Welcome to Santa Barbara & Tri-Counties Chapter of UNA-USA!
The United Nations Association - USA is a membership organization dedicated to building understanding of and support for the work of the UN, founded in 1945. Our mission is to educate the public to strengthen US involvement in the United Nations.
For more information, please read about us or contact the chapter by e-mailing info@unasb.org. You can join us directly, too, through our membership page.
2025 Chapter Monthly Meeting Calendar
We are your United Nations Association, focused on bringing the work of the United Nations to our community, and our community’s concerns to the United Nations. We welcome you to become a member and join our upcoming meeting to discuss important conversations affecting our world.
Our meetings are held each month on the 3rd Tuesdays, 5:30 PM PST on Zoom.
September 21: Peace Prize Event (In-person- at Pasccuci!)
October 24- UN Day Celebration - Guest Speaker Series
November 18: Chapter Board Meeting
December 10: Human Rights Day Celebration (In-person)
Volunteer Opportunities
Sign up today and be part of the change: info@unasb.org.
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International Day of Peace 2025
Advancing Peace Through the SDGs
Observed on Sunday, September 21, 2025, the International Day of Peace commemorates the founding ideals of the United Nations: to promote peace, end conflict, and foster global cooperation. Each year on this day, individuals and nations are reminded of the importance of building a world free from violence and inequality.
The 2025 focus centers on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their direct link to global peace. Through this theme, the day highlights how addressing poverty, inequality, environmental threats, and injustice creates a stronger foundation for peace everywhere.
The Santa Barbara UNA Peace Prize started as a project of the Santa Barbara Chapter of the United Nations Association to recognize outstanding community members of the Tri-County area (San Luis Obispo, Ventura, and Santa Barbara). The Prize is given each year to an individual who has achieved worldwide impact in the service of peace in a way that is tangible and measurable, i.e. a project, something that was built, a movement begun, a law passed, etc.
Please join us as we award Megan Birney Rudert of Unite To Light with our Santa Barbara UNA Peace Prize for 2025!
Nancy Martin
Chapter President's Welcome
Hi! Thank you for coming to see us. We are happy to welcome you. It is my privilege to serve as the Santa Barbara & Tri-Counties ( Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura Counties) Chapter President. The United Nations Association-USA is one of over 200 chapters in cities and universities across the country. There are currently over 100 UNAs across the world.
Many of the members are under 26 years old. Our Chapter is one of the oldest in the country. Our task is to educate, inspire, and encourage you to take action and stand up for what you believe. Our work is to support the United Nations in creating a fairer, more just World.
The United Nations and UNICEF have always been part of my life. I have spent my life as a teacher, beginning in the Peace Corps in Africa, then becoming a Montessori teacher, and later teaching in Santa Barbara, Venezuela, and Singapore. I have had the honor of serving as the Co-Chair of the UNA Human Rights Affinity Group for the last three years. My goal for our local chapter is to focus on Human Rights for all, the Sustainable Development Goals, and peace through dialogue.
I want to encourage you to join us in learning and becoming an active participant.
Why the UN Matters
The United Nations itself is one part of the UN System. Cooperation between the UN and the other entities of the UN system is essential in order to achieve the purposes of the Organization laid out in the UN Charter.
Since its Charter was written, the United Nations has been mandated to do new work which was not envisioned at the time of its creation. The Organization has set goals to build a more sustainable world, and it has agreed to collective action to slow down climate change.
As the problems facing humanity have grown, the work of the United Nations has also grown.
