Note: WACA President and CEO just returned from two conferences: the 2022 Doha Forum in Qatar (20th Edition - see wrap video) and the inaugural Global Upstate Conference on International Business and Foreign Affairs in Greenville and Spartanburg, South Carolina. His monthly Letter to the Network will appear in next week's newsletter.
Audra Plepytė
Ambassador of Lithuania to U.S.
Arsham Parsi
Founder, International Railroad for Queer Refugees
Oleksiy Honcharuk
Former Prime Minister of Ukraine
Jennifer Fang
Pittock Mansion
Barrett Pitner
The Sustainable Culture Lab
Deborah Malac
Former U.S. Ambassador to Uganda and Liberia
Tone Kajzer
Ambassador of Slovenia to U.S.
For April, WACA is delighted to recognize Global Minnesota as our Council of the Month! Among Global Minnesota's consistently insightful and inclusive programming, we wish to highlight their upcoming all-day virtual symposium to mark World Health Day.

On April 7, Global Minnesota will host a multi-session program dedicated to “Accelerating Health Equity by Design.” Renowned experts and entrepreneurs in global public health from organizations such as the National Council on Disability and Medtronic LABS will speak on a wide range of successful health strategies. The speakers and panel presentations will explore emerging opportunities and challenges in health equity. Register now for Global Minnesota's World Health Day panel conversations.
The World Affairs Councils of America is pleased to continue our collaboration with the Korea Economic Institute of America on our Engage America: Future of Korea program series. The speaker program focuses on the diplomatic, political, economic, and cultural circumstances on the Korean Peninsula, as well as U.S.-Korea relations.

WACA invites applications for the Future of Korea 2022 from Member Councils, and up to eight will be selected to participate. Through KEI's generous support, WACA will provide $2,000 to each selected Council. Interested Councils are asked to submit a completed Application Form to Kathleen Euler by Friday, April 15.
On Monday, March 7, German Ambassador to the United States Emily Haber presented the President of the American Council on Germany, Dr. Steven Sokol, with the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesverdienstkreuz, 1. Klasse).

Steve is familiar to many in our network having served as the President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh from 2010 to 2015 and on the WACA Board – and through collaboration with WACA at the national level and with individual Councils across the country.

In her remarks, Ambassador Haber praised Steve for his tireless efforts to build connections across cultures and backgrounds, not only in his current capacity but also in his prior positions in Pittsburgh, New York, and Berlin. Steve is a consummate transatlanticist – and we are lucky to consider him part of our WACA family. He values the work of World Affairs Councils deeply, and his work over the years to promote international understanding has helped shape hundreds of future leaders, opened the minds of budding transatlanticists, and forged important lines of communication. Congratulations, Steve!
Council Leaders and Staff: Don't forget to register for this Thursday's Best Practices Session on How to Package Your Mission! The 3:00 PM ET session will feature Debbie Swanson, Founder and Owner of Advancement Momentum, and Kim Stewart, Owner and CEO of Athena Coaching & Consulting, LLC. Both are experts in fundraising and messaging.

The discussion will be moderated by Karen Burghart, Secretary of the WACA National Board and former Executive Director of the Colorado Springs World Affairs Council.
Global Minnesota will host Amb. Ross Wilson, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul (January 2020-August 2021), and his wife, Margo Squire, a former Foreign Service Officer, for a special edition of Embassy Row Live! on Wednesday, April 13 at 6:00 PM CT (7:00 PM ET).
Join Margo Squire and Amb. Wilson, former Board Chair of Global Minnesota, as they share experiences from their historic and eventful time in Afghanistan, as well as their thoughts on the social and economic advances that improved the lives of Afghanistan’s people and what it might take for those advances to persist in the current political climate.

WACA is proud to serve as a promotional partner for this Embassy Row Live! event.
The rescheduled program will be held Thursday, April 21 at 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM ET.
In his latest book, Dismantling Global White Privilege: Equity for a Post-Western World, Chandran Nair takes a comprehensive look at the destructive influence of global White privilege.

He examines its impact on geopolitics, the reframing of world history, international business practices, and soft-power spheres like entertainment, news media, sports, and fashion. This book exposes its pervasive global reach and creates a new space for discourse on worldwide racial equality. Register now and join the conversation on Thursday, April 21 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM ET.
In partnership with WACA, WorldQuest Weekly is produced by the Tennessee World Affairs Council, which offers customized subscriptions to the quiz for Council members. Most of the questions are drawn from both WACA's Weekly World News Update, and a curated news Twitter feed (@TNWAC). Contact pat@tnwac.org or visit tnwac.org/quiz for details.

Congratulations to last week's winner (10/10)! Chalama (Davie, FL), Clarice (Indianapolis, IN), Catherine (Cleveland, OH), and David (Sarasota, FL)
WACA's Hotel Block Ends Thursday, April 7
WACA is pleased to announce our discounted block rate at the Westin Washington, D.C. City Center of $169/night + tax (single) $189/night (double). Through the work of our dedicated staff, WACA has secured this discount since AWQ 2016-2017! We are excited to offer this rate to your teams and look forward to welcoming you all to the Westin!
Congratulations to All Local AWQ Champs!
All participating Councils have successfully hosted their local Academic WorldQuest competitions! The champion high school teams now have a chance to compete at The Carlos and Malú Alvarez National Academic WorldQuest Competition on April 30, 2022.

The team at the World Affairs Councils of America congratulates all participating students and has the full list of winning teams available here. Have an update on your Council's winning team? Send your updates to Keily Ramirez.
World Affairs Council of Atlanta seeks to hire a Program Manager and a Membership and Development Manger. Learn more here and here.
World Affairs Council of Philadelphia seeks to hire a Digital Content Manager. Learn more.
Columbus Council on World Affairs seeks to hire an Administrative and Office Assistant. Learn more.
World Affairs Council of Jacksonville seeks to hire a Director of Operations and Administration. Learn more.
International Institute of Buffalo seeks to hire a Case Manager (Human Trafficking Services). Learn more.
Monday 4/4

Naples Council on World Affairs hosts Katherine Zimmerman, Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), for "After Afghanistan: Countering al Qaeda and the Islamic State" (In person)

World Affairs Council Upstate presents “Peace Vigil for Ukraine” (In person)

Tuesday 4/5

Windham World Affairs Council hosts Audra Plepytė, Lithuanian Ambassador to the United States, for “Lithuania, Ukraine and Regional Security Challenges Today”

Sarasota World Affairs Council hosts Arsham Parsi, Founder and Director of International Railroad for Queer Refugees, for “LGBTQ+ Refugees: Securing Safe Passage from Iran” (In person)

World Affairs Council of New Hampshire hosts Rodger Cuzner, Consul General of Canada to Boston, for “Global Insights: Renewing the U.S.-Canada Partnership”

Indiana Council on World Affairs hosts Sumitha Kutty, Leverhulme fellow at the Centre for Grand Strategy at King’s College London, for “Great Decisions Program: The Quad Alliance”

Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosts Dan Schnur, professor at UC Berkeley, for "The Dan Schnur Political Report"

World Affairs Council of Maine hosts Clifford Gilpin, former President of WAC Maine, for “Great Decisions Climate Change”

World Affairs Council of Western North Carolina hosts Ben Betsalel, internationally renowned artist, for "Flight from Ukraine"

World Affairs Council of Philadelphia presents “Conversation Club: Should Museums Return Contested Artifacts?” (In person)

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston presents “Global Affairs & U.S. Foreign Policy Institute” (In person)

International Relations Council (Kansas City) presents “International Film Club: Precious Knowledge (Mexico/U.S.)”

Wednesday 4/6

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts Oleksiy Honcharuk, former Ukrainian Prime Minister (August 2019-March 2020), for “Peninsula Online: Ukraine Under Fire”

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts Robert Greenway, President and Executive Director at Abraham Accords Peace Institute, for “International Perspectives Series - The Abraham Accords: How Have They Impacted the Middle East?”

World Affairs Council of St. Louis hosts HRH Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the U.S., for "Global Diplomacy Speaker Series"

Montana World Affairs Council hosts Amb. (Ret.) William Taylor, for “U.S. Response to Ukraine”

Cleveland Council on World Affairs hosts David Pogue, CBS correspondent, for “How to Prepare for Climate Change” (In person)

World Affairs Council Upstate hosts Caoimhe Ní Chonchúir, Consul General of Ireland in Atlanta, for “Grow Your Business: Doing Business With Ireland”

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts Amy Zegart, Professor of Political Science at Stanford University, for “Marin Online: Is the US Losing its Intelligence Advantage?”

International Relations Council (Kansas City) hosts Trent Maul, Director for Analysis at the US Defense Intelligence Agency, for “Cybersecurity Threats From Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia and the Global Spread of Disinformation” (In person)

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts Kenneth Miller, Professor of Government, Claremont McKenna College, for “Texas vs. California: A History of Their Struggle for the Future of America” (In person)

Thursday 4/7

Savannah Council on World Affairs hosts Amb. (Ret.) Deborah Malac, former U.S. Ambassador to Uganda and Liberia, for "American Diplomacy in Action: Fighting Disease, Promoting Democracy, and Creating Economic Opportunity"

World Worcester hosts Adam Weinstein, Research Fellow at the Quincy Institute, for “The U.S. Experience in Afghanistan: What Does It Mean for Future Interventions and Nation-Building?”

World Affairs Council of St. Louis hosts Lieutenant General (Ret.) Kenneth Hunzeker and Air Force Major General (Ret.) Andrew Turley, for “Great Decisions: The Quad Alliance”

WorldOregon hosts Jennifer Fang, Director of Interpretation and Community Engagement at Pittock Mansion, and Barrett Pitner, Founder of The Sustainable Culture Lab, for “Resisting Cultural Erasure in America” 

World Affairs Council of Albuquerque hosts Behnam Ben Taleblu, Senior Fellow at Foundation for Defense of Democracies, for “The Iran Deal Drama: Origins, Evolution, and Future of the Iranian Nuclear Impasse”

Foreign Policy Association hosts Victoria Newhouse, American architectural historian, for “Parks of the 21st Century”

World Affairs Council of Harrisburg hosts Sanjay Paul, Professor at Elizabethtown College, for “Great Decisions: Industrial Policy”

World Affairs Council of Tacoma hosts Tom Preston, Professor at Washington State University, for “WACT Global Impact: Crisis in Ukraine” 

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts a panel of experts for “Global Health” (In person)

Vermont Council on World Affairs hosts a panel of experts for “​​ISS: Harnessing the Power of Technology” (In person)

World Affairs Council of Charlotte hosts a panel of experts for “Breast Cancer: A Global Disease”.

Global Minnesota presents “World Health Day Virtual Symposium 2022”

Colorado Springs World Affairs Council presents “Great Decisions: Quad Alliance”

Friday 4/8

WorldBoston hosts the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition for “ International Women of Courage Coffee Talk”

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts Tone Kajzer, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the United States, for “What is Slovenia's Place in the Security Situation in Europe?” (In person)

Saturday 4/9

World Affairs Council of Harrisburg presents “Covid-19 Vaccine Clinic and Men’s Breakfast”

Sunday 4/10

World Affairs Council Upstate presents “Balalaika Fantasie Concert” (In person)