WACA Webinar With the International Labour Organization - Tomorrow!

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the founding vision and values that gave birth to the International Labour Organization (ILO) will be relevant more than ever as higher unemployment, rising poverty, inequalities, and injustice risk wiping out decades of development progress and threaten global peace and shared prosperity. On tomorrow, September 22, at 2:00 PM ET, Kevin Cassidy, Director of the ILO’s Office of the United States (ILO USA) and ILO Representative to the Bretton Woods and Multilateral Organizations, will be hosted by WACA for "A Human-Centered Approach to Building A Better Future of Work."

This WACA Fireside Chat webinar will be moderated by Liz Brailsford, WACA Chief Operating Officer, and will discuss this United Nations agency and its work as a social justice organization focused on ensuring a human-centered approach to the world of work. Mr. Cassidy will discuss how the ILO plans to support a better future of work, by enabling constituents and partners to:

Register here for the Zoom webinar! You will receive your access link the morning of the webinar.

WACA will host an all-virtual conference September 28-October 2: Conversations With The C-Suite: Powering Global Recovery and Change. Registration is now open - view the official website. This event is free and open to the public. If you are able, please support WACA for the work that went into producing this special forum with a tax-deductible donation with your ticket order.

How will U.S. and international business leaders rise to these urgent challenges? Will they reimagine the role they play in addressing social problems by transforming companies and industries to contribute to social progress? How will redesigned workforces innovate and use technology to create a healthier, sustainable post COVID-world?

CEO

New America

President, Carolina Panthers

Tepper Sports & Entertainment

Lt. Gen. (ret.) H.R. McMaster 26th United States

National Security Advisor

Director, Global Health

Council on Foreign Relations

Amb. (ret.) Johnnie Carson Amb.(ret.) Vicki Huddleston Former U.S. Ambassadors to several African nations

Nobel Peace Prize Recipient

1997

Save the Dates! WACA 2020 National Conference: November 16-20

WACA will host its annual National Conference on November 16-20, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 National Conference: New Frontiers in Diplomacy and National Security will be held virtually via Zoom webinars.

Keep checking WACA newsletters and the National Conference page on the WACA website for all 2020 Conference announcements regarding topics, speakers, working agenda, and other important information. We look forward to "seeing" you in 2020!

USIP's Peace Day Challenge - September 21

The Peace Day Challenge, created by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), exists to raise the profile of the International Day of Peace and to affirm peace as a real alternative to the violence we see every day in the world. It is all about inspiring a day of action on Monday, September 21, focused on building peace through real-life or virtual activities and sharing on social media at #PeaceDayChallenge.

This year, USIP is asking everyone to show that in a year like no other, peace is still possible.

Community groups and local organizations can:

Make sure to contribute to the Peace Day Mosaic by tagging the picture or screenshot of your participation with #PeaceDayChallenge.

Montana World Affairs Council hosts Kathleen Kuehnast, Director of Gender Policy and Strategy at USIP, for “Women Building Peace” Tuesday, September 22, and Sarhang Hamasaeed, Director of Middle East Programs at USIP, for “Strengthening Local Peacebuilding” Thursday, September 24.

Vermont CWA Hosts Engage the World 2020 Virtual - This Week!

The Vermont Council on World Affairs' Engage the World 2020 virtual conference is a four-day summit hosted from Burlington, VT. Join the Council as it takes a closer look at some of the world’s most pressing issues and offers unique opportunities for you to engage in cultural exchange. Hear from local and international experts, take a cooking class with a VCWA exchange alumnus, or participate in an interactive roundtable discussion. Connect with others as Vermont CWA Engages the World.

View the outstanding full speaker lineup and daily agendas here! Be sure to checkout the events moderated by Joyce Davis, President of the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg, and Matthew Hughes, Executive Director of the International Relations Council (Kansas City).

Tune in this Thursday, September 24 for Travel Live! Join the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg President Joyce Davis and World Affairs Council of Philadelphia's Vice President of Travel Shoshana Altrichter to talk travel the last Thursday of the month from 5:30-6:30 PM ET.

This month's topic - The Silk Road, Journeying to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Joyce will be leading this tour next year, and there will be a special guest from the tour operator highlighting these fascinating destinations.

Tune in to the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg's Facebook Page, Thursday, September 24, at 5:30 PM ET to talk travel!

The Board of Directors of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth seeks a globally minded, dynamic, and innovative President and Chief Executive Officer who has the ability to connect to local, national, and global thought leaders - building on the Council’s decades of providing global education programs for its members, high school students, teachers, and the community at large.

Reporting to the WAC DFW Board of Directors, the President and Chief Executive Officer is responsible for ensuring that membership organization, volunteer board, and professional staff deliver on its mission of educating and engaging the local community in national and international affairs. The Council’s reputation and function as a neutral form for peer learning and civil discourse across disciplines, generations, and points of view requires careful attention and protection. The leader must be a creative thinker of significant intellectual curiosity and depth. The next President will inherit a strong organization with a healthy culture, a robust infrastructure, and an attractive programmatic agenda; and will have the opportunity to build on a premier brand and enhance the Council’s visibility. Read the full description and application details here.

The Council is seeking a new President and CEO as the incumbent Jim Falk is stepping down after 19 years of successful service that saw the membership grow from 350 to more than 4,000. WACA thanks Jim for his many years of leadership at WAC DFW and on the WACA National Board of Directors.

The Carlos and Malú Alvarez 2020-2021 Academic WorldQuest National Competition is scheduled to be held in Washington, DC on April 16-17, 2021 at the United States Institute of Peace.

WACA has arranged a group hotel block at The Westin DC City Center (1400 M St. NW, Washington, DC). See the reservation link here to book your discounted room(s). The hotel block deadline is Monday, March 29, 2021.

To confirm your Council's participation in the 2020-2021 AWQ season, please fill out and submit this Pledge Form by November 30, 2020. Stay tuned for the official AWQ 2020-2021 Study Guide!

WACA encourages all Councils to host a local Academic WorldQuest program for high school students in your area. Please read WACA's 2021 Operations Paper to learn more about launching an AWQ competition. Additionally, please use these materials to promote the AWQ program to teachers, students, and sponsors for the 2020-2021 AWQ season: Teacher's Guide and AWQ Flyer. There is no minimum or maximum number of teams that are required for local AWQ competitions, and WACA encourages Councils to engage as many regional high schools as possible.

As students and instructors across the U.S. return to an online or otherwise modified classroom, WACA partner, the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI) is extending its offer of having one KEI staff member speak with students virtually. This opportunity comes at no cost, and KEI experts are well-versed in a variety of topics related to the Korean Peninsula; including security, politics, economics, and culture as well as broader trends in the Indo-Pacific region.

This is one of the many ways KEI is adapting its outreach and programs to promote a better understanding of the U.S.-Korea relationship during these uncertain times. As a reminder, all of KEI's publications and events are freely available on the KEI website, including Korea View, the weekly newsletter about developments in South Korea, and the new “Conversation” series.

If you are interested in having KEI visit your virtual classroom, please email kf@keia.org. Please be sure to include the title of the class, possible dates and times, topics to be addressed, the class size and composition (undergraduate or graduate), as well as any speaker preferences.

WACA hosted a webinar Thursday, September 10, to discuss a new initiative from the Future of Diplomacy Project at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. The discussion featured a panel with Ambassador Marc Grossman, Vice Chairman of the Cohen Group and former WACA Chairman, Amb. Nancy McEldowney, Professor at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, and Ambassador Marcie Ries, Senior Fellow at the Future of Diplomacy Project, and moderated by WACA President and CEO Bill Clifford.

The American Diplomacy Project: A Foreign Service for the 21st Century intends to address the serious challenges the Foreign Service has faced during administrations of both parties. The goal of this project is to produce a nonpartisan report on how the White House, both parties in Congress, the State Department leadership, and concerned citizens can lead an effort to rebuild the Foreign Service for the next half-century. The report will be released following the November U.S. presidential election.

If you weren't able to join the live event, view the recording here or on WACA's YouTube channel (below). For more information about The American Diplomacy Project, please contact Ambassador Ries at marcieries@hks.harvard.edu. Council Promotional Partner: Los Angeles WAC & Town Hall

WACA Partners With PBS - Harbor from the Holocaust Preview and Panel

WQED, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the World Affairs Councils of America hosted a very special event featuring a sneak preview of the PBS Special Harbor from the Holocaust September 2. The documentary explores the extraordinary relationship of nearly 20,000 Jewish refugees and their adopted city of Shanghai.

A panel discussion with film director Violet Feng, Doris Fogel, Manli Ho, and moderated by WACA President and CEO Bill Clifford followed the film clip. For those of you who were unable to tune into the sneak preview event and panel, you can watch the recording here using the password: CPBpbsHARBOR.

Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosts Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO of New America, for “Redefining National Security for the Post-Pandemic World.”

Peoria Area World Affairs Council hosts Ambassador Marc Grossman, Vice Chairman of The Cohen Group, for “American Diplomacy Project: Modernizing the State Department and Rebuilding the Foreign Service.”

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and World Affairs Council of Orange County host Lieutenant General (ret.) H.R. McMaster, 26th U.S. National Security Advisor, to discuss his book Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World.

World Affairs Council of Charlotte hosts Tom Glick, President of Carolina Panthers and Tepper Sports & Entertainment, for “Tepper Sports & Entertainment’s Game Plan for Charlotte and the Carolinas.”

Montana World Affairs Council hosts Kathleen Kuehnast, Director of Gender Policy and Strategy at the U.S. Institute of Peace, for “Women Building Peace.”

WorldBoston hosts General (ret.) John Allen, President of the Brookings Institution, and Darrell West, Vice President and Director of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution, for “Great Decisions | Artificial Intelligence & Data.”

World Affairs Council of Austin hosts Andrew Natsios, Director of the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs, for “Coping With COVID-19.”

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts author Brittany Barnett, Founder of the Buried Alive Project and Girls Embracing Mothers, to discuss her book A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom.

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts Fatima Raza, Assistant Director of Programs and Partnerships at Rice University, for “Conversations With a Conscience-International Development.”

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts Jon Haveman, Principal at Marin Economic Consulting, for “The Impact of President Trump's Foreign Trade Policies.”

World Affairs Council of Western Michigan hosts Frankie Volkema, Creator of Joven Coffee, for “Talking Java: The Future of Coffee.”

Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy hosts Christine Dal Bello, Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. Department of State, for “National Parks Diplomacy.”

Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosts Professor Jill Lepore, Harvard University, to discuss her book If Then: How the Simulmatics Corporation Invented the Future.

WorldOregon hosts Mel Gurtov, Professor Emeritus at Portland State University, for “America in Retreat: Foreign Policy Under Trump.”

Richmond World Affairs Council hosts Professor Brantly Womack, University of Virginia, for “U.S.-China Relations: Beyond Panic.”

World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana hosts Professor Philippe Deprez, Indiania University Southeast, for “Globalization Has Been Ill: Will the Pandemic Kill It?”

Montana World Affairs Council hosts Ambassador (ret.) Barbara Leaf, Director of the Geduld Program on Arab Politics at the Washington Institute, for “Council on the Radio.”

Cleveland Council on World Affairs and World Affairs Council of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky hosts Thomas Bollyky, Director of the Global Health Program at the Council on Foreign Relations, for “Global Health and Pandemics: A World Reshaped by COVID-19.”

Montana World Affairs Council hosts Dennis McNamara, Senior Humanitarian Advisor at the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, for “Humanitarianism and Peace.”

World Affairs Council of Atlanta hosts Professor Monica Swahn, Georgia State University, for “COVID-19: Burden in the U.S.”

International Relations Council (Kansas City) hosts Assistant Professor Phil Duncan, University of Kansas, for “Lexicon: Kaqchikel Maya.”

World Affairs (Northern California) and World Affairs Council of Orange County hosts Assistant Professor Rebecca Lissner, U.S. Naval War College, and Mira Rapp‑Hooper, Senior Fellow at the Yale Law School, for “The Future of U.S. Global Leadership.”

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts author Daniel Yergin, Pulitzer Prize Winner, for “Energy, Climate, & The Clash of Nations.”

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts author P.J. O’Rourke to discuss his book A Cry from the Far Middle.

Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council hosts author David Shimer to discuss his book Rigged: U.S., Russia and 100 Years of Election Interference.

Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosts author Sebastian Strangio and Professor Donald Emmerson, Stanford University, for “The Impact of China's Rise on Southeast Asia.”

World Affairs Council of New Hampshire hosts a panel of experts for “Climate Change and National Security.”

Santa Fe Council on International Relations hosts Ambassador (ret.) Johnnie Carson, former U.S. Ambassador to several African nations, and Ambassador (ret.) Vicki Huddleston, former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Mali, for “Whither Africa?”

World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts Ambassador (ret.) Linda Thomas-Greenfield, former U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, for “Challenges Facing Sub-Saharan Africa.”

World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana hosts Kevon Foderingham, Founder and Executive Director of Caribbean Fashion & Arts Feature Festival, for “Fashion & Art in the Caribbean.”

Montana World Affairs Council hosts Sarhang Hamasaeed, Director of Middle East Programs at the U.S. Institute of Peace, for “Strengthening Local Peacebuilding.”

Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy hosts Gerald Elias, Boston Symphony violinist, for “Music Diplomacy.”   

World Affairs Council of Charlotte hosts Dr. Andrea Gambotto, Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, for “COVID-19: The Development of a Vaccine.”

Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosts Professor Dan Schnur, University of Southern California, for “Politics in the Time of Coronavirus.”

WorldOregon hosts Professor Peter Laufer, University of Oregon, for “Up Against the Wall: The Case for Opening the Mexican-American Border.”

World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Roads hosts author David Rohde to discuss his book “In Deep.”

Global Minnesota hosts Peg Thomas, Executive Director at the Sundance Family Foundation, and Tim Roman, Co-Founder and CEO of Ecotone Analytics GBC, for “SDG Roundtable: Fall 2020.”

Alaska World Affairs Council and Juneau World Affairs Council host Zach Brown, Executive Director of Inian Islands Institute, for “Trekking the Climate Crisis: From Knowledge to Action.”

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts Tobias Harris, Senior Vice President of Teneo, for “The Iconoclast -- Shinzo Abe and the New Japan.”

Peoria Area World Affairs Council hosts Joshua Zulu, former Engineering Manager at Caterpillar Inc., for “From Zambia to Peoria: The Journey of Joshua Zulu.”

Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosts a panel of experts for “How to Make a Difference -- Whether or Not You Can Vote.”

Windham World Affairs Council hosts Jody Williams,1997 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, for “Stepping Up and Taking Action on Killer Robots and the New Nuclear Arms Race.”

WACA is continuing to upgrade and expand our 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.

Listen now to WACA's August Cover to Cover program featuring Lesley Blume, award-winning journalist, historian, and New York Times bestselling author, on her new book Fallout: The Hiroshima Cover-Up and the Reporter Who Revealed It to the World.

The World Affairs Councils of America is an independent, nonpartisan organization dedicated to engaging the public and leading global voices to better understand the world, America’s international role, and the policy choices that impact our daily lives and our future.

Your generous contributions will strengthen our capacity to support the World Affairs Council Network through educational and civic initiatives - any amount helps.

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.