What we’re about
Welcome to Premise: Big Questions, Real Conversation
Premise is a space for thoughtful people who crave more than small talk. Each session starts with a big, timeless question—like What is freedom?, Are we our work?, or How much is enough?—and pairs it with a short piece of art, literature, or film. We use those works to spark meaningful conversations.
Who Should Join:
Premise is for curious adults of all ages who value depth over debate, and connection over consensus. You don’t need a philosophy degree—just a willingness to read or watch something short ahead of time and come ready to think and talk with others in the community.
What to Expect:
Each session is structured and deeply engaging. You'll receive a short prep email (usually 1–1.5 hours of reading or viewing and we provided the text), then meet in person for a guided conversation. There’s no lecturing, just a guided dialogue designed to help you listen, reflect, and connect. Expect surprising insights, genuine connection, and the kind of conversation that lingers long after it ends.
Premise events are currently held in 8 cities across the US, with more to come in 2025!
Upcoming events
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![[online] What is home? (Joan Didion, Angelou, Wendell Berry)](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/d/4/e/highres_531011598.jpeg)
•Online[online] What is home? (Joan Didion, Angelou, Wendell Berry)
OnlineLearn more about Premise.
🟡 Space is limited.Please register directly with Premise here: https://www.premiseinstitute.com/event-details/what-is-home-3
It helps us keep things organized—participants join from multiple places!
👉 Use the code "spokanemeetup" if you are unable to pay, the session will be no cost. All registration fees go directly to expanding Premise to communities nationwide.
What is home?
A Premise ConversationTexts: We will email you the reading after sign up.
- "On Going Home" by Joan Didion
- "Letter to My Daughter" by Maya Angelou (essay on home)
- "A Native Hill" by Wendell Berry
We will email you the reading after sign up.
⏱️ Preparation: Approx. 2 hoursSession Description:
Home seems simple to define—until we actually try to do it. Is it the place we grew up, the place we choose, or something we carry inside us? Through reflections on returning home, creating home, and belonging to place, we’ll explore the gap between the homes we remember, the homes we have, and the homes we dream of. What makes a house into a home? How do we create belonging when we can’t return to where we came from?In this session we’ll ask:
- What does “home” mean when the place we grew up is gone, or we’ve moved far away?
- How do we build a sense of home in new places, cultures, or seasons of life?
- Can the sense of belonging we desire be found in people, memories, or practices rather than geography?
- What happens when our dream of home clashes with the reality of the place we inhabit?
Join us in a welcoming, facilitated conversation space that invites people from all walks of life to think in public together—with open minds, deep curiosity, and mutual respect. You don’t need academic credentials or deep prior reading—just an interest in what home means for you.
We hope you’ll leave the session with fresh perspectives on belonging, place, identity—and maybe a little closer to what “home” means in your own life.1 attendee
Past events
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