March 8, 2021
Council of the Month; WACA 2021 Best Practices; Star Speakers; Engage America Events; AWQ National Competition Update; Global Minnesota Hiring; Council Highlights; and more!
Council of the Month: WAC Pittsburgh!
The World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh recently announced their merger with Global Minds Initiative, intending to increase access to global education opportunities for young people. Read the full press release.

“In the midst of a global pandemic and all that we are being confronted with as a society, this year we are also celebrating 90 years since our founding. Merging with Global Minds is a historic moment for us,” said President and CEO, World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, Betty Cruz. She continued, “What a beautiful way to signal that we believe that global education and engagement has the power to transform lives across generations.” The Council is also set to release its three-year strategic plan later this month, which prioritizes youth voices and increasing participation of underrepresented communities across all programs.
WACA 2021 Best Practices
Databases for Councils: Small Group Discussions
Thursday, March 11 | Live Online
3:00 - 4:00 PM ET
This small group discussion follows the Feb. 25 "Database Solutions for Councils" session. The small group discussion will take a deeper look into how databases can provide solutions to your Council's most critical problems.

If you missed the Feb. 25 session, you're still welcome to join! You are encouraged to review the earlier session by visiting the "Best Practice Meetings" webpage on WACA's Members Only webpage.

Note: Council Members Only! Open to one attendee per Council (CEO or Development Director).
Star Speakers
Bill Gates
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Yasmine Pahlavi
Crown Princess of Iran
Farah Pandith
Senior Fellow, HKS
Karen Donfried
President, German Marshall Fund
Chuck Hagel
Fmr. Secretary of Defense
Amb. (ret.) Derek Mitchell
Pres., Nat'l Democratic Institute
WACA's Engage America Speaker Series
Future of Korea

New Perspectives on U.S. and Korea Relations
Wednesday, Mar. 10 at 2:00 PM ET
WAC El Paso
Please join WAC El Paso for a discussion with experts from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA, the U.S. Department of State, and the Korea Economic Institute (KEI) for a presentation on "New Perspectives on U.S. and Korea Relations." 

With a new Administration in the U.S. and historic elections in South Korea, this timely conversation will include politics, trade, the economy, and the many ties that bind these two countries together.
State of the State Department and Professional Diplomacy

Too Much and Never Enough: Climate Change and Water Insecurity
Thursday, Mar. 11 at 7:00 PM ET
Ambassador (ret.) Ken Brill will discuss how climate change is producing water insecurity, the various forms that insecurity can take, what regions globally are most prone to experiencing water insecurity, what the long term implications of growing water insecurity are, how these issues are being addressed currently and what more can be done to manage water-related challenges to stability and prosperity.
AWQ Nat'l Competition Platform & Team Registration
The Carlos and Malú Alvarez 2020-2021 Academic WorldQuest National Competition is scheduled to be held virtually on April 16-17, 2021.

National Competition: Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 2:00 PM ET

Platform and Technology Guideline
The National Competition will utilize MyQuiz.org and Zoom breakout rooms. On Friday, March 5, an email with further details on the National Competition's Platform and Technology Guidelines was sent to AWQ Administrators.

Team Registration
Councils may submit up to three (3) teams to the National Competition this year. The Team Registration forms were sent out Friday, March 5, to AWQ Administrators. Please ensure that the form is completely and accurately filled out.

Volunteer Proctors Needed!
WACA is seeking volunteer proctors for the day of the National Competition to assist with scanning for dishonest gameplay or other assistance. Brief training and materials will be supplied.

If you have questions about AWQ, please email Laura Duncan at lduncan@worldaffairscouncils.org.
Global Minnesota is Hiring!
Global Minnesota is hiring for two positions: Interim Professional Exchanges Program Manager (Mid-March to Mid-August 2021) and Development Associate. Learn more on their website.
Monday 3/8 

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts Bill Gates, a technologist and philanthropist, to discuss his book, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need

Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosts Her Imperial Highness Yasmine Pahlavi, Crown Princess of Iran, for “A Conversation with the Crown Princess of Iran Yasmine Pahlavi.”
 
WorldDenver hosts Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, Co-Founder of the Leadership Council for Women in National Security, and Lauren Buitta, Founder of Girl Security, for “International Women’s Day 2021: Women in National Security.” 

World Affairs Council of Palm Beach hosts Brian Strow, Dean of the School of Business at Palm Beach Atlantic University, for “Unsustainable: The Need for Structural Change in the U.S. Economy.” 

Naples Council on World Affairs hosts Professor Richard B. Andres, U.S. National War College, for “Global Geopolitical Power Shifts and 5G, Quantum and AI.” 

World Affairs Council of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky hosts a panel of experts for “Teacher Training – Using Sustainable Development Goals in the Virtual Classroom.” 

World Affairs Council of New Hampshire hosts a panel of experts for “Women Changing the World.” 

Tuesday 3/9 

Worchester World Affairs Council hosts Farah Pandith, Senior Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, for “Radicalization and Extremism.” 

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts Karen Donfried, President of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, for “Transatlantic Relations: Cornerstone or Millstone?”  

Montana World Affairs Council hosts Chuck Hagel, former Secretary of Defense, for "The Future of America's Global Leadership."

World Affairs Council of Atlanta hosts Katie Kirkpatrick, President and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, for “The Business Case for Racial Equality.” 

Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council hosts Dorinda Elliott, Director of the Center for Business at the China Institute, for “U.S.-China Relations.” 

Colorado Foothills World Affairs Council hosts Mark B. Taylor, consultant to anti-trafficking donors and programs, for “Modern Slavery: Combating Trafficking in Persons.” 

World Affairs Council of Hilton Head hosts William Mallon, a founding member of the International Society of Olympic Historians, for “An Insider Perspective of Olympic History.” 

World Oregon hosts author and journalist Julia Cooke to discuss her book Come Fly the World: The Jet-Age Story of the Women of Pan Am

Wednesday 3/10 

World Affairs Council of Connecticut hosts Ambassador (ret.) Derek Mitchell, President of the National Democratic Institute, for “Myanmar Coup and Threats to Democracy.” 

Colorado Springs World Affairs Council hosts Fahad Nazer, Official Spokesperson of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in DC, for “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Outlook on US Relations and Vision 2030.” 

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts Professor Séverine Autesserre, Barnard College, to discuss her book The Frontlines of Peace. 

Institute of World Affairs (Milwaukee) hosts Dino Mihanović, Counselor of the Delegation of the European Union to the U.S., and Professor Andrei Tsygankov, San Francisco State University, for “The EU and Russia.” 

World Affairs Council Upstate hosts Kyle Anderson, Senior Director for the Office of Global Engagement at Clemson University, and Nate Newsome, Research Associate in Virtual Reality, for “Explore the World with VR Mondi.” 

Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall and World Affairs Council of Orange County host a panel of experts for “Protest & Repression Around the Globe.”

Thursday 3/11 

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts Ertharin Cousin, Visiting Scholar at Stanford University, for “No Bread, No Peace: Food Security as Foreign Policy.” 

International Relations Council hosts Jack MacLennan, Park University, for “News and Views: U.S.- Canada Relations.” 

Santa Fe Council on International Relations hosts Steve Herman, Voice of America White House Bureau Chief, for “The Voice of America – How the U.S. Promotes Truth in a World of Disinformation.” 

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts Maris Briežkalns Quintet, the leader of one of the leading acoustic mainstream bands on the Latvian jazz scene, for “Rothko in Jazz.” 

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts Darrell West, Vice President of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution, to discuss his book Turning Point: Policymaking in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

Friday 3/12 

International Relations Council hosts Mohammad Asim, Pakistani fashion and jewelry designer, for “International Fashion.” 

Peoria Area World Affairs Council hosts Professor Colleen Karn and Professor Octavian Gabor, Methodist College, for “Othering: How Pandemics and Disease May Create a New Class of Untouchables.” 

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts Daniel Esty, Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy at Yale University, for “Ideas for a Sustainable Future.”