The Speakers Bureau is currently inactive.

The Virgin Islands Humanities Council is pleased to present to you the 2000 listing of speakers and topics. Our Humanities Speakers Bureau features thought-provoking presentations on a variety of subjects that will broaden your understanding of our history and cultural heritage. The presentations are free of charge to Virgin Islands non-profit community groups. We invite you to peruse the listing of topics and contact us about booking a speaker for your organization.

What Groups Are Eligible To Hold These Programs?
Not-for-profit adult groups such as community service organizations, cultural organizations, senior centers, professional organizations, PTAs and libraries are eligible to sponsor Speakers Bureau programs.

What is Expected of the Sponsoring Organization?
Speakers Bureau programs must be free and open to the public. Sponsors are responsible for providing a place, an audience of at least fifteen persons, publicity, and the volunteer time necessary to organize a successful program. Sponsors are also asked to complete and return a short evaluation form following the event. Each sponsor is limited to two speakers per year from this listing.

What is the Cost?
The VIHC pays the speaker's honorarium of $100 and travel expenses. At the conclusion of the program we ask that you estimate the dollar value of your contributed time and other services.

How to Apply?
1. Select your topic from the list and contact the speaker.
2. Complete the request form and forward it to the VIHC four weeks before the program.
3. Within two weeks of the request, you will receive written confirmation from the VIHC office.
4. Promote the program as widely as possible through fliers, radio, newspapers, word of mouth.
5. One week before the program, confirm arrangements with the speaker. If there are any changes in your scheduling please call us right away.

Any Questions? Call the VIHC staff at (340) 776-4044

National Conversation Program
Responding to a challenge by the National Endowment for the Humanities for a National Conversation about American pluralism and identity, the Virgin Islands Humanities Council developed a series of programs that focus on the changes our islands have undergone in the last forty years. Conversation programs have attempted to find answers to fundamental questions about our community:

What do the people living in the Virgin Islands have in common? What makes us unique? We come from a variety of cultures with different pasts, different stories. What are our contributions to the common culture?

Participants in the conversations have shared generously of themselves. All have stated that they would like to see the conversations continue, to help strengthen our sense of community.

Please contact us if you are interested in viewing videotapes of the conversation programs, and would like to participate in future community conversations.