend of rock and roll\, the band became a defining force of 1980s music. \nIn addition to his success as a musician\, Lewis has also enjoyed a diverse career in entertainment. He starred as Billy Flynn in the Broadway production of Chicago\, appeared in the film Duets alongside Gwyneth Paltrow\, and guest-starred on popular television shows like Hot in Cleveland. His versatile talents and willingness to take on new challenges have made him a beloved figure in show business. \nWith numerous awards and accolades to his name\, Huey Lewis continues to be celebrated for his contributions to music and entertainment.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-huey-lewis/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/722019809-2025_02-10_sss-hueylewis-235.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250113T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250113T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20251210T064846Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T064957Z
UID:10000036-1736794800-1736800200@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Nicholas Kristof
DESCRIPTION:Nicholas Kristof\, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist\, is celebrated for his fearless reporting and deep commitment to human rights. Known as the “reporter’s reporter\,” Kristof has lived on four continents\, reported from six\, and traveled to more than 150 countries. His work has taken him through war zones\, natural disasters\, and humanitarian crises—experiences that have shaped his powerful and compelling journalism. \nKristof\, along with his wife Sheryl WuDunn\, became the first husband-wife team to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1990 for their coverage of China’s Tiananmen Square democracy movement. He received his second Pulitzer in 2006 for his deeply moving and impactful reporting on the genocide in Darfur. Kristof has dedicated his career to giving voice to the voiceless\, focusing on human rights\, poverty\, and social justice issues around the world. \nBeyond journalism\, Kristof is the co-author of five best-selling books\, including Half the Sky and Tightrope\, both of which have been turned into acclaimed PBS documentary series. His newest work\, Chasing Hope: A Reporter’s Life\, offers a personal reflection on his remarkable career. \nA longtime columnist for The New York Times\, Kristof has covered topics ranging from presidential politics to international crises\, interviewing figures such as President Obama and Iranian President Ahmadinejad. His storytelling captivates audiences\, inspiring them to engage in global issues and create positive change. \nDescribed by CNN’s Jeffrey Toobin as “the moral conscience of our generation of journalists” and by George Clooney as a key influence in his humanitarian efforts\, Kristof’s lectures are moving\, thought-provoking\, and unforgettable.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-nicholas-kristof/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Nicholas-Kristof.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240819T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240819T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20251210T062333Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T062333Z
UID:10000031-1724094000-1724099400@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Carl Bernstein
DESCRIPTION:In the early 1970s\, CARL BERNSTEIN and Bob Woodward broke the Watergate story for The Washington Post\, leading to the resignation of President Richard Nixon and setting the standard for modern investigative reporting\, for which they and The Post were awarded the Pulitzer Prize. With Woodward\, Bernstein wrote two classic best-sellers: All the President’s Men (also a movie starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman)\, about their coverage of the Watergate story; and The Final Days\, about the denouement of the Nixon presidency. \nIn 1974\, it was ultimately the power of the free and open press\, led by Bernstein and Woodward’s dogged coverage in the Washington Post\, that preserved democracy and held those in power accountable. \nFifty years later\, journalism is under attack: misinformation runs rampant\, facts are up for debate and discarded if they don’t fit a certain narrative\, and the media and journalists are labeled as enemies. With that pillar of democracy under attack\, how would a ‘Watergate’ play out today? \nIn this interview\, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Carl Bernstein analyzes the erosion of public trust and the ongoing threats to democracy at home and abroad. Drawing from his unparalleled expertise and experience in breaking the Watergate story\, Bernstein offers insight into strengthening democratic principles for the future\, highlighting the importance of transparency\, accountability\, and civic engagement. \nBernstein will be in conversation with Sonoma Speaker Series Board Member\, Laura Zimmerman. Readers Books will have signed copies of his books on sale in the lobby before and after the speaker presentation.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-carl-bernstein/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Carl-Bernstein.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240513T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240513T170000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20251210T063429Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T063429Z
UID:10000034-1715587200-1715619600@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Andrew Yang
DESCRIPTION:Andrew Yang is the cofounder of the Forward Party\, a new\, independent political movement dedicated to restoring the promise of American democracy. He was a Democratic presidential candidate in 2020 whose campaign outlasted over a dozen mainstream political officeholders and raised $40 million from hundreds of thousands of everyday Americans\, dubbed “the Yang Gang.” He served as CEO of Manhattan Prep\, growing the company until its acquisition in 2009. \nNamed by President Obama as a Presidential Ambassador of Global Entrepreneurship\, he is the founder of Humanity Forward and Venture for America. He lives with his family in New York. \nAndrew Yang was interviewed by David McCuan\, PhD\, Chair of the Political Science Department at Sonoma State University.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-andrew-yang/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Andrew-Yang.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240415T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240415T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20251210T062551Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T062551Z
UID:10000032-1713207600-1713213000@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Fred Warner and Greg Papa
DESCRIPTION:Fred Warner\, the San Francisco 49ers’ team captain and linebacker\, exemplifies the pinnacle of NFL excellence. Drafted in 2018 from Brigham Young University\, Warner quickly ascended to become the linchpin of the 49ers’ defense\, known for his incredible athleticism\, strategic intelligence\, and innate leadership. His journey from college football to the NFL is marked by relentless dedication and a passion for the game that shines both on and off the field. Warner’s contributions were pivotal in leading his team to the Super Bowl\, showcasing not only his skills but also his ability to perform under pressure at the highest level of professional sports. His journey to the NFL and the Super Bowl reflects a story of ambition\, resilience\, and triumph\, making him a source of inspiration and a testament to the power of hard work and perseverance. \nGreg Papa\, known as the ‘voice’ of the 49ers\, is a three time California Sportscaster of the Year Award winner\, widely known for his dynamic sports commentary.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-fred-warner-and-greg-papa/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Fred-Warner.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240325T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240325T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20251210T065625Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T065625Z
UID:10000039-1711393200-1711398600@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Marie Yovanovitch
DESCRIPTION:Marie Yovanovitch is the author of a New York Times best-selling memoir\, Lessons from the Edge. She is also a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a non-Resident Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy\, Georgetown University.  Previously\, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine (2016-2019)\, the Republic of Armenia (2008-2011) and the Kyrgyz Republic (2005-2008). \nShe also served as the Dean of the School of Language Studies at the Foreign Service Institute\, U.S. Department of State and as the Deputy Commandant and International Advisor at the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy\, National Defense University. Earlier she served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs\, where she coordinated policy on European and global security issues. Before that\, she was the bureau’s Deputy Assistant Secretary responsible for issues related to the Nordic\, Baltic\, and Central European countries. \nIn 2003-2004\, Ambassador Yovanovitch was the Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.  Prior to that\, she was the Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv\, Ukraine. Within the Department of State\, Ambassador Yovanovitch has worked on the Russia desk\, the Office of European Security Affairs\, and the Operations Center. She has also worked overseas at the U.S. Embassies in Moscow\, London\, Ottawa\, and Mogadishu. \nA Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service\, Ambassador Yovanovitch has earned the Senior Foreign Service Performance Award eight times and the State Department’s Superior Honor Award on nine occasions. She is also the recipient of two Presidential Distinguished Service Awards and the Secretary’s Diplomacy in Human Rights Award. \nFollowing her retirement in 2020\, Ambassador Yovanovitch received the Trainor Award for Excellence in the Conduct of Diplomacy from Georgetown University\, the inaugural Richard G. Lugar Award from Indiana University\, the 2020 PEN/Benenson Courage Award from Pen/America\, the Morgenthau Award from the Armenian Assembly of America\, the American Spirit Award for Distinguished Public Service from the Common Good\, the Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government\, and the Vandenberg Award. \nAmbassador Yovanovitch is a graduate of Princeton University where she earned a BA in History and Russian Studies. She studied at the Pushkin Institute and received an MS from the National Defense University.a
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-marie-yovanovitch/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Marie-Yovanovitch.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240213T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20240213T170000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20251210T070709Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T070709Z
UID:10000044-1707811200-1707843600@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Anthony Ray Hinton
DESCRIPTION:Anthony Ray Hinton survived for 30 years on Alabama’s death row. His story is a decades-long journey to exoneration and freedom. \nIn 1985\, Mr. Hinton was convicted of the unsolved murders of two fast-food restaurant managers based on the testimony of ballistics experts for the State who claimed that the crime bullets came from a dusty revolver found in Mr. Hinton’s mother’s closet. Without the benefit of a competent expert to challenge the State’s theory (Mr. Hinton’s lawyer hired a ballistics expert who was blind in one eye)\, an all-white jury convicted Mr. Hinton and he was sentenced to death. \nAfter years of petitioning to have the revolver re-analyzed\, three independent experts concluded that the bullets could not have been fired from his mother’s revolver. With the assistance of the Equal Justice Initiative\, led by attorney Bryan Stevenson\, Mr. Hinton was freed in 2015. \nSince his release\, Mr. Hinton has traveled the world sharing his story and discussing the changes that need to be made to prevent similar injustices from happening to other people. In 2018\, Mr. Hinton published The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row\, which was selected for Oprah’s Book Club and is a New York Times bestseller. In 2019\, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from St. Bonaventure University.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-anthony-ray-hinton/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Anthony-Ray-Hinton.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231127T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231127T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20260209T175449Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T175750Z
UID:10000049-1701111600-1701117000@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Kori Schake
DESCRIPTION:Kori Schake is a senior fellow and the director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). She is also a proud alumna of Sonoma Valley High School. \nBefore joining AEI\, Dr. Schake was the deputy director-general of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. She has had a distinguished career in government\, working at the US State Department\, the US Department of Defense\, and the National Security Council at the White House. She has also taught at Stanford\, West Point\, Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies\, National Defense University\, and the University of Maryland. \nDr. Schake is the author of five books\, among them “America vs the West: Can the Liberal World Order Be Preserved?” (Penguin Random House Australia\, Lowy Institute\, 2018); “Safe Passage: The Transition from British to American Hegemony” (Harvard University Press\, 2017); “State of Disrepair: Fixing the Culture and Practices of the State Department” (Hoover Institution Press\, 2012); and “Managing American Hegemony: Essays on Power in a Time of Dominance” (Hoover Institution Press\, 2009). \nShe is also the coeditor\, along with former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis\, of “Warriors & Citizens: American Views of Our Military” (Hoover Institution Press\, 2016). \nDr. Schake has been widely published in policy journals and the popular press\, including in CNN.com\, Foreign Affairs\, Politico\, The New York Times\, The Wall Street Journal\, and The Washington Post. She is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and War on the Rocks. \nDr. Schake has a PhD and MA in government and politics from the University of Maryland\, as well as an MPM from the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. Her BA in international relations is from Stanford University.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/korischake/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Kori-Schake.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231030T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20231030T170000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20251210T065414Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T065414Z
UID:10000038-1698652800-1698685200@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Jared Diamond
DESCRIPTION:Jared Diamond is a Pulitzer-prize-winning author of six best-selling books\, translated into 38 languages\, about human societies and human evolution: Guns\, Germs\, and Steel\, Collapse\, Why Is Sex Fun?\, The Third Chimpanzee\, The World until Yesterday\, and Upheaval. \nAs a professor of geography at UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles)\, he is known for his breadth of interests\, which involves conducting research and teaching in three other fields: the biology of New Guinea birds\, digestive physiology\, and conservation biology.  His prizes and honors include the U.S. National Medal of Science\, the Pulitzer Prize for Non-fiction\, the Tyler Prize for Environmental Science\, and election to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. \nHe is a director of World Wildlife Fund/U.S. and of Conservation International.  As a biological explorer\, his most widely publicized finding was his rediscovery\, at the top of New Guinea’s remote Foja Mountains\, of the long-lost Golden-fronted Bowerbird\, previously known only from four specimens found in a Paris feather shop in 1895.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-jared-diamond/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Jared-Diamond.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230918T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230918T200000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20251210T061001Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T061001Z
UID:10000027-1695063600-1695067200@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with David Brooks
DESCRIPTION:David Brooks is a columnist for The New York Times and a contributor to The Atlantic. He is a commentator on “The PBS Newshour.” \nHis most recent book\, “The Second Mountain\,” shows what can happen when we put commitment-making and relationships at the center of our lives. He is also the author of “The Road to Character\,” “Bobos In Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There” and “The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love\, Character\, and Achievement.” \nMr. Brooks is on the faculty of Yale University and is a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. \nFollow him on Twitter @nytdavidbrooks
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-david-brooks/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/David-Brooks-headshot.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230807T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230807T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20260209T175923Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T184322Z
UID:10000050-1691434800-1691440200@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Kevin Roose
DESCRIPTION:Kevin Roose is an award-winning technology columnist for The New York Times and the bestselling author of three books\, Futureproof\, Young Money\, and The Unlikely Disciple.  His column\, “The Shift\,” examines the intersection of tech\, business\, and culture.  He is a recurring guest on The Daily and appears regularly on leading TV and radio shows. He writes and speaks frequently on topics including automation and artificial intelligence\, social media\, disinformation and cybersecurity\, and digital wellness. \nWorried that he was not ready for a world dominated by AI\, automation\, and mind-morphing algorithms\, Kevin decided to do what reporters do: he interviewed experts\, read a ton of books and papers\, and went in search of answers. The result was his book\, Futureproof\, a guide to surviving the technological future.  Originally published in 2021\, Futureproof is scheduled for an updated rerelease in late 2023 to address the more recent trends in AI and technology and how to work with them rather than against them.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/kevinroose/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-02-at-10.04.35-AM.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230612T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230612T200000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20251210T070919Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T070919Z
UID:10000045-1686596400-1686600000@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Dr. Eric Verdin
DESCRIPTION:Dr. Eric Verdin is the President and CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in Novato. \nThe Buck is the first and the largest independent research institute in the world that is focused solely on aging. At the Buck\, his lab studies the relationship between aging and the immune system. \nDr. Verdin was born in Liege\, Belgium\, received his MD from the University of Liege and did his training at Harvard Medical School.  Prior to coming to the Buck Institute\, he was a Senior Investigator and the Associate Director of the Gladstone Institute. He is also a professor at the University of California\, San Francisco. \nDr. Verdin has published more than 280 scientific papers\, holds more than 15 patents\, and consults with multiple biotech and pharmaceutical companies. He is in the top 1% of the most highly cited scientists in the world and a global thought leader in the field of aging.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-dr-eric-verdin/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Eric-Verdin.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230417T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230417T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20251210T070057Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T070057Z
UID:10000041-1681758000-1681763400@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Lisa Kristine
DESCRIPTION:Lisa Kristine is an internationally renowned humanitarian photographer. For more than 30 years she has documented indigenous peoples and social causes in more than 150 countries across six continents. Her work navigates the emotional landscapes of her subjects and their environments\, driving awareness around causes such as human trafficking\, indigenous wisdom\, and global unity. \nLisa’s work has garnered widespread acclaim in the world of photography and the international humanitarian stage. She is the recipient of a Lucie Humanitarian Award\, presented at Carnegie Hall\, honoring the greatest achievements of master photographers. The Dalai Lama\, the Queen Mother of Bhutan and Amnesty International\, among others\, have all endorsed her work. \nDavid Clarke\, former Head of Photography for the Tate Modern\, describes Lisa’s arresting images of modern slavery as “a testament to truth and an insightful and inspiring body of evidence which should never and can never be denied.” \nAs a speaker and activist\, Lisa regularly delivers keynotes at conferences\, universities\, museums\, and corporations around the world\, including the Vatican\, the United Nations\, Wisdom 2.0\, and Thomson Reuters. Her riveting TED talk\, Photos That Bear Witness to Modern Slavery\, has been viewed nearly 3 million times. \nSir Richard Branson says of her photography: “Lisa’s images take us behind the veil to the atrocities of slavery. To respect human dignity for those from every walk of life\, business leaders must embrace our unique role in upholding the precepts of equality\, belonging and purpose.” \nIn 2017\, Lisa founded a Human Thread Foundation\, an international nonprofit organization whose mission is to incite action to eradicate human trafficking and to promote human dignity. \nLisa is on the Board of the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s Stop Slavery Award. \nShe is a supporting partner in the United Nations’ International Labor Organization’s 50 For Freedom Campaign\, catalyzing 50 countries to ratify the Protocol on Forced Labor. Her photographs inspired the Make a Stand Lemonade movement\, which to date has reached more than 100 million people and has raised over one million dollars toward the eradication of slavery. Lisa is a founding member of GSN\, Global Sustainability Network\, dedicated to promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth\, a world without slavery and with decent work for all. Pope Francis inaugurated Lisa’s exhibition at the Vatican in 2019. \nLisa is the subject of four documentaries\, and her work on slavery is featured in three films. SOLD\, made by Oscar award-winning team Emma Thompson and Jeffrey Brown\, includes a character inspired by Lisa and played by Gillian Anderson.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-lisa-kristine/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Lisa-Kristine.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230327T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230327T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20260209T180554Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T180918Z
UID:10000052-1679943600-1679949000@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Javier Zamora
DESCRIPTION:Javier Zamora – Memoirist\, poet\, and speaker Javier Zamora believes that immigrants must keep ownership of their own stories. In his new memoir\, Solito\, he explores his own: a harrowing journey to the US as an unaccompanied nine-year-old that gives a unique and unforgettable glimpse into the realities of child migration. \nAccompanied only by strangers and a hired “coyote\,” he left his beloved aunt and grandparents to reunite with his mother and father in the United States. The three-thousand-mile journey is supposed to last two weeks\, but after their guide abandons them in Oaxaca\, it stretches into two life-altering months spent among strangers turned guardians as they travel from El Salvador to Guatemala and to Mexico before arriving in the United States. \nNarrated by his nine-year-old self\, Zamora’s memoir\, Solito\, provides an intimate account of his near-impossible journey and the unexpected moments of kindness\, love\, and joy scattered across perilous boat trips\, desert treks\, arrests\, and betrayals. \nIn September 2022\, Jenna Bush Hagar chose Solito as her “Read with Jenna” Today Show book selection\, commenting: “I don’t think I’ve ever read a memoir which captivated me in so many ways…It was a beautiful book about family\, those that we have and those that we make\, and the little family that they made on their journey. An epic journey to their loved ones\, because they had no choice.” \nNow\, Javier Zamora chronicles his revelatory journey as an immigrant and as an artist to audiences at universities\, organizations\, libraries\, and more. Going beyond his harrowing border crossing\, Zamora explores the ways he has been processing and healing from trauma ever since\, from therapy to poetry to nature hikes. As a native Salvadoran who grew up as an undocumented American\, he delves into the intersecting and conflicting meanings of home and identity. \nUntil recently\, Zamora only had a temporary protected status\, and was neither a citizen nor a permanent resident of the United States\, making him ineligible for many poetry award submissions. Despite his talent\, grades\, and body of work\, he found himself largely excluded from career-making prizes\, contests\, and fellowships because of his status. \nIn 2015\, he cofounded the Undocupoets\, a “group fighting to end citizenship-based discrimination in poetry publishing and contests\,” and drafted a petition urging literary organizations to remove citizenship or residency as a requirement for applications. As a result\, the American Academy of Poets\, the Poetry Foundation\, the Lambda Literary Foundation and more opened their prize submissions to any poet regardless of immigration status. In 2017\, Undocupoets launched their own fellowship for former or current undocumented poets. \nJavier Zamora has been a Stegner fellow at Stanford University and a Radcliffe Fellow at Harvard\, and holds fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. Zamora has also been granted fellowships from CantoMundo\, Colgate University\, the Lannan Foundation\, the MacDowell Colony\, Macondo\, and Yaddo. HIs debut poetry collection\, Unaccompanied\, is rooted in the indelible experiences of a nine-year-old boy navigating politics\, racism\, war\, and the impact of a border crossing on his family. \nZamora holds a BA from the University of California\, Berkeley\, and has earned an MFA from New York University. The recipient of the 2017 Narrative Prize\, the 2016 Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award\, and the 2020 Pushcart Prize\, Zamora has been published in Granta\, the Kenyon Review\, American Poetry\, the New Republic\, the New York Times\, and Poetry\, among other publications. Javier Zamora lives in Tucson\, AZ.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-javier-zamora/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Javier-Zamora.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230123T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230123T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20260209T180806Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T180935Z
UID:10000053-1674500400-1674505800@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Katherine Schweit
DESCRIPTION:Katherine Schweit is an author\, attorney\, former Chicago prosecutor\, and career FBI special agent who authored Stop the Killing: How to End the Mass Shooting Crisis. \nAfter the murder of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook elementary school in 2012\, Schweit was promoted to the FBI executive ranks and joined a violence prevention team as part of a White House National Security Council effort within then-Vice President Joe Biden’s office. There\, she worked with leaders from other federal agencies gathering best practices from federal and private industry experts\, nationally and internationally. She was part of the crisis team responding to incidents\, including the shootings at the Holocaust Memorial Museum\, the Pentagon\, and the Navy Yard in the Washington D.C. area. \nShe wrote the FBI’s seminal research\, A Study of 160 Active Shooter Incident in the United States\, 2000 – 2013. This benchmark study is the only research ever done relying on law enforcement reports. Her access to survivors and first responders prompted her role as executive producer of the award-winning dramatic film and documentary\, The Coming Storm; a depiction of how to prepare for what happens after a shooting. At its premier at the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police convention\, then-FBI Director James B. Comey called the film “the most important training available to law enforcement today.” The film is widely used in security and law enforcement training in the United States and relied on by the Department of State worldwide. \nShe is the former director for security training for a Fortune 300 company\, and a member of DePaul University College of Law’s adjunct faculty\, teaching courses in the culture of the Second Amendment and the rules of evidence. At Webster University\, Ms. Schweit teaches courses in business and cyber law and policy. She is a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional. As a member of the federally funded National Center for School Safety\, her expertise in school safety supports the University of Michigan-led effort to provide extensive\, free resources to school administrators\, teachers\, parents\, and school resource officers. \nA native of Detroit\, Ms. Schweit earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Michigan State University and wrote for daily newspapers in Michigan and Chicago. She earned a law degree at DePaul University and joined the Cook County prosecutor’s office as an assistant state’s attorney. As a journalist she earned state and national writing recognition\, including a Peter Lisagor Award for her 1990 analysis of discipline meted to judges and attorneys by the Illinois Supreme Court after one of the largest FBI public corruption investigations ever conducted. Today\, she lives in Northern Virginia\, outside of Washington D.C.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/katherine-schweit/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Katherine-Schweit.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20221003T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20221003T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20251210T063033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T063033Z
UID:10000033-1664823600-1664829000@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Jaycee Dugard and Dr. Rebecca Bailey
DESCRIPTION:Jaycee Dugard is an abduction survivor. Since her rescue in 2009\, she has used her freedom and voice to share her unique survivor experience. Jaycee is the founder and president of The JAYC Foundation\, an organization created to assist families and individuals that have experienced a severe crisis\, challenge\, or conflict through a major life disruption; to spread the message of hope\, growth\, and resiliency through educational and animal-assisted programs; and to encourage the collaboration of various entities to provide “Protected Spaces” for families to heal. \nRecently\, Jaycee co-created the Polyvagal Equine Institute with longtime friends Dr. Rebecca Bailey and equine expert Margie McDonald. The organization is dedicated to sharing educational programming focused on incorporating horses with Dr. Stephen Porges’ polyvagal theory to a variety of populations. \nJaycee has strong ties to Sonoma County and its community. This is where she and her family came to heal and recover after her rescue. After the devastating 2017 Northern California fires\, her foundation provided much needed therapeutic and equine-assisted therapy sessions for those affected in the community. \nJaycee is the author of A Stolen Life\, a New York Times Bestseller\, and Freedom: My Book of Firsts\, both memoirs that she wrote detailing her eighteen years in captivity\, eventual rescue\, and recovery process. She plans to continue writing and speaking at venues across the country. An important goal she has is to educate the media and the helping professions about the term “Stockholm Syndrome\, ” a media-driven term that is degrading and insensitive to survivors and their families. Jaycee enjoys spending time with her family and her faithful four-legged companions in California. \nRebecca Bailey\, Ph.D. is a leading family psychologist and equestrian who has become a world-renowned professional educator\, speaker\, author\, and entrepreneur. \nMany of you may know her from her years of devotion as a psychologist in our community. She is the founder of Transitioning Families\, a group of independently licensed mental health practitioners dedicated to Bailey’s innovative ideas for helping families through crisis and difficult change. She is best known for her work with survivors of non-familial abduction and is on the advisory board of the JAYC foundation. Together with Jaycee Dugard\, they have created an innovative model which utilizes horses to help educate judges\, police officers\, therapists and other professionals about compassion\, kindness\, and connection. \nDr. Bailey is the founder of the Polyvagal Equine Institute\, an organization dedicated to equine-assisted psychotherapy and education with a focus on applying Dr. Stephen Porges’ research on the autonomic nervous system to a variety of populations. She believes that understanding the interaction between the nervous system and our thoughts and actions is key to compassionately responding to and addressing the complexities of today’s societal demands. Dr. Bailey has appeared as a guest and commentator on numerous network shows\, including Anderson Cooper and ABC’s 20/20. \nA graduate of The Wright Institute in Berkley\, CA\, Dr. Bailey was raised in the Boston area. She relocated to California 35 years ago and now lives in Northern California with her loving husband and countless animals.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-jaycee-dugard-and-dr-rebecca-bailey/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Jaycee-Dugard.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20220808T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20220808T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20251210T061720Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T061720Z
UID:10000029-1659985200-1659990600@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Willie L. Brown
DESCRIPTION:Willie L. Brown – Two-term Mayor of San Francisco\, legendary Speaker of the California State Assembly\, and widely regarded as the most influential African-American politician of the late twentieth century\, Willie L. Brown\, Jr.\, has been at the center of California politics\, government\, and civic life for an astonishing four decades. \nHis career spans the American Presidency from Lyndon Johnson to George W. Bush\, and he’s worked with every California Governor from Pat Brown to Arnold Schwarzenegger.  From civil rights to education reform\, tax policy\, economic development\, health care\, international trade\, domestic partnerships\, and affirmative action\, he’s left his imprimatur on every aspect of politics and public policy in the Golden State. \nAs Mayor of California’s most cosmopolitan city\, he refurbished and rebuilt the nation’s busiest transit system\, pioneered the use of bond measures to build affordable housing\, created a model juvenile justice system\, and paved the way for a second campus of the University of California\, San Francisco\, to serve as the anchor of a new development that will position the City as a center for the burgeoning field of biotechnology. \nToday\, he heads the Willie L. Brown\, Jr.\, Institute on Politics and Public Service\, where this acknowledged master of the art of politics shares his knowledge and skills with a new generation of California leaders
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-willie-l-brown/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Willie-Brown-headshot-scaled-1.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20200203T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20200203T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20260209T181145Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T181145Z
UID:10000054-1580756400-1580761800@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with David and Nic Sheff
DESCRIPTION:David and Nic Sheff \nDAVID SHEFF is the author of Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction\, a #1 New York Times bestseller. The book\, published in a dozen languages\, was named the year’s Best Non-fiction Book by Entertainment Weekly\, “Best Books of 2008” by Amazon\, and it won first place in the Barnes and Noble Discover Award in non-fiction. \nIn 2009\, David was named to the Time 100\, Time Magazine’s list of the World’s Most Influential People. A feature film adaptation of “Beautiful Boy\,” starring Steve Carell and Timothee Chalamet\, was released in the U.S. in October\, 2018 and internationally in February\, 2019. \n“David Sheff wrote a book in 2008 that became a kind of landmark. Beautiful Boy\, a painful\, personal story of the battle he tried to fight with and alongside his son\, Nic\, who was addicted to methamphetamines. The book became an international best-seller and made David Sheff one of the country’s most prominent voices on addiction — not as a doctor\, an addict or an academic expert\, but as a father. Sheff has continued to try to figure out a road that can lead out of addiction\, and he presents that route in his new book\, Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America’s Greatest Tragedy.” \n– Scott Simon\, NPR’s Weekend Edition\n…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… \nFollowing in his father’s footsteps\, NIC SHEFF became a writer and author himself. Two years after David’s book became a best-seller\, Nic wrote an article called “Breaking Dad\,” where he discusses how difficult it was to read that memoir. He was so fixated on his own addiction that he didn’t realize how much pain his drug use was afflicting on those around him. \nHe eventually wrote two books about his struggle\, 2009’s Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines\, which is also listed as source material for the movie\, and 2011’s We All Fall Down: Living with Addiction. \nBy 2013\, Nic had broken into television\, writing an episode for Netflix show The Killing\, then moved on to write\, story-edit\, and co-produce 13 Reasons Why\, drawing upon his own history of self-harm and attempted suicide. \nClean and sober since 2011\, Nic travels the country sharing an unglamorized\, authentic and heart-touching story of substance abuse and recovery.  He has been recognized as “a life-changing speaker.” His deeply engaging talks put a compelling human face on our nation’s substance abuse epidemic\, encouraging those who struggle to embrace help and bringing hope to all who are touched by it. \nObviously\, as we’ve seen with so many celebrities; no amount of money or privilege can save someone from this thing. Addiction is an equal opportunity destroyer. \n– Nic Sheff
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/davidandnicsheff/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/download-23.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20191122T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20191122T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20251210T065234Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T065234Z
UID:10000037-1574449200-1574454600@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Jackie Speier
DESCRIPTION:U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Speier has served San Francisco and San Mateo Counties since she was first elected in April 2008.  Before her election to the US House of Representatives\, she served for 18 years in the California State Legislature. \nSpeier was born in San Francisco’s Sunset District and is a life-long resident of the Bay Area.  While studying at UC Davis\, she interned for State Assemblyman Leo Ryan\, later joining Ryan’s Washington\, DC staff upon his election to Congress.  She returned to San Francisco to earn a JD degree from UC’s Hastings College of the Law before rejoining Congressman Ryan as his Legal Advisor. \nIn November\, 1978\, Jackie and the Congressman led a group to the People’s Temple in Jonestown\, Guyana to investigate claims that constituents were being held against their will by the Rev. Jim Jones.  These claims turned out to be true.  This catastrophic event ended up being the largest mass murder-suicide in American history.  Over 900 men\, women and children died from cyanide poisoning. \nSpeier and Congressman Ryan were escorting defecting cult members to their plane when Jones’ gunmen attacked them.  Ryan and four others were killed – Jackie was shot five times at point blank range with an assault rifle and left for dead on the airport tarmac for 22 hours. She underwent 10 surgeries in the aftermath.  While recovering\, she realized she had a choice to make: Did she want to be a victim or did she want to be a survivor? \nForty years after the Jonestown massacre changed her life\, Speier told her extraordinary story in her book\, UNDAUNTED: Surviving Jonestown\, Summoning Courage\, and Fighting Back.  UNDAUNTED shares the personal struggles—as a widow\, a mother\, and an outspoken victim of gun violence—that have shaped Congresswoman Speier’s unwavering dedication to her constituents and to fighting for what’s right – fighting against waste\, fraud\, abuse\, and corruption. \nDespite ongoing health struggles stemming from the shooting\, and personal tragedies including the loss of her husband while she was pregnant with her second child\, Speier continued to blaze an unparalleled path in regional and national politics. \nThis near-death experience motivates her vow “not to waste another minute of my life.” She has authored more than 300 state laws supported by Democratic and Republican Governors. In Congress\, she has championed legislation to end sexual assault in the military and at colleges\, require background checks for all gun sales\, protect consumers from frustrating robocalls\, and pass the equal rights amendment. \nIn 2012 Newsweek named Jackie to its list of 150 “Fearless Women” in the world. She is the co-author of a popular self-help book for women entitled This Is Not the Life I Ordered.  When asked for her philosophy of life\, Jackie often quotes Winston Churchill: “Success is never final and failure is never fatal.” \nJackie now serves on two crucial committees in Congress: The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence\, and the House Armed Services Committee (HASC).  She works tirelessly to fight wasteful spending\, ensure our intelligence community has proper and effective oversight\, and has been a recognized champion fighting military sexual assault. She is a leading Democratic voice in protecting women’s healthcare and biomedical research through her service on the Republican-created House Select Investigative Panel to Attack Women’s Health.  She is also a member of her party’s leadership team as Senior Whip\, and a Vice-Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.  And more recently\, she is a very vocal proponent of impeaching President Trump. \nJackie Speier will be on stage in conversation with David Bolling\, Editor & Publisher of Valley of the Moon Magazine.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-jackie-speier/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Jackie-Speier.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20191028T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20191028T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20260209T181402Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T184819Z
UID:10000055-1572289200-1572294600@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Alex Alpharaoh
DESCRIPTION:ALEX ALPHARAOH was only 2-months old when he and his 15-year old mother were almost killed in a bomb blast at a bus stop in the violent streets of the infamous “Limonada” colony\, in the slums of Guatemala City\, Guatemala. This began their brutal journey to the United States. \nMost of his life Alex was forced to live in the shadows of society and\, through his perseverance and determination\, went on to achieve a college degree and become a well-respected social worker in a specialized field\, as well as a spoken word artist\, well-trained actor\, writer\, director\, and producer. \nHe earned his reputation as an Emcee and Spoken Word Artist by honing his skills in various venues throughout Los Angeles\, and eventually throughout the country.  His 85-minute solo performance piece\, WET: A DACAmented Journey\, tells the story of living his whole life in the United States as an undocumented American. \nSince opening in the fall of 2017\, WET received rave reviews\, was nominated for several awards\, and won Best Solo Performance of 2018.  The play captures the desperation that DACAmented individuals feel when considering the very limited options of adjustment of status\, by being forced to navigate through a broken U.S. Immigration System. The play also examines the mental\, emotional\, and psychological hardship one man has to endure in order to secure his livelihood in the only home he has ever known: Los Angeles. \nIt is the story of what it means to be an American in every sense of the word\, except for one: on paper.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/alex-alpharaoh/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-09-at-9.09.08-AM.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20190819T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20190819T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20251210T062003Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T062003Z
UID:10000030-1566241200-1566246600@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Sunita Williams
DESCRIPTION:It’s been 50 years since Neil Armstrong captivated the world as he took those first steps on the moon!  His words are forever etched in our memory – “One small step for man\, one giant leap for mankind.” \nIn celebration of this historic event\, we are honored to have Sunita “Suni” Williams take the stage.  Williams is a pilot\, engineer\, runner\, swimmer\, lover of pets and an astronaut.  She is also a great role model for anyone interested in space exploration. \nSuni is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis\, Maryland.  In July\, 1989\, she began combat helicopter training.  In 1993\, she became a naval test pilot\, then later became a test pilot instructor\, flying more than 30 different aircraft and logging more than 3000 flight hours. Williams completed an M.S. in engineering management from the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne in 1995\, and she entered astronaut training in 1998. \nSince then\, Suni has spent a total of 322 days in space on two missions; she ranks second on the all-time U.S. endurance list for females. With 50 hours and 40 minutes\, she is second on the list of total cumulative spacewalk time by a female astronaut. \nDuring her time in space\, she has done seven spacewalks\, conducted several science experiments\, completed a marathon and triathlon\, and even blogged and tweeted from space—all of this while she was the Commander of Expedition 33 and manning the International Space Station. She is about to embark on another long-duration mission into space in 2020\, is now on a short list of just 12 female astronauts who are hoping to go to the moon in 2024! \nSuni will be introduced by former NASA astronaut & lunar-module pilot on board the 1969 Apollo 9 mission\, Rusty Schweikart.  She will be interviewed by her Annapolis classmate\, Bill Angeloni
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-sunita-williams/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Sunita-Williams.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20190611T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20190611T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20251210T070519Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T070519Z
UID:10000043-1560279600-1560285000@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Shannon Watts
DESCRIPTION:Shannon Watts is a mother of five who\, prior to founding Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America\, was a stay-at-home mom and former Communications Executive. The day after the Sandy Hook tragedy\, Watts started a Facebook group with the message that all Americans can and should do more to reduce gun violence. That online conversation has grown into a nationwide grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and protect people from gun violence. Moms Demand Action has established a chapter in every state of the country and is part of Everytown for Gun Safety\, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country\, with over 5 million supporters. \nWatts’ fiery and sharp social media presence promotes awareness and brings important issues to the forefront.  With the same candor\, Watts frequently leads passionate and informative keynotes and conversations across the country to audiences ranging from parent organizations to women’s leadership conferences to colleges and universities. \nIn addition to her work with Moms Demand Action\, Watts is an active board member of Emerge America\, one of the nation’s leading organizations for recruiting and training women to run for office. In 2018\, she was named one of InStyle Magazine’s Badass Women\, one of People Magazine’s 25 Women Changing the World and a Yerba Buena Center for the Arts 100 Honoree. Watts’ writing has appeared in Vogue\, Refinery 29\, Time\, The Washington Post\, The Hill\, and other media outlets. \nIn her debut book Fight Like a Mother: How a Grassroots Movement Took on the Gun Lobby and Why Women Will Change the World\, Watts tells the inspiring story of how her rallying call-to-action grew into a social movement powered by mothers to protect children from America’s gun violence crisis and offers lessons for others who want to make a difference in their community.  The book is scheduled for release on May 28\, 2019.  VIP tickets will INCLUDE a book with purchase.  General Admission ticket holders can pre-order a book by contacting Sonoma’s LOCAL BOOK STORE\, Readers Books (707-939-1779). Click here to buy.  Shannon will donate a majority of the books’ proceeds to nonprofits — like Everytown for Gun Safety — that are working to end gun violence. \nBringing activism into the everyday\, Fight Like a Mother will inspire everyone—mothers and fathers\, students and teachers\, lawmakers\, and every citizen outraged\, angry\, and motivated to work for change—transforming hearts\, minds\, and laws\, and most importantly\, show them how to honor their values with action. Along with her observations and wisdom\, Watts shares inspiring messages of perseverance\, courage\, and compassion\, and outlines the core mantras and principles that Moms Demand Action has used to battle the NRA and the intimidating tactics they use to prevent gun safety progress. \nWatts proves that a woman with a laptop can be more powerful than a man with a gun!
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/in-conversation-with-shannon-watts/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Shannon-Watts.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20190529T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20190529T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20260209T181642Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T181642Z
UID:10000056-1559156400-1559161800@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Donna McKechnie
DESCRIPTION:Donna McKechnie is a professional dancer\, singer\, actress\, choreographer\, and author whose illustrious career has spanned more than 50 years.  She is regarded internationally as one of Broadway’s foremost singing and dancing leading ladies. \nDonna is best-known and beloved for her portrayal of Cassie in the original Broadway cast of the 1975 musical\, A Chorus Line\, for which she received the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.  Her featured number\, “The Music and the Mirror\,” sheds a spotlight on the hopes and dreams of a struggling dancer\, willing to return to the chorus for a job doing what she loves. \nBorn in Pontiac\, Michigan in 1942\, McKechnie grew up in the Detroit suburbs before falling for musicals by going to the movies.  After seeing the film\, The Red Shoes\, she took her first ballet class at age 7\, and by 13 she was teaching her own class. “I was terribly shy\,” she told People Magazine in 1983\, “but I was always in harmony when I was dancing.” \n“I knew about New York when I was very young because of Cyd Charisse\, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers\, then The Red Shoes literally changed my life\,” McKechnie said.  At age 17\, when she didn’t have the support to pursue her dream\, she ran away from home and moved to New York City to become a dancer. \nAfter touring in West Side Story\, and auditioning for countless other shows\, she finally landed her Broadway debut in How to Succeed in Business Without Even Trying\, where she danced under the direction of Bob Fosse (1961).  25 years later\, Mr. Fosse invited her to play the lead in his last production\, the National Tour of Sweet Charity.  Gwen Verdon gave her the gift of a lifetime when she took Donna by the hand and personally prepared her for the role. \nBy the time A Chorus Line hit Broadway\, it was already a phenomenon\, becoming the longest-running show in history (1975-1990).  While that record has since been broken — the current leader is now The Phantom of the Opera (1988-present) — the music of Marvin Hamlisch lives on. \nOther Broadway shows that Donna performed in include: \n\nThe Education of Hyman Kaplan\nSondheim: A Musical Tribute (which she also choreographed)\nPromises – Promises\nCompany\nOn the Town\nState Fair (where she won the Fred Astaire Award)\nThe Visit\nand\, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.\n\nDonna continues to perform extensively on the concert stage and with symphony orchestras all over the country. \nA recognized presence on the international stage\, Donna first performed in London in 1969 with the musical Promises – Promises and has starred in numerous productions in London’s West End since\, including Company\, No Way To Treat A Lady (also choreographed)\, Can-Can\, and Follies\, among others. \nMcKechnie was featured in the documentary film\, Every Little Step\, and played Rose in the film\, The Little Prince.  Her memoir\, TIME STEPS – My Musical Comedy Life\, was published in 2006.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/donna-mckechnie/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Donna-McKechnie.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20190304T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20190304T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T081213
CREATED:20260209T181852Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T181852Z
UID:10000057-1551726000-1551731400@sonomaspeakerseries.com
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Victoria Arlen
DESCRIPTION:In 2005\, Victoria Arlen was 11 years old when she came down with two rare neurological disorders\, Transverse Myelitis and Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis.  She fought for her life for five years\, including four years in a vegetative state where she was ‘locked’ within herself\, unable to communicate with those around her. At times\, she suffered seizures for more than 20 hours per day. She was paralyzed from the waist down for a decade\, and against all odds\, regained the ability to walk in 2016. \nDespite her illness\, Victoria never gave up her childhood dream of competing in the Olympic Games.  In June of 2010\, she returned to the pool and started swimming again for the first time in over ten years.  She qualified for the 2012 London Paralympic Games and won a Gold Medal (setting a World Record) and three Silver Medals. \nNot long after the Paralympics\, Victoria became one of the youngest on-air hosts ever hired by ESPN. Today\, she reports for numerous ESPN programs including XGames\, Invictus Games\, The ESPY Awards\, ESPN-W\, Frozen Four\, Special Olympics World Games and Sportscenter. \nAfter emerging from four years in a vegetative state\, Victoria remained confined to a wheelchair for ten years. Determined to walk\, she began aggressive ‘activity-based paralysis recovery therapy’ at Project Walk-San Diego. Later\, her family opened Project Walk-Boston\, and there\, after two years of therapy\, she took her first unassisted step on a long and remarkable road to recovery. \nOne year later\, Victoria was back!  In 2017\, she competed on Dancing with the Stars for nine weeks and was eventually a semi-finalist. During the show\, her incredible story was seen and heard by millions\, including appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show\, in People Magazine\, and in hundreds of other media outlets across the country. \nThrough her own heart-wrenching story\, Victoria shares her breakthrough formula for overcoming even life’s darkest challenges. She talks about finding gratitude\, alternative perspective\, creating hope\, and the power of unrelenting effort.  She shares her recipe for using the obstacles in life to create leverage for long-lasting\, meaningful change through a story the audience will never forget.
URL:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/event/victoria-arlen/
LOCATION:Hanna Center\, 17000 Arnold Drive\, Sonoma\, CA\, 95476\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://sonomaspeakerseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Victoria-Arlen-Headshot-1-2-1.webp
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END:VCALENDAR