World Affairs Council of Connecticut

Global Changemakers: International Women's Day Celebration 2019
2019-03-04 17:00 - 19:15 (America/New_York) | University of Saint Joseph, The Carol Autorino Center for the Arts and Humanities, 1678 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, CT, 06117, United States
An astrophysicist, global catalyst, and a member of the team that made history by sequencing the first human genome

On March 4, we celebrate global changemakers in innovation: women at the forefront of discoveries, innovation, and movements that will shape the future of our world.

Join us for a glimpse into our global future as we explore revelations in the cosmos, the next big trends in global social impact, and how these women are using innovation for the betterment of our world.

Featuring:
Priyamvada Natarajan, Astrophysicist and Professor at Yale University

Priyamvada Natarajan is an astrophysicist and Professor at Yale. She has made seminal contributions to our current understanding of the formation and growth of black holes and of the nature of dark matter by mapping it using gravitational lensing. Recipient of many awards & honors, Priya is also the current chair of the Division of Astrophysics of The American Physical Society. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed book Mapping the Heavens: The Radical Scientific Ideas that Reveal the Cosmos. Deeply invested in the public dissemination of science, Priya serves on the Board of NOVA ScienceNow and is a regular contributor to the New York Review of Books.

Diana Ayton-Shenker, Global Catalyst Senior Fellow at The New School; President & CEO of Global Momenta

Diana Ayton-Shenker is an award-winning social entrepreneur who connects and convenes key partnerships, resources and capital for global social impact. Named one of “25 Leading Women Changing the World” (Good Business New York), Diana is Global Catalyst Senior Fellow at The New School, and founding CEO of Global Momenta. She was the Inaugural Nazarian Social Innovator in Residence (Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania), Senior Fellow in Venture Philanthropy (Bard College), and was featured among 31 Inspiring Women in Nonprofit Management (UNC). As Fast Forward Fund founder, Diana was honored by President Bill Clinton, and selected as Social Venture Network (SVN) Social Innovation Award Finalist. She held senior positions with Mercy Corps, Human Rights Watch, and P.E.N., and taught at The New School, Bard College, the American University of Paris, and Hunter College of the CUNY, where she directed the first undergraduate program of Human Rights in the U.S. She has lectured at Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Penn, and many international gatherings. She is the author of the recent book, A New Global Agenda: Priorities, Practices, & Pathways of the International Community (2018, Rowman & Littlefield).

Moderator | Yu-Hui Rogers, Senior Director, Research Strategy, Asia, The Jackson Laboratory

Yu-Hui currently serves as the Senior Director, Research Strategy, Asia at the Jackson Laboratory (JAX) responsible for developing and managing JAX’s precision medicine research collaborations and efforts in Asia. She was the Site Director for the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine (JAX-GM) for six years responsible for establishing and overseeing the overall administration and operation of JAX-GM. Prior to joining the Jackson Laboratory (JAX) in July of 2012, she was the Vice President of Core Technology Development and Services at the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI). At JCVI, Yu-Hui played a key role in the management and execution of large scale genomics and metagenomic sequencing projects and programs, including the Human genome sequencing project, and the NIH Roadmap Human Microbiome Project (HMP). Before joining the Venter Institute, she was the Manager of Sequencing Research and Development at Celera Genomics and was instrumental in the development and implementation of the Celera high-throughput sequencing pipeline that allowed the human genome sequence to be completed in 14 months. She is the recipient of the Connecticut Technology Council 2015 Woman of Innovation Award in the Large Business Innovation and Leadership category. She was also named one of the Best and Brightest EMBs for the class of 2017 by Poets and Quants upon her graduation from Yale School of Management.

5:00pm | Reception
6:00pm | Event followed by Opportunity for Audience Q&A

Presented By:

Sponsored By:
Chris Healy, Executive Director, Connecticut Catholic Conference

Borders, Fences & Defenses: A Global Perspective
2019-02-20 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Lobby, 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT, 06105, United States
Space Limited!
With a national emergency declared over border protection, this discussion offers insight into the history of borders. The central question is: what exactly is a border?
Seemingly stable lines separating two countries or geographical areas, borders have been contested throughout history and are frequently at the center of political conflict. Attention will be given to the development of the nation-state, migration, and the tension between globalization and protectionism. Borders that will be examined more carefully are: the Irish “backstop” within the context of the impending Brexit; the boundary between Israel and the Palestinian Territories; the Iron Curtain with, as its epicenter, the Berlin Wall; the 38th parallel north between South and North Korea; and of course the U.S. – Mexico border. Q & A to follow.

5:30pm | Doors Open for Networking and Reception with Light Bites
5:45pm | Welcome and Discussion Kick-Off

Featuring:

Prof. Johannes Evelein is chair of the Department of Language and Culture Studies at Trinity College. A frequent border crosser, he has studied in the Netherlands, Germany, Norway and the United States and holds a PhD in German Studies. He joined the Trinity faculty in 1997 where he teaches German Studies and general humanities courses with an emphasis on 20th century literature and culture. His research focuses on exile literature written during the Nazi era. His most recent book is entitled, Literary Exiles From Nazi Germany. Exemplarity and the Search for Meaning. His current book project deals with the importance of borders and boundaries in the European literary imagination. More broadly, he is exploring the new and richly interdisciplinary field of Environmental Humanities.

Global Economic Outlook 2019
2019-01-16 11:30 - 13:30 (America/Halifax) | The Capital Grille, 44 Front Street, Hartford, CT, 06103, US
Space Limited for this exclusive event featuring a three-course lunch at Capital Grille and expert discussion on the key insights you need to know to navigate the unpredictable economic landscape we’re poised to enter in 2019.
Now is the time to join us for an illuminating, in-depth conversation on our global economic future.
Featuring analysis and discussion with Connecticut-based expert Edward Guay, Principal at Wintonbury Risk Management and global macrostrategist.
11:30am | Doors open for registration and networking.
12:00pm | Lunch and presentation commences, to be followed by audience Q&A.
Held in partnership with HABE (Hartford Association for Business and Economists), UConn CIBER, MetroHartford Alliance and the Hartford Business Journal.

Lunch with CTWAC: January
2019-01-09 12:00 - 13:00 UTC | Brazil Grill, 1996 Park St, Hartford, CT, 06106
You’re invited to eat lunch with CTWAC!
Join the CTWAC team monthly as we embark on a lunch tour of some of the best global eats Hartford has to offer.

How it works:

RSVP to Program Director, Amanda at with your attendance. Just shoot a message to: ajolly@ctwac.org.
Join us at the global spot of the month
Order and pay individually for your meal
Join the World Affairs Council table
Discover a new favorite global restaurant with great company, while talking about the global issues on your mind with the Council team, fellow members, and special guests

Any questions?
Feel free to contact the World Affairs Council of Connecticut office via email at ajolly@ctwac.org or phone at (860) 724-2953.

January’s Global Lunch Spot
In January, CTWAC will be eating at the Brazil Grill. We hope you can join us!
Menus and more about Brazil Grill here!

Centennial Celebration: Central and Eastern Europe
2018-12-11 18:00 - 19:15 (America/New_York) | Mark Twain House & Museum, 351 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT, 06105, United States
Centennial Celebration: Central and Eastern Europe
Tuesday, December 11 | 6:00pm – 7:15pm | Mark Twain House & Museum, Hartford
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>Join us in celebrating the 100th anniversaries of Central and Eastern European countries. Featuring a reception, panel discussion, and audience Q&A with diplomats from Eastern Europe as we celebrate landmark historical achievements as well as the lasting impact these nations have had in shaping Connecticut.
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Lunch with CTWAC: December
2018-12-06 12:00 - 13:00 UTC | Shu Restaurant, 156 Shield Street, West Hartford, CT, 06110
You’re invited to eat lunch with CTWAC!
Join the CTWAC team monthly as we embark on a lunch tour of some of the best global eats Hartford has to offer.

How it works:

RSVP to Program Director, Amanda at with your attendance. Just shoot a message to: ajolly@ctwac.org.
Join us at the global spot of the month
Order and pay individually for your meal
Join the World Affairs Council table
Discover a new favorite global restaurant with great company, while talking about the global issues on your mind with the Council team, fellow members, and special guests

Any questions?
Feel free to contact the World Affairs Council of Connecticut office via email at ajolly@ctwac.org or phone at (860) 724-2953.

December’s Global Lunch Spot
In December, CTWAC will be eating at Shu, a Connecticut staple for delicious traditional Chinese Szechuan cuisine. As the New York Times puts it, “Shu delivers the special deliciousness that might make it your go-to place for your go-to dish.” We hope you can join us!
Check out the New York Times Review: At Shu Restaurant in West Hartford, Dishes With a Kick of Heat
Check out the Shu menu.

World Affairs Council of CT Model United Nations 2018
2018-11-30 14:30 - 2018-12-01 17:30 (America/Halifax) | University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Ave, West Hartford, CT, 06117, US
The World Affairs Council of CT held its very first Model United Nations program in 1952 and since then thousands of individuals across the state have benefitted from it.
The 2018 Model United Nations conference gives students the opportunity to engage in debate over a wide range of topics that revolve around the theme of climate change. This year’s program introduces a new committee: The Historical Committee on the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. .
The participants will also travel to the UN Missions in NYC on October 25 to be briefed by the countries they have chosen to represent. The program culminates on November 30th and December 1st at the University of Hartford where Model United Nations delegates will be discussing : Fair Elections, Cryptocurrency, Feminization of Poverty, Sustainable Cities, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Mental Health, Children and Crime, and Cultural Repatriation and Compensation
Conference Dates:
Friday, November 30th: 2:30pm – 8:00pm
Saturday, December 1st: 9:15am – 2:00pm
Cost:
Program fee/UN Trip – $115.00/pp*
Program only – $75.00/pp
*Please speak to your adviser for payment options. Scholarships are available based on financial need. Additional charges may apply to cover the country fee.

Lunch with CTWAC: November
2018-11-15 12:00 - 13:00 UTC | The Polish National Home, 60 Charter Oak Ave, Hartford, CT, 06106, US
You’re invited to eat lunch with CTWAC!
Join the CTWAC team monthly as we embark on a lunch tour of some of the best global eats Hartford has to offer.

How it works:

RSVP to Program Director, Amanda at with your attendance. Just shoot a message to: ajolly@ctwac.org.
Join us at the global spot of the month
Order and pay individually for your meal
Join the World Affairs Council table
Discover a new favorite global restaurant with great company, while talking about the global issues on your mind with the Council team, fellow members, and special guests

Any questions?
Feel free to contact the World Affairs Council of Connecticut office via email at ajolly@ctwac.org or phone at (860) 724-2953.

November’s Global Lunch Spot
In November, CTWAC will be eating at the Polish National Home. The Hartford PNH – Polish National Home of Hartford – has been a Hartford CT landmark since 1930. Serving as a gateway for new Polish immigrants, the Hartford PNH has served to promote and educate Polish culture, heritage, and history – while serving the best pierogi around. We hope you can join us!
Check out the Polish National Home menu!

The Region's Technology Industry Expansion
2018-11-14 11:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Carbones, 588 Franklin Avenue, Hartford, CT, 06114
Hartford Association for Business and Economics (HABE) in partnership with the World Affairs Council of Connecticut (CTWAC) presents:
The Region’s Technology Industry Expansion
There has been great momentum developing around the technology industry in our region, especially with the recent technology announcements and CBRE’s study highlighting Hartford as one of the fastest growing technology talent markets. Join us as Bruce Carlson, President and CEO of The Connecticut Technology Council, shares his insights on this growth and what it means for our region and beyond.
Schedule:
Registration – 11:30 am to 12:00 pm
Lunch – 12:00 pm
Presentation – 12:15 pm to 12:45 pm
Audience Q&A – 12:45 pm to 1:00 pm
HABE and CTWAC members: $25; non-members: $30
Note: HABE members must have renewed membership for 2018-2019 Program Year to receive reduced rate.
Reserve your tickets here.

WACA National Conference
2018-11-07 - 2018-11-09 | The Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Ave NW, CT, 20036, United States
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Braving the New World Order

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November 7-9

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id=”comp-iqs8x6qrline” class=”style-jjity96aline”>For nearly three 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.

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By attending this year’s WACA Conference in Washington, DC, you will benefit from:
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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 the Administration’s “America First” philosophy

Visits to think tanks and embassies, networking receptions, and dinners

Professional development, leadership training, mentoring, and peer-to-peer networking

For full speakers list, conference agenda, to reserve tickets, and more, check out the Conference website: https://www.wacaconference2018.org/

Student Scholarship Opportunity!
The WACA Board, in partnership with The Gambrinus Company and Mr. Carlos Alvarez, is offering these scholarships in order to fulfill our educational mission and to prepare future leaders for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. The Conference — coming right after the midterm elections — promises to be a special occasion for our network of Council leaders, members, friends, and students to engage with many leading policy makers and analysts about critical foreign and trade policy issues and America’s role in the world.

Read more here. If you are interested in applying, contact the World Affairs Council of CT office for more information at: ajolly@ctwac.org or (860) 724-2953.

Elections, Nationalism, and the New World Order with Ambassador of the EU to the UN
2018-11-01 18:00 - 19:15 (America/Halifax) | Connecticut Public Broadcasting, 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT, 06105, United States
Elections, Nationalism, and a Shifting World Order
Featuring His Excellency João Vale de Almeida, Ambassador of the European Union to the United Nations
What does the rise of nationalism mean for the outcome of elections across Europe and here in the U.S.?
How is populism shifting the existing norms of the world order?
Join us to discuss these central issues and more with His Excellency João Vale de Almeida, Ambassador of the European Union to the United Nations.
Featured Keynote Speaker:
His Excellency João Vale de Almeida, Ambassador of the European Union to the United Nations, first EU Ambassador to the United States of America (2010 to 2014), former Director General for External Relations at the European Commission and Head of Cabinet for the European Commission President (2004-2009).
Special Member-Only Event!
This event is limited to members of the World Affairs Council and presenting partner organizations. Members are welcome to bring guests.
Not a member of the World Affairs Council? Learn more and become a member here.
Questions?
For any questions, call Amanda Jolly, Program Director at: (860) 724-2953.

Presented By

Global Security Forum: New World Powers
2018-10-20 08:30 - 15:30 (America/Halifax) | Goodwin University Auditorium, 1 Riverside Drive, East Hartford, CT, 06118
The Global Security Forum is New England’s premiere regional security forum, bringing the world’s top security experts, speakers, and leaders to Connecticut to address the most critical global security issues.
Join the World Affairs Council of CT and the Charter Oak Chapter of the Military Officers Association in conjunction with the McCain Institute for International Leadership and World Affairs Councils across the region for an all-day seminar featuring experts from top military and civilian institutions. This event is not to be missed.

Featuring:

Topics include:
Bytes and Bullets: The Future of Cyber Warfare
Power Clash: China on the Rise
Putin, Trump, and NATO
New World Powers
Battlefields of the Future: Confronting and Combating Terrorism

Lunch will be served. Free parking on site.
Forum will be held in the Goodwin College Main Campus Auditorium.
Set your GPS to: 211 Riverside Drive, East Hartford, CT.

Schedule:
Registration | 8:30am
Program | 9:00am – 3:30pm

Sponsored By:

Presented By:

In Partnership With:

Questions?
Contact World Affairs Council Program Director Amanda Jolly with any questions at: (860) 724-2953 or ajolly@ctwac.org

VIP Reception - Opening Event of the Global Security Forum 2018
2018-10-19 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax) | Hartford Golf Club, 134 Norwood Road, West Hartford, CT, 06117, United States
Space extremely limited. Only 20 spots available for this member-exclusive event!

If tickets are sold out, contact Amanda Jolly, Program Manager, at (860) 241-6118 or ajolly@ctwac.org to be put on the wait list.

CHINA Town Hall
2018-10-09 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax) | Trinity College, Mather Hall, Washington Room, 300 Summit Street, Hartford, Connecticut, 06106, US
No relationship will be as important to the twenty-first century as the one between the United States, the world’s great power, and China, the world’s rising power. – Council on Foreign Relations
Join 80+ communities across the United States in a national conversation on China. Featuring an interactive webcast with The Honorable Condoleezza Rice, Former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor and on-site panel of experts on the rise of China and the U.S.-China relationship.

The Honorable Condoleezza Rice, Former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor
2018 National Webcast Speaker
From January 2005 to 2009, Secretary Rice served as the 66th Secretary of State of the United States, the second woman and first African American woman to hold the post. She also served as President George W. Bush’s Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (National Security Advisor) from January 2001 to 2005, the first woman to hold the position. Secretary Rice is currently the Denning Professor in Global Business and the Economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution, and professor of Political Science at Stanford University. She is also a founding partner of RiceHadleyGates, LLC.

Expert Live Speakers include:

Dr. Zhao Yumin, acting Consul General of China in New York
Dr. Tu Yichao, Associate Professor at Center for American Studies, Fudan University; Thomas Visiting Professor at Trinity College’s Center for Urban and Global Studies
Dr. Xiangming Chen, Director, Center for Urban and Global Studies, Trinity College, Moderator

Refreshments will be served.

A partnership of

Iran and the U.S.: The War to Come?
2018-10-03 18:00 - 19:15 (America/Halifax) | Mark Twain House & Museum, 351 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT, 06105, United States
The leaders of Iran and the United States have been trading fiery rhetoric these past few months. At the recent NATO summit, President Trump stated there might be an “escalation” between the two nations.
Join us for a discussion with Ambassador Seyed Hossein Mousavian, former diplomat and spokesman for Iran in its nuclear negotiations with the international community, and Ambassador James B. Cunningham, former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Israel, and the United Nations in New York, as we address the central question:
Are the U.S. and Iran headed toward an inevitable conflict or ultimate reconciliation?

Parking is free. Set GPS for 385 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut. This will put you right at the driveway entrance to the Mark Twain House main parking lot.

Featuring:
Ambassador Seyed Hossein Mousavian is a Middle East Security and Nuclear Policy Spet at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. He is a former diplomat who served as Iran’s Ambassador to Germany (1990-1997), Head of the Foreign Relations Committee of Iran’s National Security Council (1997-2005), Spokesman for Iran in its nuclear negotiations with the international community (2003-2005), Foreign Policy Advisor to the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (2005-2007), Vice President of the Center for Strategic Research for International Affairs (2005-2009), General Director of Foreign Ministry for West Europe (1987-1990), Chief of Parliament Administration (1984-1986) and the editor-in-chief of the English-language international newspaper Tehran Times (1980-1990). Ambassador Mousavian earned a PhD in international relations from the University of Kent in the U.K. He is author of “The Iranian Nuclear Crisis: A Memoir” published by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in June 2012.
Ambassador James B. Cunningham joined the Atlantic Council in May 2015 as a senior fellow in the South Asia Center and the Zalmay Khalilzad chair on Afghanistan. He became a nonresident senior fellow in May 2016. He served as ambassador to Afghanistan (August 2012 to December 2014), and as deputy ambassador (2011 – 2012). He was ambassador to Israel (2008 -2011), consul general for Hong Kong and Macau (2005 – 2008), ambassador and deputy permanent representative to the United Nations in New York (1999 – 2004), and acting permanent representative to the United Nations for the first nine months of 2001, including on 9/11. Ambassador Cunningham is the recipient of multiple awards from the State Department, the National Performance Review’s Hammer Award for Innovation in Management, the US President’s Meritorious Service Award (twice), and has received awards from the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, the Secretary of Defense, the Afghan government, and Syracuse University.

For any questions, please contact Amanda Jolly, Program Director, at (860) 241-6118 or ajolly@ctwac.org.

In partnership with

[Young Professional] Conversation and Cocktails w/ Esam Boraey
2018-09-17 17:30 - 18:30 (America/Halifax) | Republic at the Linden, 10 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT, 06106, US
Young Professional Happy Hour
with Special Guest Esam Boraey, Youth Leader of the Egyptian Revolution
Calling all young professionals! Join your fellow Hartford area young professionals for a global happy hour.
Featuring the exclusive opportunity for an intimate conversation with Esam Boraey, one of the key youth leaders who sparked the overthrow of Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak.
We’ll talk about his experience and how young leaders can inspire revolutions over happy hour drinks and bar bites.
Featuring light refreshments and cash bar.
Free parking available. Download the parking pass and more info here:
http://www.republicct.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Printable-Parking-Pass3.pdf
Esam Boraey is a human rights activist working for freedom and democracy in the Middle East. He began his career as an activist over ten years ago when he and a group of 6 other youth leaders gathered on the steps of Egypt’s Supreme Court, calling for justice, freedom and democracy, in the first direct protest against the president in over 6 decades. This passion led him to play a key role in the Egyptian revolution of 2011, which helped overthrow longtime dictator, Hosni Mubarak. Following the 2011 revolution, Esam worked with international leaders to push for a stable democracy in Egypt. During the Mohamed Morsi presidency, Esam worked for U.S. Agency for International Development and later left the country after being sentenced in Egypt’s criminal court to two years in prison for his work for human rights and democratization in the Middle East. Esam then moved to Washington D.C. where he continued his work for human rights, working for U.S. Institute for Peace. Having worked over the years with a number of Civil Society organizations (CSOs) in both the Middle East and the U.S., he has fostered close professional relationships with political leaders throughout the region, and advised policy makers in the U.S. and European Union. He received his MA from Cairo University and has taught classes at Cairo University, the American University in Cairo and Drake University. Esam brings a nuanced perspective to an understanding of Egyptian, Middle Eastern, and Islamic affairs that takes into account the concerns of stakeholders at various levels, both in the Middle East and beyond its borders.
Esam was honored for his defense of human rights in Egypt, Middle East, and the USA with several awards, such as the Personality of the Year for fighting for human rights in the Middle East by the National Center for Human Rights. In 2013, he was honored as a Freedom Fighter of the Year by the secretary of transportation Ray LaHood. He has also received many certificates of appreciation by many organizations in the Middle East and all over the world for his work.
In partnership with the Bushnell’s BYP

Lunch with CTWAC: September
2018-09-05 12:00 - 13:00 UTC | Bahn Mee, 399 Capitol Ave, Hartford, CT, 06106
You’re invited to eat lunch with CTWAC!
Join the CTWAC team monthly as we embark on a lunch tour of some of the best global eats Hartford has to offer.

How it works:

RSVP to Program Director, Amanda with your attendance. Just shoot a message to: ajolly@ctwac.org.
Join us at the global spot of the month
Order and pay individually for your meal
Join the World Affairs Council table
Discover a new favorite global restaurant with great company, while talking about the global issues on your mind with the Council team, fellow members, and special guests

Any questions?
Feel free to contact the World Affairs Council of Connecticut office via email at ajolly@ctwac.org or phone at (860) 724-2953.

September’s Global Lunch Spot
In September, CTWAC will be eating at Bahn Mee, one of the team’s favorite lunch spots in Hartford. Bahn Meee serves delicious Vietnamese dishes from pho to bahn mi (and what meal is complete without a Vietnamese coffee or bubble tea?) in an inviting, casual setting. We hope you can join us!
Check out the Bahn Meee menu!

The Bahn Meee Story:
​Hi, my name is Dung (G) Tran. Vietnamese food to me is just food, but to many people it’s a special event when they go out to enjoy Vietnamese food. Vietnamese dishes are very colorful, full of different flavors and textures, and should be eaten freshly served because of the complexity of the condiments and veggies that enhance the dishes’ flavor.
Most people know what Pho is, but what about Bun Bo Hue? Or Bun Rieu? Or even a Banh Mi? I wanted to showcase that Vietnamese food isn’t just a single dish that we eat for breakfast but other dishes with differences and contrasts in flavor. I wanted to show people that Sweet Spicy Fish Sauce “nuoc mam” can make a rice dish so much better (and that it doesn’t actually smell like a nasty fermented fish).
I didn’t just want to own a Vietnamese food truck but rather, I wanted to understand everything in the process, and adjust the flavor accordingly. And besides, an added advantage to a food truck is that it’s mobile so I can reach a greater customer base more effectively.
In 2015, I began watching my girlfriend’s mother and grandmother cook, and learned the skills and tricks they used to make the best versions of some of my favorite Vietnamese dishes. The tastes of these dishes were distinct, very flavorful and strong. I then came across Thuy from Little Viet Kitchen and said to myself “Wow, her dishes look amazing.” From Thuy, I realized that presentation is key. I also decided to take it one step further by learning how to garden because I wanted to personally grow the herbs and vegetables that I would need to for the dishes.
Eating Vietnamese dishes isn’t simple either. That’s because most of our dishes are noodles or some kind of rice with fish sauce. You can’t just throw everything together and eat it two hours later (trust me, the taste will be off and the texture won’t be so good either). So, I wanted to find a container that would allow me to make eating Vietnamese dishes simple for the average person looking for an easy lunch, as well as be able to pack food to-go for the those customers who want to bring food home for their family or for dinner. After searching and trying out multiple different products, I finally found the right packaging.
After much trial and experimentation, I have optimized my favorite Vietnamese dishes into meals that are not only simple and easy to enjoy now (or later) but are also true to the taste of the dish. I hope to have the opportunity to share them with you.
This is the story of banh meee.

Trade Wars
2018-07-31 11:30 - 13:30 (America/Halifax) | Infinity Hall Hartford, 32 Front Street, Hartford, CT, 06103, US
Trade Wars: Tariffs and Trade in the Trump Era
Join us for a luncheon with Ambassador Diego Gómez Pickering, Consul General of Mexico in New York, Consul General Phyllis Yaffe, Consul General of Canada in New York, and Dr. Zhao Yumin, Acting Consul General of China in New York for a conversation on Trade Wars: Tariffs and Trump. Ambassador Gómez Pickering, Consul General Yaffe, and Acting Consul General Zhao Yumin will discuss the consequences and impacts that the new US tariffs will have on Connecticut’s economy, what this means for the future of global trade relationships, and the importance of trade alliances in today’s globalized world.
Doors open at 11:30am for guest arrival, registration and networking. Lunch is served and program commences at 12:00pm.
Ambassador Diego Gómez Pickering was appointed as Consul General of Mexico to New York City in June of 2016. He is a career diplomat as well as a writer and journalist. Prior to his arrival in New York he served as Ambassador of Mexico to the United Kingdom, from 2013 to 2016; as well as Director for Foreign Media for President Enrique Peña Nieto’s office from 2012 to 2013.
Phyllis Yaffe was announced as Canada’s Consul General in New York in July 2016. She has had a distinguished career in both the private and not-for-profit sectors. Ms. Yaffe has served as chair of the board of Cineplex Entertainment, lead director of Torstar Corporation and as a member of the boards of Lionsgate Entertainment and Blue Ant Media. A former board member of Astral Media, for many years she served as a senior officer, and ultimately as chief executive officer, of Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc.
Dr. Zhao Yumin, Deputy Consul General of China in New York, assumed the office in July 2017. Dr. Zhao has served in the Foreign Service of China for 22 years. He spent eight years in U.S. Affairs desk in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. Before his post in New York, he also served in Houston as Deputy Consul General from 2014, and the Republic of Korea, Suriname and Auckland, New Zealand before 2006. Dr. Zhao Graduated from Foreign Affairs University, Beijing, China, with a Ph.D. in International Relations. He is married with a son.
Moderated by: Dan Haar, Hearst Connecticut Media
Dan Haar is columnist and associate editor at Hearst Connecticut Media, focusing on the intersection of business, economics and politics. Prior to joining Hearst in 2017, Dan was at the Hartford Courant for more than three decades as a photographer, reporter, business editor and columnist. Dan graduated from Wesleyan University and never left Connecticut. He lives in West Hartford and has a daughter who teaches music.
In Partnership With:
Sponsored By:

Summer Member Social
2018-06-19 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax) | Dunkin’ Donuts Park, 1214 Main Street, Hartford, CT, 06103, US
Join us for a very special member social to celebrate a successful year and to send off for our Education Director, Eve Pech, in style.
Enjoy food and drink at the Yard Goats Stadium as we celebrate Eve’s successful career and retirement. Featuring food, drinks, and great company.

Killing the Iran Deal: What Happens Now?
2018-06-12 18:00 - 19:15 (America/Halifax) | Mark Twain House and Museum, 385 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT, 06105, US
Killing the Iran Deal: What Happens Now?
On May 8, President Trump announced the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Iran Nuclear Deal dubbing it, “a horrible one-sided deal that should never, ever have been made”. Today, as the U.S. faces additional nuclear tensions with North Korea, rising tensions with Iran, and a break from European Allies on the Iran Deal, many around the world are asking: what happens now?
Dr. Trita Parsi, the preeminent Middle East foreign policy expert who advised the Obama White House throughout the Iran talks, joins us to discuss the inner-workings of creating the Iran Deal and explore the options and consequences of a U.S. withdrawal from the agreement.
Discussion followed by audience Q+A and book sale and signing.
Featuring
Trita Parsi is the 2010 recipient of the $200,000 Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order. He is an award-winning author with a focus on US foreign policy in the Middle East. His first book, Treacherous Alliance – The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran and the US (Yale University Press, 2007) won the Grawemeyer award and Council of Foreign Relations Arthur Ross Award in 2008 (Silver medallion).
His second book, A Single Roll of the Dice – Obama’s Diplomacy with Iran (Yale University Press, 2012) was selected as The Best Book on The Middle East in 2012 by Foreign Affairs. His latest book – Losing an Enemy: Obama, Iran and the Triumph of Diplomacy (Yale University Press, 2017) – reveals the behind the scenes story to the historic nuclear deal with Iran. Dr. Parsi is the President of the largest Iranian-American grassroots organization in the US, the National Iranian American Council and has taught at Johns Hopkins University and George Washington University. He currently teaches at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington DC.
Free and ample parking on site.

The Trade: Terrorism and Political Kidnapping
2018-06-07 18:00 - 19:15 (America/Halifax) | UConn Hartford, Room 145, Hartford Times Building, 10 Prospect St, Hartford, CT, 06103, US
“A kidnapping victim is a commodity” – Jere Van Dyk
In 2008, investigative journalist Jere Van Dyk was kidnapped and imprisoned for 45 days by the Taliban. He spent roughly one thousand and eighty hours in an ominously dark 12-by-12 cell. To this day the details of his release are unclear, no prisoners were exchanged and it’s not known whether or not a ransom was paid. “All he knows is that he made it home,” (NPR).
What Van Dyk uncovered on his return was not just the story of his own abduction, but a highly sophisticated, and lucrative, network of kidnapping operations that finance terrorist organizations all over the world.
On Thursday June 7, Dan Haar (Associate Editor at Hearst Connecticut Media) joins Jere Van Dyk for an in-depth conversation about this stock exchange of human life. Discussion followed by book sale and signing.
Space Limited – RSVP to reserve your spot!
Hosted by The World Affairs Council of Connecticut in partnership with The Invisible Hand now playing at TheaterWorks

Mr. Gay Syria: Film Screening and Talk-Back
2018-06-03 05:00 - 20:00 UTC | Real Artways, 56 Arbor St, Hartford
This fascinating and timely documentary observes two gay Syrian refugees who try to rebuild their broken lives. Husein is a barber in Istanbul living a double life that pits his conservative family and upbringing against his gay identity. Mahmoud is the founder of Syria’s LGBTI movement and lives in Berlin. What unites them is a shared dream: to participate in an international beauty contest to escape their trapped lives and overcome their invisibility. Will the dream come true or will the refugee crisis and the harsh reality of being gay in the Muslim world shatter it?
A talk-back will follow the screening of the film. The discussion will explore themes such as the intersection of LGBTQ identity in the Middle East and the effects of the refugee crisis.
Featuring Chris George, Executive Director of IRIS (Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services)
Visit https://outfilmct.org/portfolio/sun-june-3-500-pm-real-art-ways/ for more information.

CTWAC MUN Delegate Debate Workshop: Session 4
2018-05-17 16:00 - 18:00 (America/Halifax) | Connecticut Public Broadcasting Building, 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT, 06105, US
Sharpen your Model UN debate skills with this workshop series from the World Affairs Council of Connecticut. Come and hone your skills while engaging in debate with your peers on the latest global issues.
A fun and interactive way to enhance your skills for the 2018 CTWAC MUN Conference!
Open to high school students. Healthy snacks will be provided.
Fee waivers are available. Contact Eve Pech for more information at epech@ctwac.org or call (860) 241-6118.

Luminary Award 2018
2018-05-10 17:30 - 21:00 (America/Halifax) | Hartford Marriott Downtown, 200 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT, 06103, United States
2018 Luminary Award Recipient
The World Affairs Council is celebrating Connecticut’s global leadership in cancer research and innovation at the Luminary Award. The Council is proud to honor Yale Cancer Center, a ground-breaking center for global health, as the 2018 Luminary Award recipient.
Innovations made here in Connecticut impact health on a global scale. Through collaboration among world-class institutions of education, healthcare, bio-pharma, and research here in Connecticut, the state has developed a health ecosystem that enables scientific risk-taking and fosters a well-developed network of some of the world’s premier hospitals.
In this exemplary company, the Council is proud to highlight Yale Cancer Center. The Yale Cancer Center is one of the select few centers in the nation and the only one in southern New England designated a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute. Through pioneering research, health innovations, and breakthrough treatments, the Yale Cancer Center is leading the world in cancer research for the betterment and advancement of our global community.
This is an extraordinary opportunity to meet four world leaders in health innovation, together in one room.
Get to know these pioneers who are shaping the future of global healthcare.
2018 Luminaries:
Lieping Chen, MD, PhD, “Father of Immunotherapy”
Patricia LoRusso, DO, Transformational leader in cancer clinical trials
Joan Steitz, PhD, International pioneer in understanding the role of RNA in biology & cancer development & progression
Vincent DeVita, MD, Pioneer of chemotherapy and founder of the leading international textbook of oncology, “Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology”
Featuring:
Dr. Charles Fuchs, Director of the Yale Cancer Center, Physician-in-Chief of the Smilow Cancer Hospital, and Richard & Jonathan Sackler Professor of Medicine at the Yale School of Medicine.
Dr. Max Gomez, Award-winning medical journalist and author with 32 years of experience in the field.
Sponsorship Opportunities Available
Click here for details: Sponsorship Opportunites
To discuss Sponsorship Opportunites, please contact CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org
About the Luminary Award
The annual Luminary Award is the signature event of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut. It honors one or more individuals or an organization from Connecticut that has profoundly influenced global affairs, with a strong emphasis on achieving the overall betterment of the world.
Luminary Award History
2004 – Harry Jack Gray, former Chairman of UTC –keynote The Honorable Alexander Haig
2005 – University of CT UNESCO Chair, keynote — keynote President Mary Robinson
2006 – Save the Children, keynote — keynote Cokie Roberts
2007 – Connecticut’s Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans — keynote General Eric Shinseki
2008 – ESPN International in recognition of their role in global sports diplomacy — keynote Chris Berman
2010 – Former Secretary of State, Dr. Henry Kissinger
2011 – Association of Hole in the Wall Camps
2012 – Nobel Peace Prize Committee
2013 – Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation—A leading global innovator
2014 – AmeriCares — keynote Ambassador Robert Ford
2015 – Peter G. Kelly, Esq. — keynote Senator Mark Warner of Virginia
2016 – Aerospace Components Manufacturers — keynote Colonel Mark Tillman
2017 – United Technologies (UTC) — keynote Dr. Robert Ballard
FAQs
What is the attire?
Business Attire
What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?
Parking is available in the many parking garages near the Marriott Downtown.
Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?
Please email info@ctwac.org with any questions, or for more information on sponsorship.

CTWAC MUN Delegate Debate Workshop: Session 3
2018-04-26 16:00 - 18:00 (America/Halifax) | Connecticut Public Broadcasting Building, 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT, 06105, US

City of Asylum: Writers in Exile
2018-04-24 18:00 - 19:15 UTC | University of Saint Joseph, The Carol Autorino Center for the Arts and Humanities 1678 Asylum Ave, West Hartford, CT, 06117, US
Journalists, writers, and political commentators are under siege in many parts of the world. With freedoms of speech and press limited, nonexistent, or under attack from various regimes and administrations, many writers are forced from their countries in fear for their lives.
Join the University of Saint Joseph and the World Affairs Council of CT for an intimate discussion with two of the world’s most prominent writers from Syria and Bangladesh on the political power structures they confronted, the meaning of freedom of the press, and the world-renowned works which ultimately forced them into exile.
A partnership of the University of Saint Joseph and the World Affairs Council of CT.
Event: 6:00pm – 7:15pm
Reception and opportunity for book sale and signing to follow.

RSVP Here

Panelists Include:
Osama Alomar (Syria) is one of the most well-respected Arabic poets writing today, and a prominent practitioner of the Arabic al-qisa al-qasira jiddan, the “very short story.” He is the author of Fullblood Arabian in English, and three collections of short stories and a volume of poetry in Arabic. Alomar’s first full-length collection of stories, The Teeth of the Comb, will be published by New Directions in April 2017. His short stories have been published by Newyorker.com, Noon, Conjunctions.com, The Coffin Factory, Electric Literature, and The Literary Review. He also performs as a musician. Osama Alomar travels with his translator, Christian Collins.
Tuhin Das (Bangladesh) is a poet, activist, political columnist, short story writer and essayist. He was born and raised in Barisal, Bangladesh. He is the author of seven poetry books in his native language (Bengali). He was involved in the Little Magazine Movement and edited a few literary magazines; he’s had contemporary poetry criticism articles, short stories and political columns published in the last fifteen years in Bangladesh. Since 2013, he has been the target of fundamentalist militant groups who have murdered secular writers and activists in Bangladesh. Instead of protecting him, the police collected and examined his writings for anti-Islamist statements to use against him. To save his own life, he had no choice but to go into hiding and find a way out of Bangladesh. He left his country in April 2016. Tuhin Das is now the current ICORN writer-in-residence of City of Asylum in Pittsburgh.

Nathan Deron is the production coordinator at City of Asylum. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, sociology, and legal studies from the University of Pittsburgh in 2015. That same year he worked as an editorial intern for City of Asylum’s online magazine, Sampsonia Way, before becoming a part of the City of Asylum staff. In his current role, Nathan oversees the production of City of Asylum’s 150 events annually, as well as the maintenance of City of Asylum’s new cultural center, Alphabet City.

About City of Asylum
City of Asylum is an organization that provides sanctuary to endangered literary writers. In 1993, in response to a growing incidence of attacks on writers and specifically writer assassinations in Algeria, the International Parliament of Writers was formed. At the behest of the IPW, governments in several European cities agreed to provide one to two years of support for endangered writers in exile. These were called “Cities of Asylum,” and they aimed to protect not only freedom of speech and freedom of publication but also the physical safety of writers. There are now asylums in Las Vegas, Ithaca, and Pittsburg. Today, City of Asylum continues to provide sanctuary to endangered literary writers, so that they can continue to write and their voices are not silenced.

Global Fluency Training
2018-04-03 08:30 - 12:30 (America/Halifax) | Goodwin College, 1 Riverside DrRoom 311, East Hartford, CT, 06118, US
Global Fluency Training provides business professionals and educators with the tools they need to serve an ever-growing multicultural community. Investing in Global Fluency Training is a meaningful professional development opportunity that is crucial to successfully serve increasingly diverse schools and local communities. In today’s global community, it is vital to be able to interact effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds in order to build relationships with students, colleagues, clients, and organizations.
Who Should Attend:
Educators with diverse student populations
ELL Teachers
School Administrators
Student support and engagement staff (e.g. school nurses, guidance counselors, athletic coaches)
Education Policy Leaders
Professionals who interact with individuals and groups of people with very different cultural backgrounds
Those who travel to various countries building business relationships
Human Resources, Talent Management and Recruiting Professionals
Session Content:
Define and understand culture and how it affects student learning
Explore the “other” and the value of varied perspectives in your school community
Identify the challenges and opportunities of a culturally diverse classroom environment
Explore cultural dimensions in selected case study cultures
Develop skills to communicate cross-culturally with students and parents
Learn how to leverage the global landscape of your classroom and school community
Sponsored By:
In Partnership With:

Global Changemakers: International Women's Day Celebration
2018-04-02 17:00 - 19:15 (America/Halifax) | University of Saint Joseph, Crystal Room, 1678 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, CT, 06117, United States
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
On April 2, we celebrate global changemakers – women pressing for progress at the edge of today’s most prominent global movements.
Featuring a panel of distinguished women:
Bayartsetseg Jigmiddash has held senior government positions in the justice sector and has been at the forefront of Mongolia’s far-reaching reform initiatives. Currently, she is CEO and Founding Director of Veritas Consulting. From 2012 to 2016, Jigmiddash served as Secretary of State of the Ministry of Justice of Mongolia, becoming the first woman appointed in this position. Under her leadership, the legal policy on gender-based violence has been significantly improved, including criminalization of domestic violence. Prior to this top civil service post, she served as legal advisor to the president of Mongolia, and has been involved in the judicial reform as well as abolishment of death penalty in Mongolia. She has extensive civil society experience and pioneered an array of initiatives to promote human rights and access to justice.
Stephenie Foster is a Partner in Smash Strategies and a former Senior Advisor and Counselor to the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues at the U.S Department of State. As a member of the leadership team, she coordinated, managed and implemented a wide range of policies and programs, including the women, peace and security initiative, women’s political participation and women’s economic empowerment. At the State Department, Ms. Foster represented the United States in various multilateral and bilateral forums. She served at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, focusing on women and civil society, travelling extensively throughout the country to work with individuals and organizations advancing the role of women in Afghan society. Ms. Foster served as Chief of Staff to two United States Senators, Barbara Mikulski and Christopher Dodd.
Josepha M. N. Musabyemariya is the United States Rwandan Community Abroad (USRCA) Commissioner for Gender and Social Affairs. She also is President of Rwandan Community Abroad (RCA) in Maryland, District of Columbia and Virginia (DMV). She has more than 25 years of experience in handling special projects and initiatives designed to positively impact lives of people in her home country of Rwanda, the communities in and outside DMV and around the globe. She works for the African Union in the U.S. In this office, she was among the handful of individuals charged with setting up the African Union office in Washington DC which was just prior to the arrival and assumption of duties of the first Permanent Representative in 2006. Josepha’s passion lies in dealing with all issues concerning gender and women empowerment.
5:00pm | Reception
6:00pm | Event followed by opportunity for audience Q&A
Sponsored By:
Presented By:
In Partnership With

Global Connections Reception with the Ambassador of Hungary
2018-03-22 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Halifax) | CT Public Broadcasting, Lobby, 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT, 06105, US
Join CERC (Connecticut Economic Resource Center), the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, and the MetroHartford Alliance in hosting His Excellency Dr. László Szabó, Ambassador of Hungary to the United States for a Global Connections Reception, exploring the strength of the Hungary-U.S. strategic relationship and the critical economic impact in Connecticut.
Ambassador Dr. László Szabó was appointed Ambassador of Hungary to the United States in July 2017. Ambassador Dr. László Szabó previously served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2014-2017.
Light refreshments will be served.
A partnership of

CT Export Week: Meet the Market Peru, Infrastructure, Mining, and Construction
2018-03-22 12:00 - 14:30 UTC | Shipman and Goodwin, 1 Constitution Plz, Hartford, CT, 06103
Please join the U.S. Department of Commerce, Connecticut District Export Council, Peru Consul General, Peru Attaché, and D.O.C Peru for, “Meet the Market Peru, Infrastructure, Mining, and Construction.”
This is a free event. Register Here.
For more information contact: Anne.Evans@trade.gov
