World Affairs Councils of America
 | |
| Formation | 1986 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit educational/cultural organization |
| Headquarters | Washington, DC USA |
Chairman | Roman Popadiuk |
President & CEO | Bill Clifford |
| Website | worldaffairscouncils.org |
The World Affairs Councils of America represents and supports the largest national non-partisan network of local councils that are dedicated to educating, inspiring and engaging Americans in international affairs and the critical global issues of our times. The network consists of almost 100 councils in over 40 states. Each non-profit, non-partisan council is autonomous with respect to their governance, financing and programming but share common values. Founded in 1918, it has grown to become the United States' largest non-profit international affairs organization.
In mid-February 2011, Chairman of the Board Ambassador Marc Grossman stepped down to become the United States Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, replacing Richard Holbrooke. In June 2011, Ambassador Paula Dobriansky filled the position of Chair of the National Board. In June 2015, WACA announced that Ambassador Roman Popadiuk who served as the first United States Ambassador to Ukraine under George H.W. Bush, from 1992 to 1993, has been elected the new chairman of the national Board of Directors.
In 2014, the World Affairs Councils of America won the Diversity and Inclusion (DANDI) Award in the international category. The DANDI rewards "individuals and organizations for demonstrating outstanding commitment to creating a more diverse and inclusive world".[1]
History
The World Affairs Councils of America has a long history that stretches back some 90 years. Two groups, the Foreign Policy Association (FPA) and the World Affairs Councils worked together in the same organizational system from 1918 until the early 1950s. The FPA was begun in the spring of 1918 by a small group of individuals who worked with President Woodrow Wilson, which included journalist and social reformer Paul Kellogg, who also served as FPA's first president. The founding members were concerned that at the end of World War I, Americans would choose an isolationist foreign policy over one of engagement, and worked to nurture grassroots citizen involvement in international affairs. By 1947, these two groups operated as a national organization that was composed of a network of independent community councils.
In 1986, the National Council of World Affairs Organizations national office was established in Washington, D.C. This office evolved into the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA). Today, WACA is the country's largest non-profit organization, promoting grassroots understanding and engagement in international affairs and seeking to involve as many citizens as possible in an exchange of ideas, knowledge and understanding of global issues.
The national office of the WACA works to develop new program opportunities to distribute to member councils. This includes a variety of national program series, an annual national conference, five flagship programs, Leadership Missions to other countries, and other opportunities.
In addition to providing program opportunities, the WACA acts as the central hub for the council network, connecting councils with resources, opportunities, and of course, with each other. Councils often turn to the WACA for assistance with capacity building and organizational development. The WACA staff visits several councils every year and works hard to help councils accomplish their goals.
Programs
The World Affairs Councils of America is a national association that supports a group of 98 councils who present programs annually. The Councils sponsor international exchanges, school programs, teachers workshops, foreign policy discussions, national opinion polls, travel programs, young professionals’ programs, conferences, and corporate programs.
The national association organizes an annual conference, leadership missions to other nations, a speaker referral system, international speaker exchanges, people-to-people diplomacy missions, educational workshops, book tours, subscription discounts, operations workshops, and video-conferences. It has also run national program series such as World Bank Town Meetings, Two Koreas, Future of Russia, Western Hemisphere, Human Rights Worldwide, the EU, Rising Anti-Americanism, American Security, UN Reform, and The People Speak.
Flagship programs
WACA has eight flagship programs: Academic WorldQuest, Great Decisions, the NPR radio program "It’s Your World," Leadership Missions, the annual National Conference, Travel the World, and World in Transition.
National Conference
The National Conference is a 20 years old annual event engages diplomats, experts, members from the business, civic and education communities with leading policy. During three days, keynote speakers discuss about current international events with students and professionals. Policy conversations and networking also take place during the Conference.
Academic WorldQuest
Academic WorldQuest is an annual team-based international affairs, geography, history and culture competition sponsored by the World Affairs Councils of America.[2] The WorldQuest, held every year since 2003, has two different levels open to competitors: high schools and adults.
WorldQuest was created in 1995 by Jennifer Watson Roberts of the World Affairs Council of Charlotte. It was created to help closing the gap in students` knowledge about global affairs. The national competition began in 2003.
Carlos Alvarez, a businessman, philanthropist and member of the WACA National Board Directors, made a donation of $500.000 with his wife Malú. This generous donation was the largest ever made to a World Affairs Councils of America fundraising initiative. Thanks to this gift, WACA is able to sustain and expand the Academic WorldQuest national competition while supporting programs organized by the 96 local World Affairs Councils.
In order to compete at the national competition, held each spring in Washington, D.C., teams must first win at their regional council level (usually held from November to March). Every year, 4,000 high school students across the country participate in local competitions hosted by their World Affairs Council. Each 40 teams consists of four students answering 100 questions.
| National champions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | High School |
Council |
| 2016 | Keystone School | World Affairs Council of San Antonio |
| 2015 | DuPont Manual High School | World Affairs Council of Kentucky and S. Indiana |
| 2014 | Plano West Senior High School | World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth |
| 2013 | East Aurora High School | International Institute of Buffalo |
| 2012 | Plano Senior High School | World Affairs Councils of Dallas/Fort Worth |
| 2011 | Plano Senior High School | World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth |
| 2010 | DuPont Manual High School | World Affairs Council of Kentucky and S. Indiana |
| 2009 | DuPont Manual High School | World Affairs Council of Kentucky and S. Indiana |
| 2008 | North Carolina School of Science and Math | International Affairs Council of Raleigh |
| 2007 | Daniel Hand High School | World Affairs Forum (Stamford) |
| 2006 | Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology | World Affairs Councils of Washington D.C. |
Leadership Missions
For more than a decade, the WACA has been invited to bring small delegations of council leaders to learn about a host country. A leadership mission consists of a overseas fact-finding visit to a city, country or organization by a delegation of the World Affairs Council.
| Host Countries | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Year |
Country |
Year |
Country |
| 1998 | China | 2006 | Taiwan |
| South Korea | Tunisia | ||
| Taiwan | 2007 | Germany | |
| 1999 | Japan | Saudi Arabia | |
| Singapore | Taiwan | ||
| 2000 | Morocco | 2008 | Israel |
| Northern Ireland | South Korea | ||
| 2001 | Taiwan | UAE | |
| 2002 | Israel | 2009 | China |
| Lebanon | Iraq | ||
| Libya | Oman | ||
| 2003 | Jordan | 2010 | Taiwan |
| Mexico | 2011 | Azerbaidjan | |
| Poland | Taiwan | ||
| 1996 | Japan | 2012 | Afghanistan |
| 1997 | Brazil | China | |
| 2004 | Kuwait | 2013 | Taiwan |
| Lebanon | 2014 | China | |
| Taiwan | 2015 | Taiwan | |
| 2005 | Egypt | 2016 | Israel |
| EU/NATO | |||
Cover to Cover
Cover to Cover is a monthly program featuring the most influential authors on subjects of national and international importance. Some featured authors include: Alec Ross, Thomas W. Lippman, William McCants, Nina Ansary, Peter Kornbluh, and Bret Stephens.
Offered as a benefit to all current WACA Member Councils, Cover to Cover conference calls are opportunities for Council leaders, members, and supporters to engage with esteemed authors on critical issues. Cover to Cover authors often welcome invitations to speak at Councils. In short, the WACA National Office covers a topic with an expert so that Councils may discover a speaker and cover the topic in even greater depth in their own communities, spearheading a national conversation.
Engage America Speakers Series
The Speakers Series includes partnerships between the National Office and think tanks, foundations, publishing companies and government agencies to provide speakers to America’s communities through our local councils on the critical global issues of our times.
1918 Society
The 1918 Society is comprised of individuals who wish to support the World Affairs Councils of America in its mission of educating Americans on global issues. The 1918 Society recalls the founding of the World Affairs Councils Network and the importance of its mission. In 1918, during the aftermath of World War I, the Foreign Policy Association and the World Affairs Councils worked together to nurture grassroots citizen involvement in international affairs. At that time, as America was assuming an unprecedented leadership role in world affairs, American citizens were becoming aware of events on an international level to a degree previously unknown.
Today, as America's global involvement continues to grow politically, economically and culturally, it is more important than ever that we remember the goal of our founders to educate the American public on international affairs. Without an international framework, Americans cannot fully appreciate the role of the United States in the world, perform their civic duties, be productive and competitive members of the workforce and continue to lead in the global economy.
Individual councils
Members councils are located in 40 states, as well as in D.C. and Puerto Rico. Councils are funded through membership dues, corporate sponsorship, grants, in-kind donations, fundraising events, and fee-for-service activities. Over 2,000 corporations, foundations, and individuals help support council work.