Newport Beach Public Library Foundation announces 2022 25th Witte Lecture Series
Newport Beach Public Library Foundation (NBPLF) has announced the lineup for the 25th Witte Lecture Series for Winter/Spring 2022 with four distinguished speakers – Ezra Klein, Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr., Suzanne Simard and Charlotte Alter. Tickets are on sale.
The Witte Lecture Series line-up:
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Courtesy of Vox Media
Ezra Klein
–Ezra Klein: “American Varieties: Reflecting on Democracy” on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022 at 2 p.m. Ezra Klein is a columnist at New York Times, Podcast host, The Ezra Klein Show and author of Why We’re Polarized. Using his trademark depth of policy knowledge and academic research, Klein gives audiences a systematic look at why American politics is so polarized, and what that polarization has done to electoral institutions, policymaking and the media. As a Southern California native, he will reflect on how our local politics and challenges impact the rest of the country. He was the founder and editor-in-chief of Vox, the explanatory news platform. He was also a creator and executive producer of the Netflix show, Explained. Klein is also a columnist for Bloomberg News and MSNBC. In 2012, GQ named him to their 50 Most Powerful People in Washington list.
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Photo by Sameer A. Khan
Eddie Glaude Jr.
–Eddie Glaude Jr., Ph.D.: “Race and Democracy: America is Always Changing, But America Never Changes” on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022 at 2 p.m. Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr. is a New York Times bestselling author and chair of Princeton’s Department of African American Studies. He is also a political commentator and passionate educator who examines the complex dynamics of the American experience. He is known both for his inspiring oratory and ability to convene conversations that engage fellow citizens from all backgrounds. His book Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for our Own, addresses the difficulties of race, the challenges we face as a democracy, and will bring our nation’s complexities, vulnerabilities and hope into full view. He frequently appears in the media, as a columnist for TIME magazine, is an MSNBC contributor and regularly appears on Meet the Press on Sundays.
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Photo of Suzanne Simard ©Diana Markosian
Suzanne Simard
–Suzanne Simard: “Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest” on Friday, March 18, 2022 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 2 p.m. Dr. Suzanne Simard is Professor of Forest Ecology at the University of British Columbia, a groundbreaking researcher on trees and author of the best-selling book Finding the Mother Tree. With climate change, drought, forest fires and development, the topic of our fragile ecosystem is especially relevant. Dr. Simard writes about the intimate world of trees, exploring the ways in which trees learn and adapt their behaviors, remember the past, demonstrate agency over the future, and cooperate, with a sophistication typically ascribed to humans. She has published more than 170 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals. She is also co-author of the book Climate Change and Variability. www.suzannesimard.com
Courtesy of NBPLF
Charlotte Alter
–Charlotte Alter: “Turnover: How Generational Change Will Transform American Life” on Friday, April 8, 2022 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 9, 2022 at 2 p.m. Charlotte Alter, author and senior correspondent at TIME, will discuss how the looming generational shift in power from Boomers to Millennials and Gen Z will transform every issue that dominates American life, from climate change to racial injustice, to economic inequality and how the tensions around these issues are thinly veiled generational conflicts. She will bring her insight from her book, The Ones We’ve Been Waiting For: How a New Generation of Leaders Will Transform America, and her extensive experience covering political campaigns and more. Alter’s work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, among others.
All the lectures take place in the Friends Room at Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach. For the Friday lectures from 7-9 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m. The lecture, book sale & signing, light supper with wine is $65. For the Saturday lectures from 2-4 p.m., doors open at 1:30 p.m. The lecture, book sale & signing and refreshments is $45. Free parking in the ground level and in the parking structure. Limited seating. For tickets, visit
https://nbplf.foundation/programs/witte-lectures/. For questions, contact Director of Programs Kunga Wangmo-Upshaw at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or 949.717.3818. Visit www.nbplf.foundation.
The Witte Lectures is organized by the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation and the annual series is curated by The Witte Committee: Karen H. Clark, Lisa Edwards, John Gunnin, Janet S. Hadley (chair), Diane Hafer, Signe Keller, Marilyn Krahe, Gordon McAlpine, Latika Sethi, Ellen Shockro, Jene Witte, Lizanne Witte, Miles Yourman and Kurt Kost (Library Trustee liaison).