Educating Our Local Community On The Pressing Issues Of Our Time
The Pasadena Chapter of UNA-USA is home to programs and annual events that bridge the global and the local throughout the San Gabriel Valley. From high school Model UN and campus chapter initiatives to our Coffee Talks Series and celebrations such as UN Day, Human Rights Day, International Women’s Day, and Earth Day, we connect our community with educators, advocates, and nonprofit professionals focused on the United Nations’ mission of peace, justice, equality, and sustainability. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Pasadena Chapter also supports local initiatives and organizations aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Our speakers include expert educators, scientists, and nonprofit professionals with deep experience in global issues and human rights. Coffee Talks are intimate, engaging presentations that encourage direct dialogue and first-hand insight into critical topics such as extreme poverty, access to education, gender equality and the empowerment of women, environmental sustainability, and the eradication of disease—all grounded in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
OUR PROGRAMS
UNA Day
Women’s Day Celebrations
Coffee Talk Speaker Series
Earth Day
Engagement with High Schools
Human Rights Day
UNA – USA Pasadena Chapter HISTORY
Origin
In 1947, the Pasadena Chapter was formed and became one of the first UNA-USA chapters to be incorporated in 1972. We immediately began an extensive program to educate the general public about the United Nations.
With a membership that covers the San Gabriel Valley, Burbank, Glendale, and Northeast Los Angeles, our Chapter is one of the largest in the nation.
1990s
In 1998, we played a significant role in political affairs as the International Criminal Court (ICC) was established. Our Chapter was instrumental in organizing a Southern California working group on the Court. This group now has its own non-profit status and is successfully promoting the ICC’s objectives.
Early 2000s
Our Chapter sponsored a Night of a Thousand Dinners for many years, collecting funds to clear landmines. From 1999 to 2009, this UNA-USA campaign raised over $25 million, cleared over 1,000 minefields, and assisted thousands of survivors. While the 90s saw 15,000 people dying from landmines each year, today that number has dropped to less than 4,000.
21st Century
Also in 2006, we began an annual partnership with the Pasadena Mayor’s Office to celebrate Human Rights Day, a tradition we have continued with Mayor Victor Gordo. In 2020, our chapter decided to focus on giving more agency leadership opportunities to youth members and campus chapters. It offered students the opportunity to participate in our board meetings, co-lead, and present at our events.
United Nations Association of the USA
UNA – USA
The United Nations Association of the USA serves as a local embodiment of the United Nations. All national associations work closely with the United Nations Foundation and its sister organization, the Better World Campaign, to strengthen the United States-United Nations relationship.
UNA-USA carries out its action agenda through a unique combination of public outreach, policy analysis, and international dialogue.
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The American Association for the United Nations, the UNA’s predecessor, grew out of the League of Nations in 1943. A group of prominent citizens, including the first Executive Director, Clark M. Eichelberger, activated the association to promote acceptance of the Dumbarton Oaks proposals during World War II. Among the association’s early actions was a national tour by several representatives to spread the word and gain support for American adherence to the Dumbarton proposals, which led to the creation of the UN.
When First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, a member of the association’s board of directors, completed her term as a US Representative to the UN General Assembly in 1951, she walked into the association’s offices and asked for something to do. Her offer was joyfully accepted, and in 1953, she established an office at the association’s headquarters. This was the quiet beginning of a major campaign in which Mrs. Roosevelt carried the message of the American Association for the United Nations across the country through personal appearances, recruitment speeches, and fund-raising efforts that continued until her death in November 1962. She was elected chairwoman of the board in 1961.
In 1964, the association merged with the US Committee for the United Nations, a group of 138 national organizations supporting the work of the UN. Thus, the United Nations Association of the United States of America was born and has seen several distinguished Americans serve in leadership positions at UN-USA. These include Arthur J. Goldberg, former Justice of the US Supreme Court and US permanent representative to the United Nations; James S. McDonnell, former chairman of the McDonnell-Douglas Corporation; Elliot L. Richardson, former US attorney general and US representative to the Law of the Sea Conference; William Scranton, former governor of Pennsylvania and US permanent representative to the United Nations; Cyrus Vance, former secretary of state; and John C. Whitehead, former deputy secretary of state.
In 2010, UNA-USA formed a strategic alliance with the UN Foundation. Under the new coalition, UNA-USA continues as a robust membership program of the Foundation (Photo above right). Together, UNA-USA and the UN Foundation are pooling their talents to increase public education and advocacy on the work of the UN.