"We just moved to Whidbey Island and could not believe Wade Davis was coming to Langley! We have followed him for 12 years. He is a rock star! You can bet we will support the Trudy Sundberg Lectures and will be at the lecture next year." - Wade Davis Lecture Attendees
About the Trudy Sundberg Lecture Series
Founded in 2016, the Trudy Sundberg Lecture Series honors beloved Whidbey Island teacher and community leader Trudy J. Sundberg and her lifelong commitment to discover, explore, and exchange information, ideas, and opinions in an environment of respect and consideration.
Presented in collaboration with the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation, the series is made possible thanks to generous contributions by individuals, businesses, community organizations, and support from the Trudy J. Sundberg Memorial Fund, established in Trudy's honor.
Each year, the series features a free public lecture by an eminent speaker and a special engagement activity at a Whidbey Island school designed to inspire and empower students. A planning committee of community volunteers, Library and Foundation staff selects the featured speakers. The lectures explore Trudy’s many areas of interest, including education, literature, history, the arts, civic engagement, and politics.
The Trudy Sundberg Lecture Series exemplifies public libraries’ commitment to lifelong learning and Intellectual Freedom. Funds for the program may also be used to enhance pertinent library resources and access to information for residents of the Sno-Isle Libraries District.
Watch our popular 2022 presentation by Dr. Wade Davis!
More than 225 guests gathered at Whidbey Center for the Arts in Langley, WA on May 6, 2022, for this year's presentation by Dr. Wade Davis, Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World.
Dr. Wade Davis is an internationally acclaimed cultural anthropologist, ethnobotanist, author, photographer, filmmaker, and teacher. His work has largely focused on the extraordinary diversity of the world’s indigenous cultures and languages and has taken him to all corners of the globe. As a former National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, he has been described as “a rare combination of scientist, scholar, poet, and passionate defender of all of life’s diversity”. He has written 22 books, produced 13 documentary films, and spoken all over the world.
For more information on Wade Davis and related works please see this curated resource list.
We want to thank the following sponsors who joined the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation to make it possible for us to bring such an outstanding speaker to the people of Whidbey Island, free of charge, and we are grateful for their continuing support in honoring Trudy.
- Friends of the Clinton Library
- Friends of the Freeland Library
- Friends of the Langley Library
- Friends of the Oak Harbor Library
- League of Women Voters of Whidbey Island
- Rue and Primavera Occupational and Physical Therapy
- Savi Bank
- Terra Firma Wealth Management
- Whidbey Community Foundation
- Whidbey Island Bank
- Whidbey Island Democratic Club
- Whidbey Weekly
Community Support
The Trudy Sundberg Lecture Series would not be possible without the continued generosity of individuals, businesses, and community organizations. To help support the series with a tax-deductible contribution, please use the Donate Now button and select the Trudy Sundberg Lecture Series funding option or send a check in Trudy's honor to:
Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation
7312 35 Avenue NE
Marysville, WA 98271
The Trudy J. Sundberg Memorial Fund is administered according to the policies and procedures of the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation, adhering to guidelines established with the Greater Everett Community Foundation.
For information about becoming a sponsor, please contact Christina Kourteva at CKourteva@sno-isle.org or 360-547-2955.
Watch Event Videos
- 2022 - Dr. Wade Davis: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World
- 2021 - Patsi Waller's Tribute to Trudy Sundberg
- 2020 - An Afternoon with Dr. Robert Williams
- 2019 - The Albatross on Midway Island: An evening with photographer and filmmaker Chris Jordan
- 2018 - Her Story featured author and women's advocate Jill Tietjen
- 2017 - Climate Action: What Now? featuring KC Golden and Xiuhtezcatl Martinez
- 2016 - Who Stole the American Dream featuring Hedrick Smith
Past Featured Speakers:
2022 – Dr. Wade Davis, a professor at the University of British Columbia, cultural anthropologist and ethnobotanist, author of “The Wayfinders, Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World”
2021 – Dr. Mona Hanna Attisha, a pediatrician who exposed the Flint water crisis and wrote the book, “What the Eyes Don’t See”
2020 – Bob Williams, an astronomer emeritus at the Space Telescope Science Institute and director of the Hubble Deep Field Project
2019 – Chris Jordan, an internationally acclaimed photographer and documentary filmmaker of “Albatross”
2018 – Jill Tietjen, an engineer, former CEO of the National Women’s Hall of Fame, and bestselling author of “Her Story: The Women Who Changed America”
2017 – Climate activists K.C. Golden, Executive Director of Climate Solutions, and 16-year-old Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, Youth Director of Earth Guardians and one of the plaintiffs suing the U.S. government over climate change
2016 – Hedrick Smith, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Pentagon Papers" and "Who Stole the American Dream” and Emmy award-winning producer of PBS documentaries
Our Partners
Thank you to our corporate and community partners for their generous support!
©2022 Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation
7312 35th Ave NE
Marysville, WA 98271
360-651-7074 (local)
877-766-4753 ext. 7074