WACA Weekly

Top Council Programs; Brazilian Student Power; Wunderbar Together Grant; Spring Leadership Meeting in KC; New Council Exec in El Paso; Global I.Q. Minute; AWQ News; plus Council Highlights

Brazilian Students Wow WACA at Global Ties U.S. National Meeting

The World Affairs Councils of America congratulates Global Ties U.S. on a very successful National Meeting in Washington, DC last week.

About 50 people, including leaders and staff from more than 20 Councils, attended the breakfast hosted by WACA President and CEO Bill Clifford. Three precocious Brazilian high school students participating in Liaison America's "Triple L" exchange program in the U.S. delighted attendees with their fabulous presentations. Thanks to Liaison America, WACA will soon announce a scholarship opportunity for a 30-day study program in Brazil.

Bill also presented at the "Managing Crises on ILVP Missions" panel, sharing his experience at the helm of WorldBoston during the April 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.

Engage America: What Today's Germany Means for the United States

Wunderbar Together WACA Grant Announcement

Applications Due by February 5

The World Affairs Councils of America is excited and proud to be among the 200+ partner organizations selected to participate in Wunderbar Together: The Year of German-American Friendship (Deutschlandjahr USA 2018/19).

WACA officially commenced our project at the 2018 National Conference in November, with a keynote address and panel featuring German Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Michaelis and a Leadership Day presentation by Christoph Muecher, Director of Deutschlandjahr USA at the Goethe-Institut Washington.

We invite applications from World Affairs Councils to participate in WACA’s Wunderbar Together grant-funded series, “Engage America: What Today’s Germany Means for the United States.” As many as 18 Councils will be selected to participate.

Partnering with the American Council on Germany in New York, as well as the Goethe-Institut and German Embassy in DC, WACA will arrange for decision makers, policy experts, and opinion leaders to discuss with Council audiences across the country some of the most pressing issues facing Germany, the U.S., and the transatlantic relationship.

Click here for grant details and how to apply.

Academic WorldQuest Team Rules Update

After feedback and discussions with Councils, beginning this 2018-2019 Academic WorldQuest season, WACA will allow composite teams to compete in the National Competition in April 2019. Up to two high schools or affiliations may make up each Council's team. Each team of four must be composed of enrolled students in a local high school or equivalent certificate program in the Council's region.

This new policy will be on a trial basis for one year, after which WACA will elicit feedback and reevaluate on whether to continue the initiative in future years.

Council Highlights

Wednesday 1/30

WorldBoston hosts Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow at Belfer Center at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, for “Chat and Chowder – Israeli National Security.” Details

Global Minnesota hosts Drake Hamilton, Science Policy Director at Fresh Energy, for “Minnesota Responds to Climate Change: A Report from COP24.” Details

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts Attorney Michael Pullara, for “The Spy Who Was Left Behind.” Details

Alabama World Affairs Council hosts “Great Decisions 2019 Seminar Series, The Middle East: Regional Disorder.” Details

Santa Fe Council on International Relations hosts Todd Greentree, for “The Middle East: Regional Disorder.” Details

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts Joel Simon, Executive Director at the Committee to Protect Journalists, for “We Want to Negotiate.” Details

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts a panel of experts, for “NAFTA 2.0: The Future of Cross-border Trade and the Impact on Operations. Details

Thursday 1/31

Alaska World Affairs Council hosts Fran Ulmer, chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, for “After the Arctic Ice Melts.” Details

International Relations Council (Kansas City) hosts a panel of experts for “Mega-regions and the Future of Transportation.” Details

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts Mayor Joe Chow for “Meridian: Chinese New Year Social.” Details

World Affairs (Northern California) hosts Zach Vertin, author and former diplomat, for “The Making and Unmaking of South Sudan.” Details

Peoria Area World Affairs Council hosts John Shaw, Director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University, for “The Leadership Crisis in Illinois, America, and the World.” Details

Friday 2/1

WorldDenver hosts Soner Cagaptay, Beyer Family Fellow and Director of the Turkish Research Program at the Washington Institute, for “Erdogan and the Crisis of Modern Turkey.” Details