As the calendar turns to 2026, The English-Speaking Union of the United States begins a year-long celebration of 250 years of American independence. Throughout the year, ESU will feature several Happy Hours that give us an opportunity to pause and reflect on this historic milestone.The American Revolution was a war unlike any other—one of ideas […]

The ESU is excited to offer this exclusive professional development session, presented live via Zoom from Shakespeare’s Globe in London. Shakespeare in Song will explore how Shakespeare used music to enhance mood, develop character, and support storytelling, as well as how these techniques can be used to engage modern students. This workshop will be led by Dr. Emily Baines, […]

Is empathy about feeling someone’s pain — or understanding their perspective? Depends on who’s using it… and why. In this bold, no-holds-barred session, Dr. Nicole Price unpacks the two core types of empathy: affective empathy (feeling with others) and cognitive empathy— what hostage negotiators call tactical empathy (understanding others to influence outcomes). One connects hearts. […]

ESU members and guests are invited to a special lecture program hosted by the International Relations Council (IRC). This luncheon welcomes guest speaker Ambassador Christopher Hill (Ret.), a former career diplomat, a four-time ambassador, nominated by three presidents, whose last post was as ambassador to Iraq, April 2009 until August 2010. This program is part […]

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 • 4:00 PM ET Sponsored by the ESU Atlanta Branch After 250 years, why are Jane Austen’s novels still so popular? Jane Austen (1775-1817) is one of the most famous writers in English literature. Her books are read by people all over the world and have been made into countless TV, […]

Long before Kansas City became synonymous with jazz and innovation, African American leaders, artists, entrepreneurs, and educators were building institutions that shaped the city’s identity—and influenced the nation. This talk explores the people and places that defined Black Kansas City from the arrival of Exodusters through the Roaring ’20s, revealing stories of resilience, creativity, and […]

2026 National Shakespeare Competition Kansas City Branch Finals March 1,2026 • 2:00 – 4:00 pm CST Join us for our 42nd annual Shakespeare Competition in Kansas City as KC metro area high school students compete for First Place with the winner advancing to the National Finals in New York City in April 2026. Students perform […]

Eighty years ago, on March 5, 1946, history was made when Winston Churchill delivered his iconic “The Sinews of Peace” address, also known as the Churchill Iron Curtain Speech, on the campus of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. To honor this landmark anniversary, America’s National Churchill Museum (ANCM) invites you to a series of special […]

Sponsored by the ESU Mongolia and Central Pennsylvania Branches The English-Speaking Union is a worldwide nonprofit education-based organization spanning the globe with international branches in 66 countries from Albania to Yemen. All ESUs worldwide are connected through the ESU International Council. The President of the ESU International Council is Professor Bolormaa also known as Bella […]

On March 13, the Linda Hall Library will debut Alchemy of Knowledge, the largest exhibition in the organization’s history. Presented as the Library celebrates its 80th anniversary, the exhibition takes us on a journey through the powerful intersections of literature, art, the humanities, and science across centuries, revealing how these disciplines have continually shaped and […]

A thriving arts community isn’t built on individual genius alone—it’s built on networks, partnerships, and shared investment, and Kansas City’s creative ecosystem depends on all of us. Kansas City has a long history of artists building careers through collaboration, resourcefulness, and community—not just working alone in studios. This talk traces the evolution of the KC […]