World Affairs Council of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky

Small World Cafe - Disinformation around the World
2022-05-17 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Join us for this Small World Cafe event brought to you in partnership with the World Affairs Council – Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky and Gulf Coast Diplomacy. In the month of May we’re exploring the impact of misinformation and disinformation around the world with Dr. Jeffrey Blevins of the University of Cincinnati!

Dr. Blevins is a Professor in the Journalism Department. Tenured in the Department of English & Comparative Literature, he also holds affiliate appointments in Department of Political Science and The Cincinnati Project. His Scholarship is grounded in U.S. telecommunication law and policy and engages critical political economy theory. Dr. Blevins’ published research has examined media ownership regulation, First Amendment jurisprudence on media ownership regulation, Internet media policy and the politics of the telecommunication policymaking process. He has provided expertise on electronic media regulation and Federal Communications Commission policymaking to international, national, regional and local news media. In 2009 Dr. Blevins served as a federal grant reviewer for the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program administered by the National Telecommunication and Information Administration and the U.S. Department of Commerce. He is a frequent opinion-editorial columnist for major news outlets, including USA Today, The Cincinnati Enquirer, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and other venues.

Fiona Hill - Balancing Act: Russia, U.S., & the World
2022-05-26 09:30 - 10:30 | Virtual Event
WorldOregon presents the 2022 International Speaker Series: Intersections
Celebrating its 22nd season, WorldOregon’s International Speaker Series puts you virtually in the room with the global leaders, visionaries, and inspiring voices that are changing our world.  This year’s series, presented exclusively online, brings to WorldOregon audiences four of the globe’s brightest, boldest thinkers and advocates discussing race and social justice, sovereign rights, confronting aggression, and resilience and humanity in the face of crisis.

May 26, 6:30 PM
Fiona Hill

Balancing Act: Russia, U.S., & the World
Senior Fellow, Center on the U.S. & Europe, Brookings Institution
June 7, 6:30 PM
Lynsey Addario
Of Love & War: Humanity & Resilience on the Front Lines
Pulitzer Prize-winning Photojournalist
Twitter: @lynseyaddario
The 2022 International Speaker Series will be streamed live online | Note: all times are PDT*
* Ticket-purchasers will receive a password-protected link following the online event to view or re-watch the program within a limited, 2-day window.

Senior Fellow, Center on the U.S. & Europe, Brookings Institution

Taft Business Roundtable: Hybrid Onshore/Offshore Strategies for Suppliers/Buyers
2022-05-31 08:30 - 10:00 | 1819 Innovation Hub
Join us for a discussion with experts, specialists and innovators on the topic of Hybrid Onshore/Offshore Strategies for Suppliers/Buyers. We are the epic center for goods and services distribution. Find out how geopolitics, technological innovations and other factors will impact how entrepreneurs can create, market and distribute products across the country and around the world.
Agenda:

8:30 Registration & lite refreshments
8:45 Opening remarks
9:00 Panel discussion
9:45 Q&A
10:00 Closing remarks

Some of the questions the panel may attempt to answer include:

Lessons learned from the supply chain bottlenecks
Just in time (JIT) dead or alive?
Is offshore manufacturing and supply chain obsolete?
How to reshore/onshore and what it means to cost and inflation?
Is there a hybrid onshore/offshore model for supply chain?
China-US decoupling or recoupling? Are there legitimate Indo Pacific substitutes to Chinese suppliers?

Lynsey Addario Of Love & War: Humanity & Resilience on the Front Lines
2022-06-07 09:30 - 10:30 | Virtual Event
WorldOregon presents the 2022 International Speaker Series: Intersections
Celebrating its 22nd season, WorldOregon’s International Speaker Series puts you virtually in the room with the global leaders, visionaries, and inspiring voices that are changing our world.  This year’s series, presented exclusively online, brings to WorldOregon audiences four of the globe’s brightest, boldest thinkers and advocates discussing race and social justice, sovereign rights, confronting aggression, and resilience and humanity in the face of crisis.
June 7, 6:30 PM

Lynsey Addario
Of Love & War: Humanity & Resilience on the Front Lines
Pulitzer Prize-winning Photojournalist
Twitter: @lynseyaddario
The 2022 International Speaker Series will be streamed live online | Note: all times are PDT*
* Ticket-purchasers will receive a password-protected link following the online event to view or re-watch the program within a limited, 2-day window.

IDEA Summit 2022
2022-06-10 07:30 - 12:00 | St. Elizabeth Training and Education Center
The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (NKY Chamber) and St. Elizabeth Healthcare are partnering to host the first IDEA Summit – Building an Inclusive Community: The Business Case for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion powered by Fifth Third Bank. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to Noon on Friday, June 10, at the St. Elizabeth Training and Education Center (3861 Olympic Blvd., Erlanger, Ky., 41018) and will address removing barriers to employment, effective talent attraction and retention strategies, the importance of an inclusive workplace culture and building a plan for supplier diversity.
Tentative Event Schedule
7:30am – 8am: Registration/Breakfast/Networking
8am – 9am: Welcome and Keynote Speaker Stephanie A. Smith from Fifth Third
9am – 10am: Panel Discussion – All hands on deck: Removing Barriers to Employment. Panel moderator Dr. Eddie Howard, VP of Student Affairs at NKU.
Panel: John Hawkins MPI Consulting, Catrena Bowman-Thomas NKCAC, Alecia Webb-Edgington Life Learning Center, Paco Tello, Pefetti Van Melle
10am – 12pm: Break Out Sessions (Topics TBD)

Cost to Attend

Member Rate
$55

Future Member Rate
$70

NKYP Pass Rate
$50

Pre-registration is required. Click the “Register” button to reserve your seat! The NKY Chamber has a 48-hour cancellation policy for all events.

Industrial Policy Discussion
2022-06-13 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
Will a more involved U.S. government help the economy revive? The current discussion of industrial policy in the United States is not simply about whether or not to support specific companies or industries, but about trust or mistrust of the government and its ability to manage the economy and deal with a rising China. The upheaval in supply chains during the pandemic exposed weaknesses in the international economy. What policies can the United States implement to deal with trade and the economy?
This session is part of the Great Decisions program through Foreign Policy Association and the World Affairs Council partners with OLLI at UC to bring you this program.

Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit
2022-06-16 | Hybrid
Join us as we explore Emergent Strategies for an Equitable, Climate Prepared Region.
In-person tickets to all days of events are limited. Please secure your spot early.
Award nominations and speaker, field trip and art submissions have closed.
Learn more about opportunities to sponsor the Summit.​
Our program includes a keynote, plenary, breakout sessions and short talks covering a broad range of relevant topics, including:

Healthy & Resilient Communities

Business & Green, Circular Economy

Government & Policy

Healthy, High-Performing Infrastructure

Creating a Food Secure Community

Climate Justice, Equity & Inclusion

Emergency Preparedness

Expo Community Conversation
2022-06-23 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Event
Join us for this Expo Community Conversation event brought to you in partnership with the World Affairs Council – Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky, Global Ties, the U.S. Department of State and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Join us for a discussion on how we bring Expos back to the United States and do so in a more inclusive way that highlights our country’s diversity as a strength of our democracy. Expos, also known as World’s Fairs, are the world’s oldest and largest mega event, held every three-five years in host cities around the world since their inception in 1851 in London. Similar to the Olympics, which are world festivals of sports, Expos are festivals of culture, technology, innovation, design, and human excellence. Past Expos have seen a multitude of countries showcase innovations such as the mobile phone, the X-Ray Machine, and the ice cream cone.
Though Expos have not captured many U.S. citizens’ imaginations, for those who experienced the events within the United States and overseas the last sixty years, the experiences impacted simultaneously their worldviews and views of their communities.
The physical legacies of Expos in New Orleans, New York, San Antonio, and Seattle—four of the last ones hosted inside the United States, between 1960-1984—are well established. But the “felt” legacies are underexplored and powerful. With geopolitics rapidly shifting, these soft power platforms are critical to illuminating U.S. values to international audiences. We also have an opportunity to rethink how we bring Expos back to the United States and do so in a more inclusive way that highlights our country’s diversity as a strength of our democracy.
Join us for a conversation on a groundbreaking oral history project to explore the future of International Expositions and the United States’ role in them. The event will also feature Oral Historian, Anna F. Kaplan, PhD, and Paul Kruchoski, a career member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Director of the Office of Policy, Planning, and Resources for Public Diplomacy.

Let’s Talk Oil - Energy Security and Transition Virtual Event
2022-07-27 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Event
Professor Theresa Saboni-Helf, PhD, an international energy expert & Georgetown professor, will share insights on how energy, technology & governments intersect, including discussing questions like:

How does the quest for adequate energy shape international relations?
How do policies, technologies and markets interact in the realm of energy?
How do states balance among technological risk, environmental risk, economic risk and political risk?
How do climate goals change the energy strategies of states?
As the United States simultaneously faces the long-term threat of climate change and the near-term threat of Russian behavior in Europe, what policies are emerging, and how are they prioritized?

Theresa Sabonis-Helf is a Professor of the Practice in the Georgetown School of Foreign Service Master’s Degree program, and serves as the Inaugural Chair of the Science, Technology and International Affairs concentration. Prior to joining Georgetown, she was a Professor of National Security Strategy at the National War College in Washington DC. She has lived and worked in seven countries of the Former USSR, has assisted two nations with the development of their first National Security Strategies, has written a textbook on Caucasus regional energy issues, and has co-edited two volumes on Central Asia’s political and economic transition. She has also published and lectured extensively on energy security, climate change policies, post-Soviet energy and environmental issues, regional water politics, energy transition, and the politics of electricity. She is a frequent advisor to the US Department of State and USAID and is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She holds a PhD in Political Science from Emory University, and an MPA in International Affairs from Princeton University.
Register here.

The 5th Annual Cincinnati Festival of Faiths
2022-07-31 - 2022-08-07 | Multiple

Expanding Inclusion: Why Antisemitism Must Be Incorporated into DEI Work
2022-08-22 11:30 - 13:00 | Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust and Humanity Center

Open Data: Promise and Peril in Modern Data Flows Virtual Event
2022-08-25 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Event
Every day, information flows at rates and quantities that are difficult for the human mind to comprehend. Within this vastness of data exist two competing concepts:

Data should be proprietary and guarded,
Data should be open and publicly available.

It is generally believed that data related to personal financial and medical data should be private and secure, while it may be important for items such as NASA and SEC data to be open and publicly available. There can be gaps in security for both types. Those gaps are exploited by opportunists engaging unknowing targets. When technology outpaces oversight, it can create friction between the parties involved. It can also bring opportunities for good.

What happens when intellectual property rights impede research?
How do the strategies used by large corporations and individuals vary when it comes to making use of open data and where does each have a competitive advantage?
What are governments doing to confront these new challenges, and do they play by the same rules?
How do companies create value for their customers by sharing data?

Join us as we dive into this broad topic with our panel of three technology leaders:

Jason Barkeloo, Founder and CEO, Open Therapeutics
Debbie Kramer, Sr. Director – Privacy, The Kroger Co.
Michael Wilhite, VP Enterprise Standards, 84.51°

A Just Transition to a Green Economy: The Impact on Businesses, Workers & Government
2022-09-28 17:00 - 19:00 | Cincinnati Marriott RiverCenter, 10 W Rivercenter Blvd., Covington, KY, 41011
The shift to a greener economy has the potential to create employment across a range of sectors. As our nation shifts its focus to sustainability, there will be job losses in certain carbon-intensive sectors and new jobs requiring new skills and talents.
Join us for a conversation with national thought leader Kevin Cassidy, as he shares insights on Just Transition, a vision-led, unifying and place-based set of principles, processes and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.
About the Speaker: Kevin Cassidy is Director and Representative to the Bretton Woods & Multilateral Organizations for the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for the United States. The United States office of the ILO has been in Washington, DC since 1920, and is a specialized agency of the United Nations. Its mission is to promote decent work for all women and men, by bringing together workers, employers and governments. The US is the largest development partner of the ILO. The US government works closely with the ILO primarily through the Department of Labor, the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development.
Wednesday, September 28, 2022 from 5PM-7PM

5PM Cocktail Reception
6:15PM Speaker and Q&A Portion
7PM Event Concludes

Tickets:

Free for WAC Members
$20 for Non-Members
$10 for Students & Professors

This event is made possible by a generous grant from the World Affairs Councils of America and the International Labour Organization.

Society and Cyberthreats: Risks to National Security in a Global Economy
2022-10-19 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Event
Join us for a Virtual Event on Wednesday, October 19th at 6:30 PM via Zoom Webinar, Society and Cyberthreats: Risks to National Security in a Global Economy.
Today, we transact vast amounts of data through smart-devices for work, home life, and everything in between. Data is the ‘new oil’ and cybersecurity has evolved into a primary focus for malicious actors—some of whom are foreign State actors and often very well organized, coordinated, with the objective of achieving strategic outcomes. To better understand this landscape of cyberthreats, we bring together this panel discussion on Society and Cyberthreats to examine our country’s cyber strategies.
We are joined by Dr. Harknett and Ms. Guider to start by asking some simple questions to better understand Cyberthreats in our daily lives beyond our mere distant awareness about coercion, militarized crisis, and war:

Is cybersecurity more of a technology or people problem?
How have the nature of cybersecurity threats changed in the recent decade(s)?
How has the training/education curriculum evolved in response to the changing global cybersecurity threats?

Guest Panelists:
Kathy Guider, Vice President Veracity IIR, retired FBI Special Agent
Richard Harknett, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Professor & Director, School of Public and International Affairs (SPIC), Co-Director, Ohio Cyber Range Institute(OCRI), Chair, Center for Cyber Strategy and Policy (CCSP)

The US role in the world: Ukraine, Russia, Taiwan & China
2023-05-25 08:00 - 17:00 | Greydon Law Offices, 312 Walnut Street, Suite 1800, Cincinnati, OH, 45202, United States
Centennial Series Strategic Issues Forum
The World Affairs Council is thrilled to launch its Centennial Series under the theme 100 Years of Global Issues – Looking Back and Look Forward – History Repeating Itself with this important strategic issues forum.

Event Details:
This will be a forum about strategic issues for the United States relating to the war in Ukraine, including especially the possible scenarios on how the war will could end and what its each of those endings could mean for Russia’s and China’s relationships with the U.S. and Europe. A related issue – reparations – also touches on a topic of a speech given during the inaugural year for the predecessor of the World Affairs Council in 1923 about WWI reparations. Sen. Portman, who prior to his retirement in January served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, will share his views on these important topics followed by an opportunity for attendees to present their questions.
**Space is limited. Register early.**
Sen. Portman Biography:
Rob Portman’s career in public service spanned three decades and included service in three presidential administrations as well as two terms in the United States Senate and six terms in the United States House of Representatives.
In the George W. Bush administration he served in two cabinet-level jobs, as Director of the Office of Management and Budget as well as United States Trade Representative. Under President George H.W. Bush, he served as Associate Counsel to the President and Director, White House Office of Legislative Affairs.
Known for his civility, successful bipartisan policymaking, work ethic, and grasp of a broad range of complex issues, over 220 of Portman’s bills were signed into law by Presidents Biden, Trump and Obama during his tenure in the Senate. He served as the lead Republican negotiator on the bipartisan infrastructure law that is making historic improvements to our nation’s roads, ports, rails, bridges, broadband and more.
He played a key role in U.S. foreign policy through his seat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and as co-chair and founder of the Senate Ukraine Caucus. He made ten trips to Ukraine since the Revolution of Dignity in 2014 and is a key advocate for congressional support of Ukraine against Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression.
Portman currently serves as the Founder of the Portman Center for Policy Solutions at the University of Cincinnati and a Distinguished Visiting Fellow in the Practice of Public Policy at the American Enterprise Institute.
Rob was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he still lives today with his wife, Jane. Together they have three adult children: Jed, Will, and Sally.

The US role in the world: Ukraine, Russia, Taiwan & China ft. Senator Rob Portman
2023-06-14 11:30 - 13:00 | Bricker Graydon Offices 312 Walnut Street – 18th floor Cincinnati, OH 45202, 312 Walnut Street - 18th floor, Cincinnati, OH, 45202, United States
Centennial Series Strategic Issues Forum

The World Affairs Council is thrilled to launch its Centennial Series under the theme 100 Years of Global Issues – Looking Back and Look Forward – History Repeating Itself with this important strategic issues forum.
Event sponsored by Bricker Graydon
Event Details:
This will be a forum about strategic issues for the United States relating to the war in Ukraine, including especially the possible scenarios on how the war will could end and what its each of those endings could mean for Russia’s and China’s relationships with the U.S. and Europe. A related issue – reparations – also touches on a topic of a speech given during the inaugural year for the predecessor of the World Affairs Council in 1923 about WWI reparations. Sen. Portman, who prior to his retirement in January served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, will share his views on these important topics followed by an opportunity for attendees to present their questions.
**Space is limited. Register early.**
Sen. Portman Biography:
Rob Portman’s career in public service spanned three decades and included service in three presidential administrations as well as two terms in the United States Senate and six terms in the United States House of Representatives.
In the George W. Bush administration he served in two cabinet-level jobs, as Director of the Office of Management and Budget as well as United States Trade Representative. Under President George H.W. Bush, he served as Associate Counsel to the President and Director, White House Office of Legislative Affairs.
Known for his civility, successful bipartisan policymaking, work ethic, and grasp of a broad range of complex issues, over 220 of Portman’s bills were signed into law by Presidents Biden, Trump and Obama during his tenure in the Senate. He served as the lead Republican negotiator on the bipartisan infrastructure law that is making historic improvements to our nation’s roads, ports, rails, bridges, broadband and more.
He played a key role in U.S. foreign policy through his seat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and as co-chair and founder of the Senate Ukraine Caucus. He made ten trips to Ukraine since the Revolution of Dignity in 2014 and is a key advocate for congressional support of Ukraine against Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression.
Portman currently serves as the Founder of the Portman Center for Policy Solutions at the University of Cincinnati and a Distinguished Visiting Fellow in the Practice of Public Policy at the American Enterprise Institute.
Rob was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he still lives today with his wife, Jane. Together they have three adult children: Jed, Will, and Sally.

Foreign Policy Delegation Reception and Information Exchange
2023-09-05 09:00 - 11:00 | Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, 300 Buttermilk Pike #330, Fort Mitchell, KY, 41099
Tuesday, September 5, 2023 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST

Northern Kentucky Chamber Of Commerce
300 Buttermilk Pike Suite 330
Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017

Join us for this reception and information exchange as the NKY Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the World Affairs Council – Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, hosts a 20-member delegation from the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) for a discussion on US Foreign Policy Decision Making.

The program will look at foreign policy from a local level perspective, immigration in the Midwest, and tariffs in the Midwest. Program objectives include:

• Examine the process and key players in formulating, articulating and implementing foreign policy in the U.S. federal system.
• Review U.S. foreign policy priorities and trends in U.S. international relations.
• Explore the domestic political and economic forces that influence U.S. foreign policy decisions
• Discuss how social media is transforming the practice and formation of foreign policy.

Members of the 20-member delegation are traveling from a multitude of countries, including Argentina, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Japan, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Republic of Korea, Republic of Turkiye, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, and Tunisia.

The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. Through short-term visits to the United States, current and emerging foreign leaders in a variety of fields experience this country firsthand and cultivate lasting relationships with their American counterparts. Professional meetings reflect the participants’ professional interests and support the foreign policy goals of the United States. Each year nearly 5,000 International Visitors come to the U.S. on the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).

DELEGATE PARTICIPANT LIST

Ms. Martina GUARNASCHELLI (Argentina)
Secretary of Embassy and Third Class Consul, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Tanzim ANWAR (Bangladesh)
Diplomatic Correspondent, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, National News Agency of Bangladesh
Mr. Mahdi OBSIEH BOUH (Djibouti)
Director of Bilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Ms. Helen NEIDER VEERME (Estonia)
Advisor on Strategic Border Management Cooperation, Estonian Police and Border Guard Board
Ms. Telupe TEPAUKIE (Fiji)
UN Desk Officer/Acting Senior Adviser-UN Division, Government of Tuvalu
Mr. Tero Heikki Artturi SUONIEMI (Finland)
Foreign and Security Policy Advisor to Green Party, Foreign and Security Policy Advisor to Green Party
Ms. Christina Rebecca OKELLO (France)
Bilingual reporter, Radio France Internationale
Prof. Tomohiko SATAKE (Japan)
Associate Professor, Department of International Politics, Economics and Communication, Aoyama Gakuin University
Ms. Tolkunai ERKINBEK KYZY (Kyrgyz Republic)
Attaché/Desk Officer for U.S.A., Third Political Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic
Ms. Albina SUINALIEVA (Kyrgyz Republic)
Third Secretary of Economic Diplomacy Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic
Mr. George EL JALLAD (Lebanon)
Head of the Americas/UN Desk, Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Beirut Lebanon
Mr. Gi Bum KIM (Republic of Korea)
Associate Research Fellow, Korea Institute for Defense Analyses
Ms. Suheyla DEMIR (Republic of Turkiye)
Chief Editor, World News Desk, Haber Global TV
Mr. Hakki UYGUR (Republic of Turkiye)
President, Center for Iranian Studies
Ms. Tsioane MOTSAI (South Africa)
International Relations Coordinator, African National Congress(ANC)
Mr. Tebogo THOTHELA (South Africa)
Director: Parliamentary Counsellor to Gauteng Premier, Gauteng Office of the Premier
Mr. Fei Fan LIN (Taiwan)
Board Member, New Frontier Foundation
Mr. Yeh Chung LU (Taiwan)
Professor and Chair, Department of Diplomacy, National Chengchi University
Mr. Pheeradej KUMSAMOOT (Thailand)
Member, Bhumjaitai Party
Mr. Taha BOULAARES (Tunisia)
Head of Department of Multilateral Cooperation at the Directorate General of the International Cooperation, Ministry of Interior

Location
Northern Kentucky Chamber Of Commerce
300 Buttermilk Pike Suite 330
Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017
St. Elizabeth Board Room
Event Schedule
8:30am – 9am: Registration/Networking/Breakfast
9am – 11:00am: Program

Pre-registration is required.

Afghanistan: The Women Left Behind
2023-09-13 17:00 - 19:00 | University of Cincinnati College of Law, 2925 Campus Green Dr, Cincinnati, OH, 45219
Centennial Series Strategic Issues Forum
The World Affairs Council is thrilled to launch its Centennial Series under the theme 100 Years of Global Issues – Looking Back and Look Forward – History Repeating Itself with this important strategic issues forum.

Event co-sponsored by World Affairs Council, U.S. Institute of Peace, and Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights
Event Details:

**Please click here for general registration.
**Teachers and students are FREE to attend. Please register by clicking here.
You are invited to a candid conversation with Belquis Ahmadi, Senior Program Officer with the U.S. Institute of Peace and a head nurse and administrator in Kabul during the Soviet withdrawal and through the rise of the Taliban. Since 2001, she has spent years on the ground in Afghanistan leading efforts by USAID, the Red Cross and other organizations to strengthen women’s rights, civil society, the rule of law and democracy, all to fill the information gap.
The 22nd Anniversary of 9/11 has passed. The US withdrawal of combat forces from Afghanistan in 2021, our nation’s longest war, took a massive toll in human lives and resources. Those events continue to have a lasting impact for the world and on foreign policy.
Come with us as we take a look at some of the struggles and successes of nations as they try to rebuild after devastating wars. Belquis will discuss the effects on people’s everyday lives, women and human rights issues, and what needs to be done inside Afghanistan to build a case against the Taliban. What is the outlook for Afghanistan, as the Taliban leadership makes decisions? What will happen to the gains made in education, women’s rights, healthcare and infrastructure? How do future foreign policy and relationships in the Middle East look? How does the struggle for democracy play out? In 1923 our predecessor organization had a debate about the Middle East and human rights between Palestine and Turkey. History will repeat itself as we discuss this topic again one hundred years later.
**Space is limited. Register early.**

Belquis Ahmadi, U.S. Institute of Peace Biography:
Belquis Ahmadi has over 20 years of experience working in Afghanistan on issues related to gender, human rights, civil society development, rule of law, governance and democracy. Ahmadi’s extensive experience includes senior management positions under large USAID programs in Afghanistan, evaluation of USAID gender and democracy and governance programming, and analysis and design of gender and human rights programming, and training and mentoring Afghan civil society and government candidates. She has also published extensively on democracy, governance and women’s rights in Afghanistan.
From November 2010 to March 2014, Ahmadi worked on the USAID-funded Regional Afghan Municipalities Program for Urban Populations Regional Command East (RAMP UP), implemented in 14 provinces. In this role, Ahmadi managed the technical work of the program to ensure high quality results and deliverables. In addition, she developed core skills training modules to integrate and mainstream gender in all aspects of governance, service delivery, and leadership to over 200 municipal officials in fourteen provinces.
From 2006 to 2009, Ahmadi served as senior human rights advisor in Afghanistan. In this role, she provided leadership and management oversight of resources, including budget, planning, and program monitoring; designed and implemented activities promoting women’s rights through the use of religious arguments, providing analysis of the Shiite Personal Status Law, as well as providing advice and guidance in drafting of the Law on Elimination of Violence Against Women; and oversaw the preparation of training materials for programs.
From 2000 to 2004, Ahmadi served as program coordinator for Global Rights Partners for Justice in Washington D.C., managing their Afghanistan program. From 1987 to 1999, Ahmadi worked for the International Committee of the Red Cross, CARE International, and the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR) in Afghanistan. Ahmadi earned her LLM in International Human Rights Law from Georgetown University Law Center and her LLB of Law from Kabul University.
Photo featured above:
When Afghan women step out of their homes, everywhere they look they see a range of Taliban restrictions affecting all aspects of society and their lives — from education and employment to public services and access to justice. This interactive graphic depicts what they see through their burqas — the breadth of the Taliban’s gender apartheid — and serves as a portal to learning more about Taliban restrictions on women’s social and political life. Along with a description of the types of restrictions the Taliban have imposed, clicking on an “X” links to USIP’s documentation of the relevant decrees, orders and edicts issued by the Taliban since they took power in August 2021.
Original artwork by Ahmad Fahim Hakim
Please click here for an interactive graphic illustrating how the Taliban are attempting to erase Afghan women from public life.

2023 Climate Candidate Forum - Cincinnati Council & School Board
2023-10-04 17:30 - 19:00
World Affairs Council, Green Umbrella, and partners present a candidate forum about climate action and policy in Cincinnati for candidates running for local office.
Join us at this public forum where City Council and School Boards candidates will have the opportunity to share their position and plans on issues related to climate, environmental justice, and resilience.
All Cincinnati City Council and School Board candidates who have successfully filed their petitions have been invited. This event follows up on the “Candidate Education Night: Sustainable Action in Cincinnati” event in July.
The event is free and open to candidates, their staff, and the general public, but requires RSVP. Please register at this site and reach out to Savannah Sullivan, Senior Director of Programs, with any questions (savannah@greenumbrella.org).
We also invite Cincinnati residents to submit questions they want candidates to answer. Submit your questions here by September 22nd.

Climate Migration with United States Institute of Peace
2023-11-09 16:00 - 17:00
Register Here
The links between climate change, conflict, and human mobility are complex. In 2022, disasters internally displaced 32.6 million people, more than at any other time over the last decade. Most of these displacements occurred in areas that are fragile or conflict-prone. In fact, ninety percent of all refugees come from places that are some of the most vulnerable to climate-related impacts. Right now, these fragile regions already grapple with increased food insecurity, unemployment, and competition over resources – particularly water. In what ways does climate change exacerbate such situations? In what ways may that lead to conflict or forced migration?
In partnership with Green Umbrella, we invite students, educators, and community members for an evening exploring Climate Conflict and Climate Migration with Kayly Ober, Senior Program Officer for U.S. Institute of Peace.
Kayly Ober is a senior program officer for the climate, environment and conflict program at USIP. In this role, she leads research and analysis on climate change, migration and displacement as well as transboundary water and conflict issues.
Prior to USIP, she was the senior advocate and program manager of the climate displacement program at Refugees International. She also served as a member of the Task Force on Displacement established under the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change’s Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage. She has worked on climate change and migration issues for more than 15 years, during which time she has held positions at organizations such as the Asian Development Bank, the Overseas Development Institute, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and the World Bank, where she authored the flagship report “Groundswell: Preparing for Internal Climate Migration.”
Ober holds a master’s in environment and development from the London School of Economics and a bachelor’s in international studies from American University. She is currently completing her doctorate in geography at the University of Bonn, where her dissertation analyzes policymaking and governance structures around the climate change-adaptation-migration nexus.

VIRTUAL EVENT: Dan Schnur Political Report: July 2024
2024-07-18 20:00 - 21:00 | Virtual Event
REGISTER HERE

Event Overview

Thursday, July 18th, 2024
5:00 p.m. PST/ 8:00 p.m. EDT
It’s nearly impossible to find intelligent political analysis in today’s hyper-polarized and ideologically segregated information sphere. From Fox News to MSNBC — political commentators focus more on inflammatory bickering than the deep issues shaping all American political life. The Dan Schnur Political Report offers a different way to consume political information. Dan moves beyond the partisan noise to analyze the core issues and critical headlines shaping our world. Dan not only offers a fresh perspective to understand politics, he invites everyone into the conversation.

Fireside Chat with Deputy Ambassador Axel Dittmann
2024-10-01 17:00 - 19:00 | First District Cafe, 525 Scott St, Covington, 41011, United States
Deputy Ambassador Axel Dittmann of the German Embassy Washington will be visiting Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky this October!
Deputy Ambassador Dittmann will discuss the state of U.S. and German trade relations. The event will be October 1st at 5pm at First District Cafe.
The event is free for all WAC members and European American Chamber of Commerce (EACC) members. Tickets are $10 for non members.
REGISTER HERE

2025 Annual Meeting
2025-02-13 12:00 - 13:30 | The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St #1100, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45202, United States
Register Today!
During the 2024 year, the World Affairs Council has continued to provide a wide variety of educational and professional opportunities for students and teachers; fostered impactful international exchanges; and connected our community through inspiring speaker events. The event offers a chance to connect with like-minded individuals passionate about global affairs from throughout the Greater Cincinnati region.
Join us as we:

Celebrate the achievements of 2024 and the incredible impact you helped make possible.
Honor community members whose dedication has made a difference.
Share stories and highlights of our global and local successes.
Unveil exciting plans for the year ahead.

We look forward to reflecting on the 2024 community impact as we could not have done it without your support.
Looking ahead to 2025, we remain committed to serving the community, diminishing boundaries, and fostering global understanding. Together, we’ll continue:

Creating international connections.
Raising awareness of pressing global issues.
Cultivating empathy and understanding in the next generation.

Seats are limited, so save your spot today and be part of this vital work.
We can’t wait to celebrate with you and share how YOU can make a difference!

Youth Leaders for Glocal Impact Celebration
2025-05-21 17:30 - 19:30 | Headquarters, 935 Monmouth St, Newport, KY 41071, KY, 41071, United States
To celebrate the recipients of the World Affairs Council’s Youth Leaders for Glocal Impact Grant, we cordially invite you to Headquarters in Newport, KY on Wednesday, May 21st.
The Youth Leaders for Glocal Impact Grant in Honor of Richard I. Lauf is a grant opportunity for students, educators, and school organizations alike to create or expand on a project that benefitted their school or community based on the United Nations Global Goals. This is Global Impact, Local Action.
We look forward to seeing you there as we hear from the students and educators about their projects in action!

SAVE THE DATE: Mohawk Global Seminar
2025-10-23
Registration opens soon!
We look forward to another partnership with Mohawk Global!
Even if you’re not familiar with the topic, this professional development seminar will give you the essential tools understand the complexities of import control regulations!
Date: Thursday, October 23
Location: TBD

From Cincinnati to the World: Revolutionary 3D Learning for the Blind
2026-02-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH, 45202, United States
Did you know that a 3D printer in North College Hill is changing the way students learn in East Africa?

Join us for an inspiring evening at the Cincinnati Art Museum to discover how the Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired is leading a global movement in accessible education.
What started as a local initiative in Cincinnati has evolved into a worldwide network of innovation. Clovernook is now placing 3D printers and custom-designed model kits in classrooms across Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, and Vietnam, ensuring that blind and visually impaired (BVI) students have the tactile tools they need to succeed.
Why Attend?

See Innovation in Action: Learn how 3D-printed models of regional monuments and geographies are helping students in Kenya connect with their own culture and landscape.
Global Insight: Meet Dominic Kiamba, a Kenyan-based expert with 20 years of experience, and learn how international partnerships are creating sustainable educational solutions.
Local Impact, Global Reach: Discover why Cincinnati is a global hub for tactile literacy and how our region is exporting “accessible innovation” to the world.

This event highlights a core pillar of the World Affairs Council – Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky: the power of citizen diplomacy. By bridging our local expertise with international needs, we strengthen our region’s identity as a leader in global cooperation and development.
Register Now to Secure Your Spot!
Featured Speakers:
Samuel Foulkes, Director of Braille Production & Accessible Innovation, Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired: A recipient of a 2025 Kennedy Center Award for their work in cultural accessibility and a board member of the World Affairs Council, Samuel holds six patents for accessible products. He leads Clovernook’s Tactile Literacy program, which empowers organizations globally through technology and training.
Dominic Kiamba, Program Coordinator, Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired (Nairobi): With over 20 years of experience as a disability inclusion expert, Mr. Kiamba is a leader in advancing Braille literacy across Africa. He works on the ground in Kenya to implement cost-effective, high-tech solutions that foster independence and education for BVI learners.
About Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired:
Since 1903, Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired has been providing life-enriching opportunities and empowering people who are blind or visually impaired to be self-sufficient and full participants in their communities. Clovernook Center’s Braille Printing House is the largest volume printer of braille in the world. Clovernook prints books, magazines and other materials for the National Library Services and braille patrons worldwide. Additionally, Clovernook provides Pediatric Low Vision Clinics, adaptive sports and social activities, as well as employment opportunities for individuals who are blind and visually impaired. For more information, visit www.clovernook.org.

2026 Council Leadership Meeting Opening Reception
2026-06-08 17:00 - 19:00 | TQL Stadium
Join the World Affairs Council on June 8th for the 2026 Council Leadership Meeting Opening Reception 5-7 p.m. at TQL Stadium.
There, Jeff Berding, Co-CEO of FC Cincinnati, will discuss making FCC a global brand.
