In 1980, a shipyard electrician named Lech Wałęsa led a movement that inspired millions and brought an empire to its knees. Solidarity, Poland’s first independent labor union, ignited a wave of democratic revolutions across Eastern Europe, redrawing the map of the modern world.
Now, for the first time, Wałęsa, the living legend who defeated communism and pushed the world toward democracy, brings his extraordinary story directly to audiences across the United States and Canada.
Beginning August 31, 2025, in Los Angeles—on the 45th anniversary of the Solidarity movement—Wałęsa will embark on his first-ever “Grand Lecture Tour”, visiting 28 cities across North America to reflect on the past, confront the present, and offer ideas for a better future.
This is a rare opportunity to hear from a man whose courage changed the course of history—and whose insights may help shape what comes next.
“We, the people, live in challenging times and face a turning point in history,” Wałęsa says.
He believes that the victories of the 20th century, once thought secure, are under threat. Democracies across the world are grappling with disinformation, political polarization, and the erosion of trust in institutions.
Freedom, Wałęsa reminds us, is never a permanent gift. It is a responsibility, renewed by each generation—or lost.
Through his lectures, Wałęsa will explore themes that are as urgent today as they were in 1980: challenges to democracy and freedom, the fight for human rights, values for a changing world and many more.
More than a history lesson, Wałęsa’s message is a call to action. He invites audiences to consider not just where we have been, but where we must go.
Wałęsa’s personal story is well known: A shipyard worker dismissed for his activism, he led a wave of strikes that ultimately forced Poland’s communist government to the bargaining table. His insistence on peaceful opposition helped bring about one of the great nonviolent revolutions of the 20th century.
In 1983, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1990, he became the first democratically elected president of Poland in more than 60 years.
But history, Wałęsa argues, is not finished. It demands new solutions for new problems—and new leadership grounded in principles that have stood the test of time.
Wałęsa’s lectures promise not just stories of defiance and resilience, but insights into the forces shaping the 21st century: the threats to democratic institutions, the role of international cooperation, and the urgent need for trustworthy leadership in a polarized world.
He challenges audiences to consider questions such as: How do we protect the freedoms we inherited? How do we stand against oppression in a new century when threats come not only from armies, but from algorithms, propaganda, and apathy?
The cities on his schedule stretch from coast to coast, offering audiences across North America the chance to engage directly with one of history’s most consequential figures.
These evenings will be an opportunity to reflect, to question, and to be inspired. It is, quite simply, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
In a world crowded with opinions, few voices carry the weight of experience that Lech Wałęsa’s brings. He knows the dangers of complacency. He understands the price of freedom. And he believes that the spirit of solidarity—the belief that people standing together can change the world—is more important today than ever.
Wałęsa’s tour will deliver more than reflections on the past. It will address the urgent work of renewing democracy, safeguarding human rights, and inspiring a new generation to lead with courage and conviction.
He speaks not from theory, but from experience: of staring down tanks empty-handed, of building movements while under surveillance, of seeing freedom blossom where it once seemed impossible.
And moments like this—a chance to hear from someone who helped reshape the world—are rare.
As Lech Walesa steps onto stages across North America, he extends an invitation: to remember what freedom costs, to face the challenges of our time, and to imagine, together, a better future.
Reserve your seat for this historic tour at www.HistoryExplorer.com and learn from a man who changed history—and who believes we can again.
