World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth
The mission of the nonprofit, nonpartisan World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is to promote international awareness, understanding and connections through its multifaceted programs. The Council works to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare North Texans to thrive in this complex world.
The council presents over 100 programs annually, primarily focusing on the international aspects of business, politics, culture and foreign policy. With the goal of connecting North Texas with the world, the Council has been educating Metroplex citizens on global affairs since 1951. Today, it serves as a gateway to the world for the region, offering an impressive range of programs and events for the public and its more than 3,000 members.
The Council takes education directly into North Texas schools through its International Education Initiative. Additionally, it coordinates visits to North Texas of delegations and leaders from around the world through the International Visitor Program and the City of Dallas Office of Protocol.
WorldQuest
The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth sponsors the North Texas Academic World Quest competition each year, testing high schoolers' knowledge of world affairs, geography, history, culture, flags, sports, current events, leaders, economics, international organizations, and more. The winning team, made up of four students, receives an expenses-paid trip to the national tournament in Washington, D.C..
Notable speakers
Some famous and important speakers the World Affairs Council has presented include:
- Bono, lead singer of U2 and co-founder of DATA
- Paul Bremer, former Director of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance of post-war Iraq
- Dick Cheney, Vice President of the United States
- Clark Ervin, former Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security
- Ari Fleischer, former White House Press Secretary
- Thomas Friedman, The New York Times columnist and Pulitzer Prize recipient
- Alan Greenspan, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve
- Kay Bailey Hutchison, United States Senator, Texas
- Carlos Alberto de Icaza Gonzalez, Mexican Ambassador to the United States
- Gen. Ronald Keys, Commander of Air Combat Command of the United States Air Force
- David McCullough, author, historian, and Pulitzer Prize recipient
- T. Boone Pickens, founder of BP Capital
- Condoleezza Rice, United States Secretary of State
- Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric
- Carlos Westendorp, Spanish Ambassador to the United States
- Prince Turki al-Faisal, Saudi Ambassador to the United States
- Zhou Wenzhong, Chinese Ambassador to the United States