LABA Interviews Barry Simon, President of the United Nations Association of America, Southern California
TV host Joey Zhou, founder Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA) and Barry Simon, President of the United Nations Association of the USA, Southern California Division
Los Angeles, California, USA. 16th September, 2026. TV host Joey Zhou, founder of Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA), interviewed Barry Simon, President of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), Southern California Division, at XAVVI headquarters in Los Angeles.
Simon also serves as Southern California’s representative to the UNA-USA National Council. He recently attended a World Federation of United Nations Associations conference held at the headquarters of the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Representatives from countries around the world gathered to discuss international issues and global concerns.
“It was very exciting to be there in Geneva and participate in that conference,” Simon said. “Many countries proposed resolutions that were passed and will be forwarded to the United Nations for consideration.”
TV host Joey Zhou, founder of Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA), and Barry Simon, President of the United Nations Association of the USA, Southern California Division
During the interview, Zhou and Simon discussed Los Angeles’ distinction as one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. “Other than New York, there are more consulates here—it is the second-largest consular corps in the country—and one of the largest and most diverse populations in the country,” Simon said. “Consequently, it has some of the biggest challenges. All that diversity presents cultural challenges, but, in my opinion, it also creates some of the greatest opportunities for cultural understanding.”
Simon observed that many cultural communities share the same fundamental values, including strong family relationships, education, and a commitment to hard work. Although cultural differences should be acknowledged, he said they should be respected and appreciated rather than viewed as barriers.
Art, music, film, food, education, and business can all serve as bridges between cultures. Simon particularly emphasized the ability of cultural events to promote unity and demonstrate what is possible when people work together.
For younger generations, he recommended embracing life in the United States while preserving their cultural heritage and family languages. He also encouraged students to participate in Model United Nations programs to learn about global affairs, diplomacy, and international cooperation.
“There are 13 UN Association chapters throughout Southern California, from Santa Barbara to San Diego,” Simon said. “Many people in Southern California still have never heard of UNA-USA. And yet, there is a tremendous opportunity to create events and programs where people from different cultures can mix, mingle, and learn from one another.”
V host Joey Zhou, founder of Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA), and Barry Simon, President of the United Nations Association of the USA, Southern California Division
Simon emphasized that these activities do not have to be large or formal. Museum tours, community picnics, educational programs, art exhibitions, concerts, and other gatherings can all provide meaningful opportunities for people to connect across cultural boundaries. Cultural understanding develops through direct personal interaction and shared experiences.
“We’re one people on one planet,” Simon said. “We have to find a way to join hands.”
About Barry Simon
Barry Wayne Simon was born and raised in Portland, Oregon the youngest of three sons. After attending the University of Oregon and graduating from Portland State University, majoring in business and psychology, he moved to California. The events of the 60’s and 70’s (assassinations, war, poverty, etc) led him to want to make a difference, to improve the quality of life for all people by creating and facilitating corporate and community events. As a global citizen, he facilitates opportunities for businesses, management groups, and communities that give people worldwide an opportunity to express their views, concerns and solutions to the issues of the day, leaving them heard, understood & appreciated.
Barry Wayne Simon is proudly serving the investment needs of individuals and small businesses since 1983, He is Independent Investment Consultant at Wedbush Securities, Inc. since Jul 1997. He began providing "Venting Events" in 1997 to give individual participants and organizations an opportunity to express their views, concerns and solutions to the issues of the day, thus contributing to making the world a better place.
Building on his desire to enhance peoples’ lives, Barry has combined his life and career experiences to provide unique and effective personal coaching to inspire individuals to get in action, achieving their goals in record time. Since 2001 Barry effectively provides both personal and professional coaching and since 2003 he is an Introduction Leader to Landmark Education. His Free Speech Town Hall-style events for a Better America, help bridge the differences in our country so we can become more unified at home and more understood, appreciated and respected abroad.
His first Speak Out America event was held May 22, 2004 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. Since then, Barry Wayne Simon has been moderating and facilitating these programs for communities and organizations addressing the issues of the day so as to make a positive difference. His enthusiastic and highly effective programs have been highlighted on CNN, and in the LA Times, and Roll Call Newspaper in Washington, DC.
Since 2008 he was a VP of Resource Development and currently is a President of The United Nations Association of the USA, Southern California Division and Southern California National Council representative for the UNA-USA.
About the UNA-USA
The United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) is the official United Nations Association of the United States, a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to promoting political and public support for the United Nations among Americans. It is a program of the United Nations Foundation. Its mission includes advocating for greater U.S. leadership at the UN, improving and enhancing the UN system, and implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Charter in both the U.S. and globally.
UNA-USA's activities include public outreach, political lobbying, and community organizing. It hosts youth programs, fellowships, and networking events both locally and nationally. Its flagship events include the Global Engagement Summit at the UN Headquarters in New York City and the Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. UNA-USA is led by an executive director and governed by a thirty-member national council that meets semi-annually.
Along with its sister organization, the Better World Campaign, UNA-USA is the world's largest UN advocacy network. As of 2020, it has over 20,000 members across more than 200 chapters in cities and universities nationwide; the majority of members are under age of twenty-six. It is a member of the World Federation of United Nations Associations, which comprises other national UN advocacy organizations.
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