World Affairs Council of the Desert

WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF THE DESERT WELCOMES YOU TO THE

Click on the photo for additional information on each speaker...

James Coyle, Ph.D.
Ukraine: How we Got Here and the Way Forward
Sunday, December 4, 2022

Dr. James Coyle, a leading authority on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, will help us understand the possible future outcome of this ongoing conflict.

Rushan Abbas
The Uyghur Crisis in China: Activism & Advocacy for Change
Sunday, January 15, 2023

The Uyghurs are a Muslim Turkic group in China, living in East Turkistan, at a crossroads of culture and empire. Today it's estimated that more than 1 million Uyghur people have been detained by China in re-education camps, camps where they have been subjected to torture, forced labor, religious restrictions, even forced sterilization. Rushan Abbas is a full-time activist advocating for Uyghur people facing genocide by the Chinese regime, promoting human rights and democratic freedoms for Uyghurs, while mobilizing the international community to stop the human rights atrocity in East Turkistan.

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.

Ambassador Joseph "Cofer" Black
A Retrospective Look at the 9/11 period as CIA Director of Counterterrorism
Sunday, February 5, 2023

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.

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)
Sunday, March 5, 2023
Sunday, May 7, 2023