The Los Angeles World Affairs Council has a simple mission: to bring the most important figures in international affairs to speak to the Los Angeles community. No filters. No middle men. Just an opportunity for direct interaction with some of the most significant figures of our generation.

The Council has been steadfast in this pursuit since opening its doors in 1953. In that time, we have been fortunate to welcome over 250 heads of state or government, including eight Presidents of the United States. Previous generations of Los Angeles World Affairs Council members had the chance to hear directly from figures as diverse as Martin Luther King, Jr., Nikita Khrushchev, Henry Kissinger, and Margaret Thatcher. Today's members visit with the likes of Tony Blair, David Petraeus, and John McCain.

In addition to public events, the Council also presents a variety of programs that are open exclusively to our paid members (please consult our membership page for a full look at the benefits that accompany our various membership levels). These include intimate, off-the-record, roundtable events with notable figures; our Salon Series receptions, which feature prominent speakers in some of the most elegant homes in Los Angeles; private tours of local landmarks; an annual reception for the Los Angeles Consular Corps; and an annual black tie dinner honoring an outstanding diplomat.

The Los Angeles World Affairs Council promotes greater understanding of current global issues and their impact on the people of Southern California by inviting authoritative and influential figures in world affairs to Los Angeles and providing them an open forum.