San Diego World Affairs Council (SDWAC)

09/16/2026

🌎⚽ What happens when sports puts a country at the center of the global conversation?

The San Diego World Affairs Council invites you to our November Distinguished Speakers Series:

NEXT IN SPORTS: Lessons, Legacy & the Future of Sports Diplomacy

📅 Saturday, November 14, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
📍 UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies | La Jolla

From the FIFA World Cup to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the world's biggest sporting events are about far more than what happens on the field.

They are global stages for diplomacy, national identity, storytelling, cultural exchange, economic opportunity, and influence.

Drawing lessons from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we'll explore:

⚽ What does successful sports diplomacy actually look like?
🌎 How can host cities turn global attention into lasting impact?
🤝 How can sport build connections across cultures and borders?
🏅 And as the spotlight shifts toward the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, what lessons can Southern California carry forward?

Featuring Krystle Norman — former U.S. diplomat, global communications and policy strategist, and Founder & Principal of Jackson Norman Agency.

Moderated by Noah Abrahams — former BBC Sport, GB News, and Press Association journalist with experience inside professional soccer at San Diego FC.

San Diego is uniquely positioned between two extraordinary global sporting moments. Join us for a conversation about what comes next—and how sport can become a tool for diplomacy, connection, and lasting global impact.

🎟️ SDWAC Members & Students: FREE
🎟️ Nonmembers: $15

👉 Register today: https://sdwac.org/event-6789500

09/13/2026

🌍 Another Second Saturday with the San Diego World Affairs Council!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our September Distinguished Speakers Series program, “The UAE and the New Middle East: Diplomacy, Power, and Regional Transformation,” featuring Giorgio Cafiero, CEO of Gulf State Analytics.

Against the backdrop of shifting alliances, regional conflicts, and an increasingly multipolar world, Giorgio helped us take a closer look at the growing influence of the United Arab Emirates and its emergence as an increasingly consequential middle power in the Gulf and beyond.

The conversation explored how the UAE is navigating relationships with major global and regional players—including the United States, China, India, Russia, and its Gulf neighbors—while pursuing its own economic, diplomatic, security, and strategic interests.

From the Abraham Accords and regional security to energy policy, strategic autonomy, and global power competition, the discussion offered important context for understanding not only the UAE, but the broader transformation taking place across the Middle East.

We were especially pleased to welcome Giorgio back to San Diego. In addition to leading Gulf State Analytics, he serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Georgetown University and is a graduate of the University of San Diego, where he earned his M.A. in International Relations.

One of the things we value most about our Second Saturday programs is the opportunity to move beyond the headlines—to hear from experts, ask questions, examine different perspectives, and better understand the international developments shaping our world.

A tremendous thank you to Giorgio Cafiero for sharing his time and expertise, to our volunteers who make these programs possible, and to everyone who spent their Saturday morning learning and engaging with us.

📅 And we’ll be back next month!

Our October Second Saturday will feature a special Engage San Diego workshop:

Beyond the Echo Chamber: Practicing Dialogue Across Differences

📅 Saturday, October 10 | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

A guided workshop on navigating disagreement, discomfort, and meaningful conversation.

Different topic, same goal: creating opportunities for San Diegans to better understand our world—and one another.

Better together. 🌎

09/13/2026

With San Diego Diplomacy Council – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

09/10/2026

🌎 What a day for citizen diplomacy in San Diego!

Despite the heat and humidity, approximately 300 people joined us in Balboa Park for Passport to Diplomacy, exploring the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages and connecting with cultures from around the world!

For many of our guests, it was their very first time visiting the International Cottages—and we couldn’t have asked for a better introduction.

Throughout the afternoon, attendees traveled from cottage to cottage collecting passport stamps, meeting members of San Diego’s international community, enjoying cultural traditions and treats, listening to live music, song and poetry, visiting community organizations, and engaging in conversations with diplomats and international affairs professionals.

Most importantly, the day demonstrated what citizen diplomacy is all about: bringing people together, encouraging curiosity, sharing cultures and perspectives, and building understanding through people-to-people connections.

We were also thrilled to welcome an incredible group of community, educational, international, and service organizations who hosted tables and gave attendees even more ways to learn, connect, and get involved:

🌐 Flowers for the Future International
☕ LELEKA COFFEE
🌍 Klaman&Co
🤝 Interact District Council
🌎 The Worldview Project
🇸🇪 Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce San Diego
⚙️ San Diego Coastal Rotary Club
🇺🇳 United Nations Association of Orange County
🎓 Model United Nations students and educators
🕊️ Kroc School of Peace Studies
🇺🇳 United Nations Association of San Diego
🎬 The Island’s Story

Thank you to each of these organizations for volunteering your time and sharing your work with our community!

A tremendous thank you to our event partners at the San Diego Diplomacy Council, as well to the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages, Inc. of and all of the participating cottages, our volunteer performers, diplomats, community partners, volunteers, and everyone who gave their time and talents to make the day possible.

✨ And a very special shout-out to Bright Light Volunteers, the financial sponsor of Passport to Diplomacy. Their support helped make it possible to offer this event to the community and create an opportunity for hundreds of San Diegans to engage with the world right here in our own backyard.

And, of course, thank you to the nearly 300 people who joined us! Your curiosity, enthusiasm, and willingness to connect are what made the day so special.

This is citizen diplomacy. This is community. And we are better together. 🌍

09/10/2026

Passport to Diplomacy brought culture, connection, and global community to Balboa Park!

On September 6, San Diego Diplomacy Council (SDDC) and the San Diego World Affairs Council (SDWAC), alongside the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages, Inc. came together to celebrate global traditions and cultural exchange in San Diego.

Guests connected with local organizations, chatted with diplomats, asked questions, and heard stories from around the world. 🌍🤝Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the day so special! 💙

09/10/2026

09/03/2026

🎶 SDWAC Community Partner Spotlight: Classics 4 Kids! 🎶

At the San Diego World Affairs Council, we believe in supporting the organizations that make our region stronger, more connected, and more engaged. We’re proud to highlight our friends at Classics 4 Kids and their upcoming afternoon of music and celebration!

📅 Sunday, October 25 | 2–5 PM
📍 Maderas Golf Club

Classics 4 Kids brings high-quality music education and live musical experiences to K–8 students across San Diego, with a special focus on reaching schools and students with limited access to the arts.

The afternoon will feature:

🎵 Sharon Katz, Nelson Mandela’s First Musical Ambassador
🎷 Mission Bay High School Preservationists Jazz Band bringing the sounds of New Orleans
🎻 Violinist Christian Gonzalez
🎤 Remarks from San Diego County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe
🏆 Recognition of three local Unsung Heroes

Plus, enjoy drinks, w**e bingo, a silent auction, and great company—all while supporting music education for San Diego students.

🎟️ Early Bird tickets: $100 through October 9
Tickets increase to $125 after October 9.

Come for the music. Stay for the celebration. Help a child experience music.

👉 Get your tickets: https://www.classics4kids.org/event/gala-6/

09/01/2026

Stick around after the event — grab a group and keep the conversation going over lunch or coffee. Some of the best connections at SDWAC happen after the event. Whether it is catching up with someone you just met or sitting down with a familiar face, it’s worth the extra time.

A few spots a short walk/drive from UC San Diego Extended Studies:

• Bird Rock Coffee Roasters
• Cafe 477 La Jolla
• The Shops at La Jolla Village

08/25/2026

Honoring David Edick Jr.’s Legacy by Investing in the Next Generation

For years, David Edick Jr.'s leadership and commitment to international understanding helped shape the San Diego World Affairs Council and its mission to connect our community to the world.

Today, we are proud to carry that legacy forward through the David Edick Jr. Scholarship, supporting the next generation of globally engaged students.

For the 2026–27 academic year, the scholarship will provide 100% support for high school students to participate in Academic WorldQuest, a national competition that challenges students to deepen their knowledge of global issues, international affairs, and current events.

By supporting the David Edick Jr. Scholarship, you are doing more than helping a student participate in a competition. You are helping continue David’s commitment to education, international understanding, and informed global citizenship.

Help us honor David’s legacy by investing in the global leaders of tomorrow.

[ DONATE TODAY ] - https://sdwac.org/donate

Every contribution directly supports high school students and helps make this opportunity possible.

For more information regarding the Academic World Quest, please email Education Chair Jared Hernandez: [email protected].

08/19/2026

The UAE has become one of the Middle East’s most influential middle powers and continues to shape the future of the Gulf and the broader Middle Eastern region.

Join SDWAC on September 12th for “The UAE and the New Middle East: Diplomacy, Power, and Regional Transformation” with Giorgio Cafiero, CEO of Gulf State Analytics and Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University, as he explores how Abu Dhabi is navigating relationships with the U.S., China, India, Russia, and its Gulf neighbors.

From the Abraham Accords to regional security and energy policy, we will examine how the evolving role of the UAE matters for regional stability, global power competition, and the future of international diplomacy.

📅 Saturday, September 12, 2026
🕚 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
📍UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies, La Jolla

Register here: https://sdwac.org/event-6762527