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.
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 Ambassador
Youth Ambassadors
Jon Marston
Treasurer
Executive Committee
Mielle Marquis
Director
Directors
Jerry Dunfey
Founding President
Honorary Global Advisory Co Chairs
John Kenneth Galbraith
Honorary Global Advisory Co-Chair Emeritus
Honorary Global Advisory Co Chairs
Marguerite Mariama
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Janet Dewart-Bell
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Pamme Boutselis
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Maura Dunfey-Hwang
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Judith Thompson
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Deb Roepke
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Jose Galvez
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Phoebe de Larrabeiti
Assistant Director
Staff
James McKim
Interim Chair
Executive Committee
Eleanor Dunfey Freiburger
Director
Directors
Michael Lockett
Director
Directors
Andrew Young
Honorary Global Advisory Co-Chair
Honorary Global Advisory Co Chairs
Nadine Hack
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Barry Bluestone
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Jerilyn Asher
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Ana Klincic Andrews
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Colette Philips
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Alice Burume
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Dawn Wivell
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Shawn Carey
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Savannah Champion
Social Media and Website Intern
Staff
Sean O'Kane
Chair
Executive Committee
Soudie Tahmassebipour
Director
Directors
Tito Jackson
Director
Directors
Mary Robinson
Honorary Global Advisory Co-Chair
Honorary Global Advisory Co Chairs
Catherine Rielly
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Elizabeth Richards
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Martin O'Brien
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
George Kinder
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Stephen Reno
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Robert MacPherson
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Miki Jacevic
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Stanley Asango
Youth Ambassador
Youth Ambassadors
Priscilla Lee
Secretary
Executive Committee
Sakshi Chandra
Director
Directors
Nancy Vawter
Director
Directors
Desmond Tutu
Honorary Global Advisory Co Chair Emeritus
Honorary Global Advisory Co Chairs
James Brett
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Gordon Humphrey
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Heeten Kalan
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
David Hudson
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Theresa de Langis
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Abdi Iftin
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
Francine Joselowsky
Global Advisor
Global Advisors
"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:
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
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"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness."
ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU