World Affairs Council of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky

International Children’s Day
2021-09-25 11:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Burnet Woods – Trailside Nature Center, 3251 Brookline Dr., Cincinnati, OH, 45220
The Cincinnati USA Sister City Association (CINUSCA) is delighted to partner with USA Balloonatics to celebrate Cincinnati’s first ever, International Children’s Day. Celebrate the children of the world and the culture and heritage of our neighbors and friends from around the globe. Festivities will include a parade of flags, food trucks, cultural entertainment, nature hikes with Michael George (Cincinnati Parks) and canoes on the lake (Camping and Education Foundation), Musical Storytime with Mr. Eric of Clifton Libary, Make Your Own Sister City Flag Button and Explore More with These Library Books.
CINUSCA is connected to nine cities around the world through the Sister City Program. They include Liuzhou, China, Gifu, Japan, Kharkiv, Ukraine, Munich, Germany, Harare, Zimbabwe, Nancy, France, New Taipei City, Taiwan, Mysore, India, and Amman, Jordan.
This celebration is an opportunity to introduce our Sister Cities to the people of Cincinnati. Enjoy the family friendly festivities and learn more about our global connections right here at home. To learn more about the Cincinnati USA Sister City Association visit cincinnatisistercity.org
For more information about this event, please contact Bob Herring (Robert.c.herring@gmail.com) or Rama Kasturi (rama.kasturi64@gmail.com). Registration is not required for this event.

Cincinnati Asian Arts Festival 2021
2021-09-26 12:00 - 16:30 | Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH, 45202, United States

LUNAFEST short films
2021-09-26 16:00 | The Garfield Theatre, 719 Race Street, Cincinnati, OH, 45202, United States
LUNAFEST … Sun Sep 19, and Sun Sep 26, 4 pm both days.
Q&A led by WIF filmmakers. Also available in the CWC Virtual Cinema
This year’s edition of the Lunafest Short Films is a benefit for Women in Film Cincinnati and four accomplished WIF professionals will lead post-film discussions: Sara Drabik, Abi Esmena, Jaime Myers Schlenck and Tracy Songer. As always, Lunafest 2021 is a diverse collection of engaging, thought-provoking films, for example:
• As the Arctic ice cap melts away, a team of women explorers and women filmmakers trek to the North Pole on foot – conceivably the last expedition of its sort as global warming destroys the ice fields.
• A superstar athlete and woman of color, AJ Andrews, struggles to survive on $15K a year in an industry more willing to pay female athletes to model than to play their sport.
• Speaking up for women in STEM everywhere, a group of women scientists at Dartmouth make the brave and life-changing decision to call out sexual abuse on campus.
• The remaining four films are equally compelling: a 93-year-old artist still pushing boundaries and making her mark; a young native American embracing fly-fishing and conservation; a mixed-media artist combating the sexual objectification of women, a 12-year-old immigrant girl searching for safety.
READ MORE about LUNAFEST 2021.

Nuancing National Security: Energy Security
2021-09-27 18:30 - 19:30 | OH
Click Here to Register

A central mandate of any national government is national security, but the responsibility involves much more than traditional military defense capabilities. Today, while balancing military and diplomacy priorities, national governments assess and combat threats in cyberspace and outer space, water supplies and power grids, food production and energy chains. In this six-part virtual series, the International Relations Council will take a deep dive into the national security arena, offering historical context and global perspective for core dimensions of national security and exploring the risks, priorities, and tactics on the radar of U.S. security policy.

About the Speaker

Ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan (2015 – 2018), Bob Cekuta has long and extensive experience as a top level U.S. diplomat. Deeply engaged in advancing high-profile international energy projects, trade policy initiatives and agreements, commercial sales, and other complex international security matters, Amb. Cekuta’s positions in the State Department included Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources as well as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy, Sanctions, and Commodities.

His overseas postings included the U.S. Embassies in Berlin and Tokyo where he oversaw the full range of economic, commercial, nonproliferation, and scientific relations. In addition, Bob was Deputy Chief of Mission in Albania and held positions in Vienna, Baghdad, Kabul, Johannesburg, and Sana’a, Yemen. He established the Economic Policy Analysis and Public Diplomacy Office in the State Department’s Bureau for Economic and Business Affairs, and served on the boards of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and the International Energy Agency (IEA), where he also chaired the IEA Board’s Standing Group on Long-term Cooperation charged with anticipating global energy developments.

During his career with the State Department Ambassador Cekuta received nine Senior Foreign Service Performance Awards, four Superior Honor Awards, five Meritorious Honor Awards, and the Career Achievement Award. He is a graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, the Thunderbird School of Global Management, and the National War College.

Supporting Series Sponsor

Buttonwood Financial Group, LLC
Cyprienne Simchowitz & Jerry White

Nuancing National Security Series Schedule
All programs will take place from 5:30-6:30 p.m. CT

Wednesday, August 18: Biological and Agricultural Security
Wednesday, August 25: The 21st Century Military
Thursday, September 9: Diplomacy’s Role in National Security
Monday, September 13: Transnational Security Issues
Monday, September 20: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Resilience
Monday, September 27: Energy Security

China in Africa - Great Decisions Group Discussion
2021-09-28 18:00 - 19:00 | OH
We welcome you to the Great Decisions Group Discussion facilitated by Susan Tracy. This group will meet the fourth Tuesday of the month from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. running through to January. Great Decisions is America’s largest discussion program on world affairs. The program model involves reading the Great Decisions Briefing Book to discuss the most critical global issues facing America today.
The Covid-19 crisis has put a massive strain on what was growing a positive economic and political relationship between China and the continent of Africa. As Chinese President Xi Jinping’s centerpiece “Belt and Road initiative” continues to expand Chinese power, the response to the spread of Covid-19, as well as the African government’s growing debt to China, has seen pushback. What are some of the growing economic and political issues between China and Africa?
Topics are:

Sept 28 – China in Africa
Oct 26 – the two Koreas
Nov 23 – The Role of the WHO
Jan 25 – End of globalization

**You must order the Great Decisions Briefing Book on your own and prepare to join by having read the articles associated with the topic. To purchase the briefing book, go to this link: https://www.fpa.org/great_decisions/?act=gd_materials
Please contact Susan Tracy, dsxlstracy@yahoo.com or 513-582-5468 to join and for any questions you may have!

Local Solutions to Global Challenges: Creating a Green Cincinnati
2021-09-29 07:00 - 08:00, 2021-11-03 07:10 - 08:00 | Virtual
7am – Local Solutions to Global Challenges: Creating a Green Cincinnati
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
About the Program: In August, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released an alarming report on the current status of the environment and the impact that it will have on humanity. Around the world, youth have become outspoken advocates in demanding that governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations make changes to ensure the sustainability of the planet. In this session, you will be inspired to “think globally and act locally.” Speakers from the City of Cincinnati’s Office of Environment & Sustainability and other area nonprofits will discuss the Green Cincinnati Plan, a bold vision to put Cincinnati on a path to 100% renewable energy and advance the sustainability, equity, and resilience of our city. Be inspired to advocate for climate issues affecting your own community and learn more about volunteer opportunities to assist in the work that local leaders are doing to create a more sustainable future.

Competing for the Future - Global Security Forum
2021-10-01 - 2021-10-02 | OH
From space to cyber, the currency of power is changing.
This October, generals, experts, and foreign leaders will convene virtually and in-person to address the most critical global security issues of today and the opportunities of tomorrow.
Innovation isn’t optional. It’s imperative.

The Coldest War: Toward a Return to Great Power Competition in the Arctic?
2021-10-01 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual Event
Because of climate change, large sheets of Arctic ice are melting, exposing vast stores of natural gas and oil. With Russia and China already miles ahead with their Arctic strategies, can the US catch up? This program is presented in cooperation with the World Affairs Council – Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky and OLLI at University of Cincinnati.
The group will enjoy a short film about this topic provided by the Foreign Policy Association’s Great Decision program. Following this, there will be a moderated discussion by Padamar Niskode, Richard Lauf, and Michelle Harpenau.

The History and Importance of the Jewish Community in Cincinnati
2021-10-04 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual Event
*This Is An Invitation for October’s Virtual Meeting*
The October meeting is scheduled for:
Monday, 10/4/21 from 6:00-7:00 pm
Topic: The History and Importance of the Jewish Community in Cincinnati
Link to Meeting: meet.google.com/aui-koay-vdh
*Please RSVP if you will be attending the meeting*
Hallo all, join us this month as we have a member of the Jewish community speak to us about the History and importance of the Jewish Community. To join the meeting, simply click the meeting link on 10/4 – click here: meet.google.com/aui-koay-vdh

Stammtisch
2021-10-07 17:30 - 19:30 | Hofbrauhaus Newport, 200 East Third Street, Newport, KY, 41071
Stammtisch: German for “regulars’ table”; serves as an informal meeting and friendly get together
Join the European American Chamber of Commerce for business networking among current and prospective EACC members, as well as Austrian-Swiss-German Committee members.
Stammtisch networking events are held on the first Thursday of every month. Please mark your calendar for the rest of the 2021 Stammtisch series: November 4 and December 2.

Conference - Social Studies: More Relevant Than Ever Before
2021-10-16 08:30 - 16:30 | Capital University

China Town Hall with Fareed Zakaria by M3C
2021-10-19 18:45 - 21:00 | Virtual Event
China Town Hall with Fareed Zakaria by M3C with special guest moderator Kenneth Jarrett, former president of AmCham Shanghai.
October 19, China Town Hall Agenda:

6:45pm-7:00pm EDT, Pre-event warm up and networking
7:00pm-8:00pm EDT, China Town Hall by Fareed Zakaria
8:00pm-9:00pm EDT, China Business Briefing by Kenneth Jarrett, Q&A

Kenneth Jarrett is a Senior Advisor at ASG, where he draws on decades of business and diplomatic experience in China and across East Asia to provide perspective and advice to businesses, investors, and other organizations with interest in the region.
Most recently, Mr. Jarrett spent five years as President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. Under his leadership, the Chamber helped hundreds of companies establish and grow their networks in China and navigate operational and regulatory challenges.
Previously, Mr. Jarrett was a distinguished diplomat whose positions included service as Consul General in Shanghai, and as Deputy Consul General in Hong Kong. His 26-year foreign service career also included postings in Beijing, Chengdu, and Singapore. His government roles in Washington, D.C, included serving as Director of Asian Affairs at the White House National Security Council. Following his government service, Mr. Jarrett served as Chairman of Greater China for APCO Worldwide.
Mr. Jarrett is a frequent commentator on the business environment in China, and he has been quoted in outlets including Bloomberg, the Economist, the Financial Times, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal, among others.
He is the recipient of the Magnolia Award (Silver) from the Shanghai government and is a member of the National Committee for U.S.-China Relations.
Mr. Jarrett earned an M.A. in East Asian Studies from Yale University and an M.A. in National Security Studies from the National War College. He received a B.A. in History from Cornell University. He speaks Mandarin Chinese.
He is based in Shanghai, China.
About ASG: Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG) is the premier global strategy and commercial diplomacy firm that helps clients understand and successfully navigate the intersection of public, private, and social sectors in international markets. ASG’s worldwide team has served clients in more than 120 countries. Learn more at www.albrightstonebridge.com.

The Value of Global Competence: Views from Young Professionals
2021-10-21 09:00 - 10:00 | OH
About the Program: Join four young professionals (31-40) and learn how curiosity and exposure to international ideas, education and experiences have led to different outcomes. Whether it’s working for a local non-profit on a global problem or in D.C., volunteer work here or abroad, or the twists and turns of establishing unexpected careers, these panelists have stories to tell. What motivates them and what matters to them on this one planet we all share? You’ll hear something about their world views and concerns as well as the possibilities global competency and cultural understanding created for them and can for you. Most importantly they will have plenty of time to answer your questions and concerns about your future in the world.
This panel discussion will be moderated by Deborah Schultz, Advisory Board member at the World Affairs Council of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky and founder of Trans-Borders Solutions.
Panelists Include:
David Crookham— Major in the US Marine Corps Reserve
Meagan Hawkins– Communications Director at The Chertoff Group
Thomas Schultz– Data and Program Manager at Green Umbrella
Lindley Winchester— Senior Language Engineer at Amazon
You can find more information about our panelists here.

Flash Chat with German Consul General Wolfgang Moessinger
2021-10-21 12:00 - 12:30 | Virtual Event
12pm- Flash Chat: German Consul General Wolfgang Moessinger
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

About the Program: In this session, Wolfgang Mӧssinger, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany– Chicago office, will discuss the bilateral ties between the Midwestern United States and Germany. Learn more about the work our Consult Generals are doing in our region to strengthen the cultural and economic ties between our countries. Consul General Mӧssinger will discuss the current state of the German economy, world affairs, and developments in Germany’s landmark election. As a city with a deep history of German heritage, learn more about how the U.S. and Germany can continue to work together in international diplomacy.
About the Speaker: Wolfgang Mӧssinger is Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany for the Midwest, based in Chicago. After school and military service he studied German, French and History at the Albert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg. He joined the Federal Foreign Office in 1987. His first postings abroad were Dakar, Helsinki and Moscow. From 2008 to 2012 he was Consul General in Edinburgh, from 2012 to 2015 Deputy Ambassador in Baku, from 2015 to 2019 Consul General in Dnipro (Eastern Ukraine). On July 1, 2019 he joined the Consulate General in Chicago.
Consul General Moessinger is married to Mairéad Winters-Moessinger, an Irish citizen. The couple has two adult daughters.
You can view his C.V. here.

Food is Essential: Examining COVID's Impact on the Global Supply Chain and Food Insecurity
2021-10-21 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
4pm- Food is Essential: Examining COVID’s Impact on the Global Supply Chain and Food Insecurity
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

About the Program: In this session, members of area companies and nonprofit organizations will share the economic challenges they’ve faced in their industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about how supply and demand, governmental policy, and climate issues have affected the availability and prices of the food we eat. Speakers will discuss how COVID-related factors have put stress on global supply chains and how their organizations have pivoted in order to ensure the needs of their customers and community were still being met. Learn more about how you can be a conscious consumer and support local businesses during these challenging times.

Language Lessons - Cincinnati World Cinema Film Night
2021-10-27 19:00 - 21:00 | The Garfield Theatre, 719 Race Street, Cincinnati, OH, 45202, United States
LANGUAGE LESSONS
with post-film discussion

☀ IN-THEATRE …
One Night Only…
Wednesday, October 27, 7:00 pm
Proof of vaccination is required for admission
SHORT TAKE: LANGUAGE LESSONS is a beautifully made and superbly acted story — about feeling lost and alone, about breaking down walls and sharing feelings, about blossoming friendship and platonic love — that does not wind up in the bedroom. This is a rare and refreshing approach in an industry where sexual activity is often considered necessary to hold viewers’ attention.
Here, we have two interesting people who discover each other and what really matters in life. The onscreen chemistry between Adam (Mark Duplass) and Cariño (Natalie Morales) is strong, sincere and believable, as is the developing relationship between their characters.
Directed by Natalie Morales, co-written by Morales and Duplass, with both providing charismatic and heartfelt performances, LANGUAGE LESSONS is a labor of love and an elegant gem in a sea of big-budget, predictable films flooding theatres and the Internet.
Best enjoyed on the big screen, join us for the film and discussion led by Alfonso Barnes and Sara Drabik on Thursday, October 27.

The Art of War in an Age of Peace: U.S. Grand Strategy and Resolute Restraint
2021-10-29 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
Friday, October 29, 2021 @ 1:00 PM PST | 4:00 PM EST
The World Affairs Council of Orange County Presents:
The Art of War in an Age of Peace: U.S. Grand Strategy and Resolute Restraint
Panelist Biography:

Michael O’Hanlon is a senior fellow, and director of research, in Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, where he specializes in U.S. defense strategy, the use of military force, and American national security policy. He
co-directs the Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology; the Defense Industrial Base working group; and the Africa Security Initiative within the Foreign Policy program, as well. He is an adjunct professor at Columbia and
Georgetown universities, a professional lecturer at George Washington University, and a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. O’Hanlon was also a member of the external advisory board at the Central Intelligence Agency from 2011-12.
O’Hanlon has written several hundred op-eds in newspapers including The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Times, The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Japan Times, USA Today, and Pakistan’s Dawn paper. His articles have appeared in Foreign Affairs, The National Interest, Survival, Washington Quarterly, Joint Forces Quarterly, and International Security, among other publications.
O’Hanlon has appeared on television or spoken on the radio some 4,000 times since September 11, 2001. In 2021, O’Hanlon was named one of Washingtonian’s “Most Influential People” in national security and defense.
O’Hanlon was an analyst at the Congressional Budget Office from 1989 to 1994. He also worked previously at the Institute for Defense Analyses. His doctorate from Princeton is in public and international affairs; his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, also from Princeton, are in the physical sciences. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Congo/Kinshasa (the former Zaire) from 1982-84, where he taught college and high school physics in French. Earlier, he worked on a dairy farm in Upstate New York, where he grew up, and attempted (unsuccessfully) with a team of Princeton experimental physicists in the “Gravity Group” to disprove Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.
Moderator Biography:
Elizabeth Shackelford joined the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in January 2021 as senior fellow on US foreign policy. Her analysis, writing, and outreach focus on building awareness and understanding of a “restraint” approach to foreign policy, which seeks to limit the use of military force to the defense of core US national security interests and favors robust diplomatic engagement. Shackelford was a career diplomat with the US Department of State until December 2017, when she resigned in protest of the Trump administration. Her resignation letter was the first to draw widespread attention to the declining state of diplomacy under Donald Trump. She is the author of The Dissent Channel: American Diplomacy in a Dishonest Age, winner of the 2020 Douglas Dillon Book Award. Using both firsthand and historical observations, The Dissent Channel demonstrates that the crisis in US foreign policy predated recent efforts to sideline the diplomatic corps.
As a Foreign Service Officer, Shackelford served in Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, Poland, and Washington, D.C., tracking political and conflict developments, advising Mission and Washington leadership, and
advocating for US interests with foreign counterparts. For her work in South Sudan during the outbreak of civil war in 2013, Shackelford received the Barbara Watson Award for Consular Excellence, the Department’s
highest honor for consular work.
As a non-resident fellow with the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft in 2020, Shackelford conducted research, analysis, and commentary on the costs of a militarized approach to foreign policy and the need for
greater accountability in US actions abroad. Prior to joining the State Department, Shackelford was an associate with Booz Allen Hamilton where she led USAID projects to assess business environments in developing
countries. Shackelford was also an associate with the law firm Covington & Burling, where she focused on international trade law.

The Brewery Heritage Trail
2021-11-01 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
Hallo all, join us Monday, November 1st for a presentation by Steven Hampton, Executive Director of the Brewery District Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation on the Brewery Heritage trail followed by a Q&A.
P.S. We are hoping to start in-person meetings again starting in December at the Northern Row Brewery. Be on the look out for more information.
Sincerely yours
Ute Päpke President

Flash Chat with Consul General Bart Twaalfhoven
2021-11-04 12:00 - 12:30 | Virtual
12pm- Flash Chat: Consul General Bart Twaalfhoven of the Netherlands
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

About the Program: Join us for a brief chat with Bart Twaalfhoven, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for the Midwestern United States. Learn more about relations between the United States and the Netherlands and how the nation plans to address current global challenges such as COVID, cybersecurity, economic development, and climate change. Consul General Twaalfhoven will also share his background and path towards his career with the consulate.
Learn more about Consul General Twaalfhoven here.

A Look at Immigration & Global Migration: Resources for Educators
2021-11-04 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
About the Program: Join the Cleveland Council on World Affairs for an hour-long session on issues of immigration and global migration. We invite middle school and high school teachers (grades 7-12) to participate in the session and explore the history of immigration to the United States and current U.S. policy, as well as the issue of the global refugee crisis. We will share lesson plans, resources, and tools for educators to address this challenging topic in their classrooms. The workshop is appropriate for middle and high school history, social studies, and humanities teachers, including AP and IB educators.
About the Speaker: Elizabeth Coerdt is a manager at the Cleveland Council on World Affairs. She is responsible for a cross-cultural communication training program, a globally-minded leadership development experience for young professionals, and professional development programming focused on supporting educators’ capabilities for teaching global issues. Elizabeth previously worked as an elementary school English Language Arts teacher with Breakthrough Schools and served as a 2015 Teach For America corps member. She is a Georgetown University alumnus with a B.A. in Government and Art History, and holds a M.S.Ed. from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Education.

Stammtisch
2021-11-04 17:30 - 19:30 | Hofbrauhaus Newport, 200 East Third Street, Newport, KY, 41071
Stammtisch: German for “regulars’ table”; serves as an informal meeting and friendly get together
Join the European American Chamber of Commerce for business networking among current and prospective EACC members, as well as Austrian-Swiss-German Committee members.
Stammtisch networking events are held on the first Thursday of every month. Please mark your calendar for the rest of the 2021 Stammtisch series: December 2.

After the Airlift: Examining the Afghan Refugee Crisis Post-Taliban Takeover
2021-11-04 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
7pm -After the Airlift: Examining the Afghan Refugee Crisis Post-Taliban Takeover
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

About the Program: In this conclusion to the International Education Summit, Eric Schwartz of Refugees International will give a keynote address regarding the current state of the Afghan humanitarian and displacement crisis. As 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that led to the global War on Terror, learn more about how the U.S. is examining its obligations to the region following the chaos of the Taliban takeover of the government. This session will address how governments, the United Nations, and various humanitarian organizations have worked—and should work—together to respond to the needs of Afghans displaced within and outside of Afghanistan. Participants will learn more about the challenges that face refugees resettling in the United States and how they can advocate to ensure the human rights of refugees and migrants around the world. Mr. Schwartz will also highlight the factors that brought about the humanitarian and evacuation crises as well as make predictions on what issues and trends the refugee and humanitarian communities will face in the coming years.

About the Speaker: Eric Schwartz became President of Refugees International in June 2017. Eric has had a three-decade career focused on humanitarian and human rights issues. Between 2009 and 2011, he served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration. As Assistant Secretary, he was credited with strengthening the State Department’s humanitarian advocacy around the world, initiating and implementing critical enhancements to the U.S. refugee resettlement program and raising the profile of global migration issues in U.S. foreign policy. He was the senior human rights and humanitarian official at the National Security Council during the Clinton administration, managing humanitarian responses to crises in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. He also served as the UN Deputy Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery after the 2004 Asian Tsunami; as Washington Director of Asia Watch (now the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch); and Staff Consultant to the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs, among other positions in the U.S. government, at the UN and in the nonprofit sector. Just prior to arriving at Refugees International, Eric served a six-year term as Dean of the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. During much of that period, he also served on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and, ultimately, as the Commission’s vice chair. He holds a law degree from New York University School of Law, a Master of Public Affairs degree from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, and a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the State University of New York at Binghamton.

The Future on the Persian Gulf Security
2021-11-05 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual Event
Is using military force a viable foreign policy option for 2021 and beyond?
The Persian Gulf remains tense as the rivalry between the regional powers of Saudi Arabia and Iran continues. Tensions escalated in early 2020 as the United States began to intervene in the Gulf, launching an airstrike that killed two Iranian military commanders. What are the historical influences that have led to these tensions? What role, if any, should the United States play? Is using military force a viable foreign policy option for 2021 and beyond? This program is presented in cooperation with the World Affairs Council – Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky and OLLI at University of Cincinnati.
The group will enjoy a short film about this topic provided by the Foreign Policy Association’s Great Decision program. Following this, there will be a moderated discussion by Padamar Niskode, Richard Lauf, and Michelle Harpenau.

Global Supply Chains and National Security
2021-11-09 19:30 - 20:30 | Virtual Event
The shutdown of global supply chains due to the Covid-19 pandemic brought to the fore an issue with the high level of global economic interdependence: what happens when one country is the main source for an item, say face masks, and then can no longer supply the item? Countries suddenly unable to meet the demand for certain supplies are faced with growing calls for economic nationalism. What are some of the lasting effects that the pandemic could have on global supply chains and trade? How would this affect national security?
Guillermo Malpica Soto has a long and distinguished career in Mexico’s Ministry of Economy. In October he was designated to represent the Ministry at the Embassy of Mexico in Washington, D.C. Mr. Malpica has served as Mexico’s Director General for International Trade in Services and Investment in Mexico’s Ministry of Economy since 2008. Since then, he has been instrumental in formulating Mexico’s position in these areas in multilateral, regional and bilateral fora, including the Doha Round in the World Trade Organization, the OECD, ALADI, APEC, TISA, the Pacific Alliance and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP).

Why Womanpower Matters In the Military with Dr. Tanya Roth
2021-11-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
Join us on Veteran’s Day this year, to understand how women’s military roles evolved during the Cold War in order to understand the US military today – and in particular, women’s defense roles.
In those decades, servicewomen pushed back against limitations placed on them because they were women: while they generally didn’t call themselves feminists or activists, they nonetheless fought for their rights, and this changed what it meant for women to be equal, not just in the military, but also in the civilian world.
Dr. Tanya Roth is a local historian and high school history teacher with a history PhD from Washington University in St. Louis. Her research specializes in the role of servicewomen in the U.S. military. Dr. Roth will be releasing Her Cold War: Women in the U.S. Military, 1945–1980 on September 30th of this year. The book discusses the impact and experiences of U.S. military servicewomen following the adoption of the 1948 Women’s Armed Services Integration Act.
Dr. Roth’s writing and research have been recognized by several awards, including a fellowship from the American Association of University Women, the Society of Military History’s Coffman Prize, and grants from John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Gerald Ford Presidential Libraries. Additionally, her writing has appeared in History News Network, Public Seminar, American Historical Association’s AHA Today, and most recently in The Washington Post.
Please buy Dr. Roth’s book here!
Book Details

She has offered the discount code: 01DAH40 for 40% discount on our site: https://worldaffairsstl.nationbuilder.com/admin/sites/1/pages/25/event/content

BRIDGING DIVIDES AT HOME AND ABROAD - World Affairs Councils of America 2021 National Conference
2021-11-16 - 2021-11-19 | The MayFlower Hotel Washington, D.C., 1127 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20036
The World Affairs Councils of America is excited to welcome all of you to the WACA 2021 National Conference this November 16-19 in Washington, DC, where we will celebrate our 35th Anniversary as a national association!
For nearly four decades, the WACA National Conference has brought World Affairs Council leaders and members to engage with top government officials, diplomats, business executives, innovators, journalists, educators, and students on the most pressing global issues and policy choices that impact our lives.
As an attendee, you will benefit from:
• Expert opinions, timely insights, and audience dialogue about the United States’ role in the world
• Access to extraordinary speakers, thought leaders, and ambassadors available for local Council programming
• Bipartisan, diverse, and inclusive perspectives on key international issues
• Professional development, leadership training, mentoring, and peer-to-peer networking
World Affairs Council – Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky is a proud member of the World Affairs Councils of America.

The Future of Arctic Security: Conversation with ADM. Karl Schultz, Commandant U.S. Coast Guard, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, U.S.
2021-11-16 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
Speaker Biography:
Admiral Karl L. Schultz assumed the duties as the 26th Commandant of the United States Coast Guard on June 1, 2018. As Commandant, he oversees all global Coast Guard operations and 41,000 active-duty, 6,200 reserve, and 8,500 civilian personnel, as well as the support of 25,000 Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers.
He previously served from August 2016 to May 2018 as Commander, Atlantic Area where he was the operational commander for all Coast Guard missions spanning five Coast Guard Districts and 40 states. He concurrently served as Director, DHS Joint Task Force-East, responsible for achieving the objectives of the DHS Southern Border and Approaches Campaign Plan throughout the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Region, including Central America.
Prior flag assignments include Director of Operations (J3), U.S. Southern Command in Doral, Florida; Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District in Alameda, California; and Director of Governmental and Public Affairs at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Previous operational assignments include Sector Commander in Miami, Florida, as well as command tours aboard Cutters VENTUROUS, ACACIA, and FARALLON.
His senior staff assignments include Chief of the Office of Congressional and Governmental Affairs; Congressional Liaison to the U.S. House of Representatives; Liaison Officer to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs; Assignment Officer at the Coast Guard Personnel Command; and Command Duty Officer in the Seventh Coast Guard District Operations Center in Miami.
A native of Connecticut, Admiral Schultz graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1983, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. In 1992, he was awarded a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Connecticut, and in 2006, completed a one-year National Security Fellowship at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He and his wife, Dawn, have five children – Kelsey, Lindsey, Annaliese, Eric, and Zachary.
His personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, four Legions of Merit, four Meritorious Service Medals, three Coast Guard Commendation medals, two Coast Guard Achievement Medals and various other personal and unit awards.
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Special Guest Biography:
Lisa Murkowski, Alaska’s senior U.S. Senator, is a third generation Alaskan proudly serving as the first Alaskan born senator.
Since joining the Senate in 2002, Senator Murkowski has worked tirelessly for Alaskans and earned a reputation in the Senate for her ability to work collaboratively and across the aisle to reach common sense solutions. Murkowski is well-known for her love and dedication to her state, which means putting Alaska first.
A leader on energy and public lands issues, Senator Murkowski recognizes that sound national policy will promote not only job creation and economic growth, but also higher standards of living and greater global stability. She supports the safe and efficient production and use of all forms of domestic energy, as well as research to help develop emerging technologies. Senator Murkowski continues to pursue policies to advance renewable energy, increase energy efficiency, and make America’s energy cleaner, more affordable, and more reliable.
Senator Murkowski has long advocated for the Arctic as a national priority and continues to push the United States to invest in the infrastructure and assets critical to supporting an Arctic strategy. She is leading the charge to recapitalize and expand America’s fleet of icebreakers and has introduced legislation to raise the nation’s presence in the Arctic through two bills that support responsible research and development as well as giving those who live in the region a greater voice on policy and research.
She is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee (Subcommittees –Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Defense; Energy and Water Development; Homeland Security; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies), Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Subcommittee, member of Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, and Vice Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.
Murkowski was born in Ketchikan and raised in towns across the state, including Wrangell, Juneau, Fairbanks, and Anchorage. She is married to Verne Martell, and they have two grown sons. Lisa loves spending time in the Alaska outdoors. She’s an avid skier, has hiked on glaciers, enjoys fall duck hunts, and has an impressive King Salmon mounted on her office wall.
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Moderator Biography:
Heather Conley is senior vice president for Europe, Eurasia, and the Arctic and director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at CSIS. Prior to joining CSIS as a senior fellow and director for Europe in 2009, Conley served four years as executive director of the Office of the Chairman of the Board at the American National Red Cross.
From 2001 to 2005, she was deputy assistant secretary of state in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs with responsibilities for U.S. bilateral relations with the countries of Northern and Central Europe. From 1994 to 2001, she was a senior associate with an international consulting firm led by former U.S. deputy secretary of state Richard L. Armitage.
Ms. Conley began her career in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. She was selected to serve as special assistant to the coordinator of U.S. assistance to the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union, and she has received two State Department Meritorious Honor Awards.
Ms. Conley is frequently featured as a foreign policy analyst and Europe expert on CNN, MSNBC, BBC, NPR, and PBS, among other prominent media outlets. She received her B.A. in international studies from West Virginia Wesleyan College and her M.A. in international relations from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
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Commandant’s White House Fellow Biography:
Victoria Herrmann is a 2021-2022 White House Fellow placed with the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. Prior to the Fellowship, Dr. Herrmann was an Assistant Research Professor at Georgetown University, a National Geographic Explorer, and the Managing Director of The Arctic Institute, a nonprofit with a mission to inform policy for a just, sustainable, and secure Arctic. Victoria directed strategic planning and oversaw the implementation of global research partnerships by a 45-person team.
Her research focused on Arctic climate change and resilience. As a recognized expert in the field, Victoria has testified before the House and Senate, served as the Alaska Review Editor for the National Climate Assessment, and contributes to national and international media. At Georgetown, she served as the Principal Investigator of a National Science Foundation-funded Research Coordination Network on Arctic migrations. The three-year initiative aims to build a lasting, policy-oriented network of Arctic scientists to strengthen communication between nations and scientific disciplines.
Beyond the Arctic, Victoria studies climate-induced displacement, migration, and relocation in North America and Fiji as a National Geographic Explorer. In her first National Geographic project, America’s Eroding Edges, she traveled across the country interviewing 350 local leaders to identify what’s needed most to safeguard coastal communities against the unavoidable impacts of climate change.
Her project, Rise Up to Rising Tides, is creating an online matchmaking platform that connects pro bono experts with climate-affected communities. The project seeks to safeguard heritage by connecting national expertise to some of the 13 million Americans at risk of being displaced due to rising waters in the coming years.
Victoria was a Junior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Fulbright Awardee to Canada, and a Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellow at the National Academies of Sciences. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge as a Gates Scholar, an M.A. in International Affairs from Carleton University, and a B.A. from Lehigh University.

Distinguished Speaker Webinar | United Arab Emirates: 50 Years Young
2021-11-17 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
About the Program
On Wednesday, November 17, our Distinguished Speaker will be Ms. Shaima Gargash, Deputy Chief of Mission at the United Arab Emirates Embassy in Washington, D.C. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of U.A.E. as a united and independent country. This small, dynamic Middle Eastern country has recently launched the HOPE probe now orbiting around Mars, is aggressively investing in renewable energy sources back on Earth, and is hosting Dubai EXPO 2020 (the first-ever world’s fair in the Middle East). One of America’s strongest allies in the region, the UAE is exerting a leadership role in perennially dynamic Middle Eastern diplomacy.
Ms. Shaima will be interviewed by Pierre Atlas, PhD, who teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in the Public Affairs and Criminal Justice Programs at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUPUI. He was previously Professor of Political Science at Marian University where he served as the Founding Director of the Richard G. Lugar Franciscan Center for Global Studies and directed its annual speaker series. He writes a monthly opinion column for the Indianapolis Business Journal, and has been a board member of Indiana Council on World Affairs since 2020. A native of Texas, Pierre grew up in California and is a US Army veteran.

Disarray & Disaster in the Taliban's Afghanistan
2021-11-18 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Event
Please join us for a special, exclusive event featuring Lt. Tom Schram, a former U.S. Navy intelligence officer, who specializes in the study and reporting on national security and political-economic events in China, the Western Pacific, the Middle East, and Afghanistan.
Thursday, November 18 at 6:30PM EST
via Virtual Zoom Presentation
The disaster and chaos in Afghanistan just keep getting worse. With the government unable to pay its bills, the infrastructure crumbling, the ruthless treatment of remaining Afghans who could not escape during the U.S./NATO airlift, the ruling Taliban are finding it complex and difficult to govern and manage as they change from fighting a war to state building, all in a failing economy with no workable financial system in place.
The Taliban’s approach to government has been and continues to be a strict Sharia law under a vicious theocracy. Their merciless approach to those not conforming exactly to these beliefs knows no mercy for those left behind following the U.S. departure. Women’s rights are almost non-existent.
Our evening presentation will touch on the history of the region, previous conquests, topographic challenges, war after 9/11, the evacuation debacle and the poor planning decisions by National Command Authority. Last but not least, our speaker will discuss the strategic implications for the U.S. and the world going forward.

Our Presenting Guest Speaker
Tom Schram holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the United States Naval Academy, Class of 1969. Tom also has an MBA degree in marketing and finance from the Shidler School of Business, University of Hawaii. He was commissioned in the Navy’s Restricted Line and
served 7.5 years as a special intelligence officer in the Naval Security Group. He was stationed in both Japan and Okinawa while serving on multiple deployments. In 1973, he was assigned to NSGA Anchorage, AK as Executive Officer. He resigned his commission in late 1976.
His specialty was electronic intelligence collection while serving in the Naval Security Group. He played a role in the Saigon evacuation in 1975. After leaving the Navy, he had an eclectic career starting with Procter & Gamble where he worked in manufacturing, research & development, advertising brand management, and sales. He was a co-owner of an advertising agency that he helped grow from $2M/year in revenue to $12M over five years. He ran a ballistics research firm for eight years, helped start a microbrewery and led an Internet security firm who had developed an unbreakable firewall.
Tom’s innovative approach in each of his endeavors led to patents and unique business opportunities. However, he never lost his interest in discovering and publishing about world events. For the past twenty years, he has been deeply involved in studying and reporting on geopolitical events around the world with special focus on the Middle East, Afghanistan, and China. His resurgence in learning about all things geopolitical began on 9/11/2001 when he lost his very close friend and USNA classmate in the South Tower of the World Trade Center during the attack on America. Most recently, Tom played a direct role in assisting 757 Afghan refugees flee in the recent aftermath of the Taliban takeover and is now currently assisting another group of refugees who desperately need to evacuate Afghanistan.
