World Affairs Council of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky

Global Economic Outlook 2022
2022-02-10 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Are you worried about the volatility of the stock market?
Do you have concerns about ongoing inflation and its impact on your wallet?

Despite pandemic stress and global supply chain woes, the U.S. economy grew last year at its fastest pace since 1984, rebounding from a sharp but limited coronavirus-driven recession in March 2020. The nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of all goods and services produced, expanded by 5.7 percent in 2021, the Commerce Department reported last Thursday. Growth accelerated even faster during the period from October to December, rising to 6.9 percent on an annualized basis. All good news right? Not so much as signs of volatility continue to rock the market.

In 2021, stocks were at a record high even with rising inflation, supply chain problems, and pandemic driven pressures. Unfortunately, the stock market has had its worst start to the new year since 2016. Because of this shift in 2022, the bull market is now facing significant uncertainty. Does this mean we are headed into a bear market?

Wage growth remains elevated in the U.S. However, consumer spending fell in December as Americans stayed home with spiraling coronavirus numbers and retailers struggled to keep up with demand due to holiday shopping disruptions. What is the Federal Reserve doing to reduce the impact of inflation on consumers? How many times will the Federal Reserve raise interest rates in 2022?

World food prices jumped 28 percent in 2021 to their highest level in a decade, and hopes for a return to more stable market conditions this year are slim, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). What does this mean for the working poor and the middle class who are already stretched thin?

Join the World Affairs Council of Charlotte on Thursday, February 10, 2022 with Dr. Jay Bryson, Managing Director and Chief Economist for Wells Fargo’s Corporate and Investment Bank. Bryson will share his expert insight into the global economic outlook for 2022, referencing domestic and major economies worldwide while addressing major challenges stemming from the pandemic and its impact to your bottom line.

WACC Distinguished Speaker Series (Virtual)
Thursday, February 10, 2022

Global Economic Outlook 2022

Dr. Jay Bryson
Managing Director and Chief Economist for Wells Fargo’s Corporate and Investment Bank

Presentation and Q&A (VIA ZOOM)
12:00 – 1:00 PM EST
Cost:
WACC & YPWACC Member / Student / Teacher Ticket:
FREE
UNC Charlotte Faculty / Students / Staff:
FREE
Non-member Ticket: $12

For non-online payments: Please call 704-687-7762 or mail your check to “World Affairs Council of Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223)

Teacher PD: The Power of Storytelling in Communicating Ideas
2022-02-17 16:00 - 17:00
Virtual Webinar. Register here to receive a Zoom link.
Join us for our February professional development session, “The Power of Storytelling in Communicating Ideas.” In this session, teachers will discover resources and methods to engage students in the writing process and help students develop skills within the “communicate ideas” domain of the Asia Society’s global competency framework. We’ll move beyond the five-paragraph essay with methods such as editorial writing, podcasting, spoken word, and personal memoirs. Teachers will receive resources from The New York Times, The Pulitzer Center, Newseum Ed, Edutopia, and other organizations so they can implement these methods in their classrooms. This session is geared toward middle and high school teachers of all disciplines, particularly those in Language Arts and Social Studies. Teachers have the opportunity to earn CEU credit for participating in this session.
Presenters Include:

Erika Lundstedt, Global Education Manager at the World Affairs Council of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky
Kate Currie, Educator and Executive Director at MAKETANK Inc.

“Challenges of Leadership in Our Democracy” With Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta
2022-03-08 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
“Challenges of Leadership in Our Democracy”
With Sec. Leon Panetta
(Secretary of Defense, 2011-2013
Director of the CIA, 2009-2011)
A Zoom Webinar event
Tuesday, March 8th, 2021 at 1:00 PM PST
Conversation moderated by Dr. Richard Downie
—
Speaker Bio:
The son of Italian immigrants, born and raised in Monterey and graduate of Santa Clara University and Santa Clara University School of Law, Secretary Panetta began his long and distinguished public service career in 1964 as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army, and upon discharge went to work in Washington as a legislative assistant to United States Senate Minority Whip Tom Kuchel of California. In 1969, he was appointed director of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare’s Office for Civil Rights, where he was responsible for enforcing equal education laws. Later, he served as executive assistant to the mayor of New York City. He then returned to Monterey, where he practiced law until his election to the United States House of Representatives in 1976.
Serving in Congress for sixteen years, Secretary Panetta was a key participant in agriculture, healthcare, ocean and federal budget issues. From 1989 to 1993, he chaired the House Budget Committee. He authored a wide range of legislation, including the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988, Medicare and Medicaid coverage for hospice care for the terminally ill, and numerous measures to protect the California coast, including creation of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
In 1993, Secretary Panetta left Congress to serve as director of the Office of Management and Budget for the Clinton administration. There, he was instrumental in developing the policies that led to a balanced federal budget and eventual surpluses. In 1994, he accepted appointment as the president’s chief of staff, and immediately brought order and focus to White House operations.
Upon leaving the Clinton administration in 1997, Secretary Panetta joined with his wife Sylvia to establish and co-direct The Panetta Institute for Public Policy, based at California State University, Monterey Bay. Reflecting Secretary Panetta’s own ideals and personal example, the nonpartisan, not-for-profit study center seeks to attract thoughtful men and women to lives of public service and prepare them for the policy challenges of the future.
Returning to public service in the Obama administration as director of the CIA, he ran the operation that brought Osama bin Laden to justice, and, as Secretary of Defense, led the effort to develop a new defense strategy, helped bring two wars to an end, and opened up opportunities for everyone to serve in the military.
Secretary Panetta returned to the Panetta Institute as chairman on February 27, 2013 and resumed his role as moderator of the renowned Leon Panetta Lecture Series. He chronicles his life in public service in his best-selling memoir Worthy Fights, which was published in 2014.

Small World Cafe: Contextualizing the Crisis in Ukraine
2022-03-14 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
Monday, March 14, 1pm EST
After the February 24 Russian invasion of Ukraine the world watched in horror as the situation rapidly escalated into a full-on war and refugee crisis. As Americans struggle to follow this crisis, we cannot begin to understand a possible outcome without a full picture view of the historical events and motivations that have shaped Russia’s actions. To contextualize this crisis, Dr. Steven Miner of Ohio University will share with us a history of Russia’s foreign policy aims since the end of the Cold War, Ukraine’s priorities and challenges as a young democracy, and Putin’s nationalistic rhetoric and motivations for pursuing Ukraine.
Speakers:
Dr. Steven Miner, Professor, Department of History, Ohio University
Steven M. Miner is Professor in the Department of History. He is a specialist in recent Russian/Soviet and East European history. He is currently at work on a history of the Soviet Union during the Second World War, tentatively titled The Furies Unleashed: The Soviet People at War, 1941-1945, to be published in the United States by Simon and Schuster and in Great Britain by Bloomsbury.
**This program takes place via Zoom from 1-2 PM EST as part of the 2022 Small World Cafe series with the World Affairs Council of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky and Gulf Coast Diplomacy of Pensacola, Florida.

NON-FUNGIBLE TOKENS (NFTS) AND THE GLOBAL ART MARKET
2022-03-16 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are best described as “bitcoin for art.” NFTs allow pictures, videos, music, or anything other form of visual or digital culture to be to be traded, stored or authenticate. NFTs allow artits to see and protect their digitial creations as the block-chain technology means NFTs cannot be duplicated without permission. However, because there is no real oversight or regulation, NFTs are easy to exploit. Louise Carron, an associate at Klaris law, will be helping us understand this new frontier in the global art trade.
Louise Carron is an Associate at Klaris Law who is passionate about advising entrepreneurs, start-ups, and nonprofits across creative industries. Primarily focusing on contract matters, copyright use, and new technologies, Louise particularly enjoys helping artists protect their creations, rights, and legacies.
Prior to joining Klaris Law, Louise spent three years as the Executive Director of the Center for Art Law, where she ran daily operations, taught workshops on legal basics for artists, and mentored interns. She also worked on various transactional and litigation matters with J. Greenberger PLLC.
Louise has written on numerous topics at the junction of art and law, including street art and NFTs, and she is a regular contributor to the Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law (EASL) Journal published by the New York State Bar Association. She appeared on various panels and podcasts, co-chairs the EASL Pro-Bono Steering Committee, and is a member of the Art Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association. She also serves as secretary of the Center for Art Law’s board of directors.
Louise grew up Paris, France, where she pursued a double Bachelor’s in French Law and Common Law and a Master’s in Comparative Business Law. She also earned an LL.M from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (NY) with a concentration in Fashion, Art, Media and Entertainment Law. She lives in Brooklyn and is admitted to practice in New York State.

Webinar: Educating for the Global World of Work
2022-03-17 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
March Educator PD Session: Educating for the Global World of Work
Thursday March 17, 2022 from 4-5pm
Register here to receive a Zoom Link prior to the event.
About the Program: What skills are needed to succeed in a fast-paced, technologically advanced, and globalized economy? In this session, we will discuss ways in which to bring career exploration into your subject area and highlight enrichment opportunities available for students to set themselves up for success. Teachers will hear from a panel of individuals from organizations focused on technical education and experiential learning that help students prepare for the jobs of the future. We will also reflect on how this work contributes to the Asia Society’s “Investigate the World” global competency theme as well as P21’s “Life and Career Skills” focus. This session is open for middle and high school teachers of all subject areas and teachers have the opportunity to earn 1 CEU for participating in this session.
Panelists Include:

Heather Ackels, Executive Director of INTERalliance of Greater Cincinnati
Jeff Brokamp, Vice President of Education at Junior Achievement of OKI Partners

The View of Ukraine from Capitol Hill - A Town Hall Discussion with Senator Portman
2022-03-23 18:30 - 19:15 | Virtual Event
Join us for this World Affairs Council town hall event featuring Senator Robert Portman (OH) Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus! Senator Portman will share his perspective on the rapidly unfolding war in Ukraine and the current efforts the Senate Ukraine Caucus followed by an open Q&A session with the community moderated by the World Affairs Council.

Fractured Himalaya: Understanding India-China Bilateral Relations with Nirupama Rao
2022-04-14 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
The World Affairs Council of Orange County presents:
“Fractured Himalaya: Understanding India-China Bilateral Relations”
With
Nirupama Rao
(Indian Foreign Secretary (ret.), Indian Ambassador to China, Sri Lanka, United States)
Moderated by Lisa Curtis
(Sr Fellow and Director, Indo-Pacific Security Program
Center for a New American Security (CNAS))
and Clayton Dube
(Director of U.S.-China Institute, University of Southern California (USC)
Faculty, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism)
A Zoom Webinar event
Thursday, April 14th, 2021 at 9:00 AM PDT, 12:00 PM EST
—
Speaker Bio:
Nirupama Rao is a former Indian Foreign Service officer. She retired as Foreign Secretary to the Government of India, the senior most position in the Foreign Service, being the second woman to occupy the post (2009-2011). She was the first woman spokesperson (2001-02) of the Indian foreign office. She served as India’s first woman High Commissioner (Ambassador) to Sri Lanka (2004-2006) and to the People’s Republic of China (2006-2009).
She was Ambassador of India to the United States from 2011 to 2013. In retirement she has taught at various universities, including as a Senior Visiting Fellow in International and Public Affairs at the Watson Institute at Brown University where she has taught an undergraduate senior’s course on “India in the World” and George Ball Adjunct Professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
Ambassador Rao was a Fellow at the India-China Institute of The New School, New York in 2016, Public Policy Fellow at The Wilson Center, Washington D.C. in 2017 and Pacific Leadership Fellow at the School of Global Politics and Strategy, University of California at San Diego in 2019. She was a Jawaharlal Nehru Fellow from 2015-2016 and a Practitioner-in-Residence at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center in Italy in 2017.
She is a member of the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, a member of the Advisory Council of the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore, on the Board of the Indian Council for Research in International Economic Relations (ICRIER), and a Councilor on the World Refugee and Migration Council. She is also a Member of the Board of Directors of the US India Business Council. She has an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (2012) from Pondicherry University, India. She is a staunch believer in the power of social media as an advocacy platform for policy and currently has over 1.3 million followers on Twitter.
If you are interested in purchasing Rao’s book, you can find it here: https://amzn.to/3hKcpq6
Moderator Bios
Lisa Curtis is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). She is a foreign policy and national security expert with over 20 years of service in the U.S. government, including at the NSC, CIA, State Department, and Capitol Hill. Her work has centered on U.S. policy toward the Indo-Pacific and South Asia, with a particular focus on U.S.- India strategic relations; Quad (U.S., Australia, India, and Japan) cooperation; counterterrorism strategy in South and Central Asia; and China’s role in the region.
Ms. Curtis served as Deputy Assistant to the President and NSC Senior Director for South and Central Asia from 2017-2021 under three successive National Security Advisors. During her tenure at the NSC, she coordinated U.S. policy development and implementation of the South Asia Strategy approved by the President in 2017 and was a key contributor to the Indo-Pacific Strategic Framework, which included expanding Quad security cooperation. She coordinated policies designed to strengthen the U.S.-India defense, diplomatic, and trade partnership, resulting in a widely recognized elevation of the relationship. Ms. Curtis also coordinated development of the U.S. Strategy toward Central Asia, to include facilitating new partnerships with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
From 2006–2017, Ms. Curtis was Senior Fellow on South Asia at The Heritage Foundation, where her responsibilities included research, writing, regular media appearances, and frequent Congressional testimony. She also served as Professional Staff Member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, handling the South Asia portfolio for former Chairman of the Committee, Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) from 2003–2006. Before that, she worked as a Senior Advisor in the South Asia Bureau at the State Department, where she developed and coordinated U.S. policy on India-Pakistan relations. In the late 1990s, she worked as a senior analyst on South Asia at the CIA, and from 1994–1998 served at the U.S. Embassies in Pakistan and India.
Ms. Curtis has published commentary in Foreign Policy, The National Interest, CNN.com, NPR.org, and other media outlets and made multiple appearances on CNN, Fox News, BBC, PBS, MSNBC, and C-SPAN.
Ms. Curtis received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Indiana University in December 1990.
—
Clayton Dube:
As director of the USC U.S.-China Institute since 2006, Clayton Dube oversees a variety of research, training, and outreach initiatives. Dube first lived and taught in China in 1982-85. A historian, he examined how economic and political change in China since 1900 affected the lives of ordinary people. He’s gone on to focus on how Americans and Chinese see each other and how governments work to influence those views. He’s currently focused on 1) the promise and limits of U.S.-China economic, scientific, and cultural collaboration and 2) strengthening teaching about China and the rest of East Asia through the USCI’s professional development programs.
Dube headed the team producing the twelve-episode Assignment: China documentary series on American media coverage of China and he’s consulted on other films. He guides US-China Today, a student-driven web magazine. For years he wrote USCI’s popular Talking Points newsletter. He is frequently called upon by American and Chinese broadcast and print media to comment on current affairs.
Dube serves as a director of the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia and on the editorial board of Education about Asia. He was associate editor of Modern China and he’s served on the executive committees of the USC Center for International Studies and the Center for International Business Education and Research and on the advisory board of television’s LinkAsia. Since 2012, Dube has managed Chinapol, a large private discussion list for China specialists in research, media, and government.
Prior to coming to USC, Dube led several UCLA Asia Institute programs. These included teacher training efforts and AsiaMedia and Asia Pacific Arts, both of which had over one million readers annually. The author of several teaching guides, Dube has earned teaching awards at three universities. In 2012 he received the Perryman Fund Social Studies Educator of the Year award.

Soledad O’Brien Promises of Change: Journalism Through an Equity Lens
2022-04-20 10:30 - 23:30 | 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.
April 20, 7:30 PM
Soledad O’Brien
Promises of Change: Journalism Through an Equity Lens
Award-winning Broadcast Journalist
Twitter: @soledadobrien
May 10, 7:30 PM
Rebecca Nagle
Nations within a Nation: Tribal Sovereignty 101
Activist-Writer and Citizen of the Cherokee Nation
Twitter: @rebeccanagle
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.

Taking Action: Using Service-Learning to Develop Global Competency for Teachers
2022-04-21 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
Teacher Professional Development Workshop

How can we inspire students to apply concepts that they’ve learned in the classroom to the real world? In this session, we will discuss how service-learning creates opportunities for students to take action and develop the planning, leadership, and cultural and community awareness skills necessary for success in this interconnected world. Educators and other professionals working with service-learning initiatives will share their insights on what components are necessary for a successful service-learning experience and how teachers can implement these experiences in their own school or classroom.
This session is open for middle and high school teachers of all subject areas and teachers have the opportunity to earn CEU/contact hour credit for participating in this session.
Learning Outcomes
Teachers will be able to:

Identify how service-learning addresses the “Take Action” domain of the Asia Society Global Competence matrix and P21’s Leadership and Responsibility skills.
Explain how service-learning can lead to an enhanced understanding of academic content.
Identify resources they can use to develop and implement a service-learning project in their classrooms.
Discuss best practices for implementing service-learning in an educational setting and making experiences meaningful and relevant to students.

Speakers
Ms. Rachel Kemper (’91), Saint Ursula Academy, Director of Global and Service Learning
Wendy Silvius, Indian Hill High School, Social Studies Department | Experiential Learning & Internships

Responding to Global Health Challenges
2022-05-05 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual Event
How do global health challenges affect people living in New Hampshire? How can the United States best cooperate with other nations to achieve the common good of public health? How do we best prepare to respond to pandemics in the future?
The World Affairs Council of New Hampshire is happy to host a discussion on responding to global health challenges, with Mark Lagon of the Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The organization exists to advocate support in the U.S. for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund), an independent, multilateral financing entity designed to raise significant resources and accelerate efforts to end the AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria epidemics. The Global Fund has also played a major role in COVID-19 response efforts in countries that receive its support through its “COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM)”. After Lagon’s opening remarks, a moderated Question and Answer session will follow.
We hope you can join us for this important online event!
Online – www.wacnh.org

About the Speaker
Mark Lagon is a specialist on global health, human rights, human trafficking, and global institutions. He is Chief Policy Officer at Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria—where he coordinates the non-profit’s Administration and congressional outreach, policy advocacy and coalition management, and research content. He is also Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum, and Adjunct Professor in the Masters of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) Program at Georgetown University.
He previously served as President of Freedom House, a non-profit that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights. Before that he was Executive Director and CEO of the leading anti-human trafficking nonprofit, Polaris.
In the Executive Branch, he served in three successive roles at the Department of State: member of the Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Staff; Deputy Assistant Secretary of International Organization Affairs; and finally Ambassador-at-Large directing the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.
He is co-editor of the 2014 book, Human Dignity and the Future of Global Institutions. He received his Ph.D. in Government from Georgetown University, and A.B. from Harvard University.

Rebecca Nagle - Nations within a Nation: Tribal Sovereignty 101
2022-05-10 10:30 - 23:30 | 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 10, 7:30 PM

Rebecca Nagle
Nations within a Nation: Tribal Sovereignty 101
Activist-Writer and Citizen of the Cherokee Nation
Twitter: @rebeccanagle
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.

An Evening with Lech Walesa, Former President of Poland, Nobel Peace Prize-Winning Leader
2022-05-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
Join us for a conversation with former President of Poland Lech Walesa. Ticket sales will go towards assisting Ukrainian refugees.

About this event

*PLEASE NOTE THIS IS THE PAGE FOR LIVESTREAM /VIRUAL TICKETS ONLY
FOR LIVE IN PERSON TICKETS use this link

Join us in conversation with President Lech Wałęsa, former president of Poland, Nobel Peace Prize-winning leader, and founder of the Lech Wałęsa Institute.
We’ll explore how President Wałęsa pulled Poland into the democratic fold, what Russia’s invasion of Ukraine means for the region, and how we can help Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis.
All ticket proceeds from this event will go to the Lech Wałęsa Institute in aid of Ukrainian refugees.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Co-Presented With:
UCONN Dodd Center for Human Rights
World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts
World Affairs Forum – Stamford, CT
World Affairs Council Dallas Fort Worth
Global Santa Fe World Affairs Council New Jersey
World Affairs Council of Maine
World Affairs Council of El Paso
World Affairs Council of Jacksonville
World Affairs Council of San Antonio
World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana
Columbus Council on World Affairs
World Affairs Council of Tacoma
World Affairs Council of Northwest Ohio
World Affairs Council of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky
World Affairs Council of Philadelphia
World Affairs Council of Greater Houston

Small World Cafe - Disinformation around the World
2022-05-17 13:00 - 14:00 | 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

Creating Well-Informed, Responsible, and Curious Global Citizens
2022-05-26 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
Teacher Professional Development Workshop

How can we ignite students’ curiosity about the world around them and outside their immediate environment? In this session, we will discuss how to address global issues and become responsible global citizens while working collaboratively across diverse classrooms. Educators and other professionals working with a culturally aware mindset will share their insights on what components are necessary for a successful collaboration leveraging social and cultural differences and how teachers can implement these strategies in their school or classroom.
This session is open for middle and high school teachers of all subject areas and teachers have the opportunity to earn CEU/contact hour credit for participating in this session.
Learning Outcomes
Teachers will be able to

Identify how cultural awareness and responsibility addresses the “Investigate the World” domain of the Asia Society Global Competence matrix and P21’s Social and Cross-Cultural Skills
Explain how cultural awareness can lead to an enhanced understanding of academic content.
Identify resources they can use to develop and implement a collaborative project in their classrooms.
Discuss best practices for implementing cultural awareness initiatives in an educational setting and making experiences meaningful and relevant to students.

Speakers
Mr. Joshua Amstutz, Math Department Head & Teacher Coordinator of the Academy of Global Studies at Winton Woods High School
Mr. Andrew Lock, Social Studies Department Head and Teacher within the Academy of Global Studies, American Studies at Winton Woods High School

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.

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.

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°

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)

World Affairs Council Annual Meeting
2023-01-25 12:00 - 13:00
Let’s Celebrate The Mission Together!

We look forward to reflecting on the 2022 community impact as we could not have done it without your support this year.
In 2023, we need YOU more than ever! In whatever way we can safely accomplish it, the Council is going to continue creating international connections, raising awareness on imperative global topics, and developing empathy within students.
We hope you’ll join us to discover how you can support this important global but local work.

Beijing's Global Media Offensive: China's Uneven Campaign to Influence Asia and the World
2023-05-24 15:00 - 16:00 | Virtual
**Partner event with World Affairs Council – Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky & World Affairs Council Orange County – This is FREE for any students (high school, university, etc.) & World Affairs Council members. For non-members, the ticket price is $10/person. The link to register is here.

The Globalization Myth: Why Regions Matter with Shannon O'Neil
2023-06-21 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event

Educator Professional Development Webinar: Inclusion and Peace Building
2023-09-21 16:00 - 17:00
In this workshop, we will discuss the relationship between conflict and displacement, and the unique experiences and challenges faced by women, youth, and people with disabilities who are displaced. The workshop will conclude with a small group activity and a plenary discussion on how to incorporate lived experiences into curriculum.

Sponsored by: World Affairs Council – Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky, U.S. Institute of Peace, Cleveland Council on World Affairs, and World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana

Register for FREE here.

About Elizabeth Murray:

Elizabeth Murray is a senior advisor on peacebuilding and inclusion at the U.S. Institute of Peace. She leads the Institute’s efforts on disability-inclusive peacebuilding and advises on programming and research in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.

Murray first joined USIP in 2008 to work on the Institute’s grantmaking in Colombia. She has led USIP’s grantmaking in several countries and has managed programs and research in Sudan and Central African Republic. In addition to the inclusion of people with disabilities in peacebuilding, her thematic interests include national dialogues, political transitions and migration.

Prior to joining USIP, Murray managed educational programs at the Kennedy Center and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Costa Rica. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international politics and Latin American studies from Georgetown University, a master’s degree in conflict analysis and resolution from George Mason University, and a graduate certificate in international migration studies from Georgetown University.

CANCELLED Conversation with Her Royal Highness Princess Reema Al Saud, The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ambassador to the U.S.
2023-10-19 12:00 - 13:00
Centennial Series Strategic Issues Forum

**This event was cancelled due to a scheduling conflict. It will be rescheduled for 2024.
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. Register HERE
Event Details:
You are invited to a candid conversation with the Saudi Arabia Ambassador to the U.S., Her Royal Highness Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. She is the first woman in the country’s history to serve in the role of Ambassador and presented her credentials in 2019.
A graduate of The George Washington University with a B.A. in Museum Studies, HRH Ambassador Reema has focused on women’s empowerment, particularly in Saudi Arabia, throughout her career. Among many appointments, she served as President of the Mass Participation Federation and was the first woman to lead multi-sports federation in Saudi Arabia. HRH Princess Reema has also served as a member of the World Bank’s advisory council for the Women’s Entrepreneurs Financial Initiative in 2017 and has founded several businesses and non-profits all working to expand opportunities for Saudi women with the Kingdom. She has worked to break down barriers for women to vote, receive equal pay, travel freely without a male companion, and even exercise in public.
She will discuss her country’s Vision 2030 plan, human rights, the Saudi-American partnership, and more.
During the World Affairs Council’s Centennial Series Celebration, we look back to a 1923 discussion between Palestine and Turkey by a predecessor of our organization and welcome HRH Ambassador Reema’s analysis of her country and the Middle East today.
**Please Note: This virtual event will be off the record for the press and will not be recorded.**
About Special Guest Speaker:
Her Royal Highness Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was appointed Ambassador to the United States on February 23, 2019 by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. She is the first woman in the country’s history to serve in the role of Ambassador. She presented her credentials to President Donald Trump on July 8, 2019.
From 1983 to 2005, Princess Reema lived in Washington, DC, while her father Prince Bandar served as Saudi Ambassador to the United States. She attended George Washington University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Museum Studies.
Princess Reema returned to Saudi Arabia, where she focused on private sector initiatives and the empowerment of women in the Kingdom. In 2000, She co-founded Yibreen, a women’s gym. From 2007 until 2015, Princess Reema was the Chief Executive Officer of Alfa International Company Limited – Harvey Nichols Riyadh, a multi-brand luxury retail company, where she collaborated with leading female recruitment agency, Glowork, and commissioned a study on Obstacles for Women in the Workplace, which set the tone for female inclusion in retail, and resulted in opening the first workplace nursery in a retail store, enabling more women to work while caring for children. In 2013, she founded Alf Khair, a social enterprise aimed at elevating the professional capital of Saudi women through a curriculum developed to enable financial self-sufficiency.
In 2016, Princess Reema left the private sector to begin a career of public service as Vice President of Women’s Affairs at the Saudi General Sports Authority where she developed policies and programs that benefited women and children throughout Saudi Arabia. After a successful year, she was promoted to Deputy of Development and Planning in January 2018. In October 2018, she was also appointed President of the Mass Participation Federation, making her the first woman to lead a multi-sports federation in the Kingdom, a role that she occupied until her appointment as Saudi Ambassador to the United States.
Princess Reema is excited to take her leadership role to the world stage as Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the United States.
As part of her philanthropic work, Princess Reema became a founding member of the Zahra Breast Cancer Awareness Association in 2007, which set a Guinness World Record by forming the World’s Largest Human Awareness Ribbon at the Princess Noura University in Riyadh in 2015.
Princess Reema has served as a member of the World Bank’s advisory council for the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative since 2017. She has been a member of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee since 2017, and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Women in Sports Commission since 2018.
In 2014, Fast Company recognized Princess Reema as the Most Creative Person of the year for “Inviting Women into the Workforce.” Foreign Policy Magazine recognized her as a Leading Global Thinker for the same year, placing her high up in the “Moguls” category.
She was featured on the Forbes lists of the 200 Most Powerful Arab Women and Most Powerful Arab Women in Saudi Arabia lists for 2014.

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.
