The Center: Reason for Being
Global affairs are our business!
What happens in any part of the world is likely to affect us, and our response to that reality is either going to be helpful and well informed….or it isn’t. Hence, we believe that access to information about what’s going on in the world is critical for any segment of the population, including our community.
We live in an age of globalization. Isolation is simply not an option. This has never been more true.
One reason for this is that we live in an age of hyper-technology. What happens in China, Syria, Israel, India or Germany is known instantly in Santa Barbara. Differences between nations are often magnified because of the speed with which they are transmitted, and the sense of threat is bolstered by our ever increasing proximity to each other. We are all global neighbors, like it or not!
The issues that divide us are almost never simple, though they may appear that way. We need help understanding differing perspectives surrounding any given topic if we are to respond in a meaningful way.
What do we do about it?
Once or twice a year, we prepare a non-partisan forum for our community focusing on a significant issue of the day. We reserve about half our time together for audience participation with the goal of having everyone fully engaged and fully energized.
We try to look at all sides and attempt to understand how “they” see the problem. We search for relevant issues and speakers who are well versed in their topic with differing viewpoints, and we invite the community to join us in our efforts.
We have a monthly televised dialogue about global affairs and a website with a blog designed to encourage an exchange of ideas.
We engage high school students in an annual Model Diplomacy simulation designed to encourage the next generation to get involved now.
Our Center for Global Dialogue is governed by local citizens who share these beliefs. We are committed to a process whereby ordinary people come to understand what’s going on in our ever-shrinking global village.
We hope you will join us!