FRESNO – Local nonprofit San Joaquin Valley Town Hall is inviting the community of Fresno to feed their curiosity with an upcoming speaker series.
From September 2025 to April 2026, SJVTH has put together an impressive roster of speakers, from wilderness adventurers to game show hosts and many more. The series includes six “Daytime Talks,” held at the William Saroyan Theatre at 10:30 a.m. on each date, and two “Twilight Talks” at the Paul Shaghoian Concert Hall which start at 7 p.m. on each date.
The daytime roster offers presentations from: Bob Woodruff, anchor and ABC News reporter; Father Greg Boyle, founder of the largest gang rehabilitation program in the world, Homeboy Industries; conservationist and adventurer Dr. Steve Boyes; author Daniel James Brown and Densho Project founder Tom Ikeda; “Jeopardy!” host and all-time champion Ken Jennings; and author of “The Joy Luck Club,” Amy Tan.
The two evening speakers will be Dr. Ashish Ja, former White House COVID-19 response coordinator, and world-record-holding cave diver John Volanthen.
Each of these speakers have experienced or even made history in their respective fields, and seek to give attendees new perspectives and valuable insights on the various topics. The variety of presentations offers guests a unique blend of history, culture and science.
Tickets and in-depth descriptions of each presentation can be found on SVJTH’s website.
SJVTH traces its roots all the way back to 1938, with presentations originally being hosted at the Hardy Theater. The speaker series eventually incorporated in 1946, then moved into the Saroyan Theatre once it was open for business.
During the series’ lifetime, SJVTH has continued its aim of bringing the intellectuals, experts and cultural icons of the times to the Central Valley.
