World Affairs Council of Western Michigan

Reflecting on 75 Years of NATO with General (ret.) Curtis Scaparrotti
2024-03-26 18:00 - 19:15 UTC | Gerald R. Ford Presidential Mueum, 303 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504, United States
We welcome General (ret.) Curtis Scaparrotti, former US European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has come under increased scrutiny, not because NATO troops are involved in the conflict, but because of its role in relations between Russia and its neighbors. Does the U.S. still have a role to play in European affairs? General (ret.) Curtis Scaparrotti, the former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO will reflect on the organization’s 75 years and offer his insights on what’s ahead.
Reception and networking for this event will take place from 5 – 6pm.
Location and Parking
The program will take place at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (303 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504).
Free parking is available.

Tickets
The event is free and open to the public and registration and/or tickets are not required to attend in person.
However, if you wish to receive a link to watch the program live or as an archive, you must register below to receive a link.

Our Supporters
More information on the Foreign Policy Association
Special thanks to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum
Special thanks to Series sponsor, Wolverine Worldwide
Special thanks to Livestream sponsor Grand Rapids Community College
Special thanks to Media sponsors, WGVU and Grand Rapids Community Media Center
Special thanks to Topic sponsor, Amway

A Geographic Perspective of Global to Local Health Disparities with Debarchana Ghosh
2024-03-19 18:00 - 19:15 UTC | Gerald R. Ford Presidential Mueum, 303 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504, United States
We welcome Dr. Debarchana (Debs) Ghosh, Associate Professor, Geography, University of Connecticut.
Looking back at the covid-19 pandemic and other global health emergencies, there are many lessons to take away both domestically and internationally. Of particular importance is understanding the multi-faceted causes of global health disparities and what we might do to improve equitable access to health services worldwide. Dr. Debarchana Ghosh, a professor of geography at the University of Connecticut will offer insights based on her research in the field of global health.
Reception and networking for this event will take place from 5 – 6pm.
Location and Parking
The program will take place at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (303 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504).
Free parking is available.

Tickets
The event is free and open to the public and registration and/or tickets are not required to attend in person.
However, if you wish to receive a link to watch the program live or as an archive, you must register below to receive a link.

Our Supporters
More information on the Foreign Policy Association
Special thanks to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum.
Special thanks to Series sponsor, Wolverine Worldwide
Special thanks to Livestream sponsor Grand Rapids Community College
Special thanks to Media sponsors, WGVU and Grand Rapids Community Media Center
Special thanks to Topic sponsors, Grand Rapids Community College and Corewell Health

Will technology save us on a hotter planet? with Neela Banerjee
2024-03-12 18:00 - 19:15 UTC | Gerald R. Ford Presidential Mueum, 303 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504, United States
We welcome Neela Banerjee, Chief Climate Editor, NPR.
Technology is certain to play a key role in limiting and addressing climate change. But is it enough to avert the extreme weather events that threaten millions of people worldwide? Geopolitical rivalries, political inertia, and policy disagreements continue to slow a process that needs to rapidly advance, especially as countries least responsible for the climate crisis become impacted the most. Neela Banerjee, the Chief Climate Editor at NPR, will discuss how we might challenge our current understanding of the climate crisis and suggest ways citizens might respond.
Reception and networking for this event will take place from 5 – 6pm.
Location and Parking
The program will take place at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (303 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504).
Free parking is available.

Tickets
The event is free and open to the public and registration and/or tickets are not required to attend in person.
However, if you wish to receive a link to watch the program live or as an archive, you must register below to receive a link.

Our Supporters
More information on the Foreign Policy Association
Special thanks to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum
Special thanks to Series sponsor, Wolverine Worldwide
Special thanks to Livestream sponsor Grand Rapids Community College
Special thanks to Media sponsors, WGVU and Grand Rapids Community Media Center

The Middle East After October 7 with Jane Ferguson
2024-03-05 18:00 - 19:15 UTC | Gerald R. Ford Presidential Mueum, 303 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504, United States
We welcome Jane Ferguson, foreign correspondent for PBS NewsHour and author of No Ordinary Assignment.
With the Middle East already at a crossroads, the attack on October 7 by Hamas on Israel upended the region and the world. Join us for a conversation with Jane Ferguson, foreign correspondent for PBS NewsHour and author of No Ordinary Assignment. She’ll discuss the latest developments in the conflict, the challenges of potential escalation, and the geopolitical implications for the region. What are the new prospects for peace in the region? What role does the U.S. have to play?
Reception and networking for this event will take place from 5 – 6pm.
Location and Parking
The program will take place at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (303 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504).
Free parking is available.

Tickets
The event is free and open to the public and registration and/or tickets are not required to attend in person.
However, if you wish to receive a link to watch the program live or as an archive, you must register below to receive a link.

Our Supporters
More information on the Foreign Policy Association
Special thanks to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum
Special thanks to Series sponsor, Wolverine Worldwide
Special thanks to Livestream sponsor Grand Rapids Community College
Special thanks to Media sponsors, WGVU and Grand Rapids Community Media Center
Special thanks to Topic sponsor, Calvin University

The U.N. High Seas Treaty and Protecting our Global Commons with Hiroko Muraki-Gottlieb
2024-02-27 18:00 - 19:15 UTC | Gerald R. Ford Presidential Mueum, 303 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504, United States
We welcome Hiroko Muraki-Gottlieb, Elizabeth Haub School of Law, Pace University.
The high seas, nearly ⅔ of the ocean, belong to all but no one in particular: It is a global common. In June 2023, after more than 20 years of studies and negotiations, nearly 200 countries agreed by consensus to adopt a historic treaty to better conserve and sustainably use the high seas. The Treaty will address the unprecedented and accelerating biological diversity loss and degradation of the ocean due to climate change, pollution, and unsustainable use. It also aims to advance scientific research, globally, and address inequalities in sharing benefits associated with organisms of the high seas. Join environmental lawyer Hiroko Muraki-Gottlieb as she discusses the challenges and opportunities to effectively implement the treaty to ensure the health of the largest biodiversity of the Earth for the current and future generations.
Reception and networking for this event will take place from 5 – 6pm.
Location and Parking
The program will take place at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (303 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504).
Free parking is available.

Tickets
The event is free and open to the public and registration and/or tickets are not required to attend in person.
However, if you wish to receive a link to watch the program live or as an archive, you must register below to receive a link.

Our Supporters
More information on the Foreign Policy Association
Special thanks to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum
Special thanks to Series sponsor, Wolverine Worldwide
Special thanks to Livestream sponsor Grand Rapids Community College
Special thanks to Media sponsors, WGVU and Grand Rapids Community Media Center
Special thanks to Topic sponsor, Calvin University

Indonesia's Dangerous Transition with Dan Slater
2024-02-20 18:00 - 19:15 UTC | Gerald R. Ford Presidential Mueum, 303 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504, United States
We welcome Dr. Dan Slater, James Orin Murfin Professor of Political Science; Director, Center for Emerging Democracies, University of Michigan.
Despite its large size, Indonesia remains virtually unknown to most Americans. But as one of the world’s largest democracies, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, and as an economic driver of ASEAN, why does it fly below the radar? Join us for a timely conversation with Dr. Dan Slater from the University of Michigan as he contextualizes Indonesia and discusses the impacts of their presidential elections happening in February. With democracies in decline worldwide, what does the future hold for Indonesia?
Reception and networking for this event will take place from 5 – 6pm.
Location and Parking
The program will take place at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (303 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504).
Free parking is available.

Tickets
The event is free and open to the public and registration and/or tickets are not required to attend in person.
However, if you wish to receive a link to watch the program live or as an archive, you must register below to receive a link.

Our Supporters
More information on the Foreign Policy Association
Special thanks to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum.
Special thanks to Series sponsor, Wolverine Worldwide
Special thanks to Livestream sponsor Grand Rapids Community College
Special thanks to Media sponsors, WGVU and Grand Rapids Community Media Center

Perspectives on Managing the Challenges and Opportunities in U.S.-China Commercial Relations with Kyle Sullivan
2024-02-13 18:00 - 19:15 UTC | Gerald R. Ford Presidential Mueum, 303 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504, United States
We welcome Kyle Sullivan, Vice President, Business Advisory Services, US China Business Council.
Join us for an evening with Kyle Sullivan from the US-China Business Council, as he delves into the dynamics of the US-China trade and commercial relationship. This event will offer valuable insights into the trajectory of the US-China relationship in the year ahead, and discuss the latest trade policies, market trends, and impact of geopolitical tensions on US companies that conduct business with China. Mr. Sullivan will also offer views on China’s domestic business environment and the unique challenges and opportunities facing US companies that operate there. Don’t miss this chance to gain a deeper understanding of one of the most consequential bilateral commercial relationships in the world today.
Reception and networking for this event will take place from 5 – 6pm.
Location and Parking
The program will take place at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (303 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504).
Free parking is available.

Tickets
The event is free and open to the public and registration and/or tickets are not required to attend in person.
However, if you wish to receive a link to watch the program live or as an archive, you must register below to receive a link.

Our Supporters
More information on the Foreign Policy Association
Special thanks to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum
Special thanks to Series sponsor, Wolverine Worldwide
Special thanks to Livestream sponsor Grand Rapids Community College
Special thanks to Media sponsors, WGVU and Grand Rapids Community Media Center
Special thanks to Topic sponsor, City of Holland

What Makes Chinese Tech Tick? with Kaiser Kuo
2024-02-06 18:00 - 19:15 UTC | Gerald R. Ford Presidential Mueum, 303 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504, United States
We welcome Kaiser Kuo, host and co-founder of The Sinica Podcast.
“Strategic competition” between the US and China can be seen across many sectors, including the race to develop and refine advanced technology like semiconductors and artificial intelligence. How do the US and China differ in their approaches to innovation and market development? Is there room (or desire) for cooperation within the current dynamic? Join us for an evening with China tech expert Kaiser Kuo, host of the Sinica Podcast, as he explains Chinese innovation strategies and how the U.S. might respond.
Reception and networking for this event will take place from 5 – 6pm.
Location and Parking
The program will take place at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (303 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504).
Free parking is available.

Tickets
The event is free and open to the public and registration and/or tickets are not required to attend in person.
However, if you wish to receive a link to watch the program live or as an archive, you must register below to receive a link.

Our Supporters
More information on the Foreign Policy Association
Special thanks to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum.
Special thanks to Series sponsor, Wolverine Worldwide
Special thanks to Livestream sponsor Grand Rapids Community College
Special thanks to Media sponsors, WGVU and Grand Rapids Community Media Center
Special thanks to Topic sponsor Grand Valley State University

WorldQuest™
2024-01-24 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Detroit) | L.V. Eberhard Center, GVSU Downtown Campus, 301 Fulton St W, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504, United States
Join us for our long-standing, team-based WorldQuest™ competition. It’s a fast and fun trivia competition that tests global knowledge in a light-hearted way.
Team prizes for the top three teams.
Door prizes and “Best team name.”
Program Schedule
6-6:45 pm – Registration and Dinner
6:45 pm – Game begins
8:00 pm – Winners announced
Parking
Campus Map
Tickets
Individual tickets cost $40. They include a meal plus two beverages. Individuals will be placed on a team. Open to our members and their guests.
A sponsored table purchase is $400. It includes six tickets (with meal and beverages) competing on the same team.

Ally-Shoring: Strategies for Integration, Growth, and Regional Revitalization, with John Austin
2023-12-07 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Detroit) | L. William Seidman Center, GVSU Pew Campus, 50 Front St. SW, Grand Rapids,, MI, 49504, United States
“Ally-shoring” offers the United States benefits locally, nationally, and internationally. But what is “ally-shoring?” Why does it matter? And why is it important now?

Some define the term as “deliberately sourcing essential materials, goods, and services with countries who share our democratic values and commitment to an open, transparent, rules-based international economic and trade regime.” But that’s just the start of understanding the concept and how it plays out in the global marketplace.

Join us for a luncheon conversation on this topic and the implications for West Michigan businesses with John C. Austin, Director of the Michigan Economic Center. More on John Austin here.

Networking and registration will take place at 11:30 before the luncheon begins at noon. Guests may park in the Fulton Lot off of Fulton St.
The deadline to register for this program has passed.

WACA National Conference
2023-11-14 - 2023-11-17 | Park Hyatt, Washington D.C, 1201 24th Street, NW, DC, 20037, United States

Mikhail Zygar's War and Punishment: The Path to Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
2023-11-09 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Detroit) | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81173933265?pwd=[REDACTED]
Join us for this virtual program featuring independent Russian Journalist Mikhail Zygar
As soon as the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, Mikhail Zygar circulated a Facebook petition signed first by hundreds of his cultural and journalistic contacts and then by thousands of others. That act led to a new law in Russia criminalizing criticism of the war, and Zygar fled Russia. In his time as a journalist, Zygar has interviewed President Zelensky and had access to many of the major players—from politicians to oligarchs. As an expert on Putin’s moods and behavior, he has spent years studying the Kremlin’s plan regarding Ukraine, and here, in clear, chronological order he explains how we got here.

In 1996 to 2004, Ukraine became an independent post-Soviet country where everyone was connected to the former empire at all levels, financially, culturally, psychologically. However, the elite anticipated that the empire would be back and punish them. From 2004 to 2018, there were many states inside one state, each with its own rulers/oligarchs and its own interests—some of them directly connected with Russia. In 2018, a new generation of Ukrainians arrive, and having grown in an independent country, they do not consider themselves to be part of Russia—and that was the moment when the war began, as Putin could not tolerate losing Ukraine forever.

Authoritative, timely, and vitally important, this is an unique overview of the war that continues to threaten the future of the entire world as we know it.

Join us for a conversation with “one of Russia’s smartest and best-sourced young journalists” (The New York Times)— War and Punishment is the first work by a Russian author to reveal his country’s history of oppressing Ukraine, providing an unprecedented overview of the war for Ukrainian independence that affects us all. The program will be moderated by Joel Westphal, Deputy Director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum.

Author Biography: Mikhail Zygar worked for Newsweek Russia and the business daily Kommersant, covering the conflicts in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Serbia, and Kosovo before becoming founding editor in chief of Russia’s only independent news TV channel, Dozhd, which provided an alternative to Kremlin-controlled federal TV channels and gave a platform to opposition voices. He won the International Press Freedom Award in 2014. He is the author of All the Kremlin’s Men, a #1 bestseller in Russia that has been translated into over twenty languages and was called one of “nine books that can help you understand Russia right now” by Time magazine, and The Empire Must Die, a Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of the Year.

This program is jointly supported by the Gerald R. Ford Museum, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at GVSU.

Mikhail Zygar's War and Punishment: The Path to Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
2023-11-09 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Detroit) | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81173933265
As soon as the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, prominent independent Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar circulated a Facebook petition signed first by hundreds of his cultural and journalistic contacts and then by thousands of others. That act led to a new law in Russia criminalizing criticism of the war, and Zygar fled Russia. In his time as a journalist, Zygar has interviewed President Zelensky and had access to many of the major players—from politicians to oligarchs. As an expert on Putin’s moods and behavior, he has spent years studying the Kremlin’s plan regarding Ukraine, and here, in clear, chronological order he explains how we got here.
In 1996 to 2004, Ukraine became an independent post-Soviet country where everyone was connected to the former empire at all levels, financially, culturally, psychologically. However, the elite anticipated that the empire would be back and punish them. From 2004 to 2018, there were many states inside one state, each with its own rulers/oligarchs and its own interests—some of them directly connected with Russia. In 2018, a new generation of Ukrainians arrive, and having grown in an independent country, they do not consider themselves to be part of Russia—and that was the moment when the war began, as Putin could not tolerate losing Ukraine forever.
Authoritative, timely, and vitally important, this is an unique overview of the war that continues to threaten the future of the entire world as we know it.

Join us for a conversation with “one of Russia’s smartest and best-sourced young journalists” (The New York Times)— War and Punishment is the first work by a Russian author to reveal his country’s history of oppressing Ukraine, providing an unprecedented overview of the war for Ukrainian independence that affects us all. The program will be moderated by Joel Westphal, Deputy Director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum.

This program is free and open to the public. Please register below to receive a link to attend this virtual program (hosted on Zoom).

Author Biography: Mikhail Zygar worked for Newsweek Russia and the business daily Kommersant, covering the conflicts in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Serbia, and Kosovo before becoming founding editor in chief of Russia’s only independent news TV channel, Dozhd, which provided an alternative to Kremlin-controlled federal TV channels and gave a platform to opposition voices. He won the International Press Freedom Award in 2014. He is the author of All the Kremlin’s Men, a #1 bestseller in Russia that has been translated into over twenty languages and was called one of “nine books that can help you understand Russia right now” by Time magazine, and The Empire Must Die, a Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of the Year.

This program is jointly supported by the Gerald R. Ford Museum and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation.

Geyabi Indayaamin omaa — We Are Still Here: Native Americans and the US-Canada Border with Guntram Herb and Patricia LeBon Herb
2023-11-01 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Detroit) | Grandville Branch, Kent District Library, 4055 Maple St. SW, Grandville, MI, 49418, United States
More than fifty indigenous nations are separated by the international border between the United States and Canada. Most Americans and Canadians are unaware of the divisive effect of the border on native homelands. Guntram Herb and Patricia LeBon Herb will narrate the story of indigenous peoples in the borderlands. They will offer a brief history of colonization, what they gleaned during a 25,000-mile border journey from Maine to Alaska and point to the remarkable endurance and strength of Native peoples in North America.
This is the final program in a series, titled Voices of Indigenous Peoples for Community and Healing.

The event is free and open to the public.

Special thanks to our partners Kent District Library (KDL).

She’s Gone Missing: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women with Heather Bruegl, Public Historian and Indigenous Activist
2023-10-25 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Detroit) | Grandville Branch, Kent District Library, 4055 Maple St. SW, Grandville, MI, 49418, United States
There is an epidemic that no one is talking about outside of Indian Country — the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Learn some history, see why this is an issue, and consider what we can do in and out of Indian Country to make sure that women don’t become a statistic.

This program is the second in a series, titled Voices of Indigenous Peoples for Community and Healing.

The event is free and open to the public.

Special thanks to our partners Kent District Library (KDL).

The History and Consequences of Indigenous Boarding Schools in Michigan and Beyond with Patricia Shackleton, Executive Director, Anishinaabegamig Cultural Learning Center
2023-10-18 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Detroit) | Grandville Branch, Kent District Library, 4055 Maple St. SW, Grandville, MI, 49418, United States
From 1819 to 1969, 408 federal boarding schools for Native Americans operated across 37 states or territories, including five in Michigan. Join Patricia Shackleton to learn about the Indian experience, health education, and the welfare of the Indian child at boarding schools. From this history, learn of the many sad consequences that resulted from the Dawes Act, including how, today, Indian health markers are severe and critical.

This program is the first in a series, titled Voices of Indigenous Peoples for Community and Healing.

The event is free and open to the public.

Special thanks to our partners Kent District Library (KDL).

CHINA Town Hall national webcast with U.S. Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns
2023-10-11 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Detroit) | Gerald R. Ford Presidential Mueum, 303 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504, United States
Hosted by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, CHINA Town Hall connects leading China experts with Americans around the country for a national conversation on the implications of China’s rise on U.S.-China relations and its impact on our towns, states, and nation.  The National Committee is proud to partner with a range of institutions and community groups, colleges and universities, trade and business associations, and world affairs councils to bring this important national conversation to local communities around America for the 17th consecutive year. The 2023 CHINA Town Hall features current U.S. Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns. A moderated discussion of the program will follow immediately after the livestream.

Nicholas Burns is U.S. Ambassador to China. Nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate, he was sworn into office on December 22, 2021.

As Ambassador, he leads a team of experienced, dedicated, and diverse public servants from 47 U.S. government agencies and sub-agencies at the U.S. Mission in China, including at the Embassy in Beijing and at the American Consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, and Shenyang. He oversees the Mission’s interaction with the PRC on the full range of political, security, economic, commercial, consular, and many other issues that shape this critical relationship.

Ambassador Burns has had a distinguished career in American diplomacy, serving six U.S. Presidents and nine Secretaries of State over 27 years. His State Department roles have included Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, the State Department’s third-ranking official and most senior career diplomat (2005-2008); U.S. Ambassador to NATO (2001-2005); U.S. Ambassador to Greece (1997-2001); and State Department spokesman (1995-1997). Before that, he worked at the National Security Council at the White House (1990-1995) where he served as Special Assistant to President Clinton and Senior Director for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Affairs and as Director for Soviet Affairs for President George H.W. Bush during the collapse of the USSR.

Ambassador Burns’ engagement with China also spans decades. He first visited the PRC in 1988, accompanying Secretary of State George Shultz, and then again in 1989 with President George H.W. Bush. He made subsequent visits with Secretaries Warren Christopher and Madeleine Albright, including during the handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the PRC in 1997. As Under Secretary of State, he worked with the PRC government on a diverse range of issues, including Afghanistan, North Korea, United Nations sanctions against Iran and U.S. policy in the Indo-Pacific.  As a private citizen, he also created and managed an Aspen Strategy Group policy dialogue with the PRC government’s Central Party School.

Ambassador Burns has served on the boards of numerous nonprofit organizations, and has received fifteen honorary degrees, the Presidential Distinguished Service Award, and the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Award.

A graduate of Boston College and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Ambassador Burns is currently on a public service leave from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government where he was the Goodman Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations and founded the school’s Future of Diplomacy Project.

Cookies will be available in the lobby of the museum before the event.

The event will be livestreamed to access the livestream/archive, please register and a link to view the program will be emailed to you.

RSVPs

Pre-registration is requested for planning purposes, but not required to attend this event. If you plan to attend virtually, please indicate on your registration, so that we may send you a link to view the program.

There is no cost to attend. Gracious thanks to Amway for support of this program.

The Role of Women and Youth in Peace and Security in Latin America
2023-09-21 19:00 - 20:15 (America/Detroit) | Wisner-Botrall Applied Technology Center, 151 Fountain St NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Save the date for our season opener!
In recent decades, Latin American countries are building more peaceful societies—but are still struggling to consolidate democratic principles while residual armed conflict, high levels of inequality, and political polarization remain. Women and youth are vital to the process of peacebuilding. An International Peace Institute study of 182 signed peace agreements between 1989 and 2011 found that when women are included in peace processes, there is a 35 percent increase in the probability that a peace agreement will last 15 years or more.
Join us for a program that explores the importance and impact of women and youth in peacebuilding and peacemaking efforts in Latin America. Leading the conversation will be our special guest, Maria Antonia Montes, the Senior Program Officer for the Gandhi-King Global Academy and the Nonviolent Action team at USIP.
Montes leads USIP’s technical efforts in Latin America , specifically focusing on Colombia, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia. In her current role, Montes leads USIP’s Synergizing Nonviolent Action and Peacebuilding (SNAP) program in Latin America, as well as its Participatory Action Research (PAR) in Colombia. Montes has worked with USIP’s regional teams on comparative peace processes, process design, implementation, and mechanisms for the inclusion of women, religious actors, and youth inclusion in peace processes. She formerly led USIP’s Citizen Security Dialogues Project in Colombia funded by USAID/Colombia and co-led the development of USIP’s Latin America Regional Center.
Prior to joining USIP, Montes taught English as a second language to university students at Universidad Minuto de Dios (Bogotá). She has an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Latin American studies from Wake Forest University and a graduate specialization degree in Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Bogotá).
A reception and networking event will begin at 6 PM, in the Piazza of the Wisner-Botrall Applied Technology Center (on the same floor of the Auditorium).
The event will be livestreamed and archived—to access the livestream/archive, please register and a link to view the program will be emailed to you.
Parking
The program will take place at the Auditorium of the Wisner-Botrall Applied Technology Center on the Grand Rapids Community College campus (151 Fountain Street. NE). Free parking is available in Parking Lot A on Ransom Ave NE between Lyon and Fountain (you’ll receive an exit ticket when you sign-in at the event).  Guests will walk across the walking bridge to enter the ATC and take one floor down to the auditorium.
Campus Maps
RSVPs
Pre-registration is requested for planning purposes, but not required to attend this event.
There is no cost to attend this program. We strive to bring much of our global programming at low or no cost to benefit our entire community. If you wish to contribute to our organization, you may do so during online registration or at the event itself. Suggested admission is $10, but no one will be turned away thanks to our generous corporate, educational, and individual supporters.
Gracious thanks to Calvin University, Grand Rapids Community College, and Grand Valley State University, Department of Political Science for support of this program.

A Conversation with UK Consul General Alan Gogbashian
2023-09-14 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Detroit) | L. William Seidman Center, GVSU Pew Campus, 50 Front St. SW, Grand Rapids,, MI, 49504, United States
The U.K.’s Chicago-based Consul General Alan Gogbashian will share some reflections on the U.S. – U.K. relationship and its relevance to Michigan at this luncheon.

Alan Gogbashian is His Majesty’s Consul General for Chicago, and has been in this role since January 2020. As Consul General, he leads the UK’s engagement across the 14 states of Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Alan has been a member of the British diplomatic service since 2008. His most recent roles have included Deputy Ambassador to Morocco and Mauritania, Deputy Director Americas, and Head of International Human Resources.

Before joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Alan worked in corporate law in London and Paris, international development, and the life sciences sector. He studied law at King’s College London and is an MBA graduate. He is married with two daughters.

Networking and registration will take place at 11:30 before the luncheon begins at noon.
Registration has closed for this event. Deadline to cancel: Monday, September 11.
Parking available at the Fulton Lot (312 Fulton St. W.).

WorldQuest™
2023-06-14 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Detroit) | L.V. Eberhard Center, GVSU Downtown Campus, 301 Fulton St W, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504, United States
We usually end our programming season with our long-standing, team-based WorldQuest™ competition. It’s a fast and fun trivia competition that tests global knowledge in a light-hearted way.
WorldQuest™ is part of Michigan World Trade Week.
Team prizes for the top three teams.
Door prizes and “Best team name.”
Program Schedule
6-6:45 pm – Registration and Dinner
6:45 pm – Game begins
8:00 pm – Winners announced
Parking
Campus Map
Tickets
Individual tickets cost $40. They include a meal plus two beverages. Individuals will be placed on a team. Open to our members and their guests.
A sponsored table purchase is $400. It includes six tickets (with meal and beverages) competing on the same team.

Vandenberg Prize with David M. Beasley, Executive Director of the U.N. World Food Programme
2023-05-23 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Detroit) | Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Ambassador Ballroom, 187 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Vandenberg Award Recipient:
David M. Beasley, Executive Director (former) of the U.N. World Food Programme
Hillman/Orr Award Recipients:
Sonja Johnson, Executive Director, Van Andel Global Trade Center, Grand Valley State University
Kenda Kuo, Director – Grand Rapids Office, U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Department of Commerce
The World Affairs Council of Western Michigan (WACWM) announces the recipient of its fourth Vandenberg Prize—which goes to a national or international leader who has been influential in developing global understanding and collaboration on the world stage. The first three prizes were awarded to Ambassador (ret.) Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. (2020); General (ret.) James N. Mattis (2021); and Ambassador (ret.) Marie Yovanovitch (2022).
The recipient of the 2023 Vandenberg Prize is David Beasley. Until this spring, he was the Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). The WFP was the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergency and using food assistance to build a pathway to leave, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.
He will receive the Vandenberg Prize on Tuesday, May 23, at 12 noon, in the Amway Grand Plaza Ambassador Ballroom.
The Vandenberg Prize is named after Michigan Senator Arthur Vandenberg (1881-1951) and was the inspiration for founding the Council in 1949 by Grand Rapids attorney (and later Federal Judge) Douglas Hillman and businessman Edgar Orr.
In addition, the Council will present the annual Hillman-Orr Award to a West Michigan individual or institution that mirrors the intent of the Council’s founding leaders to bring global awareness and international understanding to the West Michigan community.
The 2023 recipients will be Sonja Johnson, the executive director of the Van Andel Global Trade Center at Grand Valley State University and Kendra Kuo, the Grand Rapids office director of the U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Department of Commerce. Together, Sonja and Kendra have been the driving forces of countless programs, events, and conversations with businesses about global trade in the region, culminating in the annually anticipated and well-attended Michigan World Trade Week every May in Grand Rapids.
Hillman and Orr were inspired by the life and work of Senator Vandenberg, an isolationist who became a strong advocate of internationalism in the wake of World War II. Vandenberg forged bipartisan support for the Marshall Plan and NATO and was appointed one of the first U.S. delegates to the brand-new United Nations. Senator Vandenberg has always been considered the “patron saint” of the Council.
The Council is grateful for a formational gift by The Meijer Foundation to launch this special recognition of the importance of global connectedness to West Michigan. Longtime World Affairs Council corporate supporters Amway and Bank of America are also major sponsors.
Parking
The event will take place at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel’s Ambassador Ballroom. Guests parking in the hotel’s parking ramp may pre-pay for parking during registration before the event using a self-serve kiosk outside the Ambassador Ballroom.
Tickets
Individual tickets can be purchased below for $150, and includes a meal. Open to our members and their guests.
A sponsored table purchase of $2500 includes eight seats at a table and acknowledgement at the event. Guest names do not need to be given at time of purchase.
Many of our corporate, educational, and senator members receive free or discounted tickets for this event. Please contact our office to receive a discount code before registering.

A Conversation with Junghan Kim, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Chicago
2023-05-02 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Detroit) | L. William Seidman Center, GVSU Pew Campus, 50 Front St. SW, Grand Rapids,, MI, 49504, United States
Please join us for a dialogue with Consul General Jungham Kim as he discusses U.S.-Korea relations, trade issues, and opportunities for West Michigan companies and organizations to connect with Korean economic and educational resources.
Consul General Jungham Kim represents the Republic of Korea from consular headquarters in Chicago and covers 13 Midwestern states, including Michigan. His role is to strengthen the existing ties between the two countries in this region and promote the rights and interests of Korean communities.
The Consul General will give a short presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session. Other Consul Generals from various countries based in either Detroit or Chicago will also be invited, making this a unique global learning and networking experience.
This event is part of Michigan World Trade Week, a celebration of international trade and business growth for Michigan.
In addition to our keynote speaker, members of the Consular Corps of Michigan will be in attendance.
Networking from 11:30-12:00, with lunch and program starting promptly at noon.
Note on Parking
Discounted guest parking in the Fifth Third Bank lot, accessed off Ottawa Ave. between Michigan and Lyon Streets.
Tickets
Individual tickets can be purchased below for $40 each. The price includes the cost of the meal. Open to our members and their guests.
Corporate, University, or Organization Sponsorship Tables are $400 for six persons, with a seventh person designated to sit at one of the Korean Consular tables.
Registration has closed for this event.

Sanctions: Costs and Effects
2023-03-27 18:00 - 19:15 UTC | Wisner-Botrall Applied Technology Center, 151 Fountain St NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
We welcome David Cortright from the Kroc Institute for International Peace of Notre Dame.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, sanctions have been one means for the west to challenge Russia. How effective have these sanctions been in hindering Russia’s war efforts? How do these sanctions compare with others enacted against Iran, Myamar, and Venezuela? What collateral damage has occurred through their implementation and how might sanctions be used in the future more effectively?
Reception and networking for this event will take place from 5 – 6pm.
Parking
The program will take place at the Auditorium of the Wisner-Botrall Applied Technology Center on the Grand Rapids Community College campus (151 Fountain Street. NE). Free parking is available in Parking Lot A on Ransom Ave NE between Lyon and Fountain (you’ll receive an exit ticket when you sign-in at the event).  Guests will walk across the walking bridge to enter the ATC and take one floor down to the auditorium.
Campus Maps
Tickets
Individual tickets can be purchased below for $10 each.
If you are interested in the full Great Decisions event series, series passes are available for $60. Series passes grant you access to all of the Great Decisions events this year, as well as links to view a livestream video of the event.
For our Senator, Corporate, and Educational members, you may register and attend the series for free using the Coupon code FREEWORLD at checkout (this works for both series passes and individual tickets).
Special thanks to Series sponsor, Wolverine Worldwide
Special thanks to Media sponsors, WGVU and Grand Rapids Community Media Center

Climate Migration and the Nomad Century
2023-03-20 18:00 - 19:15 UTC | Wisner-Botrall Applied Technology Center, 151 Fountain St NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
We welcome Gaia Vince, U.K. journalist (BBC and The Economist) and author of Nomad Century.

As climate change accelerates, people in affected regions must uproot themselves and seek safety elsewhere. Vast numbers of people may be driven from their homes in the coming decades—the coming climate migration will require global cooperation. Yet, migration offers opportunities for the people migrating and the host countries that receive them.

Reception and networking for this event will take place from 5 – 6pm.
Parking
The program will take place at the Auditorium of the Wisner-Botrall Applied Technology Center on the Grand Rapids Community College campus (151 Fountain Street. NE). Free parking is available in Parking Lot A on Ransom Ave NE between Lyon and Fountain (you’ll receive an exit ticket when you sign-in at the event).  Guests will walk across the walking bridge to enter the ATC and take one floor down to the auditorium.
Campus Maps
Tickets
Individual tickets can be purchased below for $10 each.
If you are interested in the full Great Decisions event series, series passes are available for $60. Series passes grant you access to all of the Great Decisions events this year, as well as links to view a livestream video of the event.
For our Senator, Corporate, and Educational members, you may register and attend the series for free using the Coupon code FREEWORLD at checkout (this works for both series passes and individual tickets).
Special thanks to Series sponsor, Wolverine Worldwide
Special thanks to Media sponsors, WGVU and Grand Rapids Community Media Center

Energy and the Politics of Power
2023-03-13 18:00 - 19:15 UTC | Wisner-Botrall Applied Technology Center, 151 Fountain St NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
We welcome Brian Min, from the University of Michigan.
Accessing and controlling fossil fuels have long influenced the politics of individual nations and their relations with others. As the modern world electrifies, how do the politics of energy lead to a looming energy crisis?
Reception and networking for this event will take place from 5 – 6pm.
Parking
The program will take place at the Auditorium of the Wisner-Botrall Applied Technology Center on the Grand Rapids Community College campus (151 Fountain Street. NE). Free parking is available in Parking Lot A on Ransom Ave NE between Lyon and Fountain (you’ll receive an exit ticket when you sign-in at the event).  Guests will walk across the walking bridge to enter the ATC and take one floor down to the auditorium.
Campus Maps
Tickets
Individual tickets can be purchased below for $10 each.
If you are interested in the full Great Decisions event series, series passes are available for $60. Series passes grant you access to all of the Great Decisions events this year, as well as links to view a livestream video of the event.
For our Senator, Corporate, and Educational members, you may register and attend the series for free using the Coupon code FREEWORLD at checkout (this works for both series passes and individual tickets).

Latin American Politics: A Shift to the Left?
2023-03-06 18:00 - 19:15 UTC | Wisner-Botrall Applied Technology Center, 151 Fountain St NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
We welcome P. Michael McKinley, Ambassador (ret.) to Brazil, Peru, and Colombia.
Elections in Latin America over the past four years have led many observers of the regional/political scene to discern a left-wing surge in the hemisphere, reminiscent of the so-called “Pink Tide” that swept the area some 20 years ago. But how much do these politicians actually have in common? What implication does their ascendency have for the region and for relations with their northern neighbors?
Reception and networking for this event will take place from 5 – 6pm.
Parking
The program will take place at the Auditorium of the Wisner-Botrall Applied Technology Center on the Grand Rapids Community College campus (151 Fountain Street. NE). Free parking is available in Parking Lot A on Ransom Ave NE between Lyon and Fountain (you’ll receive an exit ticket when you sign-in at the event).  Guests will walk across the walking bridge to enter the ATC and take one floor down to the auditorium.
Campus Maps
Tickets
Individual tickets can be purchased below for $10 each.
If you are interested in the full Great Decisions event series, series passes are available for $60. Series passes grant you access to all of the Great Decisions events this year, as well as links to view a livestream video of the event.
For our Senator, Corporate, and Educational members, you may register and attend the series for free using the Coupon code FREEWORLD at checkout (this works for both series passes and individual tickets).
Special thanks to Series sponsor, Wolverine Worldwide
Special thanks to Media sponsors, WGVU and Grand Rapids Community Media Center

Iran at a Crossroads
2023-02-27 18:00 - 19:15 UTC | Wisner-Botrall Applied Technology Center, 151 Fountain St NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
We welcome Suzanne DiMaggio from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Suzanne is the Director of the Iran Project.
U.S. relations with Iran have reached a critical point. The Iranian nuclear program is more advanced than it’s ever been as negotiations to restore the JCPOA have stalled. Iran’s provision of drones to Russia against Ukraine and Tehran’s brutal crackdown on protesters around the death of Mahsa Amini have led to heightened tensions. At the same time, the international sanctions regime at the heart of the U.S.’s pressure campaign against Iran is fraying as Tehran, Moscow, and Beijing forge closer ties. Against this evolving backdrop, what are the strategic options for U.S. policy toward Iran. Is an agreement to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon still a realistic goal? What are the alternatives?
Reception and networking for this event will take place from 5 – 6pm.
Parking
The program will take place at the Auditorium of the Wisner-Botrall Applied Technology Center on the Grand Rapids Community College campus (151 Fountain Street. NE). Free parking is available in Parking Lot A on Ransom Ave NE between Lyon and Fountain (you’ll receive an exit ticket when you sign-in at the event).  Guests will walk across the walking bridge to enter the ATC and take one floor down to the auditorium.
Campus Maps
Tickets
Individual tickets can be purchased below for $10 each.
If you are interested in the full Great Decisions event series, series passes are available for $60. Series passes grant you access to all of the Great Decisions events this year, as well as links to view a livestream video of the event.
For our Senator, Corporate, and Educational members, you may register and attend the series for free using the Coupon code FREEWORLD at checkout (this works for both series passes and individual tickets).
Special thanks to Series sponsor, Wolverine Worldwide
Special thanks to topic sponsor, Grand Valley State University
Special thanks to Media sponsors, WGVU and Grand Rapids Community Media Center

The Geopolitics of Hunger and Global Food Production
2023-02-20 18:00 - 19:15 UTC | Wisner-Botrall Applied Technology Center, 151 Fountain St NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
We welcome Brittany Cook from Louisiana State University.
In a potential future without famine, what other frameworks should we use to address global hunger? What are other productive ways for thinking about food systems? This talk explores how racial capitalism highlights key problems in the relationship between food production, geopolitics, and development.
Reception and networking for this event will take place from 5 – 6pm.
Parking
The program will take place at the Auditorium of the Wisner-Botrall Applied Technology Center on the Grand Rapids Community College campus (151 Fountain Street. NE). Free parking is available in Parking Lot A on Ransom Ave NE between Lyon and Fountain (you’ll receive an exit ticket when you sign-in at the event).  Guests will walk across the walking bridge to enter the ATC and take one floor down to the auditorium.
Campus Maps
Tickets
Individual tickets can be purchased below for $10 each.
If you are interested in the full Great Decisions event series, series passes are available for $60. Series passes grant you access to all of the Great Decisions events this year, as well as links to view a livestream video of the event.
For our Senator, Corporate, and Educational members, you may register and attend the series for free using the Coupon code FREEWORLD at checkout (this works for both series passes and individual tickets).
Special thanks to Series sponsor, Wolverine Worldwide
Special thanks to topic sponsor, Grand Rapids Community College
Special thanks to Media sponsors, WGVU and Grand Rapids Community Media Center

What’s Ahead for China and the U.S.
2023-02-13 18:00 - 19:15 UTC | Wisner-Botrall Applied Technology Center, 151 Fountain St NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
We welcome Mary Gallagher from the University of Michigan.
The U.S. and China have one of the most important and complex bilateral relationships. But this relationship has been eroding for years. While President Biden met with President Xi for the first time since his election in 2020, serious rifts remain. How might the United States and China engage with the other in these increasingly tense times?
Reception and networking for this event will take place from 5 – 6pm.
Parking
The program will take place at the Auditorium of the Wisner-Botrall Applied Technology Center on the Grand Rapids Community College campus (151 Fountain Street. NE). Free parking is available in Parking Lot A on Ransom Ave NE between Lyon and Fountain (you’ll receive an exit ticket when you sign-in at the event).  Guests will walk across the walking bridge to enter the ATC and take one floor down to the auditorium.
Campus Maps
Tickets
Individual tickets can be purchased below for $10 each.
If you are interested in the full Great Decisions event series, series passes are available for $60. Series passes grant you access to all of the Great Decisions events this year, as well as links to view a livestream video of the event.
For our Senator, Corporate, and Educational members, you may register and attend the series for free using the Coupon code FREEWORLD at checkout (this works for both series passes and individual tickets).
Special thanks to Series sponsor, Wolverine Worldwide
Special thanks to topic sponsor, Bank of America
Special thanks to Media sponsors, WGVU and Grand Rapids Community Media Center

Reckoning on War Crimes
2023-02-06 18:00 - 19:15 UTC | Wisner-Botrall Applied Technology Center, 151 Fountain St NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
We welcome Deborah Amos from NPR.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has resulted in widespread charges of war crimes and calls for justice. But what exactly are war crimes? Opinions of what constitutes a war crime have evolved, as have ways to identify and punish the perpetrators. Yet, war crimes are notoriously difficult to investigate and prosecute. How might the war crimes committed in Ukraine be dealt with?
Reception and networking for this event will take place from 5 – 6pm.
Parking
The program will take place at the Auditorium of the Wisner-Botrall Applied Technology Center on the Grand Rapids Community College campus (151 Fountain Street. NE). Free parking is available in Parking Lot A on Ransom Ave NE between Lyon and Fountain (you’ll receive an exit ticket when you sign-in at the event).  Guests will walk across the walking bridge to enter the ATC and take one floor down to the auditorium.
Campus Maps
Tickets
Individual tickets can be purchased below for $10 each.
If you are interested in the full Great Decisions event series, series passes are available for $60. Series passes grant you access to all of the Great Decisions events this year, as well as links to view a livestream video of the event. Click here to purchase a series pass.
For our Senator, Corporate, and Educational members, you may register and attend the series for free using the Coupon code FREEWORLD at checkout (this works for both series passes and individual tickets).
Special thanks to Series sponsor, Wolverine Worldwide
Special thanks to topic sponsor, Grand Valley State University
Special thanks to reception sponsor, Grand Rapids Community College
Special thanks to Media sponsors, WGVU and Grand Rapids Community Media Center
