World Affairs Council of the Desert
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World Affairs Council of the Desert

WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF THE DESERT WELCOMES YOU TO​ THE

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Click on the photo for additional information on each speaker...
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Academic WorldQuest Competition
Live and In-Person at the Indian Wells Theater

Thursday, February 2, 2023

The Academic WorldQuest Competition will be held live and in-person at the Indian Wells Theater at California State University San Bernardino, Palm Desert Campus. Members and guests are invited to view and participate in this program where Coachella Valley High Schools compete for scholarships and prizes as well as an opportunity to win an all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC in April, 2023 and participate in the World Affairs Councils of America National WorldQuest Competition.
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Ambassador Cofer Black
A Retrospective Look at the 9/11 period as CIA Director of Counterterrorism
Sunday, February 5, 2023 - SOLD OUT!

Ambassador Black has had a distinguished 30-year career in the U.S. Government. He served 28 years in the Directorate of Operations at the Central Intelligence Agency. As Director of the CIA Counterterrorist Center over the 9/11 period he conceived, planned, and led the CIA projection into Afghanistan and the Presidentially mandated worldwide engagement against Al- Qaeda. Subsequently, he was appointed to the Department of State at the Assistant Secretary level as Coordinator for Counterterrorism with the rank of Ambassador at Large.
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William Pomeranz
Putin's Ukrainian Misadventure: What Has Russia Lost?

Sunday, March 5, 2023

According to reports, when Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, he believed that Russia would be at the gates of Kyiv in a matter of days. After months and months of war, there is no sign of a Russian victory. Indeed, the war’s unintended consequences – in terms of sanctions, economic decline, military defeats, renewed western resolve, and galvanized Ukrainian national identity – indicate the invasion has proven a colossal and epoch-defining mistake.  Putin’s crackdown on Russian society may have cemented his grip on power within Russia, but he rules over a diminished nation. There is no clear exit from this geopolitical catastrophe—one that could damage Russian power and prospects even more than the collapse of the Soviet Union. 
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Gordon G. Chang
China: War in an Era of Deglobalization and Great Power Competition

Sunday, April 16, 2023

Gordon Chang, author of numerous books, newspaper and magazine articles, lived and worked in China, Hong Kong and Singapore for almost two decades. He has given briefings at the National Intelligence Council, the Central Intelligence Agency, the State Department, and the Pentagon. Chang appears on all the major TV news networks and speaks before industry and investor groups ​around the world.

Global Perspectives You Will Get Nowhere Else...Come Join Us

The World Affairs Council of the Desert brings uniquely informed perspectives from internationally recognized speakers on global and national affairs to the Coachella Valley that you will get nowhere else. 

​​The World Affairs Council is a non-profit, non-partisan, member- and sponsor-supported association with over 200 members. Sponsors include California State University San Bernardino-Palm Desert Campus, UBS Financial Services, Anderson Children's Foundation, County of Riverside and others. 
  • Our Headliner Dinner/Speaker Series this year will bring us internationally recognized authorities on the most current topics of interest to all. Details will be updated on this page but mark your calendars with the dates shown below so that you will be available as soon as each announcement is made.
  • The Academic WorldQuest Competition helps prepare our students for life in the globally-connected, rapidly transforming world of the 21st century. We plan to hold the competition live and in-person on February 2, 2023.
Please join us today! Information on MEMBERSHIP is available HERE

So that we are always bringing you the most current and up-to-date information, we will be announcing our speakers as the season progresses. 

Other Event Dates are as follows:
(Be sure to mark your calendars)

​       Tuesday, March 21, 2023
​       Sunday, May 7, 2023

View ​Sponsorship ​Opportunities
Donate to WACD
View 2022-2023 Student ​Program Benefactors

Platinum Ambassador Sponsors
$10,000 - $24,999​

Charles & Priscilla Porter


Barry Berlin
& Mary Reisher

​Gold Ambassador Sponsors 
$5,000 - $9,999

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Silver Ambassador Sponsors
 $2,500

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​World Affairs Council
of the Desert
​is a proud member of the
World Affairs Councils
​of America

We have earned a GuideStar/Candid 
​Gold Seal ​of Transparency
​Visit our profile on GuideStar so you can view our information and
accomplishments by clicking on the Gold Seal below.

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​Visit our friends at OLLI
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at CSUSB
Keep learning with fascinating courses!

Enjoy fun activities and make new friends!
Traveling with OLLI is fun and easy!
Become a member of OLLI today!


​​Copyright © 2022 World Affairs Council of the Desert. All rights reserved.
Website by Flipcause and Linda Borses
  • Home 2022/23
  • Membership
  • WorldQuest 2023
  • Conversations
  • In Case You Missed it...
  • About Us
    • About WACD
    • Mission - Vision - Values
    • BOD 2022/23
    • Past Speakers 2019/2020
    • Past Speakers 2018/2019
    • Past Speakers 2017/2018
    • Newsletters
    • Emeriti
    • Links
  • Sponsorship
    • Corporate/Personal Sponsorship
    • Student Program Benefactors
  • Contact Us
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Event Photos