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 1,650 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 39 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
Monday Night Poetry
Monday, September 21
5:00-6:00PM PDT
Join us as we explore, through close reading, what makes a poem. Each online session will focus on a single poem or two shorter ones. No preparation is required— we’ll read aloud and discover the poems together. Each of the seminars is self-contained, so join for any or all that interest you.
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September 16 Reading:
Surprised by joy—impatient as the Wind by William Wordsworth
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Schedule:
5:00 - 6:00PM PDT
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Tutor:
Carol Seferi
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Location:
Online. Register to receive the link.
Online Seminar Series
The World as Will and Representation by Schopenhauer
Thursday, September 24
12:00-1:30PM PDT
Schopenhauer (1788–1860) argues that reality has two distinct sides. The "world as representation" is the phenomenal world of our experience, a mental construct shaped by space, time, and causality. This series continues a broader series on epistemology. All are welcome. Please join us even if this will be your first seminar in the series.
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September 24 Reading:
Sections 8-9, pp. 35-50
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Schedule:
12:00 - 1:30PM PDT
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Tutor:
Carol Seferi
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Location:
Online. Register to receive the link.
Online Seminar Series
Braiding Sweetgrass
by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Saturday, September 26
12:00-1:30PM PDT
The text is a profound exploration of human connection to the natural world. Kimmerer blends Indigenous ecological philosophy with Western scientific knowledge, revealing how plants and animals are our oldest teachers. We invite you to join us as we read portions at a time about one month apart, eventually reading the entire book.
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September 26 Reading:
Preface, Skywoman Falling, The Council of Pecans, The Gift of Strawberries -
(pages 1 - 32)
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Schedule:
12:00 - 1:30PM PDT
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Tutor:
Andy Gilman
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Location:
Online. Register to receive the link.
View the Onsite Ojai Chautauqua Panel Series
The Future of Ojai - Our Rising Generation -
Are we planning thoughtfully for the youth of the valley?
Sunday, August 30, 2026
An Introduction to The Agora Foundation. What is liberal education?
An Introduction to The Agora Foundation's Ojai Chautauqua Panels.





















