June 8, 2020
WACA Weekly
Messages of Solidarity Throughout the Network; June WACA National Board Meeting; Star Speakers at Councils; Council of the Month; WACA President Clifford on THO Webinar; June Cover to Cover on America's Alliances; plus more Council Jobs and Highlights!
Dear Colleagues, Supporters, and Friends:

Last week, my letter to the Network conveyed reflections on the three crises afflicting our country: the pandemic, massive unemployment and inequality, and above all racial injustice. I stressed that World Affairs Councils have a role to play. As public conveners, we can help defuse and clarify an angry, tense, or confused situation by frank discussion.

I am moved by the many powerful messages of solidarity from colleagues across the country. It is important that we act in common cause to combat systemic racism. WACA will continue to share inspiring messages and programs from the Council Network on our website and in our newsletter.

  • Global Minnesota: "We are grieving the senseless killing of yet another neighbor, George Floyd. Nearly 250 years since the promise of “Liberty and Justice for All,” many in our country are still denied these basic rights – facing discrimination, dehumanization, and disrespect day after day, year after year. Oppression remains a deadly reality for African Americans, Native Americans, other People of Color, and other minority groups." Read the full statement here.

  • World Affairs Council of Connecticut: "The truth is: racism in America is a global issue. As a world superpower, the systems underpinning our nation, the health and safety of all of our citizens, and the inequalities that persist, shape the world. It's time we acknowledge them so that we may be a part of the solution." Read the full statement here.

  • Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall: "We are committed to hosting open and honest conversations about where we are in the United States, and where we need to go to realize a fair and just society. In this current moment of pain and uncertainty, we further our commitment to creating the space for people of diverse backgrounds to come together." Read the full statement here.

  • Cleveland Council on World Affairs: "We are capable of radically changing our behavior. The pandemic taught us that. We are capable of behavior grounded in courage, kindness, and compassion. The pandemic taught us that, too. Now, it is time to apply these lessons from the viral pandemic to the pandemic of racism that plagues our city and our nation." Read the full statement here.

  • World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth: "There can be no honest discussion of national policy, foreign policy or world affairs without recognition of the role that systemic racism and violence against Black communities and communities of color has played in shaping our national histories and existing institutions and infrastructures." Read the full statement here.

  • WorldBoston: "We must seek to understand international trends influencing our deeply rooted local ills. Further, as a country, we ignore at our great peril the effect of these ills on our ability to pursue our national interest in the global environment." Read the full statement here.

  • World Affairs (Northern California): "In this difficult time, wise and empathetic leadership is paramount. In unison with the Black community we call on our national, state and local governments and representatives to work together to address systemic bigotry, discrimination and injustice quickly and in a meaningful way." Read the full statement here.

  • World Affairs Council of Philadelphia: "Going forward, the Council will seek to provide perspective, to give a platform to speakers and ideas, to challenge its members and students and travelers to think more deeply, and to both champion and fashion civil and thoughtful discourse around the issues that are today so top of mind, along with all the issues which matter to Philadelphia, America, and the wider world - seeking, together with all of you, through the blessings of free expression and active listening, to bend the moral universe towards justice for all." Read the full statement here.

  • WorldOregon: "We believe that deeper global understanding and engagement are essential to a more peaceful world. We believe that cross-cultural learning propels us towards a more innovative future." Read the full statement here.
Bill Clifford
President and CEO
Spring WACA National Board Meeting - June 11
On Thursday, June 11, WACA will host a virtual meeting of the National Board of Directors in lieu of the in-person meeting originally scheduled to take place during the Spring Leadership Meetings June 11-13. WACA and the Colorado Springs World Affairs Council, the 2020 Spring Meetings host, were disappointed that the pandemic prevented an in-person meeting, but look forward to connecting the Network in new and exciting ways!
WACA CEO to Be Featured on Turkish Heritage Organization Webinar
WACA President and CEO Bill Clifford will be featured on the Turkish Heritage Organization's webinar Wednesday, June 10, at 11:00 AM ET.

Clifford will be joined by Peter Van Praagh, President of the Halifax International Security Forum, and Nursin Atesoglu Guney, President of the Center of Mediterranean Security, for a conversation on " International Security in a New World."

Register here for the webinar discussion.
Star Speakers This Week on Councils' Virtual Programming
H.E. Emily Haber
Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the U.S.
Amr El-Husseini
Founder and CEO
Lodestone Advisory Group Tennessee WAC
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
Former Secretary-General
NATO
H.E. André Haspels
Amb. of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the U.S.
The Honorable William Perry
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense
Amb. (ret.) Mary Ann Casey Former U.S. Ambassador to Algeria and Tunisia
*Scroll down to the Council Highlights section to view all programs from Councils this week!
As a member of the Global Ties U.S. Network, WorldDenver brings nearly 600 international visitors to Denver every year to exchange ideas and expertise from around the world. WorldDenver also sends citizen diplomats on immersive international trips focused on history, art, and culture. WorldDenver's Citizen Diplomat Excursions have included Iran, Ethiopia, and Bhutan.  

While International travel is on hold due to COVID-19, the Council has created a bi-weekly Staycations Series, with virtual tours, recipes, and cocktail suggestions to replicate the experience of world travel and cross-cultural connection. The latest virtual trip is a "Return to Robben Island" to celebrate the life and work of freedom fighter Nelson Mandela. Previous editions included: "Brunch in Barcelona", "Picnic at Machu Picchu", and "Dessert in Dubai". 
June Cover to Cover : Mira Rapp-Hooper on America's Alliances
Register now for WACA's Cover to Cover conference call on Tuesday, June 23 at 2:00-2:30 PM ET, featuring Mira Rapp-Hooper, Stephen A. Schwarzman Senior Fellow for Asia Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and Senior Fellow at Yale's Paul Tsai China Center, on her new book Shields of the Republic: The Triumph and Peril of America’s Alliances .

Mira Rapp-Hooper reveals the remarkable success of America’s unprecedented system of alliances developed during the Cold War. Today, China and Russia seek to break America’s alliances through conflict and non-military erosion. Meanwhile, U.S. politicians and voters are increasingly skeptical of alliances’ costs and benefits and believe we may be better off without them. But what if the alliance system is a victim of its own quiet success? Rapp-Hooper argues that America’s national security requires alliances that deter and defend against military and non-military conflict alike.
Cover to Cover and KNOW NOW on Podcast

Listen now to WACA's May Cover to Cover conference call with Michael Klare, Senior Visiting Fellow at the Arms Control Association and Prof. Emeritus of Peace and World Security Studies at Hampshire College, on his book All Hell Breaking Loose: The Pentagon's Perspective on Climate Change.

Listen now to WACA's May KNOW NOW conference call with Ambassador Luis Moreno, former U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, and Armen Babajanian, Executive Director of the World Affairs Council of San Antonio, on U.S.-Latin America Relations.
Peoria WAC's 50th Anniversary Virtual Gala
The Peoria Area World Affairs Council celebrates 50 years of bringing the world to Central Illinois with a virtual gala on Thursday, June 18, at 8:00 PM ET, featuring Ambassador (ret.) Thomas Pickering.

Ambassador Pickering has a distinguished career at the U.S. Department of State, serving as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Russia, India, Israel, Nigeria, Jordan, and El Salvador, and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, among other postings. He will share his broad experience with the Council audience as he tackles some of the most critical foreign policy issues facing our country today.  Register here.
WAC Dallas Presents the 2020 Digital Global Classroom Workshop
This year, due to COVID-19, the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth presents the Global Classroom Workshop virtually Tuesday, July 7-Thursday, July 9.

Global Classroom is an annual summer educator workshop that aims to provide a global component to teachers' current curriculum through discussion, speaker sessions, and group activities. As a part of the workshop, we provide teachers with a multitude of printed and digital resources from organizations and institutions that provide free international education resources to educators. The purpose of Global Classroom is to help North Texas educators make connections between local and global issues by navigating the plethora of global resources available to them.

This workshop is open to 3-12 grade educators of any subject who reside in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, but is most beneficial for secondary educators. Each participant will receive 12 CPE hours provided at no cost. Sessions will be provided by National Geographic, Population Connection, World Savvy, Apple Education, Dallas Holocaust/Human Rights Museum, and Brown University. Register here.
Columbus CWA and WACA Partner on June 25 Immigration Program
Columbus Council on World Affairs will present Alfredo Corchado, Mexico City Bureau Chief of the Dallas Morning News, for " Immigration, COVID-19, and the U.S. Economy" on Thursday, June 25.

After the success of the CxC: Amplified Putting the World Back Together Ideas Summit last month, WACA is delighted to amplify the voices of Councils around the country. To view CxC Summit recordings including the Summit highlights video package , check out WACA's  YouTube page here. (We will be adding more session videos as we receive them from Councils.)
Columbus CWA Is Hiring - Applications Due June 15!

This position is to provide guidance and support for high school students working on independent projects in their third year of the Global Scholars Diploma program by meeting with students at their school locations once a month or via video conferencing, maintaining constant communication with the school administrators and CCWA staff to ensure that students are completing all necessary requirements, assisting students in all aspects of their independent projects in order to ensure the completion of quality projects, and managing all necessary documentation regarding students’ progress and completion of graduation requirements. Apply by June 15.
Tuesday 6/9 

Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosts H.E. Emily Haber, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the U.S., and Ambassador (ret.) John Emerson, Chair of the American Council on Germany, for a webinar event.

Tennessee World Affairs Council hosts Amr El-Husseini, Founder and CEO of Lodestone Advisory Group, and Karl Dean, former Mayor of Nashville, for “ Designing an Economic Model for Nashville as a City of the Future.”

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts Barry Gewen, Editor of the New York Times Book Review, for “ The Inevitability of Tragedy: Henry Kissinger and His World.”

World Affairs Council of Atlanta hosts Michael Fuchs, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, for “ Lost Friendship? U.S.-China Relations.”

WorldOregon hosts vexillologist Ted Kaye for “ Good Flag, Bad Flag: What They Mean & Why They Matter.”

World Affairs Council of San Antonio hosts a panel of experts for “ Peace Corps Alumni Panel.”

Wednesday 6/10 

World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, former Secretary-General of NATO, for “ Geopolitics and Global Alliances.”

Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosts Justin Erbacci, CEO of Los Angeles World Airports, and Dana Debel, Managing Director of Government Affairs at Delta, for “ What Is the Future of International Travel and Tourism?”

World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh hosts Ambassador Sarah Mendelson, Distinguished Service Professor of Policy at Carnegie Mellon University, for “ COVID-19: Threats and Opportunities to Implement the Sustainable Development Goals.”

World Affairs Council of Greater Reading hosts Marie Keim, Director of Epidemiology for Infection Control and Prevention at Reading Hospital, for “ Infectious Disease Including COVID-19.”

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts Milan Vaishnav, Senior Fellow and Director of the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, for “ India’s Status as a Democracy, Human Rights & Geopolitical Agenda.”

Tennessee World Affairs Council hosts a panel of experts for “ Foreign Interference in America’s Democracy: Election 2020.”

WorldOregon hosts a panel of experts for " Combatting Systemic Racism: How We Can Do Better."

Thursday 6/11

World Affairs Council of Western Michigan hosts H.E. André Haspels, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the U.S., for a webinar event.

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts The Honorable William Perry, former U.S. Secretary of Defense, and Tom Collina, Director of Policy at the Ploughshares Fund, for “ Trump and the Nuclear Button.”

World Affairs Council of Jacksonville hosts Lt. General (ret.) Franklin Hagenbeck, Director of the Engineering Leadership Institute at the University of Florida, for “ Leadership Through the Lens of COVID-19.”

Colorado Springs World Affairs Council hosts Shoshana Altrichter, Vice President of Travel at the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, for “ Cuba in Transition.”

World Affairs Council of Charlotte hosts David Rennie, Beijing Bureau Chief and Chaguan Columnist at The Economist, for “ WACC Distinguished Speaker Series.”

Santa Fe Council on International Relations hosts Ambassador (ret.) Mary Ann Casey, former U.S. Ambassador to Algeria and Tunisia, for “ Radical Islam in Mediterranean North Africa: Can Democracy Flourish in Tunisia and Algeria?”

Foreign Policy Association hosts The Honorable Frank Wisner, International Affairs Advisor at Squire Patton Boggs, for “ U.S.-India Relations: Challenges in an Age of Nationalism.”

Columbia World Affairs Council hosts Abdülhamit Bilici, exiled Editor-in-Chief of Turkey’s Zaman, for “ Turkey Under Erdogan: A Retrospective Four Years Later.”

Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town hall hosts professor Dan Schnur, University of Southern California, for “ A Protesting Nation Amidst a Pandemic.”

World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts professor Darren Byler, University of Colorado, for “ Keeping Informed as Teachers: What We Need to Know About Xinjiang Today.”

World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana host a panel of experts for “ The U.S.-South Korea Alliance Amidst Uncertainty.”

WorldOregon hosts a panel of experts for “ Preventing the Next Pandemic: The Intersection of Human Life & Wildlife.”

Friday 6/12 

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts Clifford Krauss, National Energy Business Correspondent at the New York Times, for “ The Price of Oil in America.”

International Relations Council (Kansas City) hosts Dave Saunders, Managing Director of Asia Pacific & Global Procurement at Hallmark Cards, for “ Global Product Sourcing.”
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Access Council Virtual Programming via WACA's Members-Only Portal
WACA is busy preparing a number of additional resources for the Members-Only section! WACA strives to provide Councils with easy access to tools, guidelines, events, and more that add value to our Members both personally and professionally, to our Councils' overall operations, and to the Network as a whole. This is a top priority for the National Office, especially during the COVID-19 crisis. That is why we've added two resource sections dedicated to COVID-19 related information and digital programming available to the public by Councils.

The goal is to make the Members-Only section a one-stop shop for all Council needs. However, these sections are only as good as the information contained within, so we are calling on all Councils to please submit any documentation per the categories below, or any other information helpful to the Network.

The Members-Only section is a private benefit for our Council Members. Please contact Rachel Pastor at rpastor@worldaffairscouncils.org for login details and account creation.
COVID-19 Updates & Tracker

Health & Wellness

Educator Resources
  • Ohio Council for the Social Studies Resource Document -- Bill Hilt, President/CEO, WAC Northwest Ohio
  • To help alleviate some of concerns with distance learning and explaining the current health crisis, the list is a compilation of K-12 Social Studies lessons, activities, and resources. It also has guidelines for explaining COVID-19 to young people.
  • Zoom CEO announcement of free platforms for K-12 schools

WACA Updates: Messages from President and CEO Bill Clifford

*To view Council Member Resources on the WACA website, you must be a Council leader, staff, or board member and have an account

Please contact Rachel Pastor at rpastor@worldaffairscouncils.org if you don't have an account.
WACA's National Speaker Database Needs You!
We have recently debuted WACA's Speaker Database 2.0. In this new iteration, we have expanded our list of speakers and made it easier than ever for you, as Council staff and board members, to engage with it. We want your speakers! Please submit your speakers through the " Submit Your Speakers" button on our website.

You need to have an account through our website in order to view and interact with the database and submit your speakers. To check if you have an account, please visit your Council Member page on the WACA website and see if you are listed as a staff or board member. If you are not, you will not be able to interact with the database yet.

If you do not have an account or are having issues accessing the website and/or the Speaker Database, please email Rachel Pastor.