Wege Speaker Series

RENOWNED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR DR. SARAH JAQUETTE RAY TO ADDRESS THE EMOTIONAL TRAUMA OF CLIMATE CHANGE The author of ‘A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety: How to Keep Your Cool on a Warming Planet’ will lecture on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 Grand Rapids, Michigan – April 4, 2024 – The 27th Annual … More Wege Speaker Series Wednesday, April 24, 2024 »

DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC IMPACT AND DIVERSITY AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SHALANDA H. BAKER TO PRESENT ABOUT ENERGY EQUITY AND JUSTICE The Nation’s first-ever Deputy Director for Energy Justice will give a virtual presentation on Thursday, April 20, 2023 Grand Rapids, Michigan – March 31, 2023 … More Wege Speaker Series 2023 »

The White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council member will give a virtual presentation on Thursday, May 26, 2022 Grand Rapids, Michigan – April 26, 2022 – The Wege Foundation will host the 25th annual Wege Speaker Series (www.wegespeakerseries.com) on Thursday, May 26 at 4 pm. This year’s event will be … More AWARD-WINNING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SCHOLAR, ADVOCATE, AUTHOR DR. BEVERLY WRIGHT TO PRESENT ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS EFFECT ON DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES »

The founding director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment will give a virtual presentation on Thursday, May 27, 2021 Grand Rapids, Michigan – March 25, 2021 – The Wege Foundation will host the 24th annual Wege Speaker Series (www.wegespeakerseries.com) on Thursday, May 27 at 4pm. The flagship … More BEST-SELLING AUTHOR AND EDUCATOR DR. ROBIN WALL KIMMERER TO PRESENT ABOUT RESTORING HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS TO THE ENVIRONMENT »

Dear Wege Speaker friends, COVID-19 (coronavirus) continues to present challenges to organizations and communities across the country, and we are all beginning to feel its effects. In accordance with Governor Whitmer’s latest recommendations and our own desire to limited any potential future impact of COVID-19, we are canceling this year’s Wege Speaker … More Wege Speaker Series Lecture of April 23 is cancelled. »

The Senior Vice President for the Hip Hop Caucus will address environmental justice issues on Thursday, April 11, 2019 Grand Rapids, Michigan – February 21, 2019 – The Wege Foundation (www.wegefoundation.org) will host the 23rd Wege Speaker Series (www.wegespeakerseries.com) on Thursday, April 11 at 4pm at the Aquinas College Performing … More ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE & CLIMATE LEADER MUSTAFA SANTIAGO ALI TO PRESENT AT ANNUAL WEGE SPEAKER SERIES »

Thank you again for another successful speaker series event. We were very happy with the appreciation for Dr. Lanham and the positive feedback we have received about his presentation. It is because of patrons like you that we are able to continue our work for nature, the environment and “Economicology”, … More Thank you for your attendance! »

The distinguished professor at Clemson University will address issues related to the environment, social justice and bringing nature into the urban experience on Thursday, April 12, 2018 Grand Rapids, Michigan – February 22, 2018 – The Wege Foundation will host the 22nd Wege Speaker Series on Thursday, April 12 at … More ON BEING A RARE BIRD: ESTEEMED SCIENTIST DR. DREW LANHAM TO PRESENT AT ANNUAL WEGE SPEAKER SERIES »

“My profession is traveling around to bum people out.” So began the University of Michigan’s Peter M. Wege Lecture on Sustainability given recently by Bill McKibben, described by the Boston Globe as “probably America’s most important environmentalist.” McKibben’s news is grim. “We are running out of options” to protect the … More Earth is Running Out of Time »

Pictured above: Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss congratulates Dr. Taylor after the University of Michigan professor delivered The Wege Lecture at Aquinas. Artist and Wege Foundation Trustee Chris Carter introduced Dorceta E. Taylor Ph.D., Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources & … More Need for Inclusion in Environmental Non-profits »

  Director of diversity, equity & inclusion at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources & Environment to talk about the social inequalities of conservation Grand Rapids, Michigan – February 28, 2017 – The Wege Foundation will host the 21st Wege Speaker Series on Thursday, April 13 at 4pm … More SCHOLAR AND ACTIVIST DORCETA E. TAYLOR Ph.D. TO LECTURE AT 21ST ANNUAL WEGE SPEAKER SERIES ON THURSDAY, APRIL 13 »

Dr. William Clark, Harvard Professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, delivered the 15th Peter M. Wege Lecture on Sustainability at the University of Michigan this fall. Dr. Clark began by saying he was a bit intimidated when he found out who the previous lecturers had been. “I … More Fifteenth Annual University of Michigan Wege Lecture »

The Industrial Revolution changed the world of work from farms to factories is over. A new economy is needed. Jose Maria Figueres, former president of Costa Rica (1994-1998) and the first CEO of the World Economic Forum, has a plan to do just that. The Costa Rican West Point graduate—who broke up the audience … More Beyond Fossil Fuels: U of M Wege Speaker »

The Case for Justice at the Ends of the Pipeline Crystal Lameman Intergovernmental Affairs Spokeswoman for the indigenous Beaver Lake Cree Nation, Alberta, Canada Thursday, April 21, 2016 / 4 – 5 pm Aquinas College Performing Arts Center Followed by a reception Throughout the Great Lakes region, oil flows via pipelines and … More THE REAL COSTS OF OIL »

The Master Lecture Series ENVIRONMENTAL LECTURE Tuesday, March 22, 7 pm Speaker: Daniel H. Janzen CLICK HERE TO VIEW FLYER

Peter Wege’s grandson Andrew Goodwillie used the occasion of Earth Day to remember his grandfather when he introduced architect Edward Mazria as this year’s 19th annual Wege Foundation Speaker. “To ‘Grampie,’” Andrew told the crowd at Aquinas College’s PAC, “every day was Earth Day, not just one day a year.” Andrew went on to say … More Mazria’s Road To Zero: Phase Out All CO2 Emissions by 2050 »

by Catalyst Radio (Catalyst Radio) on Friday Apr 3rd, 2015 12:30pm in NEWS in collaboration with Linda Gellasch and WYCE Radio 88.1 FM   This year’s Wege Speaker Series is the 19th annual environmental lecture event, beginning April 23 at Aquinas Performing Arts Center. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE … More Catalyst Radio: Architecture environmentalist Mazria is keynote for Wege Speaker Series »

Louie Schwartzberg, an internationally recognized time-lapse photographer of nature, doesn’t like the fact that the average age of visitors to national parks is 57. No wonder, since Schwartzberg’s mission is nothing less than “the future of the planet.” And if it’s to be protected, he needs young people to do it. Louie’s plan of … More LOVE THE PLANET WITH A FREE PHONE APP »

Architect and founder of Architecture 2030 to talk about developing architecture districts that serve as a business model for urban sustainability The Wege Foundation will host the 19th Wege Speaker Series on Thursday,  April 23 at 4pm at the Aquinas College Performing Arts Center. It is the first speaker series event since the … More ARCHITECT EDWARD MAZRIA TO BE KEY SPEAKER FOR 19TH ANNUAL WEGE SPEAKER SERIES ON THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015 »

        Tom Kiernan, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association, refers to the free potential of wind-energy as “the magic of wind” because it can “power a cleaner, stronger, America.”  As this year’s presenter for the 18th annual Wege Foundation Speaker Series, Kiernan happily announced that wind-powered … More 18th Annual Wege Speaker Series – THE MAGIC OF WIND »

In a talk titled Math to Maps to Moms, Dr. Marie Lynn Miranda gave the 17th Wege Foundation Lecture at Aquinas College April 18.  The dean of the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources & Environment is a leading authority on how environmental toxins are poisoning our children’s health—especially children … More U of M Dean Delivers Aquinas’s Annual Wege Lecture »

Jessica Wege McLear and Caitlin Wege are pictured above with Dr. Mary Sue Coleman, President of the University of Michigan. The sisters came across the country, one from Boston, one from San Diego, to attend Michigan’s annual Peter M. Wege Lecture started by their grandfather in 2001. This year’s speaker … More Family Members Come to Michigan for the Wege Lecture »

Chris Palmer delivered the 15th annual Aquinas College Wege Lecture at 4 pm April 15. Earlier in the day, the internationally known environmental filmmaker began sharing his films and stories with 120 enthusiastic sixth-graders from the Grand Rapids Public Schools’ Blandford School, Zoo School and the Center for Economicology, housed … More Wildlife Filmmaker Captivates GRPS Students »

Two generations of Peter Wege’s family turned out in April for the 15th annual Wege Lecture at Aquinas College given by Chris Palmer, the renowned wildlife film producer. Pictured above being recognized in Aquinas’s Performing Arts Center from left to right are: Patrick Goodwillie, Mary Nelson, Jim Nelson, Jonathan Wege, … More Wege Family Welcomes Wildlife Filmmaker to Aquinas »

University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman described Dr. Larry Brilliant as a 60s Hippie idealist, a 1990s entrepreneur, and 21st Century high-techer. And Brilliant proved to be all those things March 16 when he delivered the 2011 Peter M. Wege Lecture for the U of M’s School of Natural … More 10th Wege Lecture at U of M – A Brilliant talk by Dr. Larry Brilliant »

The Wege Foundation & Aquinas College are pleased to present Chris Palmer as this year’s speaker. He has confronted sharks, stared down Kodiak bears, and camped with wolf packs to make wildlife films and teach others about the natural world. And in his latest book, “Shooting in the Wild, An … More 15TH ANNUAL WEGE SPEAKER SERIES »

The University of Michigan’s Center for Sustainable Systems in the School of Natural Resources and Environment will present the 10th annual Peter M. Wege Lecture on Sustainability March 16 at 3:30 p.m. in Rackham Auditorium on U of M’s campus. This annual free Lecture Series focuses on critical issues of … More 10th ANNUAL WEGE LECTURE ON SUSTAINABILITY »

Dr. Sylvia Earle, a global authority on the ocean and Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society, both entertained and warned a packed audience at Aquinas College during the week of Earth Day April 2010. Dr. Earle delivered the 14th annual Wege Foundation Lecture titled, “Without Blue There Is No Green.” … More Wege Lecture Speaker Captivates her Audience »

Monday, March 22, 2010, Dr. John P. Holdren (pictured left), Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy for President Obama, delivered the ninth annual lecture at the University of Michigan named for sponsor Peter M. Wege. Dr. Holdren spoke to a full house of faculty, students, … More University of Michigan Holds 9th Peter M. Wege Lecture »

William Clay Ford, Jr., Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company, delivered the Seventh Annual Peter M. Wege Lecture at the University of Michigan November 13, 2007. Henry Ford’s great-grandson, who goes by the name “Bill Ford,” called his speech, The Road to Sustainable Transportation. Bill Clay Ford has been known … More BILL FORD ANNOUNCES NATIONAL ENERGY COUNCIL AT WEGE LECTURE. »