History
The San Diego World Affairs Council shares the vision that has guided the nation’s World Affairs Councils for over half of a century:
- To serve as the focal point of the community’s international interests.
- To provide a variety of programs and services to individuals, schools, corporations, and organizations.
- To support the community’s civic, social, professional, business, cultural, and educational organizations in their international efforts.
The Council offers a wide range of programs to meet everyone’s interests. The Council does this through a variety of programs.
The centerpiece of the Council’s activities is its Speakers Program, which brings some of the world’s top international figures to San Diego County.
Over the last few years, past speakers have included: Frank Carlucci, former National Security Advisor and Secretary of Defense; Imad Moustapha, Syria’s Ambassador to the U.S.; Said Tayeb Jawad, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the U.S.; H.R. McMaster, 71st Colonel, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment and John Hofmeister, President of Shell Oil.
The Council also invites its members on trips through the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia which offer all the highlights of touring plus access to political leaders and other local experts who give behind-the-scenes views and briefings that make these trips special and unique. See our Travel Programs for more information on upcoming tours.
The Council supports our local high schools with our Scholarship Outreach Program, by inviting students as our guests to our speaker programs and promoting greater international awareness within the community. We also recognize and honor our military by inviting local military personnel and their spouses to attend speaker programs free of charge.
We’re helping a new generation of San Diego County residents go global.