Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center’s 2018-19 season of seven intriguing and engaging speakers includes timely topics, inspiring individuals, and a repeat of last season’s most memorable audience experience.

The Uptown! Speaker Series occurs on the third Tuesday of select months, at 6:30 PM.

Kicking off the season is “Leadership in America” on Sept. 18. Michael DiBerardinis, the Managing Director of the City of Philadelphia, will speak about the role big cities play in protecting the values of justice, equity, and opportunity established in American life during the last century, and how that role will continue – and change – in future years.

On Oct. 16, Lisa Hamp will present “Virginia Tech: A Survivor’s Perspective on Trauma and Recovery.” Hamp was a junior at Virginia Tech, and was present during the 2007 shooting. She shares her first-hand testimony of that tragic day and her journey to recover, and discusses the impacts of trauma, the aftermath of mass violence, and how we can better prepare for future threats.

Political analyst and commentator Matt Kerbel will be on hand Nov. 20 to offer his perspectives on “Trump at Mid-Term.” The mid-term election is a moment of truth for the Trump Administration, with control of congress and numerous state governments on the line. Kerbel returns to Uptown! to make sense of the results and discuss how they will shape politics for the remainder of the decade.

On Jan. 15, Christianna Hannum presents “Good Night Ladies: The Life story of Nancy Penn Smith Hannum,” a screening of her award-winning short film and discussion about her grandmother’s unique life story. A Chester County icon and Master of the Hounds, Nancy Hannum was also one of the founders of the land conservation movement in Chester County.

On Feb. 19, “From Radical Homemaker to Radical Entrepreneur” is a presentation by Shannon Hayes, an author, speaker, business owner, blogger, and farmer. She offers a thoughtful and impassioned view on what it means to live well. Combining domesticity, love of community, and entrepreneurial fire, she’s fueled a world worth living in and hearing about.

West Chester resident Julie May – a singer, actor, and director – and her friends share a celebration of her creative life and performance. On March 19, she asks, “Who Am I Now That I’m Not Who I Was?” and encourages audiences of all ages.

April 16 brings the return of last year’s sensational speakers, Dean Rodney Smolla and Honorable Judge Juan Sanchez with “The Chester County Bar Association Presents SCOTUS in Action.” In this new edition of one of the highlights of the 2018 season, Dean Smolla and Judge Sanchez will dramatize a hearing before the U.S. Supreme Court in a current, controversial, and complex case. Like last year, the audience will be sworn in and counted on to contribute to the discussion.

Tickets for each event are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Purchase tickets by clicking here.

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