Contact Information

John Zipperer
Vice President of Media & Editorial
jzipperer@commonwealthclub.org 

NOVEMBER 2024 EVENTS

23 October 2024

Live programs at Commonwealth Club World Affairs include post-election takes, ethnic studies controversy, AI developments, international insight and more
OCTOBER 23, 2024 (SAN FRANCISCO) — Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California, the nation's largest and most active public forum, announced its lineup of November speakers and programs, covering a range of local, national and international topics.
During this long and contentious election season, the Club is preparing for what comes next, and the week of Election Day will feature two programs taking very different looks at the post-election world. On Monday, November 4, UCSF professor of Medicine Louise Aronson and author Jenara Nerenberg will discuss "Elderhood in a Post-Election Era," building on the themes of Aronson's book Elderhood and looking at what to expect in the aftermath of the contentious 2024 election. On Wednesday, November 6, the day after the election, the Club's political roundtable series Week to Week will present "Election 2024: The Voters Have Spoken—A Week to Week Special," featuring panelists Tim Ayana of the Pacific Research Institute, Joe Garofoli of the San Francisco Chronicle, and attorney and political analyst Melissa Caen. A social hour with wine and light bites will precede the roundtable program.
Some of the most popular programs the Club has presented in the past year have concerned artificial intelligence, and on Monday, November 4, Dr. Robert Wachter of UCSF School of Medicine will give the 14th annual Lundberg Institute Lecture, discussing "AI in Health Care: Will the Reality Match the Hype?" And with AI being likened to a godlike power in tech, Harvard's Humanist Chaplain Greg M. Epstein will come to the Club on Monday, November 18 to discuss "Beyond Tech Worship" with moderator Kevin V. Nguyen of the San Francisco Standard.
In international matters, Hoover Institution's Cole Bunzel will address a Commonwealth Club World Affairs audience in Los Altos on Wednesday, November 6, about "Refounding the Kingdom: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Transformation of Modern Saudi Arabia." In San Rafael on Thursday, November 21, USF Professor of Economics and International Studies Bruce Wydick will talk about "International NGOs: What Works in Fighting Poverty?"
On the local front, Wednesday, November 6 will also see "Michelle Meow Show" producer and host Michelle Meow talking with the first out LGBTQ fire chief in San Francisco, "What's Next for Former S.F. Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson." And one day later, Thursday, November 7, a panel of education experts will discuss "California's Ethnic Studies Controversy: Launch of a Curricular Alternative."
We've cleared the decks the following week to prepare for and to host our biggest annual fundraising event, the "Distinguished Citizens Awards Annual Gala 2024." Our honorees this year include Thomas E. Horn, Tara VanDerveer, Lloyd Dean, Deepak Srivastava, Dagmar Dolby and Family, Susie Cranston, Ohemaa Nyanin, Tamara Rojo, and Dmitri Dolgov and Takedra Mawakana.
Commonwealth Club World Affairs programs are open to the public. If members of the press are interested in attending as press or would like to inquire about interviewing speakers, contact John Zipperer, vp of media & editorial, at jzipperer@commonwealthclub.org
Details: https://www.commonwealthclub.org 
About CCWA
Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is the nation's oldest, largest and most active public forum. The nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, founded in 1903, produces hundreds of live programs each year on politics, business, the environment, personal growth, education, arts, social issues, and more. Speakers have included presidents and scientists, activists and artists, business leaders and celebrities. The Club produces several nationally syndicated weekly radio programs, its videos have received tens of millions of views on YouTube, and its podcasts have been downloaded nearly 28 million times. Commonwealth Club World Affairs was formed in 2023 from a merger between The Commonwealth Club of California and World Affairs of Northern California. Additional information available at commonwealthclub.org. 
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