People and businesses expect certain public services—education, transportation, protection, to name a few—and “tax” is the word we use to indicate how we pay for these services. But among taxpayers, areas of frequent disagreement are what constitutes a needed public service, how much we should pay for those services, and who will be taxed (and how) for them. What are the effects of different kinds of taxes, intended and unintended? What are the best and worst aspects of local, state, and federal taxes? Conversation Leader Mary Nolan served twelve years in the Oregon House of Representatives, building skills and relationships founded in collaboration and transparency. As Cochair of the Committee on Ways and Means, Nolan pushed state agencies to emphasize equity, effectiveness, and long-term benefits in public services from corrections to housing, education to transportation, healthcare to environmental stewardship. She is a partner with Caudaloso, LLC, which invests in and advises socially conscious Oregon start-ups. She maintains relationships with leaders across Oregon as a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum and a McCall Society member with 1000 Friends of Oregon. A passionate advocate for the arts, Nolan serves on the board of Teatro Milagro and is an apprentice furniture maker with the Guild of Oregon Woodworkers. Nolan and her husband Mark enjoy hiking, tennis, and cooking authentic Catalán meals, in Portland and with family in Girona. Nolan’s program is made possible by funding from Oregon Humanities, which connects Oregonians to ideas that change lives and transform communities. More information about Oregon Humanities’ programs and publications, which include the Conversation Project, Think & Drink, Humanity in Perspective, Public Program Grants, Responsive Program Grants, and Oregon Humanities magazine, can be found at oregonhumanities.org. Oregon Humanities is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and a partner of the Oregon Cultural Trust. #dallaspubliclibrary #discoverdallasor #dallasoregon #dallasor #oregonhumanities