Political Jar

Mini Camp Congress for Girls DC 2026
2026-01-18 08:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | 550 School St SW, 550 School Street Southwest, Washington, DC, 20024, United States
Mini Camp Congress for Girls DC 2026 is an introduction to the United States political system for girls ages 6 and 7.

Mini Camp Congress for Girls DC 2026 is an introduction to the United States political system for girls ages 6 and 7. Camp begins with a lesson on the structure of the U.S. political system, the process of running for office and voting in the United States. Each girl will create a platform of issues she cares about most, create her own campaign poster and record a campaign ad. Camp will culminate with the girls convening a Congress and passing their own bill. All girls will serve as members of Congress. Girl Scouts qualify to earn Girl Scout badge; badge is not provided.
For additional information contact us at +1 866-277-2123 extension 1, via email at info@girlsinpolitics.com or visit our website at www.girlsinpolitics.com. Ticketing options for girls, ages 6-7. Please no solicitation emails or calls. We do not book speakers, book vendors or recruit volunteers for events.
Looking for more events? View our 2026-27 schedule at https://girlsinpoliticsinitiative.eventbrite.com/
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this event a drop-off? All camps are drop-off unless parent participation is indicated. Parents may wait at the venue for the duration of the camp in any of the lounge or seating area throughout the hotel. The meeting room space capacity can only accommodate students and staff.
Is the registration fee refundable? The registration fee is non-refundable unless the organizer cancels the session. If a participant is unable to attend a session a credit will be placed on file that may be used at any time for a future program. The credit does not expire.
Is this a partisan program or supported by a political party? No, the Girls in Politics Initiative is an independent organization that is self-funded through the fees generated from hosting sessions. The curriculum is civic education.
Is financial assistance available? Due to rising costs associated with hosting events, there is no financial assistance available for this event and there is no promo code for this event.
Who are the instructors? Our Lead Instructors are women that currently or have previously worked in government or electoral politics. Our support staffers are current or former licensed teachers. All instructors and support staff undergo background screening. All instructors and support staff are also in compliance with any local ordinances or state/provincial regulations applicable to those working with children.

Out-of-Town Travel Pool Call Time
2026-01-18 07:45, 2026-01-17 07:45 (America/New_York) | Mar-a-Lago
Out-of-Town Travel Pool

The President has no public events scheduled
2026-01-18 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York) | Mar-a-Lago

The President participates in a meeting with the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic
2026-01-17 15:30 (America/New_York) | Mar-a-Lago

Camp Congress for Youth Atlanta 2026
2026-01-17 13:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | 640 Peachtree St NE, 640 Peachtree Street Northeast, Atlanta, GA, 30308, United States
It’s all civics & fun. Girls and boys study government, run for office, vote and convene a mock session of Congress to pass a bill.

Camp Congress for Youth Atlanta 2026 is a leadership program that introduces girls and boy to the United States political system. Camp begins with a lesson on the structure of our political system. Each student will choose to run for a seat in the US House of Representatives, the US Senate or for the presidency. Students will create a campaign with a platform, campaign finance plan, and film a political ad. All campers will register to vote and then vote in an election. Once elected to Congress and sworn in, the newly installed members of Congress will learn how to introduce a bill, debate the merits of the bill, lobby fellow legislators, collaborate with the Executive branch and finally vote on the proposed bill. Camp will culminate with a ceremonial signing of the bill by our President. All participants will receive Certificate of Completion.
For additional information contact us at +1 866-277-2123 extension 1, via email at info@girlsinpolitics.com or visit our website at www.girlsinpolitics.com. Ticketing options for girls ages 8-11 and 12-17. Please no solicitation emails or calls. We do not book speakers, book vendors or recruit volunteers for events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this event a drop-off? All camps are drop-off unless parent participation is indicated. Parents may wait at the venue for the duration of the camp in any of the lounge or seating area throughout the hotel. The meeting room space capacity can only accommodate students and staff.
Is the registration fee refundable? The registration fee is non-refundable unless the organizer cancels the session. If a participant is unable to attend a session a credit will be placed on file that may be used at any time for a future program. The credit does not expire.
Is this a partisan program or supported by a political party? No, the Girls in Politics Initiative is an independent organization that is self-funded through the fees generated from hosting sessions. The curriculum is civic education.
Is financial assistance available? Due to rising costs associated with hosting events, there is no financial assistance available for this event and there is no promo code for this event.
Who are the instructors? Our Lead Instructors are women that currently or have previously worked in government or electoral politics. Our support staffers are current or former licensed teachers. All instructors and support staff undergo background screening. All instructors and support staff are also in compliance with any local ordinances or state/provincial regulations applicable to those working with children.

Camp Congress for Youth Las Vegas 2026
2026-01-17 13:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 3275 Paradise Rd, 3275 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, NV, 89109, United States
It’s all civics & fun. Girls and boys study government, run for office, vote and convene a mock session of Congress to pass a bill.

Camp Congress for Youth Las Vegas 2026 is a leadership program that introduces girls and boys to the United States political system. Camp begins with a lesson on the structure of our political system. Each student will choose to run for a seat in the US House of Representatives, the US Senate or for the presidency. Students will create a campaign with a platform, campaign finance plan, and film a political ad. All campers will register to vote and then vote in an election. Once elected to Congress and sworn in, the newly installed members of Congress will learn how to introduce a bill, debate the merits of the bill, lobby fellow legislators, collaborate with the Executive branch and finally vote on the proposed bill. Camp will culminate with a ceremonial signing of the bill by our President. All participants will receive Certificate of Completion.
For additional information contact us at +1 866-277-2123 extension 1, via email at info@girlsinpolitics.com or visit our website at www.girlsinpolitics.com. Ticketing options for students, ages 8-11 and 12-17. Please no solicitation emails or calls. We do not book speakers, book vendors or recruit volunteers for events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this event a drop-off? All camps are drop-off unless parent participation is indicated. Parents may wait at the venue for the duration of the camp in any of the lounge or seating area throughout the hotel. The meeting room space capacity can only accommodate students and staff.
Is the registration fee refundable? The registration fee is non-refundable unless the organizer cancels the session. If a participant is unable to attend a session a credit will be placed on file that may be used at any time for a future program. The credit does not expire.
Is this a partisan program or supported by a political party? No, the Girls in Politics Initiative is an independent organization that is self-funded through the fees generated from hosting sessions. The curriculum is civic education.
Is financial assistance available? Due to rising costs associated with hosting events, there is no financial assistance available for this event and there is no promo code for this event.
Who are the instructors? Our Lead Instructors are women that currently or have previously worked in government or electoral politics. Our support staffers are current or former licensed teachers. All instructors and support staff undergo background screening. All instructors and support staff are also in compliance with any local ordinances or state/provincial regulations applicable to those working with children.

Ready to Run Pittsburgh Campaign Training for Women
2026-01-17 09:15 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Chatham University – Chatham Eastside, 6585 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Ready to Run is a nonpartisan program for women who want to run for office, seek higher office, or learn more about the political system.

On January 16th and 17th, The Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics (PCWP) will hold our Ready to Run Pittsburgh Campaign Training for Women. (All are welcome!)
Schedule of Events:
Friday, January 16: Women of Color in Pennsylvania Politics Pre-Conference
All are welcome and encouraged to attend! A networking reception and panel discussion. Wine and appetizers served.
Saturday, January 17: Ready to Run Campaign Training for Women
Day-long campaign training. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be provided.
*Registration for the Full Conference includes registration for both the pre-conference and day-long training.
**Early bird price available through January 2, 2026. Registration on January 3rd or later will cost $75.

Camp Congress for Youth Jacksonville 2026
2026-01-17 08:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | 4670 Salisbury Rd, 4670 Salisbury Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32256, United States
It’s all civics & fun. Girls and boys study government, run for office, vote and convene a mock session of Congress to pass a bill.

Camp Congress for Youth Jacksonville 2026 is a leadership program that introduces girls and boy to the United States political system. Camp begins with a lesson on the structure of our political system. Each student will choose to run for a seat in the US House of Representatives, the US Senate or for the presidency. Students will create a campaign with a platform, campaign finance plan, and film a political ad. All campers will register to vote and then vote in an election. Once elected to Congress and sworn in, the newly installed members of Congress will learn how to introduce a bill, debate the merits of the bill, lobby fellow legislators, collaborate with the Executive branch and finally vote on the proposed bill. Camp will culminate with a ceremonial signing of the bill by our President. All participants will receive Certificate of Completion.
For additional information contact us at +1 866-277-2123 extension 1, via email at info@girlsinpolitics.com or visit our website at www.girlsinpolitics.com. Ticketing options for girls ages 8-11 and 12-17. Please no solicitation emails or calls. We do not book speakers, book vendors or recruit volunteers for events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this event a drop-off? All camps are drop-off unless parent participation is indicated. Parents may wait at the venue for the duration of the camp in any of the lounge or seating area throughout the hotel. The meeting room space capacity can only accommodate students and staff.
Is the registration fee refundable? The registration fee is non-refundable unless the organizer cancels the session. If a participant is unable to attend a session a credit will be placed on file that may be used at any time for a future program. The credit does not expire.
Is this a partisan program or supported by a political party? No, the Girls in Politics Initiative is an independent organization that is self-funded through the fees generated from hosting sessions. The curriculum is civic education.
Is financial assistance available? Due to rising costs associated with hosting events, there is no financial assistance available for this event and there is no promo code for this event.
Who are the instructors? Our Lead Instructors are women that currently or have previously worked in government or electoral politics. Our support staffers are current or former licensed teachers. All instructors and support staff undergo background screening. All instructors and support staff are also in compliance with any local ordinances or state/provincial regulations applicable to those working with children.

Camp Congress for Girls Atlanta 2026
2026-01-17 08:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | 640 Peachtree Street, 640 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA, 30308, United States
It’s all fun & civics at Camp Congress for Girls Atlanta 2026. Young leaders study government, run for office & pass a bill.

Camp Congress for Girls Atlanta 2026 is a leadership program that introduces girls to U.S. politics. Camp begins with a lesson on the structure of our political system. Each girl will choose to run for a seat in the US House of Representatives, the US Senate or for the presidency. She will create her own campaign with a platform, campaign finance plan, and film a political ad. All campers will register to vote and then vote in an election. Once elected to Congress and sworn in, the newly installed members of Congress will learn how to introduce a bill, debate the merits of the bill, lobby fellow legislators, collaborate with the Executive branch and finally vote on the proposed bill. Camp will culminate with a ceremonial signing of the bill by our Ms. President. All participants will receive Certificate of Completion. Girl Scouts qualify to earn a badge for participation; badges are not provided.
For additional information contact us at +1 866-277-2123 extension 1, via email at info@girlsinpolitics.com or visit our website at www.girlsinpolitics.com. Ticketing options for students ages 8-11 and 12-17. Please no solicitation emails or calls. We do not book speakers, book vendors or recruit volunteers for events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this event a drop-off? All camps are drop-off unless parent participation is indicated. Parents may wait at the venue for the duration of the camp in any of the lounge or seating area throughout the hotel. The meeting room space capacity can only accommodate students and staff.
Is the registration fee refundable? The registration fee is non-refundable unless the organizer cancels the session. If a participant is unable to attend a session a credit will be placed on file that may be used at any time for a future program. The credit does not expire.
Is this a partisan program or supported by a political party? No, the Girls in Politics Initiative is an independent organization that is self-funded through the fees generated from hosting sessions. The curriculum is civic education.
Is financial assistance available? Due to rising costs associated with hosting events, there is no financial assistance available for this event and there is no promo code for this event.
Who are the instructors? Our Lead Instructors are women that currently or have previously worked in government or electoral politics. Our support staff are current or former licensed teachers. All instructors and support staff undergo background screening. All instructors and support staff are also in compliance with any local ordinances or state/provincial regulations applicable to those working with children.

Camp Congress for Girls Las Vegas 2026
2026-01-17 08:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 3275 Paradise Rd, 3275 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, NV, 89109, United States
It’s all fun & civics at Camp Congress for Girls Las Vegas 2026. Young leaders study government, run for office & pass a bill.

Camp Congress for Girls Las Vegas 2026 is a leadership program that introduces girls to U.S. politics. Camp begins with a lesson on the structure of our political system. Each girl will choose to run for a seat in the US House of Representatives, the US Senate or for the presidency. She will create her own campaign with a platform, campaign finance plan, and film a political ad. All campers will register to vote and then vote in an election. Once elected to Congress and sworn in, the newly installed members of Congress will learn how to introduce a bill, debate the merits of the bill, lobby fellow legislators, collaborate with the Executive branch and finally vote on the proposed bill. Camp will culminate with a ceremonial signing of the bill by our Ms. President. All participants will receive Certificate of Completion.
For additional information contact us at +1 866-277-2123 extension 1, via email at info@girlsinpolitics.com or visit our website at www.girlsinpolitics.com. Ticketing options for girls ages 8-11 and 12-17. Please no solicitation emails or calls. We do not book speakers, book vendors or recruit volunteers for events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this event a drop-off? All camps are drop-off unless parent participation is indicated. Parents may wait at the venue for the duration of the camp in any of the lounge or seating area throughout the hotel. The meeting room space capacity can only accommodate students and staff.
Is the registration fee refundable? The registration fee is non-refundable unless the organizer cancels the session. If a participant is unable to attend a session a credit will be placed on file that may be used at any time for a future program. The credit does not expire.
Is this a partisan program or supported by a political party? No, the Girls in Politics Initiative is an independent organization that is self-funded through the fees generated from hosting sessions. The curriculum is civic education.
Is financial assistance available? Due to rising costs associated with hosting events, there is no financial assistance available for this event and there is no promo code for this event.
Who are the instructors? Our Lead Instructors are women that currently or have previously worked in government or electoral politics. Our support staffers are current or former licensed teachers. All instructors and support staff undergo background screening. All instructors and support staff are also in compliance with any local ordinances or state/provincial regulations applicable to those working with children.

Camp Congress for Girls Nashville 2026
2026-01-17 08:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | 170 4th Ave N, 170 4th Avenue North, Nashville, TN, 37219, United States
It’s all fun & civics at Camp Congress for Girls Nashville 2025. Girls study government, run for office & pass a bill.

Camp Congress for Girls Nashville 2026 is a leadership program that introduces girls to United States politics. Camp begins with a lesson on the structure of our political system. Each girl will choose to run for a seat in the US House of Representatives, the US Senate or for the presidency. She will create her own campaign with a platform, campaign finance plan, and film a political ad. All campers will register to vote and then vote in an election. Once elected to Congress and sworn in, the newly installed members of Congress will learn how to introduce a bill, debate the merits of the bill, lobby fellow legislators, collaborate with the Executive branch and finally vote on the proposed bill. Camp will culminate with a ceremonial signing of the bill by our Ms. President. Participating Girl Scouts earn a democracy or citizen badge.
For additional information contact us at +1 866-277-2123 extension 1, via email at info@girlsinpolitics.com or visit our website at www.girlsinpolitics.com. Ticketing options for students ages 8-11 and 12-17. Please no solicitation emails or calls. We do not book speakers, book vendors or recruit volunteers for events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this event a drop-off? All camps are drop-off unless parent participation is indicated. Parents may wait at the venue for the duration of the camp in any of the lounge or seating area throughout the hotel. The meeting room space capacity can only accommodate students and staff.
Is the registration fee refundable? The registration fee is non-refundable unless the organizer cancels the session. If a participant is unable to attend a session a credit will be placed on file that may be used at any time for a future program. The credit does not expire.
Is this a partisan program or supported by a political party? No, the Girls in Politics Initiative is an independent organization that is self-funded through the fees generated from hosting sessions. The curriculum is civic education.
Is financial assistance available? Due to rising costs associated with hosting events, there is no financial assistance available for this event and there is no promo code for this event.
Who are the instructors? Our Lead Instructors are women that currently or have previously worked in government or electoral politics. Our support staff are current or former licensed teachers. All instructors and support staff undergo background screening. All instructors and support staff are also in compliance with any local ordinances or state/provincial regulations applicable to those working with children.

The President participates in the Southern Boulevard Dedication Ceremony
2026-01-16 15:15 (America/New_York) | Palm Beach, FL

Out-of-Town Pool Call Time
2026-01-16 10:50 (America/New_York) | Joint Base Andrews
Out-of-Town Pool

The President participates in The Great, Historic Investment in Rural Health Roundtable
2026-01-16 10:00 (America/New_York) | East Room
Pre-Credentialed Media

In-Town Pool Call Time
2026-01-16 09:00, 2026-01-15 09:00 (America/New_York) | The White House
In-Town Pool

MLK Unity Breakfast 2026
2026-01-16 07:30 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | VanDyk Mortgage Convention Center, 460 West Western Avenue, Muskegon, MI, 49440, United States
Breakfast, keynote featuring Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, Detroit NAACP President and a local panel discussion on unity here in Muskegon.

To purchase reserved tables of 8 contact dan.rinsema-sybenga@muskegoncc.edu.
The 29th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast on Friday, January 16, 2026 will take the VanDyk Mortgage Convention Center, in downtown Muskegon. The event will feature a panel discussion on local unity efforts following the keynote address. As our keynote speaker we are extremely excited to present Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, Detroit NAACP President.

Reverend Dr. Wendell Anthony is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. He was educated in the Detroit Public School system. He graduated from Wayne State University with a B.A. in Political Science and Marygrove College with an M.A. in Pastoral Ministry. He attended the University of Detroit for advanced study in Black Theology. Rev. Anthony is a Certified Social Worker with the State of Michigan. On May 12, 2007, Rev. Anthony was the keynote speaker for the Graduation Class of Marygrove College at which time the Board of Trustees conferred upon Rev. Anthony the degree of Honorary Doctor of Arts. In 2022, Wayne State University conferred upon Rev. Anthony the degree of Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa. He became the Pastor of Fellowship Chapel in December 1986 following the passing of Reverend James E. Wadsworth, Jr. Rev. Anthony is the developer of the Isuthu Institute (Coming into Manhood Rites of Passage Program) for boys ages 6-18, dealing with African American male responsibility. It is one of the oldest mentoring programs of its kind in the country. He also initiated its female counterpart, the Intonjane Institute (Coming into Womanhood Rites of Passage Program) for girls ages 6-18.
Currently, Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony is a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors. In addition, he is serving his 17th term as President of the Detroit Branch NAACP, a position he has held for 30 years. The Detroit Branch NAACP is the largest branch in the country. It hosts the largest sit-down dinner in the nation, bringing at least 10,000 persons to gather every year to celebrate and commemorate the struggle for social justice, freedom, and equality.
Reverend Anthony is the originator of the Take Your Souls to the Polls voter registration and mobilization program. This was initiated to bring about greater youth involvement in the electoral process. He is also the recipient of numerous awards and recognition, locally and nationally. Among them are the Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference How Beautiful Are Thy Feet Award and the 2021 NAACP Image Award for Activist of the Year. During the pandemic of 2020, Reverend Anthony led and coordinated the Connected Futures Program with business and corporate leaders. This program raised $23 million to provide laptop and Wi-Fi connectivity for 51,000 students, grades K-12, in the Detroit Public Schools Community District. It serves as a model for the nation.
For more details visit www.muskegoncc.edu/unity

Nell Bernstein and Chesa Boudin on the Fight to Close Youth Prisons
2026-01-15 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA, 94105, United States
Learn how a coalition of parents, activists & prison officials reformed a longstanding institution, & what other movements can learn from it

Over the past 20 years, one state after another has shuttered its youth prisons and stopped trying kids as adults, slashing the number of incarcerated children by a stunning 75 percent. How did this change come about? In the sequel to her 2014 award-winning book Burning Down the House, journalist Nell Bernstein dissects the forces that converged to move us from what she calls a moral panic about “juvenile superpredators” to a time in which the youth prison is rapidly fading from view.
In Our Future We Are Free begins and ends with the imprisoned youth who took a leading role in their own liberation. Through vivid profiles, Bernstein chronicles the tireless work of mothers, activists, litigators, researchers, and journalists to expose and challenge the “racist brutality of youth prisons”—as well as the surprising story of prison officials who worked from the inside to close their institutions for good. The descriptions of how communities are pursuing safety, rehabilitation, and accountability outside of locked institutions offers a model for how we might overcome our addiction to incarceration writ large.
Join Nell Bernstein and Chesa Boudin to learn how a coalition of parents, activists, and prison officials reformed what she calls “racist and destructive institution,” and what other social movements can learn from that struggle.
SPEAKERS
Nell Bernstein, Author, Burning Down the House, All Alone in the World, and In Our Future We Are Free
Moderator: Chesa Boudin, Lawyer; Former San Francisco District Attorney; Founding Executive Director, the Criminal Law & Justice Center at UC Berkeley
5:30 p.m. doors open & check-in6–7 p.m. program7 p.m. book signing(all times Pacific Time)
Photos courtesy the speakers.

The President participates in a Visit of the 2025 Stanley Cup Champions The Florida Panthers
2026-01-15 16:00 (America/New_York) | East Room

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt
2026-01-15 13:00 (America/New_York) | James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
On Camera

The President participates in a lunch meeting with María Corina Machado
2026-01-15 12:30 (America/New_York) | Private Dining Room
Closed Press

COP30 to COP31: Will Climate Cooperation Wane Before Emissions Peak?
2026-01-15 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Perry World House, 3803 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
.

Ten years after the Paris Agreement demonstrated a profound collective will to address global emissions, the world’s efforts to confront the accelerating climate crisis reached a pivotal moment at the UN Climate Conference (COP30) in the Amazon. Emissions continue to rise as multilateralism is met with more and more challenges.
While COP30 participants acknowledged the Paris Agreement’s past successes, the proceedings highlighted a difficult reality: the political will needed for momentous multilateral agreement remains elusive. Instead, progress was characterized less by formal consensus and more by achievements outside the official process. These “outside track” successes included initiatives led by Brazil, Colombia, and the Netherlands to make progress on transitioning away from fossil fuels; the launch of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF); new momentum on carbon pricing and markets; and various efforts related to non-CO2 gases. Parties did agree on a goal to triple adaptation finance, but they did not MANAGE a robust response to countries’ climate action plans also known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
The next Climate Conference (COP31) will be a partnership between Türkiye and Australia. A central question will be if there is a “new normal” or if the formal process can revive ambition and multilateralism. Is the WORLD pivoting permanently toward a model where the most significant climate action happens on the outside track?
Join Perry World House for this critical expert discussion with current and former climate negotiators.
Speakers
Sue Biniaz most recently served as the principal deputy special envoy for climate at the U.S. State Department, where, among other things, she led the U.S. team on international climate negotiations. From 1989 to 2017, she was the State Department’s lead climate lawyer and played a role in the development of all the major climate agreements, including the Paris Agreement. As deputy legal advisor and in other positions, she was responsible for legal issues related to U.S. treaty practice, the environment, oceans, outer space, the Western Hemisphere, Europe, Asia, Somali piracy, human rights, law enforcement, and private international law. She is a senior fellow and lecturer at the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs.
Anne Rasmussen is a distinguished Samoan climate expert and a leading voice for vulnerable nations in international climate diplomacy. With over a decade of experience in high-level negotiations, she currently serves as the Chief Negotiator for the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
A graduate of the University of the South Pacific with a background in geography and postgraduate expertise in climate change, Rasmussen began her diplomatic career at COP18 in 2012. Since then, she has held pivotal roles in the UN climate process, including leading negotiations on climate finance for the Green Climate Fund and serving as a Vice-President at COP27.
Dr Sally Box leads the International Climate Negotiations Division in the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. She is Australia’s Head of Delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and has led the Australian negotiations team at the four most recent UN Climate Conferences of the Parties.
Prior to this role, Sally served as the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Commissioner, where she led the development and implementation of the Threatened Species Strategy and the environmental response to the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.
Sally has over 20 years’ experience working in the Australian Public Service in the fields of climate change and environment policy development, program delivery, regulation, and communications. She has a PhD in Plant Sciences from the Australian National University and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Adelaide.
Sally was awarded a Public Service Medal in 2022 for her leadership of the environmental response to the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.
Sally lives in Canberra, Australia, with her husband, four children and much-loved black labrador.

S.F. Politics Preview 2026: Lurie Enters Year 2, Pelosi Exits, and More
2026-01-15 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA, 94105, United States
Check in with some of the city’s top political reporters to talk about Pelosi’s legacy, the Lurie administration, and Trump vs. S.F.

San Francisco politics is rarely dull, but 2026 is shaping up to be particularly eventful. Nancy Pelosi, the first and only woman elected U.S. House speaker, has announced her retirement after nearly four decades serving San Francisco in Congress. The race to succeed her is wide-open, though State Senator Scott Wiener and Supervisor Connie Chan have already thrown their hats in.
Meanwhile, Mayor Daniel Lurie starts his second year in office with high approval ratings and ambitious plans to boost housing construction and overhaul the City Charter. He’s also still facing fallout from a bungled effort to appoint a supervisor in the city’s Sunset District. His first pick, a former pet store owner with no political experience, resigned after allegations over unsanitary conditions and poor management at her small business.
We’ll check in with some of the city’s top political reporters to talk about Pelosi’s legacy, what to expect from the Lurie administration, and how the city will cope with federal cuts and Trump’s ongoing crackdown on Democratic cities.
SPEAKERS
Marisa Lagos, Correspondent for KQED’s California Politics and Government Desk and Co-host of the weekly show and podcast, “Political Breakdown”
Joe Eskenazi, Managing Editor/Columnist, Mission Local
Additional Speaker TBA
Moderator: John Zipperer, Vice President of Media & Editorial, Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California
11:30 a.m. doors open & check-in12–1 p.m. program(all times Pacific Time)
Speaker photos courtesy the speakers; San Francisco City Hall photo by Jose Mª Izquierdo Galiot.

The President receives his Intelligence Briefing
2026-01-15 11:00 (America/New_York) | Oval Office

Breaking the Polarization Trap: A New Approach to Political Cooperation
2026-01-14 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA, 94105, United States
DeClive-Lowe will join us to discuss the growing movement, APV’s efforts, and actions ordinary citizens can take,

Political polarization has become a top concern for Americans, surpassing issues such as immigration, inflation or crime, according to an October 2025 poll by The New York Times and Siena University. This is a major shift from before the 2024 election, when it “barely registered” as an issue. Most voters now doubt the country’s divisions can be overcome.
Still, Americans also say they want leaders to cooperate across party lines. So what should be done? Liam deClive-Lowe believes that part of the answer is to make it less risky for politicians to collaborate across the aisle. He’s the president and co-founder of American Policy Ventures (APV), a nonpartisan organization that works with members of Congress, philanthropists and policy leaders to “de-risk cross-partisan collaboration and pragmatic governance.”
The APV team, including former Republican and Democratic staffers, seeks to achieve this by changing the incentive structures that deepen polarization. When politicians are seen working with the other side, they are often demonized by their own base. DeClive-Lowe wants cooperation to become something that is rewarded, not punished.
APV is just one of a number of recently formed groups in the nation’s capital looking to promote bipartisanship and solve the polarization crisis. DeClive-Lowe will join Commonwealth Club World Affairs to discuss the growing movement, APV’s efforts, and actions ordinary citizens can take.
SPEAKERS
Liam deClive-Lowe, President & Co-Founder, American Policy Ventures (APV); Executive Director, Humanity Forward
In conversation with Melissa Caen, Legal and Political Analyst; Attorney
5:30 p.m. doors open & check-in6–7 p.m. program(all times Pacific Time)
Photo courtesy the speaker; main illustration by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay.

The President participates in a Signing Ceremony
2026-01-14 14:00 (America/New_York) | Oval Office
White House Press Pool

Legal Responses to Minority Rights in Post-Conflict Societies
2026-01-14 12:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics, 133 South 36th Street, Suite 335, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
This month’s graduate student workshop examines how political upheavals reshape the rights and recognition of minorities.

This session examines how political upheavals reshape the rights and recognition of minorities. By tracing how states, international organizations, and revolutionary leaders redefine who counts as a protected subject, the two papers show how marginalized groups invoke and contest legal categories to secure mobility, political voice, and substantive equality.
Paper Abstracts:
Jewish Refugees in the Age of the Jewish Nation: Soviet Jews as “Cold War Refugees” or “Israeli Repatriates” 1971-1991Alexandra (Sasha) Zborovsky
In 1951 members of the United Nations gathered to draft the modern definition of “refugee.” There they distinguished Jewish survivors of the Holocaust as the ultimate archetype. But as the Cold War intensified, the term “refugee” expanded to include millions of new victims of displacement, ranging from Hungarian to Indochinese migrants. By the 1970s, as hundreds of thousands of the Soviet Union’s Jewish citizens—targets of de facto antisemitism—began emigrating from the world’s first socialist state, the world was once again forced to contend with Jews as refugees. In the decades to follow, European states and Jewish philanthropic agencies administrated the departure of over one million Jews from the USSR, many of whom were denaturalized by the Soviet state. This time, however, Western humanitarian organizations found themselves at odds with Israeli diplomats and Jewish nationalists. An agreement could not be reached: with the existence of a Jewish nation, could a Jew be a refugee? Few dared argue that Soviet Jews met the criteria of demonstrating a “well-founded fear of persecution.” It was the issue of statelessness that sowed discord. While the Israeli government argued that all stateless Soviet Jews were automatically Israeli citizens and did not qualify as refugees, Western states and NGOs campaigned for a freedom of movement that rejected this model of national repatriation. My work reveals not only how states and world leaders manipulated concepts of citizenship, refugeehood, and repatriation in order to direct and control the mobility of Soviet Jews, but how Soviet Jews also engaged these terms to retain agency over their transit and resettlement processes. Their experiences unveil the inherent contradictions of refugeehood. Designed to augment individual human rights, the political category remained tethered to the nation-state.
Between Elite Strategy and Mass Mobilization: Women’s Political Empowerment in Anti-Colonial Social RevolutionsJohanna Reyes Ortega
Why do some social revolutions advance women’s rights while others do not? Although scholars agree that conflict can open windows of opportunity for gender equality, existing explanations overlook how the type of revolution shapes these outcomes. I argue that anticolonial social revolutions are more likely to expand women’s rights than revolutions aimed solely at domestic redistribution or regime change. Because anticolonial struggles require broad-based mobilization against a foreign power, revolutionary leaders must articulate inclusive visions of liberation that transcend class and gender divisions. These ideological appeals become institutionalized through mass organizations that link women to the new state, embedding equality within the regime’s legitimacy and state-building project. By contrast, revolutions confronting domestic elites can rely on narrower, class-based coalitions and pragmatic appeals, resulting in symbolic rather than substantive gender reforms. Consistent with this theory, cross-national evidence since 1900 shows that women’s political empowerment increases most sharply following social anticolonial revolutions. A complementary case study of the 1959 Cuban Revolution demonstrates how the regime expanded women’s citizenship to consolidate revolutionary authority—equating women’s liberation with the revolution’s success and suppressing resistance to egalitarian reform. The findings underscore how bottom-up mobilization can generate new channels of accountability and democratic bargaining, even under authoritarian regimes.
Speaker bios:
Alexandra (Sasha) Zborovsky is a PhD Candidate in History at the University of Pennsylvania and a Visiting Instructor at Bryn Mawr College. She is a historian of the former Soviet Union with a focus on Jewish experience and twentieth century mobility regimes. Her work has been supported by the Association for Slavic East European and Euriasian Studies, the Center for Jewish History, and Penn’s Center for the Study of Ethnicity, Race, and Immigration. Her research investigates the departure of more than one million Jews from the former Soviet Union throughout the mid-to-late twentieth century and the diplomatic, ideological, and social circumstances at the foundation of this great emigration.
Johanna Reyes Ortega is a PhD Candidate in Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, with a focus on comparative politics, gender, and the political economy of development. Her research examines the long-term effects of conflict and social movements on gender dynamics in Latin America, with a focus on Mexico, Cuba, and Central America. In her dissertation, she examines the determinants of gender inequality in post-WWII revolutionary contexts. Her work applies mixed causal inference and machine learning methods that employ large-scale administrative, survey, and archival data.

In-Town Pool Call Time
2026-01-14 09:00 (America/New_York)
