About Us

Global Citizens Circle brings people together for honest, civil conversation across the divides that usually keep them apart, working across generations to push back on polarization and move toward just, peaceful solutions.

Hala Al-Dosari speaking

Jesse Jackson

Final panel

Hala Al-Dosari speaking

1/4

Every hard problem the world faces - division, injustice, conflict, global warming – becomes worse when people who could solve it together, stop talking to each other openly and honestly.

Since 1974, Global Citizens Circle has believed that “change begins with people, and people change through conversation.”

How we make change.

If we bring people from different backgrounds, generations, and beliefs together in a respectful space, then they listen to each other's stories and perspectives.

This helps them challenge their assumptions, build trust, and understand one another. As trust grows, people move beyond disagreement and start finding common ground. They begin to believe that positive change is possible.

When hope is supported by strong relationships and clear next steps, people take action in their families, workplaces, communities, and movements.

And when many people act together across generations and countries, they help build a stronger civil society and create lasting, peaceful, and just change.

Meet Our Team

Theo Spanos Dunfey

President & Executive Director

Staff

Esther Avalos Flores

Youth Ambassadors

Jon Marston

Treasurer

Executive Committee

Mielle Marquis

Directors

Jerry Dunfey

Founding President

Honorary Global Advisory Co Chairs

John Kenneth Galbraith

Honorary Global Advisory Co-Chairs

Honorary Global Advisory Co Chairs

Marguerite Mariama

Global Advisors

Janet Dewart-Bell

Global Advisors

Pamme Boutselis

Global Advisors

Maura Dunfey-Hwang

Global Advisors

Judith Thompson

Global Advisors

Deb Roepke

Global Advisors

Jose Galvez

Global Advisors

Phoebe de Larrabeiti

Assistant Director

Staff

James McKim

Interim Chair

Executive Committee

Eleanor Dunfey Freiburger

Directors

Michael Lockett

Directors

Andrew Young

Honorary Global Advisory Co-Chairs

Honorary Global Advisory Co Chairs

Nadine Hack

Global Advisors

Barry Bluestone

Global Advisors

Jerilyn Asher

Global Advisors

Ana Klincic Andrews

Global Advisors

Colette Philips

Global Advisors

Alice Burume

Global Advisors

Dawn Wivell

Global Advisors

Shawn Carey

Global Advisors

Savannah Champion

Social Media and Website Intern

Staff

Sean O'Kane

Chair

Executive Committee

Soudie Tahmassebipour

Directors

Tito Jackson

Directors

Mary Robinson

Honorary Global Advisory Co-Chairs

Honorary Global Advisory Co Chairs

Catherine Rielly

Global Advisors

Elizabeth Richards

Global Advisors

Martin O'Brien

Global Advisors

George Kinder

Global Advisors

Stephen Reno

Global Advisors

Robert MacPherson

Global Advisors

Miki Jacevic

Global Advisors

Stanley Asango

Youth Ambassadors

Priscilla Lee

Secretary

Executive Committee

Sakshi Chandra

Directors

Nancy Vawter

Directors

Desmond Tutu

Honorary Global Advisory Co Chairs

James Brett

Global Advisors

Gordon Humphrey

Global Advisors

Heeten Kalan

Global Advisors

David Hudson

Global Advisors

Theresa de Langis

Global Advisors

Abdi Iftin

Global Advisors

Francine Joselowsky

Global Advisors

Action Areas

Conflict Resolution & Reconciliation

Human &
Civil Rights

Education & Opportunity

Global Reach &
Local Action

Social Transformation & Justice

Sustainable
Development

"I cannot thank Global Citizens Circle enough for the reaffirming and reinvigorating opportunity which participation in the Circle afforded. It was powerful in every respect."

BERNADETTE DEVLIN-MCALISKEY, NORTHERN IRELAND CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER

Our Allies

We firmly believe that strength lies in unity, and progress is driven by fostering an environment of inclusiveness and civil dialogue.

This is why we actively collaborate with these organizations that echo our core values:

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Our History

Global Citizens Circle was founded as New England Circle in 1974 in the aftermath of a turbulent decade of assassinations, wars, racial tension, and government upheaval as a way of gathering concerned people of diverse backgrounds and opinions to address critical issues of our time. Its original mission remains: “to foster diversity, discussion, and constructive change in ourselves, our nation, and our world.”

Through the decades and across tables and continents, the Circle has encouraged and inspired highly participatory, spirited conversations on race relations in the US, Northern Ireland’s troubles, South Africa’s struggles, children, families and community, homelessness, nuclear proliferation, the AIDS pandemic, China’s labor camps, Haiti and Cuba, and women’s rights — to name but a few.

1974-2003

"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness."

ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU