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About the Series

In a year of landmark pivotal decisions, complex international challenges and conflict, and a polarized populace, WorldOregon invites audiences to explore four prescient, urgent topics — the transnational opioid crisis at home and abroad, the reckoning with race and identity within the U.S., the global scourge of tuberculosis, and how the human spirit might come together to heal the unimaginable scars of the past.

WorldOregon’s International Speaker Series, which began in 2000, is one of the nation’s premier platforms for international affairs, continuing its tradition of presenting a broad spectrum of the people, big ideas, and issues framing our role on the world stage.

 

PURCHASE TICKETS!

 

2024 International Speaker Series FAQs:

Where is the series taking place this year?

WorldOregon is excited to be presenting this year’s events in Southeast Portland at Revolution Hall, a state-of-the-art concert venue which was originally the home of Washington High School —whose notable alumni included renowned chef/author and awards namesake James Beard, Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling, and jazz drumming great Mel Brown.

The choice of venue this year continues WorldOregon’s goal of diversifying and expanding access to the series and our programs more generally, the decision was made to engage more broadly across the Portland-metro with new venues and community partnerships.  

 

How do you choose speakers?

In alignment with our nonprofit mission, and as a nonpartisan organization, each year we identify key global issues and trends to assess and consider which speakers would animate conversations that might have impact and resonance for audiences here in Oregon. 

The 2024 International Speaker Series shines the spotlight on urgent issues affecting both the local and global landscapes: the opioid epidemic; race and identity; global health; and the trauma of genocide, war and its aftermath.

 

• May 1: Ben Westhoff: Fentanyl, Inc.
  • Drawing on more than four years of investigations, Ben Westhoff, the first Western journalist to infiltrate fentanyl labs in China, explores the story of the drug’s origins in a legitimate laboratory, its hijacking by rogue chemists, and its spread through transnational black markets—and how its pervasive damage might be contained.

 

• May 13: Michele Norris: Our Hidden Conversations 
  • Peabody Award–winning journalist and former NPR host Michele Norris invites a transformative dialogue on race and identity in America. Drawing on her decade-long Race Card Project, Norris takes us on a journey into the heart of this country’s painful, complex, and unrelenting battle with the salience and significance of race in our lives.

 

• June 5: John Green: A World Without Tuberculosis
  • John Green (the bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars and The Anthropocene Reviewed, etc. and one half of the “Vlogbrothers”) has become one of the leading voices in the fight against tuberculosis, the deadliest infectious disease, annually killing more people than COVID-19, malaria, or HIV. Green asks us to consider what it will take to end a disease that is not only imminently curable, but also preventable.

 

• June 10: Paul Rusesabagina: Reconciling the Unimaginable
  • Paul Rusesabagina (who inspired the film Hotel Rwanda) reflects on reconciliation, forgiveness, and lessons yet to be learned from the Rwandan Genocide 30 years later. Released from illegal imprisonment in Rwanda in 2023 and now living in the U.S., Rusesabagina delves into the need to provide voice to victims of genocide and support peace efforts, and how the international community might prevent future atrocities before they occur.

 

How can I purchase tickets?

Tickets to the 2024 International Speaker Series can be purchased online through Revolution Hall at www.revolutionhall.com or in-person at Etix self-serve kiosks located at Revolution Hall at their Show Bar which is open daily 3–11 pm; or at Bar Bar at Mississippi Studios.

Tickets are available online 24 hours a day, seven days a week through their website.

Note: Ticket prices do not include service/facility fees.

If you are encountering issues with online ticket purchases, please contact the Etix support link: https://www.etix.com/ticket/online/help2.jsp; (Hours: Monday-Saturday: 9am to 8pm EST; Sunday: 12pm to 8pm EST)

International Speaker Series tickets are nonrefundable. While every effort is made to communicate series details in advance, specific speakers and dates are subject to change.  

 

Is seating at Revolution Hall reserved?

Premier and Patron ticket-holders receive early/preferred entry to a reserved section of seating; all other seating is general admission. Ticket-holders are requested to arrive at least 15 minutes early for seating.

What about the post-reception?

Premier-level ticket holders and sponsors are invited to attend special speaker receptions immediately following each series event—with an opportunity to mingle with the featured speaker as well as fellow WorldOregon supporters while enjoying light hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Receptions will be held onsite at Revolution Hall. Capacity is limited for the receptions.

How do I use my WorldOregon membership discount?

WorldOregon members should have received an email announcing the 2024 International Speaker Series line-up with the $10-off WorldOregon member discount code. This code can be applied to most tickets, excluding student/veteran tickets, which are already offered at the lowest possible price.

If you have the WorldOregon discount code, on the Revolution Hall ticket page select the appropriate standard price ticket(s), enter the code (case-sensitive) in the "Promotion Code" box and click "Add Tickets". The tickets will populate in your cart at the discounted price.

If you are a member and did not receive your WorldOregon discount code, please contact us at (503) 306-5261 or [email protected]

Tickets for Students/Veterans

Student/veteran tickets are available at $80 for the series; $25 for individual events when available (not including fees). The WorldOregon discount does not apply to student/veteran tickets.

Do you offer any other discounted tickets?

WorldOregon is a proud participating members of Arts for All. Anyone who receives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also known as food stamps, and has the Oregon Trail Card is eligible to purchase individual International Speaker Series talk tickets for $5.

I have special accommodations. How do I ensure accessibility for the International Speaker Series?

Revolution Hall is fully accessible.

If you have an ADA placard you may park in the guest lot attached to the building for free.

The International Speaker Series will be closed captioned and available on your personal cellular-connected device.

Is there a streaming or recorded option for the International Speaker Series in 2024?

This year’s series is being presented as an in-person event, however ticket purchasers will have a 30-day viewing window to watch or re-watch the event, via a password-protected, non-shareable link and will receive the link the day following the event. 

Is my ticket purchase tax-deductible?

A portion of your ticket price may be tax-deductible depending on your ticket price. You may request tax information and a printed receipt.