Upcoming Online Events
The Agora Foundation is a nonsectarian 501(c)3 non-profit endeavor, providing great books seminars and other educational opportunities to those who are busy with careers, families, and daily responsibilities yet are seeking to further their education. The goal of these offerings is to provide an understanding of the ideas that shape civilizations and to promote civil discourse on complicated subjects. The Agora Foundation has facilitated over 1,000 great books seminars and teacher trainings, covering a wide variety of topics including literature, philosophy, political science, theology, history, art, psychology, and more, featuring ancient and modern texts from around the world. In addition to seminars, since 2014 Agora has produced 35 panels, gatherings, and video interviews, promoting civil discourse on controversial and complicated subjects. Hundreds of these events can be freely viewed and listened to on this website.
Generously funded by The Ahmanson Foundation, Southern California Edison, The Shanbrom Family Foundation, the Ventura County Community Foundation, the WRG Foundation, the Constance Eaton and William Hart Fund, the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Ojai, CIty of Ojai, and private donations, the Teachers for Lifelong Learning Program provides training to high school teachers in this engaging approach to learning, and The Ojai Chautauqua provides panels promoting civil discourse on controversial and complicated subjects.
Upcoming Regular Events



Online Seminar Series
What is Life by Schrödinger
Saturday, March 15
12:00-2:00PM PDT
Written in 1944 for the lay science reader, the book focuses on one important question: "how can the events in space and time which take place within the spatial boundary of a living organism be accounted for by physics and chemistry?" We invite you to join this monthly online series as we read this short but difficult book, one chapter at a time.
March 15 Reading:
What is Life by Schrödinger - Chapter 7 - Is Life Based on the Laws and Physics? and Epilogue - Determinism and Free Will
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Schedule:
12:00 - 2:00PM PDT
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Tutor:
Andy Gilman
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Location:
Free Onsite Community Seminar Series
The Poetry of Mary Oliver
Tuesday, March 11
12:00-1:00PM PST
Mary Oliver's poetry is widely recognized for its deep connection to the natural world, often focusing on detailed observations of plants, animals, and landscapes, with a central theme of finding beauty and meaning in everyday moments. We invite you to join us once per month to explore her poetry together.
March 11 Reading:
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Schedule:
12:00 - 1:00PM PDT
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Tutor:
Andy Gilman
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Location:
111 East Ojai Avenue
Ojai, California 93023
Onsite Seminar and Play Performance
Twelfth Night by Shakespeare,
at Antaeus Theatre
Sunday, March 16
10:00AM-5:30PM PDT
Separated from her twin brother in a shipwreck, Viola is forced to make her own way in the kingdom of Illyria — where, disguised as a man, she discovers unrequited passion, double-crossings, hilarity, and yellow stockings.
March 16 Reading:
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
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Schedule:
10:00AM - 5:30PM PDT
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Tutor:
Jordan Hoffman
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Location:
110 East Broadway
Glendale, California 91205
A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold - Onsight Seminar and Panel
February 1, 2024
The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy partnered with the Agora Foundation for a one-day celebration of Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac, which took place at Oak Grove School on Saturday, February 1. The afternoon highlight featured Green Fire, the first full-length, high-definition documentary about legendary environmentalist Aldo Leopold, followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion on Leopold’s legacy and its relevance to Ojai’s conservation efforts today. The discussion was moderated by Jon Christensen (UCLA), Richard Knight (CSU), Roger Essick (OVLC), and Tom Maloney (OVLC).
An Introduction to The Agora Foundation. What is liberal education?
An Introduction to The Agora Foundation's Ojai Chautauqua Panels.