Since 2005, Academic WorldQuest has been a staple in Montana World Affairs Council programming, reaching over 3,000 Montana students.

Montana is dedicated to providing an immersive global experience to students, providing a wide range of interactive education programs. For the 2022-2023 AWQ season, Montana has expanded upon the AWQ study guide, providing youth-focused programs this month that will help prepare students for the competition.

WACA's January 2023 Cover to Cover webinar will feature Daniel F. Runde, senior vice president and director of the Project on Prosperity and Development at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), to discuss his new book, The American Imperative: Reclaiming Global Leadership Through Soft Power, on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 2 PM ET.

The American Imperative: Reclaiming Global Leadership Through Soft Power is the first book in decades to look at our non-military power through the lens of great-power competition. It calls for: supporting broad-based economic growth, supporting good governance and anti-corruption, long-term training, differentiating our approaches in middle-income countries and fragile states, and stronger US leadership in the multilateral system. 

ICYMI! On December 9, WACA hosted renowned philosopher Martha C. Nussbaum on tor this month's issue of Cover to Cover. Dr. Nussbaum, sat down with WACA CEO & President Bill Clifford to discuss her new book, Justice for Animals: Our Collective Responsibility. Watch the Video!

In a new series of monthly audio conversations, Global Minnesota Marketing & Communications Manager Nick Hayen talks with some of the amazing people Global Minnesota connects within their mission to advance international understanding and engagement. Global Minnesota's podcast highlights the international voices that connect, inform, and engage Minnesota with the world. 

The first podcast interview features Yigit Ates, Director of Commodity Exchanges at the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye to discuss Agriculture in Türkiye. Listen now!

The Economist publishes “The World Ahead” series each year: an informed prediction of the major themes that will dominate the coming year. Spanning topics from politics to technology to sociology and more, this series edited by Tom Standage is as ambitious as it is awe-inspiring.

Join  WAC Dallas/Fort Worth, Global Santa Fe, IRC Kansas City, WAC Greater Houston, WAC Greater Hampton Roads, WAC Connecticut, WAC Jacksonville, WAC Albuquerque, and Colorado Springs World Affairs Council throughout the network on December 14 at 11:00 AM CT, as they sit down with Standage to discuss his publication’s analysis for 2023.

The team at WACA is looking forward to the 2022-2023 Carlos and Malú Alvarez Academic WorldQuest National Competition. The annual competition will be held in person in Washington, DC on April 28-29, 2023.

If you have not already submitted your Council's pledge form, we are extending the deadline through Friday, December 16, 2022. Please make sure to submit your pledge form so that we can send additional materials to committed Councils and teams.

Please contact our Global Education Coordinator, Kaela Rider, with any questions.

The WorldQuest Weekly quiz will end its run as a WACA Weekly Newsletter feature at the end of the month. Councils that would like to subscribe to the customized “What in the World? Weekly Quiz" service offered by the Tennessee World Affairs Council should check TNWAC.org/quiz or email Pat Ryan at Pat@TNWAC.org

WACA thanks the Tennessee WAC for providing this always interesting current events quiz in 2022.

Last week's winners! (10/10)! Iqbal (Naples, FL), Suzanne (Traverse City, MI), Aiden (Elk Rapids, MI).

World Affairs Council of Hilton Head seeks an Executive Director.

Applications will be reviewed as received.

World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh seeks to hire a Strategic Programming Manager and a Youth Programming Coordinator. Applications will be 

reviewed as received.

World Affairs Council of Kentucky & Southern Indiana seeks a Membership & Development Coordinator. Applications will be

reviewed as received.

International Institute of Buffalo seeks to a Special Programs Manager.

Applications will be reviewed as received.

International Relations Council (Kansas City) hosts Soberón Mainero, Director of the University of Kansas Natural History Program, for “The United States & Mexico: Closer than Ever – Environmental Challenges in North America” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Dallas/ Fort Worth presents “Center Stage: Art in Dallas and Around the World” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Seattle presents “YPIN Global Cade: 2022 in Review” (In Person)

International Relations Council (Kansas City) presents “East Asia Roundtable Meeting” (Virtual)

Montana World Affairs Council presents “Community Hand Up Event Night with Dram Shop” (In Person)

WorldOregon hosts Frank Langfitt, NPR’s London Correspondent, for “Dispatch from London” (Virtual)

World Affairs Council of Charleston hosts Al Thibault, World Affairs Council of Charleston Program Chairman, for “The Turmoil in Iran – The World Watches as a New Generation Challenges the Ayatollah’s Regime” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts Juan M. Lavista Ferres, Chief Scientist and Lab Director of the Microsoft AI For Good Research Lab, for “December Fellows Breakfast” (In Person)

Alabama World Affairs Council hosts John Shields, Group Captain of the Royal Air Force, for “The State of NATO” (Hybrid)

Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council hosts Singh Swarnjit Khalsa, Global Sikh Government, for “The Place of Sikhs in Modern India” (In Person)

Montana World Affairs Council hosts Corey Watts, Agricultural Advisor in the Office of Agricultural Policy at the Department of State, for “Academic WorldQuest Category: Food Security with State Department” (Virtual)

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts Oleksiy Goncharenko, Ukrainian Parliament Member, for “Ukrainian Parliament Member Goncharenko – The Outlook from Kyiv & the War Ahead” (Virtual)

World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh presents “Global Travel Schoalrs Virtual Information Session” (Virtual) 

World Affairs Council of Philadelphia presents “World Affairs Salon” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Dallas/ Fort Worth presents “Meridian YP Champagne Social” (In Person)

World Affairs (Northern California) presents “2022 World Cup Watch Party” (In Person)

WorldDenver presents “GYLD and UNICEF Networking Holiday Party” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Greater Reading hosts Kirwin Shaffer, Professor of Latin American studies at Penn State University Berks College, for “Latin America Leans Left: Associated Trends Supporting the Shift” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Dallas/ Fort Worth hosts Tom Standage, Deputy Editor of The Economist and Editor of its future-gazing annual, “The World Ahead”, for “The World Ahead: 2023” (Virtual)

Montana World Affairs Council hosts Lauren Baillie, Senior Program Officer on Atrocity Prevention at USIP, for “Academic WorldQuest Category: Atrocity Prevention and Accountability with U.S. Institute of Peace” (Virtual)

Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosts Jim Thomson, Professor at Pardee RAND Graduate School and President Emeritus of the RAND Corporation, and Lawrence Freedman, Professor at King’s College London, for “The Politics of Military Operations from Korea to Ukraine” (Virtual)

WorldBoston hosts Rachel Kyte, Dean of the Fletcher School at Tufts University, for “Great Decisions: Climate Change” (In Person)

International Relations Council (Kansas City) presents “A Novel Experience: Frankenstein in Baghdad (Iraq)” (Virtual)

World Affairs Council of Austin presents “Finland Business Delegation Reception” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston presents “Qatar, Oman & Kuwait: Travel Info Session” (Virtual)

World Affairs Council of Seattle presents “Life Science Networking Happy Hour – Meet Professional Fellows From Ukraine” (In Person)

Los Angeles World Affairs Council and Town Hall presents “Young Professionals Holiday Party and Toy Drive” (In Person)

WorldOregon hosts Christopher McKnight Nichols, Professor of History and Wayne Woodrow Hayes Chair in National Security Studies, at the Mershon Center for International Security Studies, at The Ohio State University, for “Ideology in U.S. Foreign Relations” (Virtual)

Montana World Affairs Council hosts Dr. Chelsea Van Thof, veterinarian and AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow, and Jarrad Scott, Foreign Affairs Officer at the U.S. Department of State, for “Academic WorldQuest Category: Wildlife Protection with State Department” (Virtual)

Global Minnesota hosts Yigit Ates, Director of Commodity Exchanges at the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye, for “Podcast Special: Agriculture in Türkiye with Yigit Ates” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Rhode Island hosts Becky Bass, award-winning recording artist and music educator, for “Our Holiday Event at the Hope Club with Becky Bass” (In Person)

Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosts Fiona Hill, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, moderated by Robert J. Abernethy, Tech Center Founder and President, for “A Conversation with Fiona Hill” (Virtual)

World Affairs Council of Atlanta hosts Felipe Cardenas, Staff Writer at the Athletic, for “Reporting the World Cup: From Qatar to Atlanta” (Virtual)

World Affairs Council of Rhode Island presents “Our Holiday Event” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Dallas/ Fort Worth presents “2022 Winter Member Open House” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Maine presents “Coffee and Discussion: Current Events at the Falmouth Memorial Library” (In Person)

Windham World Affairs Council presents “Holiday Wine & Cheese Salon” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Miami presents “Winter World Market and Festival” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Orange County presents “World Cup Championship Watch Party” (In Person)