Programs & Events

Presented in partnership with The La Grua Center, Rhetoric and Reason pairs historically significant speeches by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr. and more with musical selections that amplify the emotional and historical impact of their words. These speeches demonstrate the power of the spoken word as a means of protest and civil discourse, and highlight the significance of civic participation in matters of society, politics, ethics and legislation. This event will showcase the voices of women and people of color in juxtaposition to those who have typically held positions of power. Rhetoric and Reason provides an opportunity to explore oration as a form of activism, and the timelessness of certain sentiments that are echoed across decades, race, gender and ability. We encourage the public to think critically about how these speeches impacted our country.