2023 Climate Candidate Forum - Cincinnati Council & School Board
2023-10-04 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
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.

Virtual Information Session for the International Education Summit
2023-11-06 16:00 - 17:00
We invite local educators, students, and community partners to join us in exploring the UN Global Goals from a “glocal” perspective. This info session will cover the details of the Summit including our new Lauf Global Studies Grant. We will also discuss the outcomes from the summit including:

To expand students’ awareness and provide experiences for them to make an impact in their community through the Global Goals
To enhance students’ understanding of global education and career pathways

Register Here!

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.

Apply Now! Richard Lauf Global Studies Grant Due November 27th!
2023-11-27
You cannot teach a man anything. You can only help him discover it within himself
-Galileo Galilei

To honor the legacy of Richard Lauf, the World Affairs Council is proud to announce five grants of up to $1000 for students and educators. For 59 years, Richard devoted his time and passion to world affairs, now hoping to inspire the next generation of leaders.
Who can apply?
Students, teachers, or student organizations.
What do I have to do to apply?
GLOCAL is the main focus for this project: Think Globally, Act Locally.
Support, expand, or strengthen an initiative of existing projects/clubs or create new initiatives that benefit your school or community based on the United Nations Global Goals. Click here for more information and to apply!
Step 1: Research ways to “take action” based on the UN Global Goals. Connect with a teacher to assist in your initiative.
Step 2: Write out your project description that aligns with the “take action” in your research.
For example, a student/teacher could receive up to $1000 to start or expand a student club. The club must meet at least two times a month to research local issues for their school or community. This will then be followed up by an initiative which will be reported back to the World Affairs Council. Funds could be used to get snacks for the meetings and for the selected project. This is only one example, we encourage you to also be creative!

How much funding can you receive?
Five grants of up to $1000 will be awarded!
What is the deadline to apply?
Submissions are due November 27, 2023.
Click here for more information and to apply!

International Education Summit: Changing the World Together as Young People
2023-12-07 08:00 - 14:00 | Northern Kentucky University, Nunn Dr, Highland Heights, KY, 41099
We are proud to announce the 17th Annual International Education Summit which will be held December 7th at Northern Kentucky University titled,
“Changing the World Together as Young People“.
Student? Teacher? Do you want to solve the world’s biggest issues?
This is the field trip you WANT to attend.
Noel Ifeyani Alumona, an international social development expert, will keynote the event. He started the Shaping the Future Project which provides young people a platform to connect with experts, mentors, and resources to help solve the world’s biggest challenges. Learn how when he was just in high school how his passions brought him to be where he is today. You can do it too!
“I used to think the summit was just a big lecture, and now I think it was a great opportunity to network with people in careers that I am interested in,” says Samuel, attendee from 2022 International Education Summit.
For only $20 (lunch included), you can expand your future possibilities.
Scholarships are available!
Learn more below or by clicking here.
Still need convincing to attend?

Discover how you can learn skills to apply to real life scenarios through workshops by our keynote speaker and local organizations such as Groundwork Ohio River Valley, Art Equals, and LaSoupe.
Network with some of the most fascinating, international leaders at the Rich Lauf Career Fair in the community. You get to shake hands with them at this event!
Want a head start in your education or career as a high school student. This is the event for you! Learn more by clicking here.
Apply for the inaugural Richard Lauf Global Studies Grant. You can win up to $1000! (Click here for more information).

We look forwarding to talking with you about attending this annual event for high school students! If you have any questions, please email Melissa McDonald, Director of Global Education, at mmcdonald@cincyworldaffairs.org.

Tickets on Sale Now: One World Gala & Global Trivia Competition
2024-04-12 18:00 - 22:00 | The Transept, 1205 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH, 45202
We are excited to host you at our most popular annual fundraiser! Join us on April 12, 2024 from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. at The Transept in Over-The-Rhine!
Our 11th Annual One World Gala & Global Trivia Competition promises to be the most exciting event of the century – and an evening of fun and global connections that showcases our beloved City’s global sparkle! So dress your best for an evening of fun!
Supporting this event shows your commitment to preparing students to be globally competent in the 21st century global environment. For more than 100 years, the World Affairs Council has been committed to providing public school students with access to global learning opportunities. Click here for more information.

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!

Bites & Bytes: Google's Latest AI Rollouts Virtual Workshop
2025-10-16 11:30 - 12:30
Join us in partnership with the Hamilton County Educational Service Center (HCESC) for an informative workshop focusing on how to utilize AI in the classroom. Led by HCESC’s Instructional Technology Consultant, Sara Sheldt, learn how Google’s new AI tools—including Gemini—are transforming and supporting both educators and students.
These innovations are especially valuable for today’s global classroom, enhancing accessibility, collaboration, and cross-cultural learning. This workshop is offered in collaboration with the World Affairs Council – Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, as part of our shared commitment to promoting education for all.
The workshop will go from 11:30-12:15PM and will be $20 per person.
About Sara:
Sara Sheldt is an Instructional Technology Consultant with Hamilton County ESC, bringing 20 years of experience in education. She supports schools and districts in integrating technology to enhance teaching and learning, with a current focus on artificial intelligence tools. Sara is passionate about helping educators leverage technology to engage students, differentiate instruction, and bring real-world skills into the classroom while also simplifying their tasks to give them more time to focus on what matters most.

Global Chat: Your AI Co-Pilot for Glocal Impact (Create and Use a Custom Bot in Under an Hour!)
2025-11-17 16:00 - 17:00
Are you ready to bring high-impact global education into your classroom without adding hours to your planning time?

Join us for an energetic, hands-on session that introduces you to the future of teacher support: Your Custom AI Co-Pilot.
The World Affairs Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky is launching the Youth Leaders for Glocal Impact (YLGI) platform, and we’ve built a dedicated AI chatbot powered by Google’s Gemini technology just for our educators.
In this 60-minute workshop, you will:

Unlock the Power of the YLGI Chatbot: Learn how to use this custom tool to instantly get answers on project deadlines, budget templates, and program rules, so you can focus on mentoring, not managing.
Generate Ideas on Demand: We’ll dive into practical prompts and use the bot to generate tangible ideas for connecting your current classroom topics to Global Themes and local community action. Walk away with ideas you can implement tomorrow, such as:

“How can my 9th-grade history class explore sustainable cities and communities using a Cincinnati-based current event?”
“Give me three quick community engagement activities for a project focusing on access to clean water around the world.”

Become AI Literate: Gain essential skills in AI prompting and learn the responsible way to use these tools to enhance global literacy and project-based learning in your school.

Your Takeaway: You will leave this session with a clear understanding of how to use this AI co-pilot as a permanent, always-on planning assistant, allowing you to lead your students to greater Glocal Impact with less effort!
About Joshua Amstutz – Josh has taught for 15 years, 14 of which have been for the Winton Woods City School District (WWHS). He is the current coordinator of the Academy of Global Studies at Winton Woods High School, the Math Department Head at Winton Woods High School, a certified New Tech Network trained teacher, and a New Tech Network trainer for project based learning at Winton Woods High School. Josh graduated from Capital University with a degree in Integrated Mathematics and from the University of Cincinnati with a MAT graduate degree from the Department of Mathematics.
In addition to his many roles at WWHS, Josh is part of the 2019-2020 Impact U cohort on improvement science through Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Strive Partnership. He is a Fulbright Alum from the 2019-2020 cohort of the Fulbright for Global Classrooms program and a TOP alum from the 2025 cohort of the Transatlantic Outreach Program. He was selected as the 2022 AFS-USA Global Educator of the Year and is a current state finalist in Ohio for the 2025 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). He has also worked closely with the curriculum director and his school’s physics teacher to implement multiple co-taught math and science courses as well as College Credit Plus (CCP) math courses in his school district. He currently teaches a combined math and science course called Pre-Calculus Aligned Physics (PCAP) in addition to CCP Statistics and CCP Calculus.

19th Annual International Education Summit
2025-12-09 08:00 - 13:30 | Northern Kentucky University, Nunn Dr, Highland Heights, KY, 41099
Curious about how the world is changing and what it means for your future?

Designed for high school students and educators, IES offers a day of hands-on workshops, inspiring speakers, and career-focused networking — all centered on how global events and local communities are more connected than ever.
Hosted by the World Affairs Council of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, this annual summit helps students explore real-world issues, develop practical skills, and discover career opportunities in a wide range of fields.

What you’ll experience:

Interactive workshops led by students and community leaders.
Community Fair + Speed Networking with local professionals.
Insightful discussions on current international topics and future careers.

Whether you’re planning your next steps or just want to understand the world around you better, this event will give you the tools and confidence to move forward.

Learn more here!

Youth Leaders for Glocal Impact Grant 2026
2026-01-09
Your World. Your Project. Your $1,000 Opportunity.
The Youth Leaders for Glocal Impact (YLGI) program transforms passion into powerful community action. We believe that global leaders aren’t just in boardrooms—they’re in your classroom. This free, introductory training gives you the foundational skills to identify a local problem, connect it directly to a UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), and design a measurable project blueprint. Watch the video to the left to get inspired, then jump into Module 1: Idea to Impact to secure your spot! The module, alongside the corresponding application, are due no later than January 9th, 2026 to be considered!
Only teams who complete Module 1 and submit a strong proposal are eligible to receive the full grant funding and move into the advanced training modules (2-4).
Your journey to making a real-world difference starts right here! Application deadline is January 9, 2026 .
Watch the first module

Supporting Every Voice: AI-Enhanced Classrooms for Multilingual Learners
2026-01-29 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
Artificial intelligence is opening new doors for supporting multilingual learners—making it easier than ever to translate materials, adapt lessons, and connect across languages. In this session, you’ll see how AI can help simplify complex texts, create bilingual resources, and strengthen communication between teachers, students, and families. Learn how to use AI tools thoughtfully to bridge language gaps, celebrate linguistic diversity, and build classrooms where every student feels seen, supported, and included.

Explore AI tools that support multilingual learners through translation, text simplification, and bilingual resource creation.
Learn how AI can strengthen communication between teachers, multilingual students, and their families.
Understand simple, responsible ways to use AI to bridge language gaps and create more inclusive classrooms.

Tickets are $20. Scholarships available!

Youth Leaders for Glocal Impact Celebration
2026-05-14 17:30 - 19:30
To celebrate the recipients of the World Affairs Council’s Youth Leaders for Glocal Impact Grant on May 14th at the Glendale Lyceum at 5:30PM
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.
We look forward to seeing you there as we hear from the students and educators about their projects in action!
