We welcome Hardy Merriman, former President of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC) A powerful autocratic wave is sweeping the globe. According to various measures, authoritarian governments have risen and democracies have declined worldwide over the past two decades. To ensure long-term peace, security, and human rights for billions of people, it is […]
We welcome Ambassador (ret.) Michael McKinley, senior counselor, the Cohen Group What does it mean for the United States to navigate a world of intensifying conflicts, shifting alliances, and renewed great-power competition? From ongoing wars to economic and technological rivalry, U.S. foreign policy is being reshaped in real time. This program explores the current […]
Join us for informal Lunch & Learn sessions tied to the World Affairs Council’s Great Decisions global discussion series, co-hosted with the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and Museum. Each session includes lunch, a 30-minute Foreign Policy Association video on the week’s topic, and a guided discussion led by World Affairs Council and […]
NOTE: THIS EVENT IS POSTPONED, RESCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, MAY 12. We welcome Page Stoutland, former consultant, NTI The risk of nuclear weapon use is widely viewed as higher today than at any point since the Cold War. Long-standing security alliances appear to be weakening, prompting additional states to consider developing their own nuclear capabilities. […]
We welcome Randy Thelen, President & CEO of The Right Place and Bradley T. French, Member and Chief Strategy Officer, Bodman PLC. From manufacturing exports and international investment to supply chains and trade policy, global forces play a powerful role in shaping regional economic futures. How do the current global economic trends affect our current […]
Join us for our next Global Mixer, 'A Taste of Munich' at the Küsterer Brauhaus on Wednesday, March 25 at 6pm. Guests will enjoy a selection of German charcuterie skewers, Kraut Knödel (balls) with dressing, Pretzel Bites with Bierkäse (cheese) and three 5oz Bier tastings with a little history presentation and tour. The Küsterer Brauhaus […]
Vandenberg Prize with General (ret.) H.R. McMaster April 7 @ 12:00-1:45 P.M. Huizenga Grand Room @ the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Networking from 11:30-Noon, with program beginning at Noon. Vandenberg Award Recipient: General (ret.) H. R. McMaster Hillman/Orr Award Recipient: To be announced The World Affairs Council of Western Michigan […]
Please join us for a dialogue with Hajime “Jimmy” Kishimori, Consul-General of the Consulate-General of Japan in Detroit. Consul-General Hajime “Jimmy” Kishimori is the Consul-General of the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit, whose main mission is to protect and support Japanese expatiates and companies in the states of Michigan and Ohio. He is […]
We welcome Page Stoutland, former consultant, NTI The risk of nuclear weapon use is widely viewed as higher today than at any point since the Cold War. Long-standing security alliances appear to be weakening, prompting additional states to consider developing their own nuclear capabilities. Weapons-usable nuclear materials remain in many countries, presenting proliferation and […]
Thursday, June 11, 2026 5:30 pm Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Members of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan (the “Council”) will be held on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Social time immediately precedes (5:00) and follows the meeting. Varnum LLP Bridgewater Place, 17th […]
Celebrate stories of immigration and belonging with the author of Stealing Buddha's Dinner, a memoir set in Grand Rapids. Beth (Bich Minh) Nguyen will share her experience growing up as a Vietnamese refugee in West Michigan and invite us to reflect on identity, family and finding home. More on Beth Nguyen, author of Stealing Buddha's […]
What does global migration have to do with our community? Drawing on decades of experience responding to humanitarian crises around the world, Jeremy Konyndyk, President of Refugees International, will explore how global forces such as conflict and climate change shape migration and how those realities connect to communities like ours. More on Jeremy Konyndyk, […]
