World Food Programme Wins Nobel Peace Prize; Announcing WACA Conference Speakers; Foreign Policy's Her Power 2020; Star Speakers in the Network; WorldOregon's Trade & Election; Take the Survey: Conversations With the C-Suite; WACA Launches Embassy Row Live!; Virtual Programming Recordings; AWQ 2020-2021 Topics and Information + more Council Highlights!

Join Global Minnesota for their virtual World Food Day Conference on Friday, October 16. The event explores global food topics including hunger relief, regenerative agriculture and sustainable development, food security and safety, impacts of climate change, and more.

Presenters such as Hon. David Beasley, Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme, and Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Founder and Director of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, will discuss pathways to defeat hunger across the world.

This program is part of the WACA Engage America: World Food Program USA Speaker Series. WACA congratulates the UN World Food Programme on its well-deserved 2020 Nobel Peace Prize win.

Announcing Speakers for the WACA 2020 National Conference

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

Later this week, we will debut the website for the 2020 National Conference. Keynote speakers, think tank briefings, special events, and Councils' Leadership Day will fill the week-long agenda. Registration details will be announced with the website. Stay tuned!

Think Tank Briefing: Quincy Institute

Briefing organizer Stephen Wertheim is author of the forthcoming book, Tomorrow, the World: The Birth of U.S. Global Supremacy.

Advisory Director, Goldman Sachs

TOMORROW: Foreign Policy Presents Her Power 2020

The World Affairs Councils of America is delighted to partner with Foreign Policy for the second time in as many months. Join us Wednesday, Oct. 14 - Thursday, Oct. 15 for Her Power 2020: Women's Voices, Global Impact.

REGISTER HERE! See the agenda.

The two-day virtual convening will feature global thinkers, top officials, and pioneering executives to spotlight women’s transformative potential across government, business, and civil society as well as on the frontlines of the COVID-19 battle. Join #HerPower2020 for an exciting program of thought-provoking conversations, solutions-oriented panels, and breakout sessions.

Join WorldOregon on Thursday, October 15 for Trade & Election 2020: A Nonpartisan Look at Potential Implications. The event will feature a panel of experts in a nonpartisan discussion of how this election will influence trade and impact the Pacific Northwest. How have global geopolitical powers shifted in the past four years and what do we know about how each candidate will contribute to these power dynamics? How will each candidate potentially approach relations and trade with Europe, East Asia, and North American partners? Read more and register.

Thank you to all who joined us to help make the Sept. 28-Oct. 2 Conversations With the C-Suite: Powering Global Recovery and Change a big success! More than 15 CEOs from around the world engaged in informative and provocative discussions on topics such as aviation, banking, healthcare, technology, work and talent, leadership, and innovation.

Please fill out this short survey to tell us your comments and ideas about the content of the C-Suite Forum. We ask that you take 5-10 minutes to submit the survey by Sunday, October 25. 

Embassy Row Live! Turkish Ambassador Kicks Off WACA Series

WACA launched a new speaker series October 8 featuring Ambassador Serdar Kiliç for Turkey and Its Relations With the West.

Embassy Row Live!: Conversations That Bring Diplomacy Directly to You will explore new ideas, policy developments, and possible solutions to critical international challenges with distinguished diplomats from around the world.

ICYMI... Watch WACA Engage America: Wunderbar Together Videos

October 8

October 8

Journalists Peter Baker (New York Times) and Susan Glasser (New Yorker) discussed their new book, The Man Who Ran Washington: The Life and Times of James A. Baker III in a virtual conversation at the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth.

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.

The national competition is attended by 200-250 of the nation's most promising high school students each year, along with their parents, teachers, and chaperones. The 4-hour AWQ competition is a unique opportunity for students to visit the nation's capital, perhaps for the first time. A weekend of substantive programming is included to enhance the experience.

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. 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.

Monday 10/12 

World Affairs Council of New Hampshire hosted Tina Morad, Founder and Director of Refugees Welcome Stockholm, and Khalid Hussain, Chief Executive of the Council of Minorities, for “Social Change Panel.” 

Naples Council on World Affairs hosted Professor Ted Widmer, Macaulay Honors College, for “Lincoln on the Verge: 13 Days to Washington.” 

Tuesday 10/13 

World Affairs Council of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky and Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosts writer Seema Mehta, LA Times, and Professor Dan Schnur, University of Southern California, for “The Key Swing States of the 2020 Election.” 

World Affairs Council Upstate hosts Andrew Staunton, British Consul General in Atlanta, for “Grow Your Business: Updates from the United Kingdom.” 

International Relations Council hosts Richard Fontaine, CEO of the Center for a New American Security, and Assistant Professor Jiakun Zhang, University of Kansas, for “Great Power Competition: China, Russia, & the U.S.”  

World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts Thomas Debass, Managing Director of the Office of Global Partnerships at the U.S. Department of State, for “Post-Pandemic Resilience.” 

Tennessee World Affairs Council hosts Karl Dean, former Mayor of Nashville, for “Global Nashville.” 

Montana World Affairs Council hosts Bill Fitzgerald, Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of the First Interstate Bank, for “Montana and U.S. Post-Pandemic Outlook.” 

 

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts author Chris Whipple to discuss his book “The Spymasters: How the CIA Directors Shape History and the Future.”  

 

World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts journalist Catherine Belton for “Past, Present, Future: A Look at Putin’s Russia.” 

 

Worcester World Affairs Council hosts Laura López, Policy Analyst at NASA Science Mission Directorate, for "Space as a Global Affair: Issues at the Crossroads of Science, National Policy and International Affairs." 

 

World Affairs Council of Western Michigan hosts author P.W. Singer to discuss his book “LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media.” 

World Affairs Council of Philadelphia hosts a panel of experts for “World Affairs and the Enduring American Revolution: Women’s Rights.” 

World Affairs Council Upstate hosts a panel of experts for “Will Democracy Survive the 2020 Election?” 

World Affairs Council of Detroit hosts a panel of experts for “The Conversation America Needs.” 

Wednesday 10/14  

World Affairs (Northern California) and World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth host John Brennan, Distinguished Fellow at the Center on National Security at Fordham Law School, for “A Look Inside the CIA With Former Director John Brennan.” 

World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts The Honorable James Clapper, 4^th U.S. Director of Intelligence, for “Securing the U.S. Election.” 

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts Ambassador (ret.) Richard Olson, former U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan and Afghanistan, for “Afghanistan: U.S.’s Longest War, Peace Talks & Realities on the Ground.” 

World Affairs Council of Atlanta hosts Ambassador Charles Shapiro, President of World Affairs Council of Atlanta, for “Tea in the Garden with Ambassador Shapiro.” 

WorldBoston hosts Ambassador (ret.) Jorge Heine, Professor at Boston University, for “China's Road into Latin America.” 

World Affairs Council of Jacksonville and World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth host General (ret.) Martin Dempsey, Rubenstein Fellow at Duke University, and Colonel (ret.) John Ward, former Vice President of Lockheed Martin, for “No Time for Spectators: The Lessons That Mattered Most from West Point.”  

World Affairs Council of Greater Reading hosts Jessica Brandt, Head of Research and Policy at the Alliance for Securing Democracy, for “Foreign Interference in Democracies.” 

Foreign Policy Association hosts Professor John Taylor, Stanford University, for “National Security and Fiscal Policy.” 

 

World Affairs Council of Philadelphia hosts Associate Professor Benjamin Nathans, University of Pennsylvania, for “Defying Putin: The Dangers and Opportunities in Opposing Russia’s President.”  

Montana World Affairs Council hosts Dr. Jonathan Westrup, Professor at Warwick Business School and the Irish Management Institute, for “Europe and Post-Pandemic Economy.” 

International Relations Council hosts author Professor Wendy Pearlman, Northwestern University, to discuss her book “We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled: Voices from Syria.”

World Affairs Council of New Hampshire hosts a panel of experts for “Climate Change Risks and the U.S. Military.” 

Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosts a panel of experts for “The Future of U.S. Policy on Iran.” 

World Affairs Council of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky hosts a panel of experts for “The Future of U.S. Policy on Iran.” 

Tennessee World Affairs Council hosts a panel of experts for “Global News Review.” 

World Affairs Council of New Orleans hosts a panel of experts for "America in the World." 

Thursday 10/15  

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts Sunny Zhang, Founder and President of Z LAB, for “Local to Global: The New Era Favoring Entrepreneurial Spirit.” 

World Affairs Council of Orange County, San Diego World Affairs Council, and World Affairs Council of Connecticut host John Brennan, Distinguished Fellow at the Center on National Security at Fordham Law School, Professor Janet Napolitano, University of California, Berkeley, for “Webinar with John Brennan and Janet Napolitano.” 

Montana World Affairs Council hosts Joanna Shelton, former Deputy Secretary General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, for “COVID-19 and the Global Economy: What Lies Ahead?” 

Tennessee World Affairs Council and World Affairs Council of Harrisburg hosts General (ret.) John Allen, President of Brookings, and Jessica Matthews, Distinguished Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, for “Election 2020: America’s Place in the World.” 

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts author Susan Eisenhower to discuss her book “How Ike Led: The Principles Behind Eisenhower’s Biggest Decisions.”  

World Affairs Council of Atlanta hosts Peter Baker, Chief White House Correspondent for The New York Times, for “The Man Who Ran Washington.” 

 

World Affairs Council of Central Illinois hosts Ambassador (ret.) Jeffrey DeLaurentis, Distinguished Resident Fellow in Latin American Studies at Georgetown University, for “Diplomatic Challenges and Opportunities for U.S. Cuban Relations.” 

 

International Affairs Forum (Traverse City) hosts Ambassador (ret.) Robert Blake, Executive Director at McLarty Associates, for “Global Business and Climate Goals: An Indonesia Case Study.” 

Peoria Area World Affairs Council hosts author Nina Jankowicz, Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars, for “How to Lose the Information War.” 

 

Olympia World Affairs Council hosts Professor David Bachman, University of Washington, for “China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Much Ado about What?” 

Savannah Council on World Affairs hosts Professor Matthew Kroenig, Georgetown University, for “The Return of Great Power Rivalry: Democracy Versus Autocracy.” 

Richmond World Affairs Council hosts Assistant Professor Christopher Burdett, Virginia Commonwealth University, for "Britain and EU: The ‘New Normal’ After Brexit.”  

 

World Affairs Council of Monterey Bay hosts Assistant Professor Bradley Strawser, Naval Postgraduate School, for “Reflections on the Ethics of Warfare and Changing Technology.”  

 

Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council hosts Assistant Professor Dean Accardi, Connecticut College, for “India, Pakistan, and the War over Kashmir.”  

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

Santa Fe Council on International Relations hosts a panel of experts for “The Supreme Court Crisis and the 2020 Election Cycle: The Most Critical in Our History?”  

World Affairs Council of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky and WorldOregon host a panel of experts for “Trade and Election 2020.”  

Colorado Springs World Affairs Council hosts a panel of experts for “Planning for Tokyo 2020 Olympic & Paralympic Games in 2021.” 

 

World Affairs Council of Charlotte hosts a panel of experts for “International Graduate School Workshop.” 

Friday 10/16 

International Relations Council hosts Anne Erickson, Office Broker at JLL, for “Living and Working Abroad: Asia.” 

World Affairs Council of Charlotte hosts Alyssa Wilen, Owner of Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen, for “Thai Cooking with Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen.”  

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.

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.

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