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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

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Online Seminar Series

Monday Night Poetry

Monday, September 14

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. Whether you're new to poetry or a seasoned reader, these gatherings will deepen your ability to see how poems work their particular magic, revealing the craft behind moments of beauty, surprise and insight.​

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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

Finnegans Wake by James Joyce

Wednesday, September 16

12:30-2:00PM PDT

A story with no real beginning or end, the work has come to assume a preeminent place in English literature. Published in 1939, the book would take Joyce two decades to complete. Join us as we read this text a few pages at a time, every other Wednesday afternoon.

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September 16 Reading:

Book Three - Chapter Three of Finnegans Wake by Joyce (page 516, Line 3)

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Schedule:

12:30 - 2:00PM PDT

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Tutor:

Barry Rabe

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Location:

Online. Register to receive the link.

Online Seminar Series

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn

Saturday, September 19

12:00-2:00PM PDT

First published in 1962, the text fundamentally reshaped the history and philosophy of science by challenging the long-held belief that scientific progress is a steady, cumulative accumulation of truth. We invite you to join us as we read portions at a time, about one month apart, eventually covering the entire book over five online sessions. 

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September 19 Reading:

The Nature of Normal Science, Normal Science as Puzzle-solving, The Priority of Paradigms (pages 23-51)

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Schedule:

12:00 - 2:00PM 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.

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