September 2025 prog preview

Press Release

The Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California
110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA Contact: John Zipperer, 415.597.6715 – jzipperer@commonwealthclub.org ​

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN FRANCISCO (September 5, 2025)—The Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California’s September lineup of speakers and programs includes everyone from San Francisco’s mayor to leading Bay Area chefs to researchers of the science of happiness and more. The nation’s most active public forum is presenting more than 2 dozen programs in person in San Francisco and the Bay Area, and most are also live-streamed.

In the first week, we already heard about the World War II Allies, mentoring children, technology and nonprofits, and philosophy. Here’s a list of what else is on the schedule (additional programs likely to be added), including links to individual event pages where you can read more about each program and speakers.

THE 15TH ANNUAL LUNDBERG INSTITUTE LECTURE: CANCER COMMONS 

Wed, Sep 10 / 6:00 PM PDT San Francisco, Online 
Info & Tickets [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-08/15th-annual-lundberg-institute-lecture-cancer-commons ] 

The Lundberg Institute marks the 15th anniversary of the nonprofit Cancer Commons by dedicating its 15th annual lecture at Commonwealth Club World Affairs to a discussion of the unique approach Cancer Commons takes to helping cancer patients. Since its founding, Cancer Commons has delivered personalized, evidence-based guidance at no charge to more than 10,000 patients and caregivers, supported entirely by philanthropy. They provide patients and their care teams with the actionable information and data needed to make informed decisions, and help identify and access an individualized regimen of therapies that specifically target the molecular drivers of their disease. We’ll hear from Clifford A. Reid (CEO, Cancer Commons, entrepreneur in genomics and enterprise software development), Emma Shtivelman (chief scientist, Cancer Commons; molecular and cell biologist with special expertise in cancer drug development), Jay Tenenbaum (founder and chairman of the board of directors, Cancer Commons; internet entrepreneur; Founder, CommerceNet; long-term survivor of metastatic melanoma), George Lundberg (M.D., editor in chief, Cancer Commons; editor at large, Medscape; clinical professor of pathology, Northwestern University; president and chair, The Lundberg Institute), and our moderator, George Hammond.

UNDERSTANDING THE COMPLEXITIES OF OUR NEW GLOBAL LANDSCAPE 

Wed, Sep 10 / 6:00 PM PDT San Francisco, Online 
Info & Tickets [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-10/understanding-complexities-our-new-global-landscape ]

On 9/11, the United States suffered the deadliest terrorist attack in its history, an event that reshaped American foreign policy for generations to come. In the years that followed, the Global War on Terror consumed national focus, leaving little room to craft a broader grand strategy that addressed rising global powers, shifting alliances, and emerging challenges across the Transatlantic region, the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific, the African continent, and the Western Hemisphere. As a result, U.S. statesmen, scholars, and policymakers now find themselves in search of a strategic framework on par with Cold War-era containment. Others argue there is no coherent “Trump Doctrine” at all—just a series of reactive shocks. In this timely and thought-provoking address, Dr. Kiron Skinner will offer a clear-eyed assessment of the current state of U.S. foreign policy. Attendees can expect a rigorous, nonpartisan exploration of the facts and frameworks shaping America's role on the world stage today.

This program is part of our American Values Series, underwritten by Taube Philanthropies. Additional support is provided by Pepperdine University.

MAYOR DANIEL LURIE: “PEOPLE ARE BETTING ON SAN FRANCISCO AGAIN” 

Thu, Sep 11 / 12:00 PM PDT San Francisco, Online 
Info & Tickets [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-11/mayor-daniel-lurie-people-are-betting-san-francisco-again ]

When Daniel Lurie was sworn in as San Francisco’s 46th mayor in January, he called for "the beginning of a new era of accountability and change at City Hall." Born and raised in the city, Lurie made his name as founder of the Tipping Point Community, a grant-making, anti-poverty nonprofit. During the campaign, Lurie pledged to fix homelessness, improve public safety, and revitalize downtown, among other promises. In July, after six months in office, the mayor said that he had restructured city government to better provide services, and pointed to progress on crime and a reduction in street encampments. But many challenges remain, including a drug overdose epidemic, an affordability crisis, and a retail vacancy problem. Mayor Lurie joins NBC Bay Area anchor Raj Mathai at Commonwealth Club World Affairs in San Francisco to talk about his experience in office so far and to share his vision for the future of the city.

THE ROLE OF THE MILITARY IN DOMESTIC LAW ENFORCEMENT—WOULD THEY FIRE ON CIVILIAN DEMONSTRATORS IF SO ORDERED? 

Thu, Sep 11 / 5:30 PM PDT San Francisco 
Info & Tickets [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-11/role-military-domestic-law-enforcement-would-they-fire-civilian-demonstrators-if ] 

Would our troops be used to quell demonstrations in the United States with force? Seeing crowds in Washington, D.C., during the George Floyd riots in 2020, Trump is reported to have asked "Can't we just shoot them?" How do we answer the question as to whether the current administration will have U.S. troops fire on the crowds? Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Dr. Michael Baker, M.D., will look at the Constitution, especially the 10th Amendment, the Insurrection Act of 1807, and the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878. We will review some history where the military has been used domestically to safeguard civil rights marchers, intervene when requested by governors during violent riots, to stop the Bonus March on Washington in 1932, and to imprison Japanese civilians during World War II. We will also define who is in today's military, where do they come from, how do they line up politically—and would they follow an illegal order and fire on unarmed civilian demonstrators or support a government coup? This is concerning, says Dr. Michael Baker, given the militarization of ICE agents and the deployment of National Guard troops and the Marines to Los Angeles for specious reasons. 

FALL LITERARY SALON: MAXINE HONG KINGSTON, AIMEE LIU, LILY HOANG AND PETE HSU 

Thu, Sep 11 / 6:00 PM PDT San Francisco, Online
Info & Tickets [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-11/fall-literary-salon-maxine-hong-kingston-aimee-liu-lily-hoang-and-pete-hsu ] 

Join the incomparable Maxine Hong Kingston, alongside bestselling and award-winning authors Aimee Liu and Pete Hsu, in a riveting conversation moderated by Lily Hoang at Commonwealth Club World Affairs in San Francisco. It'll be a beautiful evening of literary readings and discussion about the impact of America’s current politics on marginalized writers, readers, and independent presses. Without NEA and NIH funding, what is the fate of literary diversity in America? What can publishers do to prevent erasure of BIPOC perspectives? What can artists do to defend their legacy and protect the future for imagination, creativity, and radical inclusivity? And what rich reserves of literary history can we all draw upon to embolden the voices of resistance in our modern reckoning? We invite you to participate in an urgent exploration of the good, the bad, and the courageous in publishing today. 

CARMEN CASTELLANO JUSTICE IN PHILANTHROPY AWARDS  

Fri, Sep 12 / 7:15 PM PDT Online 
Info & Tickets [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-12/carmen-castellano-justice-philanthropy-awards ] 

The Commonwealth Club World Affairs presents in collaboration with the Chicana Latina Foundation: The Carmen Castellano Philanthropy Celebration recognizes philanthropists and leaders who similarly pursue decolonization of community and equity through giving and kindness. These philanthropists are breaking the mold and supporting people of color in their own way, understanding that diverse organizations have and need a different approach, a philanthropist who understands the differences. This year, we are recognizing Sara Lomelin, Philanthropy Together, Trailblazer Award; Bob Barber, Community Philanthropist; and Maria Galo, Community Philanthopist. 

MIRANDA SPIVACK: BACKROOM DEALS IN OUR BACKYARDS 

Mon, Sep 15 / 5:30 PM PDT San Francisco 
Info & Tickets [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-15/miranda-spivack-backroom-deals-our-backyards ] 

While we are continually being inundated with news about what the federal government is up to, and wondering what else is going on that we don’t know about, Miranda Spivack reminds us that most Americans are more likely to encounter the effects of government malfeasance or neglect closer to home—from their governors, mayors, town councils, school boards, police and prosecutors. Deals shrouded in darkness are regularly made at the state and local levels, the result of closed-door discussions between government officials and industry leaders without any scrutiny whatsoever from the public. Spivack’s revealing take on a hidden dimension of American politics will outrage and educate anyone who cares about the forces shaping their own communities. And it will show how ordinary people are fighting back against their local and state governments to keep their communities safer. Carstensen. 

JILL LEPORE: A HISTORY OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION 

Tue, Sep 16 / 12:00 PM PDT Online 
Info & Tickets [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-16/jill-lepore-history-us-constitution ] 

Two hundred fifty years after the nation’s founding, Harvard professor of history and law Jill Lepore joins us for an online-only program to delve into the foundational document of the country, the Constitution. It’s one of the oldest constitutions in the world, but it has also been criticized for being one of the hardest to change. Lepore explores the history of the Constitution and its pertinence to our current troubled era in her new book We the People. She notes that nearly 12,000 amendments were introduced in Congress since 1789, but only 27 have been ratified. “One of the Constitution’s founding purposes was to prevent change,” she says. “Another was to allow for change without violence.” The last time the U.S. Constitution was amended was in 1971, despite continuing attempts to do so from left and right. Lepore says that without the flexibility to amend the Constitution, there is a higher risk of political violence and of presidential or judicial fiat. 

BLUFF JUSTICE: JEFF BLEICH ON HOW TO FIGHT TRUMP'S COURT SUBJUGATION PLAN 

Tue, Sep 16 / 6:30 PM PDT Lafayette 
Info & Tickets [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-16/bluff-justice-jeff-bleich-how-fight-trumps-court-subjugation-plan ] 

Trump has let loose with a barrage of executive orders, purges of government workers, takeovers of semi-independent organizations, and defunding of numerous organizations and causes since his inauguration in January. His minions are arresting graduate students for expressing opinions in op-eds, scooping up and deporting people appearing at court, and deporting them to third countries. But what happens if Trump openly defies a judge? What happens if he ignores a Supreme Court ruling? The administration has faced numerous court setbacks, with judges challenging and contradicting its actions. Trump has responded with harangues and criticism of judges, possibly promoting violence against them. Trump could be following the path blazed by autocrats Vladimir Putin and Victor Orban by seeking to strip courts of powers and then purge the judiciary. The result would be an executive branch untethered to the rule of law. How will judges respond? What can Congress do? What can you do? Will the madness ever stop? Our speaker, Jeff Bleich, previously served as a U.S. ambassador, an advisor to President Obama, law clerk to Chief Justice William Rehnquist, and chair of the California State University system Board of Trustees. He is currently the chair of the Centre on Democracy and Disruptive Technologies at Flinders University and a visiting scholar at Stanford. and on the Board of Governors of Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California. 

POLITICS IN SEPTEMBER: WEEK TO WEEK POLITICAL ROUNDTABLE 

Wed, Sep 17 / 6:00 PM PDT San Francisco, Online 
Info & Tickets [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-17/politics-september-week-week-political-roundtable ] 

It's time for an early autumn discussion of politics and politicians. Join us in-person or online for the Week to Week political roundtable. Learn more about the people, trends and topics driving the political news of the day. Come early for a pre-program social hour with wine and light bites, then enjoy and learn as our panel of political experts—including the Chronicle’s Joe Garofoli, Melissa Caen, and the Standard’s Josh Koehn—explains what happened and what to expect, and answers your questions. 

WOMEN EMPOWERING WOMEN: THE ART OF TRANSFORMATION 

Wed, Sep 17 / 6:00 PM PDT San Francisco 
Info & Tickets [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-17/women-empowering-women-art-transformation ] 

Join us for the second event in the Women Empowering Women series: “The Art of Transformation,” an evening focused on navigating career shifts, balancing work and family, battling imposter syndrome, and taking bold steps toward meaningful change. You’ll hear from a dynamic panel of women leaders—Debbie Chinn, Vera Maslova, Debra Reabock, and Sawyer Rose—each of whom has forged a unique path through personal and professional transformation. The conversation will be moderated by Dr. Anne W. Smith, Member-Led Forums chair at Commonwealth Club World Affairs. Following the panel, each speaker will host a roundtable discussion, giving you the chance to dive deeper into the topics that matter most to you. A light reception will follow. 

SAVOR SAN FRANCISCO: CHEFS, STORIES, AND BITES 

Thu, Sep 18 / 5:30 PM PDT San Francisco 
Info & Tickets [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-18/savor-san-francisco-chefs-stories-and-bites ] 

Recognized as one of the nation’s top food destinations, San Francisco’s culinary scene thrives on fresh, local ingredients, diverse cultural influences, and a constant drive to innovate. We’ll showcase acclaimed chefs from some of the city’s most beloved restaurants. They’ll share how they became chefs and restaurateurs, the challenges they’ve faced, and memorable moments from their kitchens. Each chef will also treat us to small bites, making this an evening that’s both inspiring and delicious. We’ll hear from Gayle Pirie and John Clark (co-owners, Foreign Cinema), Matthew Accarrino(executive chef/owner, SPQR and Mattina), Laurence Jossel (chef and owner, Nopa and Nopa Fish), Nicole Krasinski (pastry chef & founder/owner, State Bird Provisions, The Progress and The Anchovy Bar), Stuart Brioza (chef & founder/owner, State Bird Provisions, The Progress and The Anchovy Bar) and Ryan Cole (partner, Hi Neighbor Hospitality Group). Patty James will introduce. 

THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS 

Thu, Sep 18 / 6:00 PM PDT San Francisco, Online 
Info & Tickets [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-18/science-happiness ] I

t can be difficult to figure out where to start or what needs to change when we seek to increase the happiness in our lives. There are lots of people with ideas and plans, but what does science have to say? The UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center has drawn on its popular “The Science of Happiness” course and podcast to produce a book called The Science of Happiness Workbook. It includes short, step-by-step practices people can incorporate into their lives—many that can take only 5 or 10 minutes to do. It’s about cultivating the skills and traits that research demonstrates could help people feel happier and more connected to others, from self-compassion to awe to empathy to purpose. It also includes quizzes, tips for overcoming obstacles, and inspiring stories. Join us at Commonwealth World Affairs to hear from Workbook authors Kira M. Newman, Jill Suttie and Shuka Kalantari about cultivating greater well-being and stronger relationships. 

AXIS OF TENSION: IRAN, ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES 

Thu, Sep 18 / 7:15 PM PDT San Rafael 
Info & Tickets [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-18/axis-tension-iran-israel-and-united-states ] 

Explore the evolving balance of power in the Middle East in the latest program from our Marin Chapter. How does U.S. policy, Iran’s regional ambitions, and Israel’s security responses shape the current crisis and future peace prospects? This fast-paced evening unpacks the real-time chess match between the three powers. From covert strikes and proxy militias to diplomatic backchannels and nuclear standoffs, we will break down the key actions, reactions and turning points that have shaped the current Middle East crisis. Who is setting the agenda—and who is just reacting? Who is stopping the peace process? Is peace even possible now? Join us as crime and intelligence analyst Farhad Mansourian gives us an eye-opening look at the players, the power dynamics and what options are available. 

JOE MANCHIN: DEAD CENTER 

Mon, Sep 22 / 12:00 PM PDT Online
Info & Tickets [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-22/joe-manchin-dead-center ] 

Join former U.S. Senator Joe Manchin for a timely and candid online-only conversation about his maverick career in government, crossing party lines, and addressing the dysfunction at the heart of our politics—centered around his new memoir, Dead Center: In Defense of Common Sense. At a time when our country feels more divided than ever, Senator Manchin is inviting Americans back to the center—where solutions are possible, principles still matter, and leadership starts with listening. From the coal fields of Farmington, West Virginia, to some of the highest-stakes decisions in the U.S. Senate, Manchin has never wavered from his core beliefs: fiscal responsibility, social compassion, and putting country before party. He makes a passionate case for a new, solutions-oriented politics rooted in common sense. He will be in conversation with former advisor to President Obama David Axelrod. 

AN EMPIRE OF IDEAS: HOW ANCIENT INDIA TRANSFORMED THE WORLD, WITH WILLIAM DALRYMPLE 

Mon, Sep 22 / 5:30 PM PDT San Francisco, Online
Info & Tickets [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-22/empire-ideas-how-ancient-india-transformed-world-william-dalrymple ] 

For about a millennium and a half, between 250 BC and A.D. 1200, India was a confident exporter of its own diverse civilizations, creating an empire of ideas, to a world that was a willing and eager recipient of a startlingly comprehensive mass transfer of Indian soft power. From religion such as Buddhism to mathematics that introduced the idea of zero, infinity, algebra, trigonometry to astronomy that proposed a spherical earth rotating on its own axis and trade, that Pliny the Elder complained drained the wealth of Rome into Indian pockets, Indian ideas infected the world. In The Golden Road, William Dalrymple, draws on a lifetime of scholarship to give a name to the spread of Indian ideas that transformed the world. Dalrymple shares the soaring history of how India transformed the culture and technology of the ancient world, and in doing so, the world today as we know it. Dr. Kalidip Choudhury will be our moderator. 

ANGUS FLETCHER: PRIMAL INTELLIGENCE 

Tue, Sep 23 / 6:00 PM PDT San Francisco, Online
Info & Tickets [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-23/angus-fletcher-primal-intelligence ] 

How can you tap into your hidden intelligence and transform your life? The Army might be able to show you how. If you’ve ever wondered where such visionary creatives and decision-makers such as Steve Jobs, Vincent van Gogh, Abraham Lincoln, Maya Angelou, Nikola Tesla, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Warren Buffett, and William Shakespeare get their extraordinary mental abilities, join us for an intriguing talk with Angus Fletcher, professor at The Ohio State University. Researchers at Ohio State’s Project Narrative in 2021 said they have an answer: primal intelligence—something that cannot be found in computers but is in humans and can be strengthened. In response, U.S. Army Special Operations incorporated primal training for its most classified units; according to Fletcher, they saw the future faster, healed more quickly from trauma, and chose more wisely in life-and-death situations. The Army then authorized trials on civilians—entrepreneurs, doctors, engineers, managers, coaches, teachers, investors, and NFL players. Their leadership and innovation reportedly improved significantly; they coped better with change and uncertainty, and they experienced less anger and anxiety. Then the Army provided primal training to college and K–12 classrooms, where it is said to have produced substantial effects in students as young as eight. Fletcher will be in conversation with “Tech Nation” host Dr. Moira Gunn. 

THE “REVOLUTIONARY” RISE OF AI AGENTS . . . AND OTHER FRONTIER TECH TRENDS 

Wed, Sep 24 / 6:00 PM PDT San Francisco, Online
Register [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-24/revolutionary-rise-ai-agents-and-other-frontier-tech-trends ] 

Step aside chatbots—AI agents are here. According to a new McKinsey & Company report, the "potentially revolutionary" arrival of AI agents promises to transform the way we work. In July, OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, unveiled its latest product, ChatGPT Agent, which it claims can "handle complex tasks from start to finish" using its own computer. Meanwhile, tech giants like Amazon and Google are also advancing their AI agent capabilities. McKinsey's research reveals a 985 percent increase in job postings for agent-related roles between 2023 and 2024. Beyond AI agents, McKinsey’s “Technology Trends Outlook 2025” report identifies 12 additional transformative trends—spanning industries from semiconductors to immersive reality, robotics, sustainable energy, quantum technologies, and beyond. Join report co-author Lareina Yee, a McKinsey senior partner and director of the McKinsey Global Institute, along with other experts to explore how companies are already applying these technologies and the implications for businesses, consumers, workers, and society. 

DAN WANG: CHINA’S QUEST TO ENGINEER THE FUTURE 

Mon, Sep 29 / 5:30 PM PDT San Francisco, Online 
Info & Tickets [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-29/dan-wang-chinas-quest-engineer-future ] 

Join us for Dan Wang’s talk about the issues raised in his new book Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future, which has been called a riveting, firsthand investigation of China’s seismic progress, its human costs, and what it means for America. For close to a decade, technology analyst Wang has been living through the country’s astonishing, messy progress. China’s towering bridges, gleaming railways, and sprawling factories have improved economic outcomes in record time. But rapid change has also sent ripples of pain throughout the society. This reality―political repression and astonishing growth―is not a paradox, but rather a feature of China’s engineering mindset. In an era of animosity and mistrust, Wang unmasks the shocking similarities between the United States and China. He reveals how each country points toward a better path for the other: Chinese citizens would be better off if their government could learn to value individual liberties, while Americans would be better off if their government could learn to embrace engineering―and to produce better outcomes for the many, not just the few. Wang will be in conversation with DJ Patil. 

BORDERS, POWER, AND THE PRESS: HOW THE WORLD IS BEING REMADE

Tue, Sep 30 / 5:30 PM PDT San Francisco 
Info & Tickets [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-30/borders-power-and-press-how-world-being-remade ] 

Join us to get the global view from the frontlines of journalism, where every border tells a bigger story. We welcome the World Press Institute, which has been the premier organization in the United States providing international journalists with the opportunity to broadly investigate this country—its values, traditions of a free press, institutions, customs, and people. This is the 60th annual journalism fellowship program. Hailing from Argentina, Bulgaria, Canada, Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, and Namibia, these journalists represent the future of media and bring with them a diverse range of perspectives and experiences. Learn how these international journalists are reporting on a world in flux: where borders are hardening, alliances are shifting, and disinformation is redefining public trust. These journalists will share their notes on the dynamics of power in geopolitics, in tech, in media—and how these forces are felt on the ground back home. Frank Price will be our moderator. 

THE HISTORY OF POLITICAL RESISTANCE—AND WHAT LESSONS CAN WE APPLY TO TODAY'S DEMOCRATIC CRISIS? 

Tue, Sep 30 / 6:30 PM PDT Lafayette 
Info & Tickets [ https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2025-09-30/history-political-resistance-and-what-lessons-can-we-apply-todays-democratic ] 

President Trump has let loose with a barrage of executive orders—with purges of government workers, takeovers of semi-independent organizations, and defunding of numerous institutions designed to help the American people. He closed the Department of Education, dismantled USAID, defunded FEMA and NOAH, ended Head Start and school lunches for the underprivileged while collecting billions on what some call his "get rich quick schemes." His administration is arresting graduate students for expressing opinions in op-eds, viciously scooping up and deporting people off streets and work sites, and deporting them to third countries without due process. He has attacked and extorted money from law firms, universities, and media companies. Now he deploys military troops into various cities in a show of force—is this a prelude to dictatorship? How do we stand up and push back on this authoritarian and kleptocratic takeover of our democracy? The speakers will review some examples of civil disobedience both American and international, and provide some suggestions for each of us to become a warrior in this battle to save democracy. This is an all-hands-on-deck time to save our country, say Dr. Michael Baker and Jack Funk. 

Commonwealth Club programs are open to the public, both in-person and online. Additional program information and tickets are available at commonwealthclub.org/events. 

Many speakers are available for press interviews; comp press tickets are available to most programs; to inquire, contact us at jzipperer@commonwealthclub.org. 

About the Club 
Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is the nation's oldest, largest and most active public forum. The nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, founded in 1903, produces hundreds of live programs each year on politics, business, the environment, international affairs, personal growth, education, arts, social issues, and more. Speakers have included presidents and scientists, activists and artists, business leaders and celebrities. The Club produces two nationally syndicated weekly radio programs, its videos have received tens of millions of views on YouTube, and its podcasts have been downloaded nearly 28 million times. Commonwealth Club World Affairs was formed in 2023 from a merger between The Commonwealth Club of California and World Affairs of Northern California. Additional information available at commonwealthclub.org. ###