LIVE EVENTS
Ambassador Michelle Gavin, Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies at Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)
THE AGE OF CHANGE: HOW URBAN YOUTH ARE TRANSFORMING AFRICAN POLITICS
Center for Contemporary Arts Santa Fe,
1050 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
4:45 pm – 6:30 pm (doors open at 4:45 pm with mocktails & cheeseboard/talk begins at 5:15pm/booksigning at 6:15pm)
$25 members/$40 non-members
Bring a friend for free! Add guest details at registration.
Copies of Ambassador Gavin’s The Age of Change will be available for purchase and signing after the talk.
Africa is emerging as a central player in global geopolitics in the age of artificial intelligence, with vast reserves of critical minerals—cobalt, lithium, manganese, and rare earth elements—essential to AI, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing. As competition over technology and supply chains intensifies, Africa’s significance extends well beyond traditional development narratives, positioning it as a cornerstone of long-term global partnership and influence.
At the same time, Africa is undergoing a major transformation driven by a rapidly growing youth population, increased urbanization, and expanding digital connectivity. As young people reject political narratives that no longer serve them, their influence across the continent is rising.
Gavin examines rising dissatisfaction and demands for change as a unifying political force across Africa, highlighting the frustrated, defiant, and often humorous conversations driving youth political engagement. What lies ahead departs sharply from the region’s political stagnation of the past two decades, compelling major powers—including the United States, Russia, and China—to rethink how they engage with the continent.
Michelle D. Gavin was formerly the managing director of The Africa Center, a multidisciplinary institution dedicated to increasing understanding of contemporary Africa. From 2011 to 2014 she was the U.S. ambassador to Botswana and served concurrently as the U.S. representative to the Southern African Development Community.
VIRTUAL EVENTS
Thirty years ago, the world began to discover the power of the Internet: a digital world and resource to connect, share ideas, learn, and earn. While the rest of the world connected, the Chinese government began creating a system of strict surveillance and censorship on its internet – now known as the Great Firewall.
Today, as the country’s leadership intensifies its control of public discourse and Western headlines reduce the Chinese public to a faceless monolith, what is the true online and on-the ground reality for Chinese citizens?
Join us February 10th on WorldNow as author and journalist Yi-Ling Liu tells the untold story of the Chinese internet. Hear how Chinese citizens have navigated the last 30 years of surveillance and censorship while searching for freedom and connection – behind the Great Firewall
The details:
When: Tuesday, February 10 | 7:00pm-8:00pm Eastern / 5pm Mountain
Where: Zoom Webinar | Registration required
Tickets: No charge, RSVP here
International Visitor Leadership Program Forecast
| We look forward to receiving many new groups of international visitor leaders in 2026! |
Connecting Santa Fe to the World
Our intellectual and cultural leadership empowers our members, students, and communities to be more informed and connected in three ways:
WE IGNITE DIALOGUE AND CITIZEN DIPLOMACY
Elevating global knowledge, ideas, and actions, Global Santa Fe provides year-round dialogues featuring world-class speakers in innovative formats. These are balanced, broad-based presentations, panels, live streams, film screenings, and more, on compelling global issues. Through Dialogue & Diplomacy, we expose participants to points of view that illustrate a deeper story.
WE FACILITATE CULTURAL EXCHANGE WITH INTERNATIONAL LEADERS
In partnership primarily with the U.S. Department of State, we welcome international leaders to New Mexico every year. Our visitors dialogue about professional challenges, investments, culture, international relations, and more, to create an authentic connection that spreads from Santa Fe to the world. The power of sharing our experiences and stories with one another builds lasting friendships and helps us discover that we are not so different after all.
WE ELEVATE GLOBAL AWARENESS AND OPEN DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF CITIZEN DIPLOMATS IN NEW MEXICO THROUGH ENGAGING STUDENTS
Expanding horizons for students in Santa Fe and across New Mexico, Global Santa Fe exposes students to critical global currents and sparks their curiosity. They learn about world affairs through our speakers and international leaders and may apply for scholarship opportunities for foreign study and travel. This elevated global discourse propels our best young minds into educational and career pathways that benefit Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the world.
Featured News Items
Finding Common Ground
Global Santa Fe is a non-partisan non-profit that ignites dialogue about critical world issues.
Proud Partner Of
