UCCD is proud to welcome Dodge Billingsley as our guest speaker for the World Affairs Speaker Series as he discusses America’s continued entanglement with Afghanistan and why we should continue to care.
Event Date | Sep 15, 2022 7:00 pm |
Event End Date | Sep 15, 2022 8:30 pm |
Individual Price | Free & open to the public event |
Categories | World Affairs Symposium Series |
We are no longer accepting registration for this event
Join World Trade Center Utah and Utah Global Diplomacy for a conversation and breakfast with Kevin Cassidy from the International Labour Organization as he speaks on maximizing the social and economic opportunities of climate action.
Event Date | Sep 23, 2022 9:00 am |
Individual Price | Free & open to the public event |
Categories | World Affairs Symposium Series |
We are no longer accepting registration for this event
Join Utah Global Diplomacy as we welcome Dane Bland with Rainbow Railroad as he discusses how they help LGBTQI+ individuals worldwide find safety and access lives free from persecution, and what individuals in Utah can do to be part of the solution.
Event Date | Oct 24, 2022 7:00 pm |
Individual Price | Free-Open to the public |
Categories | World Affairs Symposium Series |
We are no longer accepting registration for this event
Event Date | Feb 16, 2023 1:00 pm |
Event End Date | Feb 16, 2023 5:30 pm |
Individual Price | Free & open to the public |
Categories | World Affairs Symposium Series |
We are no longer accepting registration for this event
Event Date | Feb 16, 2023 1:00 pm |
Event End Date | Feb 16, 2023 5:30 pm |
Individual Price | Free & open to the public |
Categories | World Affairs Symposium Series |
We are no longer accepting registration for this event
Event Date | Jun 16, 2023 9:00 am |
Event End Date | Jun 16, 2023 3:30 pm |
Capacity | 300 |
Individual Price | Free & open to the public |
Categories | World Affairs Symposium Series |
We are no longer accepting registration for this event
Event Date | Oct 07, 2023 9:30 am |
Event End Date | Oct 07, 2023 3:00 pm |
Individual Price | Free & open to the public |
Categories | World Affairs Symposium Series |
Thursday, 11.9.2023
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM - Registration starts at 8:30 AM (Lunch will be served)
Utah Cultural Celebration Center - West Valley City
355 West 3100 South, West Valley, UT 84119
This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Click the link below.
Utah Global Diplomacy is excited to announce the Ambassador John Price & Marcia Price World Affairs Symposium on Sports Diplomacy: Leveling the Socio-economic Playing Field.
The symposium will discuss a variety of topics and will welcome leading experts, athletes, policymakers, and businesses to explore the concept of sports diplomacy and its impact on a global Utah.
The symposium aims to explore the concept of sports diplomacy to foster positive social change by exploring the transformative potential of sports diplomacy in dismantling barriers, as well as exploring the potential economic growth of sports tourism, the Olympics, and policies to boost state outdoor recreation economies.
9:00AM |
Sports Diplomacy: Leveling the Socio-Economic Playing Field Registration starts at 8:30 AM Keynote Speaker: Dr. Neftalie Williams Keynote: Skating Towards Unity: A Journey through Global Sport Diplomacy Dr. Neftalie Williams will take us on an inspiring journey through the world of action sports and how it can serve as a powerful vehicle for diplomacy and social change. In sharing stories and his research, Dr. Williams will share how sports, particularly skateboarding, can break down barriers, foster understanding, and empower youth on a global scale. He will delve into the transformative potential of sports as a means of fostering inclusivity, addressing social disparities, and promoting dialogue among diverse communities. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from a thought leader who is at the forefront of examining the intersection of sports, culture, and diplomacy. Dr. Neftalie Williams' keynote promises to be an enlightening and engaging exploration of how sports can truly level the playing field in our interconnected world. |
10:00AM | Break |
10:15 AM |
Panel: Sports Unite: A Journey Towards Social Change Join us for an electrifying panel that will be a game-changer in discussing sports, culture, and social impact. Our distinguished panel of experts will delve into the influential role that sports and sports culture play in addressing pressing global issues such as race, diversity, identity, and youth empowerment. In a world where unity is more critical than ever, our panelists will share their profound insights and experiences on how sports have the potential to bridge divides and promote inclusivity. We'll explore the transformative stories about how soccer, climbing, and skiing have harnessed the power of sports to challenge the status quo, empower youth, and drive meaningful change in communities in Utah, across the nation, and around the world. Whether you're a sports enthusiast, a social activist, or simply curious about the remarkable impact of sports culture, don't just watch from the sidelines; be a part of the conversation reshaping our world. Panelist: Adam Miles |
11:30 AM |
Luncheon |
1:30 PM |
Panel: Sports for Change: Tackling Global Socio-Economic Challenges Join our panel of experts who will discuss how sports and sports culture can provide innovative approaches and be an economic catalyst that leverage the power of sports for positive change that addresses pressing social issues. Our esteemed panelists will share their experiences and insights into how global sports and sports tourism can transcend borders, unite communities, and drive solutions for socio-economic challenges that affect people right here in Utah. Whether it's using sports as a vehicle for education, economic empowerment, or community development, these thought leaders will showcase real-world success stories that demonstrate the transformative impact of sports on society. Don't miss this conversation and learn how, together, we can champion the idea that sports go beyond entertainment— through economic development, it can drive change that addresses some of the world's most pressing issues. Panelist: Catherine Raney-Norman |
2:45 PM | Closing Remarks |
3:00 PM | Adjourn |
* Each session will be followed by an audience Q&A |
In 2017 Adam Miles left the soul-sucking environment of Wall Street after nearly 20 years of working as a successful financial advisor serving venture capitalists, corporations, and high net worth individuals. Prior to his career as a financial professional Adam worked for global powerhouse, Honda Motor Co. in both the USA and Japan in various capacities including new model cost control and government relations. While staying very busy as an advisor, Adam founded Bridges To America, Inc. (the entity behind Refugee Soccer) in 2005 and has loved the extreme challenges of building and growing the mission of creating moments of hope and happiness for refugees. After 25 years helping others make money, Adam is now solely and happily focused on growing Refugee Soccer into a sustainable venture maximizing positive impact around the world.
Adam has lived numerous years outside the USA on several expatriate assignments, and is fluent in spoken and written Japanese. His home base is Utah but he travels extensively. He has four amazing children, and two great sons-in-law. He also has 5 beautiful, shining grandkids whom he loves dearly. He loves being active including mountain biking in nearby Park City. He is a published author and loves to write and speak publicly as he did with a TEDx Salt Lake City talk about refugees in 2022. Adam loves to say about this work: “It takes so little to do so much.” It is this view that provides him and his team the most extraordinary and fulfilling return on investment of time, capital, and heart.
Catherine Raney Norman is a four-time Olympic speed skater from Elm Grove, Wisconsin who competed in the 1998 Winter Olympics, 2002 Winter Olympics, 2006 Winter Olympics and 2010 Winter Olympics. She serves as chair of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games, which is seeking to bring the Olympics and Paralympics back to Utah in 2030 or 2034.
Raney Norman won the U.S. All round Championship six times and held three U.S. records. She was the silver medalist in the 1999 World Junior Championships in all around. She was inducted into the U.S. Speed Skating Hall of Fame in 2018.
Since retiring from speed skating, she has focused on service to Olympic and Paralympic sport. In 2012, she was appointed by Utah Governor Gary Herbert as an athlete member of an exploratory committee to investigate a future Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games for the state. In February, 2020, she was named to the inaugural Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games as an athlete board member and co-chair of the Athletes' Advisory Committee with Paralympian Chris Waddell. She is vice chair of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation (formerly known as Utah Athletic Foundation), where she joined as a board member in 2011. She was named to chair the committee on June 9, 2021.
Dr. Neftalie Williams is a sociologist and assistant professor at San Diego State University. His previous positions include USC Provost’s Post-Doctoral Scholar at the Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism and Yale Schwarzman Center Visiting Fellow in Race, Culture & Community. He investigates global issues of race, diversity, identity, and youth empowerment, using the lens of action sports culture. Williams holds a Ph.D. from the University of Waikato and has upcoming books with Hatchette Books and UC Press focused on skateboarding culture.
Williams is featured in multiple media outlets and provides commentary on the intersection of skateboarding, diversity, equity and inclusion, regarding the Olympics for the New York Times, CNN, ABC, and other outlets. His research on race with the 2019-2020 USC x Tony Hawk Foundation project was also featured in the New York Times. It is the first national study to assess the impact skateboarding has on young people and their educational and career trajectories. The full Beyond the Board Report is now available.
The first ‘Ambassador of Skateboarding,’ and envoy for the US Department of State, he introduced the concept of skateboarding as a tool for cultural diplomacy in both theory and practice. Utilizing ‘skate diplomacy,’ he aided the US Embassy in the Netherlands in integrating young Syrian refugees into Holland. In Cambodia, his skate diplomacy efforts created new engagement between the U.S. embassy, Cambodian youth, and academic and cultural institutions. Former Chairman of Cuba Skate, Neftalie and the Cuba Skate team created fruitful cultural exchanges between Cuban youth and American professionals in Havana.
Expanding the public dialogue around diversity and inclusion, Neftalie founded "The Nation Skate," a series of public panels, lectures, skateboarding demonstrations, and media that explores the relationship between race, diversity, and diplomacy through skateboarding, academia, and popular culture. He co-founded the College Skateboarding Educational Foundation (CSEF), a non-profit dedicated to creating scholarships for young skateboarders to pursue higher education, and serves on the Boards for the Tony Hawk Foundation, Skateistan, McKinnon Center for Global Affairs, and chairs the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for USA Skateboarding.
If you are interested in sharing information about your organization and would like to table at this event, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Number of tables is limited.
Details coming soon.
Event Date | Nov 09, 2023 8:30 am |
Event End Date | Nov 09, 2023 3:00 pm |
Categories | World Affairs Symposium Series |