President's Letter; WACA National Conference; Star Speakers; Academic WorldQuest Study Guide; Cover to Cover with Carla Power; WorldQuest Weekly Quiz; Councils are Hiring; Council Highlights; & more!
President's Letter
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
 
A spate of serious convening is upon us.
 
As you know, the gavel came down in Glasgow on Sunday to open the high-stakes United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26). Through Nov. 12, some 120 heads of state and government (though not China's or Russia’s) along with thousands of negotiators, scientists, business leaders and activists will wrestle over how to curb greenhouse gas emissions and reverse the catastrophic rise in average global temperatures.
 
Next month, President Joe Biden will host a virtual Summit for Democracy, the first of two such summits that will examine practicable steps to defend democracies against authoritarianism, combat corruption, and advance human rights.
 
In between, WACA will present leaders and experts to assess and contribute to the debate on these two mega-issues. We will also examine a half dozen other priorities elaborated in Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s March 3 speech, A Foreign Policy for the American People.
 
As fellow conveners, as members of Councils who want to challenge the administration and policy influencers on China, immigration policy, and the shape of U.S. alliances and partnerships, you will gain much from attending the WACA 2021 National Conference: Bridging Divides at Home and Abroad on Nov. 16-19.
 
For all the stimulation from speakers (see the latest batch below), I am even more eager simply to talk amongst ourselves in person for the first time in nearly two years.
 
Best-practice sharing at Leadership Day (Nov. 17), embassy luncheons, after-hours cocktails, and chit-chat on the sidelines of panel after panel await you – so if you haven’t registered yet and booked your room at The Mayflower, do so today!
 
Can’t wait to see you in DC!
Bill Clifford
President and CEO
WACA 2021 National Conference
Bridging Divides at Home and Abroad
November 16-19
New Conference Speakers
New! Josh Rogin
Washington Post Columnist
Author, Chaos Under Heaven
New! Nikolina Angelkova
Member of Parliament, Bulgaria
Minister of Tourism (2014-2020)
New! Robert Atkinson
President
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
New! Jennifer Griffin
National Security Correspondent
Fox News
New! Greg Myre
National Security Correspondent
NPR
Our COVID-19 Policy
The health and safety of our guests and communities remains a top priority for the World Affairs Councils of America as we approach our 35th anniversary. We look forward to welcoming Member Councils at our 2021 National Conference and are monitoring and responding to the latest information and guidance at the local and national levels.

To read the full policy, head to our conference website.
Star Speakers at Councils This Week
Michelle Bachelet
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Amb. Koji Tomita
Ambassador of Japan to U.S.
Diane Foley
Founder, James W. Foley Fdn.
Carlos Martinez de la Serna
Program Director, CPJ
Andris Pelšs
Latvian Secretary of State
Amb. Māris Selga
Ambassador of Latvia to U.S.
Eric Ward
Recipient of the 2021 Civil Courage Prize
Amb. Nestor Forster
Ambassador of Brazil to U.S.
Academic WorldQuest Study Guide
Last week, WACA announced the release of the Carlos and Malú Alvarez 2021-2022 Academic WorldQuest Study Guide! WACA provides a list of sources for each AWQ category in the official Academic WorldQuest Study Guide.

Council Staff, make sure to check your inboxes for the AWQ Study Guide release and submit your pledge forms by November 30, 2021.

School Staff, please reach out to your local World Affairs Council to learn more about their local competitions. We hope to see you and your students in Washington, DC, in April 2022!
Virtual Town Hall: Afghanistan Resettlement Stakeholders
The U.S. Department of State has extended an invitation to join their virtual Town Hall for Afghanistan Resettlement Stakeholders on November 9 at 1:30 PM ET. The event will share updates on Operation Allies Welcome, information from key supporting partners, and an overview of opportunities for individuals, communities, and organizations to help welcome our new neighbors.

The event will be hosted by Assistant Secretary for Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Ambassador Donald Lu, and will also feature remarks from Operation Allies Welcome Coordinator Governor Jack Markell, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya, Ambassador Tracey Jacobson from the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE), Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration, Nancy Izzo Jackson and representatives from key external partners.
WorldDenver Merger to Expand Educational Programs
WorldDenver and the Center for Teaching International Relations jointly announced a merger agreement today making the World Affairs Challenge, a 30-year international education and mentoring program serving hundreds of Denver-area students every year, a permanent program of WorldDenver. 

“Under the leadership of the CTIR board and staff, and with the support of an entire community of volunteers, educators, and supporters, the World Affairs Challenge has grown into a unique and exciting model for engaging young people and encouraging global citizenship,” said WorldDenver Executive Director John Krieger.

The World Affairs Challenge has benefited over 8,000 students over the last three decades. The program invites teams of students to present solutions to local challenges related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Read the full press release.
Welcome Keily to the WACA Team
WACA is delighted to announce that Keily Ramirez joined the national office as our new Operations and Programs Associate. Keily holds an M.A. from Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. She has previously interned with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Belize, the United Nations Institute of Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) in Geneva, and the Borgen Project in Seattle. Keily will support our upcoming programs, including the WACA National Conference in November and Academic WorldQuest in 2022!
WorldQuest Weekly Quiz
This week's WACA WorldQuest Weekly is out! Test your global affairs awareness and dive into news stories that represent a broad spectrum of developments of interest and importance. Most of the questions are drawn from both WACA's Weekly World News Update, and a curated news Twitter feed @TNWAC #WACquiz.

In partnership with WACA, WorldQuest Weekly is produced by the Tennessee World Affairs Council, which offers customized subscriptions to the quiz for Council members. Contact pat@tnwac.org or visit tnwac.org/quiz for details.

Last Week's Winner (10/10 Points):
Carol (Worcester, MA), Catherine (Cleveland, OH), Clarice (Indianapolis, IN), Iqbal (Naples, FL), Kent (Dallas, TX), John (Palm Desert, CA) - Congratulations!
Watch Now: Cover to Cover
Last week, Carla Power, journalist and finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, discussed her latest book: Home, Land, Security: Deradicalization and the Journey Back from Extremism. Head to our YouTube channel to watch the full discussion and to catch up on previous Cover to Cover author interviews.
Job Announcements in the Network
WorldDenver seeks to hire a Finance and Office Manager. Learn more.
International Institute of Buffalo seeks to hire a Case Manager - Trafficked Youth, a Resettlement Case Manager, and a Resettlement Program Coordinator. Learn more.
World Affairs Council of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky seeks to hire an International Programs Associate. Learn more.
World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth seeks to hire a Director of Membership and Development. Learn more.
World Affairs Council of Seattle seeks to hire a Program Officer, Global Leadership Exchange. Learn more.
All programs below are accessible online unless otherwise indicated.

Monday 11/01

World Affairs Council of Philadelphia hosts Amb. Kanji Yamanouchi, Ambassador and Consul General of Japan in New York, for “Diplochat” (In Person)

Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosts Peter Martin, political reporter for Bloomberg News, for “China’s Civilian Army: The Making of Wolf Warrior Diplomacy”

Naples Council on World Affairs hosts Ömer Taspinar, Professor at the National War College and Adjunct Professor at Johns Hopkins SAIS, for “Turkey, Islam and the West: A Growing Disconnect" (In Person)

Pacific & Asian Affairs Council presents “Your Journey, Your Choice!”


Tuesday 11/02

World Affairs Council of Philadelphia hosts Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, for “Virtual Event: A Conversation”

Montana World Affairs Council hosts Amb. (Ret.) Todd Chapman, former U.S. Ambassador to Brazil, for “Geoquest: Virtual Program”

World Affairs Council of Charlotte hosts Tara Kangarlou, journalist, author, and humanitarian, for “The Heartbeat of Iran: Real Voices of A Country and Its People”

World Affairs Council of New Hampshire hosts Diane Foley, Founder and President of the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, and Carlos Martinez de la Serna, program director at the Committee to Protect Journalists, for “Justice for Journalism - Threats Facing a Free Press”

Tennessee World Affairs Council hosts Amb. Koji Tomita, Ambassador of Japan to the U.S., for “Global Town Hall” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Austin hosts Sebastian Gomez, entrepreneur and consultant with Thorus Consulting, and David Sandler, Co-Founder of Remarks, for “Kozmetsky Forum on Business Investment Considerations for LATAM”

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts Greg Gause, head of the Department of International Affairs at the Bush School, for “20 Years in the Middle East” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Roads presents “12th Annual Christopher Newport University German Seminar ‘A Time to Act’” (In Person)

Wednesday 11/03

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and World Affairs Council of Greater Houston host Andris Pelšs, Secretary of State of the Republic of Latvia, and Amb. Māris Selga, Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to the U.S., for “Supporting and Investing in Three Seas Initiative” (In Person)

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts Amb. (Ret.) Martin Indyk, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel and Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs, for “The Art of Middle East Peace Negotiations”

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts Lisa Blaydes, Professor of Political Science at Stanford University, for “Peninsula Chapter Online | Iraq Before and After 9/11”

Pacific & Asian Affairs Council presents “Kind Conversations”

Peoria Area World Affairs Council hosts Mandar Pattekar, one of Peoria's Hindu teachers and radiologist, for “Diwali: The Hindu Festival of Lights”

International Relations Council hosts a panel of experts for “Women in Global Leadership: International NGOs”

Montana World Affairs Council hosts Oliver Schramm, German Consul General in San Francisco, for “Geoquest Virtual Event”

Santa Fe Council on International Relations hosts Peter Martin, political reporter for Bloomberg News, for “The Making of China’s Wolf Warrior Diplomacy: A Book Talk with Journalist Peter Martin”

World Affairs Council of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky presents “Local Solutions to Global Challenges: Creating a Green Cincinnati”

World Affairs Council of Greater Reading presents Eric Ward, recipient of the 2021 Civil Courage Prize, “Antisemitism, White Nationalism and Racism in the World Today”

Thursday 11/04

World Affairs Council of Atlanta hosts Amb. Nestor Forster, Ambassador of Brazil to the U.S., for “5 Things You Need to Know about Brazil”

Indiana Council on World Affairs hosts a panel of experts for “Special Networking Speaker Program - The Once and Future Afghanistan: What Next?”

Montana World Affairs Council hosts Rob Richardson for “Tip of the Iceberg: China/U.S. Competition Pushes Next Inflation Cycle”

Cleveland Council on World Affairs presents “A Look at Global Immigration: Resources for Educators”

World Affairs Council of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky hosts Bart Twaalfhoven, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for the Midwestern United States, for “Flash Chat”

World Affairs Council of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky hosts Eric Schwartz, President of Refugees International, for “After the Airlift: Examining the Afghan Refugee Crisis Post-Taliban Takeover”

Windham World Affairs Council presents “‘The Uncondemned’ Screening & Discussion” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts Peter Martin, political reporter for Bloomberg News, for “China’s Wolf Warrior Diplomacy”

Friday 11/05

Alaska World Affairs Council hosts a panel of experts for “Cultivating Arctic Entrepreneurship in a Post-Pandemic World”

World Affairs Council of Hilton Head hosts John Tierney, Executive Director at Council for a Livable World, for “John Tierney: Questions That Congress is Failing to Ask”

World Affairs Council of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky presents “The Future on the Persian Gulf Security”

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts Dhabia Al-Mohannadi, Assistant Professor of the Chemical Engineering Program of the Texas A&M University at Qatar, for “Climate Emission Targets: Delivering the Promise”

Institute of World Affairs hosts Lina Sergie Attar, Founder of the Karam Foundation, for “Diverse Ideas”

Saturday 11/06

World Affairs Council of Atlanta hosts Daniel Blackman, Climate Environmental Justice Advisor at risQ, Dan Raudebaugh, Executive Director at the Center for Transportation and the Environment, and Tim Echols, GA Public Service Commissioner, for “11th Annual Young Leaders Conference: Transportation Infrastructure & Resiliency to Climate Change” (In Person)

Sunday 11/07


Windham World Affairs Council presents “Screening of the Cuban Film ‘Conducta’” (In Person)