The Jefferson Educational Society contends there's a presentation for everyone at the group's Global Summit XI.

What began as a two-and-a-half-day gathering of about 500 people has now grown to welcome nearly 8,000 attendees.

This year's summit takes place over the course of three weeks at the society's center on State St. in Erie.

Notable speakers include former secretary of defense Chuck Hagel, former press secretary Sean Spicer, nationally syndicated columnist George Will and Feminist Majority Foundation co-founder Eleanor Smeal.

This year's summit features 12 events and 15 presenters on everything from how President Trump's international trade policy affects Erie to a discussion of extraterrestrial life.

The summit starts Mon., Oct. 28 and runs through Fri., Nov. 15. 

Tickets will be made available for purchase on the Jefferson Society website.

Full Lineup:

Mon., Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m.:

 - Camille Busette, Director, Brookings Institution’s Race, Prosperity, and Inclusion Initiative on "Thinking Differently about Race and Belonging"

Tue., Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m.:

 - Patricia Gilbert, Professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science on “Global Research on Harmful Algal Blooms”

Wed., Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m.:

 - Kelly Ann Shaw, Special Assistant to President on “Trumps International Trade Policies and how it Affects the Erie Region”

Fri., Nov. 1, at 7:30 p.m.:

 - Abraham “Avi” Loeb, Chair, Astronomy Department, Harvard University on “Extraterrestrial Life: Are We Alone?”

Mon., Nov. 4, at 7:30 p.m.:

 - Chuck Hagel, Former Secretary of Defense, Former U.S. Senator, U.S. Army Veteran presenting “An Evening with Chuck Hagel”

Wed., Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m.:

 - Sean Spicer, Former White House Press Secretary and Communications Director on “The Briefing: Politics, the Press, and the President”

Thurs., Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m.:

 - George Will, Washington Post columnist presenting “An Evening with George Will”

Mon., Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m.:

 - Mary Katharine Ham, conservative journalist and CNN contributor

 - Karen Tumulty, national political correspondent for The Washington Post

 - Alexi McCammond, political editor and deputy news desk editor for Axios

 - Media Panel Moderated by Steve Scully, C-SPAN and Global Summit Chairman

Tues., Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m.:

 - Michael Smerconish, Radio and Television host and Newspaper columnist, on “American Life in Columns”

Wed., Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m.:

 - Edna Greene Medford, Professor of the Department of History’s graduate and undergraduate programs at Howard University on “Understanding Lincoln: The Life and Legacy of our 16th President”

Thurs., Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m.:

 - Susan Page, Washington Bureau Chief for USA Today, Author, on “Barbara Bush: The Making of an American Dynasty”

Fri., Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m.:

 - Eleanor Smeal, President and co-founder of Feminist Majority Foundation, Erie, PA native, and Global Summit XI’s Thomas B. Hagen Dignitas Award Winner presenting “An Evening with Eleanor Smeal”