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Literature in the Community
California Lectures seeks to raise awareness and enjoyment of literature in our region and to promote literary and cultural engagement among all members of our community. California Lectures serves our community with the following activities:
Lecture Previews
In partnership with Sacramento State, California Lectures presents free biographical seminars about each of the authors, presented by a Sacramento State professor.
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Christina Bellon – Professor of Philosophy
Dr. Bellon teaches classes on existentialism and ethics in society. She is also Director of the Sacramento State Center for Practical and Professional Ethics. She has published several critical reviews and definitions of key terms in books, newsletters, and journals.
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Wilfrido Corral – Professor of Foreign Languages
Ecuador native Dr. Corral teaches Spanish American literature at Sacramento State. He is the author of ten books, including Theory’s Empire, written with Daphne Patai, which was chosen as “Book of the Year” by London’s Times Literary Supplement.
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Catherine Fraga – Professor of English
She is a well-published poet and author of a collection of poems titled Running Away With Gary – The Mattress Salesman. She has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize for poetry, and last year was awarded a month long writer's residency in Portugal.
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Hellen Lee-Keller – Professor of English
Dr. Lee-Keller specializes in late nineteenth-century U.S. literature, cultural studies, writing, and U.S. multi-ethnic literature that emphasize the intersections between race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, and class formations in cultural production in the United States.
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Maureen Smith – Professor of Kinesiology
Dr. Smith teaches classes focused upon the intersection of sociology and sport. Her research interests include Sport and Popular Culture and race and gender issues in sport—both historical and contemporary. She is also the President-Elect of the North American Society for Sport History.
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Jenny Stark – Associate Professor of Communications and Film
Jenny Stark is Associate Professor of Communications and Film and the Film Coordinator at Sacramento State. Her films have shown at South by Southwest, The New York Underground, Chicago Underground, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Mexico City, among others.
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Kate Washington – contributing writer at Sactown magazine and a Sacramento-based food and travel writer
Her work has appeared in such publications as Sunset, Cooking Light, Yoga Journal, and Via, and she recently served as the local editor for the Zagat guide to Sacramento restaurants. She holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University.
Radio Broadcasts
Through a unique partnership with Capital Public Radio many of our literary events are recorded and later broadcast on the station, as well as other National Public Radio affiliate stations. The partnership allows us to reach an even broader audience, including underserved communities with little or no access to literary arts programming.
Sponsored Tickets
California Lectures provides sponsored tickets to low-income students and underserved populations. The program allows access to our speaking engagements and Lecture Previews, and provides opportunities for sponsored ticket holders to meet the authors, creating excitement for reading, writing, and learning.
Community Events
California Lectures works with community partners to present author engagements at community venues that are open to the public.
Please Support These Programs
Please support our Education & Outreach program by making a tax-deductible donation to California Lectures. More About Donor Benefits
