Virtual Model UN: Refugee Crisis
2020-04-23 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
April 23rd – The Refugee Crisis
This 90-minute simulations, hosted via Zoom, put you in the middle of the action debating some of today’s most pressing global issues.
Global conflict has displaced over 65 million people. How will you ensure the safety of the refugee population, while sharing the responsibility to care for the vulnerable?
REGISTER HERE
Register by Tuesday, April 21st

Who can participate?
These virtual simulations are for high-school student delegates only. Previous Model UN experience preferred. If you have any questions about participation, contact Nicole Struth, Education Director, at: nstruth@ctwac.org
What is Virtual Model UN?
As a delegate, you will represent a country of your choice and work with your peers from around the state to find a resolution to critical global concerns.
How does it work?
These virtual face to face simulations will take place at 3:00 pm. Information regarding country selections, resolutions, and online debate procedure will be sent to you upon registration.

COVID-19 Crisis: Iran’s Pathway to the Bomb with Dr. Trita Parsi
2020-04-22 12:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom Webinar
With tensions between Iran and the U.S. at a boiling point, and continual escalation on the horizon, will COVID-19 push Iran closer to the bomb?
We talk with Dr. Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute (Qi), award-winning author and the 2010 recipient of the Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order. Moderated by CEO Megan Clark Torrey.
Registration is free and required.
REGISTER HERE

CT National Guard Coronavirus Response
2020-04-17 12:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
From transforming the Convention Center to setting up field hospitals to delivering PPE to medical providers, the CT National Guard has taken a major role in COVID-19 response.
We talk with Major General Francis J. Evon, Jr., Adjutant General, CT National Guard, on the response of the CT National Guard and U.S. National Guard during this crisis. Moderated by CEO Megan Torrey.
REGISTER HERE

Virtual Model UN: Global Pandemic Response
2020-04-16 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
April 16th – Coordinated International Response to Pandemics
This 90-minute simulations, hosted via Zoom, put you in the middle of the action debating some of today’s most pressing global issues.
It’s all hands on deck to combat the newest global health crisis. How will your country work with the International Community to stop the spread?
REGISTER HERE
Register by Tuesday, April 14th

Who can participate?
These virtual simulations are for high-school student delegates only. Previous Model UN experience preferred. If you have any questions about participation, contact Nicole Struth, Education Director, at: nstruth@ctwac.org
What is Virtual Model UN?
As a delegate, you will represent a country of your choice and work with your peers from around the state to find a resolution to critical global concerns.
How does it work?
These virtual face to face simulations will take place at 3:00 pm. Information regarding country selections, resolutions, and online debate procedure will be sent to you upon registration.

Why We Need the Global Health Security Agenda
2020-04-15 12:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom Webinar
In February of 2014, the U.S. and international partners launched the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) with the goal of building global capacity to respond to infectious disease threats. Over 30 countries, along with international organizations including the World Health Organization, joined.
So what happened?
We talk with Ambassador (ret.) Bonnie Jenkins, a leading U.S. official in the launch and implementation of the GHSA, current nonresident senior fellow at Brookings, founder and president of the Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation (WCAPS), and president of Global Connections Empowering Global Change LLC. Moderated by CEO Megan Torrey.

REGISTER HERE

US vs. China: Competition for Credibility and a Cure
2020-04-08 12:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
The contentious U.S.-China relationship has just found a new battleground: the coronavirus. Bring your lunch and your questions and join Richard Fontaine, CEO, Center for a New American Security (CNAS), to discuss what the coronavirus means for U.S.-China cooperation, competition, and the power struggle for global leadership. Moderated by CEO, Megan Torrey.
This discussion is FREE. Registration required.
Register Here

Syria, Iraq, and the U.S.: What's Next?
2020-04-01 18:00 - 19:15 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Free Event! Spots limited. Click here to RSVP.

Free Event! Spots limited. Click here to RSVP.

Featuring Robert S. Ford, Ambassador (Ret.)
Ambassador Robert Ford is a scholar at the Middle East Institute in Washington, DC and a fellow Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs where he teaches about U.S. foreign policy and the Middle East.
Ford was the U.S. Ambassador to Syria from 2011 to 2014. For his defense of human rights in Syria he received the Profile in Courage award from the John F Kennedy Library in Boston in 2015. Ford also served as the Political Affairs Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad 2004-2006 where he helped American efforts to facilitate establishment of a new, permanent Iraqi government. He was Deputy Ambassador at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad 2008 – 2010 where he led a team that prepared the plans for the longer-term U.S. diplomatic presence in Iraq used by the Obama administration. He was the U.S. Ambassador in Algeria 2006 – 2008 where he strengthened bilateral cooperation in the rule of law and education sectors. He also served in Bahrain, Cameroon, Egypt, Turkey and Washington. Before joining the diplomatic service he was a volunteer teacher with the Peace Corps in Morocco 1980 – 1982.
Ford speaks English, Arabic and French and appears regularly in US, European and Arabic media. He has published articles in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Foreign Affairs among others and has given guest lectures at Harvard, Princeton, MIT, UCLA, Tufts, Johns Hopkins and other schools in the U.S. and Canada. Ford was featured in the book The Ambassadors: America’s Diplomats on the Front Lines, by Paul Richter, recently released in late 2019.

Emma Sky, Yale University
Emma Sky is director of Yale’s Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellows Program and a Senior Fellow at the Jackson Institute, where she teaches Middle East politics. She is the author of the highly acclaimed The Unravelling: High Hopes and Missed Opportunities in Iraq (2015) and In a Time of Monsters: Travelling in a Middle East in Revolt (2019).
Sky served as advisor to the Commanding General of US Forces in Iraq from 2007-2010; as advisor to the Commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in 2006; as advisor to the US Security Co-ordinator for the Middle East Peace Process in 2005; and as Governorate Co-ordinator of Kirkuk for the Coalition Provisional Authority, 2003-2004. Prior to that, Sky worked in the Palestinian territories for a decade, managing projects to develop Palestinian institutions; and to promote co-existence between Israelis and Palestinians. In addition, Emma has provided technical assistance on poverty elimination, human rights, justice public administration reform, security sector reform, and conflict resolution in the Middle East, South Asia and Africa.
Sky has published numerous articles including in The New York Times, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Politico, Atlantic, Slate, Survival, Center for a New American Security, US Institute of Peace, the Guardian, and the Journal of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies. Sky was educated at Oxford (UK), Alexandria (Egypt), Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel) and Liverpool (UK). Sky is an Officer of the British Empire.

Questions? Please contact Amanda Jolly, VP, Programs, at (860) 241-6118 or ajolly@ctwac.org.

U.S. Leadership in a Global Health Crisis
2020-03-31 12:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Bring your lunch and your questions and join Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy for an interactive discussion on the U.S. Coronavirus Stimulus Package, the ongoing worldwide health crisis, global leadership, and U.S. foreign policy priorities during this uncertain time. Moderated by Megan Torrey, CTWAC CEO.
This discussion is FREE. Registration required. Register through the link below.
Register Here

Global Security in a Pandemic
2020-03-25 12:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Bring your lunch and join us live to talk the national and global security implications of the coronavirus with David Sanger, National Security Correspondent, The New York Times: from the global competition to develop a vaccine to how this may impact our technology landscape.
This discussion is FREE. Registration required. Register through the link below.
Register Here

Global Changemakers: International Women's Day Celebration 2020
2020-03-03 17:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | University of Saint Joseph, 1678 Asylum Ave, 1678 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, CT, 06117, United States
Join women from around the world for the annual Global Changemaker discussion, co-sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut and the University of Saint Joseph Women’s Leadership Center.

This year’s event will feature a conversation with Her Excellency Dina Kawar, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the United States. Dina Kawar, who was one of the first women to work in Jordan’s Foreign Service, took over as her country’s ambassador to the United States on June 27, 2016. Join us to hear the Ambassador’s unique perspectives on the issues facing women across the globe.
This event is made possible by the generous support of The Hartford.

Disinformation, Propaganda, and Political Warfare
2020-03-02 18:00 - 19:15 (America/New_York) | TheaterWorks, 233 Pearl St, Hartford, CT, 06103, United States
Disinformation, Propaganda, and Political Warfare: What you need to understand in 2020
Propaganda and disinformation seem to be an increasing problem in our daily lives and in the security environment the United States faces today. Dr. Mark R. Jacobson, former Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense, will discuss what is old, what is new, and what we can do about it as a nation and as individuals. In partnership with TheaterWorks.
Reserve your tickets here.
When: March 2, 6:00pm — 7:15pm | Doors open at 5:30pm
Where: TheaterWorks Hartford
Tickets: $15 | General Admission | $10 | World Affairs Council Members and TheaterWorks subscribers
Dr. Mark R. Jacobson

Dr. Mark R. Jacobson has over twenty years of experience in the federal government, international organizations, and academia working on some of the most complex and politically sensitive national security issues facing the United States. He is a recognized expert on U.S. foreign policy and national security as well as the dynamics of international conflict and the use of military force and has served as a policymaker, diplomat, academic and member of the armed forces. Since November 2017 Jacobson has served as a senior policy advisor at Kasowitz Benson Torrres LLC where, as a part of the Government Affairs and Strategic Counsel group, he helps to advise on and resolve complex and politically sensitive issues for clients, as well as representing clients before the U.S. government.
As a public servant Jacobson most recently held appointments as a Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense and Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy. Previously he served in Kabul, Afghanistan as the Deputy NATO Representative and Director of International Affairs at the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and in these roles advised Generals David Petraeus and Stanley McChrystal on the international political dynamics of the mission. Earlier in his career Jacobson served at the Pentagon in multiple roles and was in his office on September 11, 2001 when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the wing where he worked. On Capitol Hill, Jacobson worked for Senator Carl Levin on the staff of the Senate Armed Services Committee where he participated in the inquiry into the treatment and interrogation of detainees in U.S. custody. A combat veteran, his military service includes time as both an Army and Navy reservist including mobilizations to Bosnia in 1996 and to Afghanistan in 2006.
In addition to his current role at Amherst College, Jacobson is a non-resident Senior Fellow at Salve Regina University’s Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy. He previously held roles as an Associate Teaching Professor at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, an adjunct at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, a Visiting Fellow at Ohio State’s Mershon Center, and a Senior Transatlantic Fellow at The German Marshall Fund of the United States. His current research interests include propaganda and political warfare during the Cold War, the intersection of military service and identity communities in the United States, and the foreign policy of the Carter Administration. Jacobson serves on the advisory board of the Lepage Center for History in the Public Interest at Villanova University, is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and devotes his time to organizations that help train and prepare the next generation of global leaders. He regularly appears on cable and broadcast television as well as radio networks as a commentator and subject matter expert. He is regularly quoted in major print and online publications and his commentary has appeared in major U.S. print publications.

Model United Nations 2019
2019-12-06 14:30 - 2019-12-07 14:00 (America/New_York) | University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Ave, West Hartford, CT, 06117, US
Are you ready for the CTWAC 2019 MUN Conference? Students from schools across Connecticut are already gearing up in preparation for our annual Model UN Conference in December. Check out some of the topics the delegates will be debating in their committees:

Biological Warfare
International Trade Relations
Human Trafficking
Plastic Pollution
Industry 4.0

Stay tuned as more committee topics are released! In the mean time, be sure to check out our 2018 Model United Nations video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MwT8Y_JA38

An Evening with Vicente Fox, former President of Mexico
2019-11-01 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Infinity Hall Hartford, 32 Front Street, Hartford, CT, 06103, US
Be in the room for an intimate conversation with Vicente Fox, President of Mexico (2000-2006). Join us for Mr. Fox’s candid perspective and analysis on some of today’s most contentious and impactful global issues as well as the current relationship between Mexico and the United States.

Stay tuned for more information and ticket pre-sale!

Global Security Forum 2019
2019-09-28 08:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Goodwin College, 1 Riverside DrRoom 311, East Hartford, CT, 06118, US
The Global Security Forum is New England’s premier regional security forum. In its third year, the Global Security Forum has convened some of the brightest minds and most influential leaders in global security. From cybersecurity to nuclear arms racing, these experts bring their on-the-ground leadership experience and unparalleled analysis to bear on some of the most pressing global issues of our time.
Stay tuned for more information and ticket pre-sale!

2019 Speaker Early Reveal:

Ambassador Roya Rahmani, Ambassador of Afghanistan to the U.S.
Ambassador Fareed Yaseen, Ambassador of Iraq to the U.S.
Lieutenant General Michael R. Moeller, U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, Brookings Institute, U.S. Dept. of State (2009-17)
Ambassador Christopher Hill, Amb. to Iraq, South Korea, Poland, Macedonia (2000-10)
Farah Pandith, Harvard Kennedy School, Future of Diplomacy Project
Brian Turner, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Luke Knittig, McCain Institute for International Leadership

The Schedule:
Friday, September 27 | Opening VIP Reception
Saturday, September 28 | Global Security Forum

Power Clash: China on the Rise
2019-05-22 18:00 - 19:15 (America/New_York) | Manufactory 4.0, 1 Constitution Plaza, Hartford, Connecticut, 06103
SOLD OUT
If you have any questions, please contact Amanda Jolly, Vice President, Programs and Communications at: ajolly@ctwac.org or call: (860) 241-6118.

You asked, we listened. After overwhelming requests to bring back our panelists from Global Security Forum 2018, we are bringing Dr. James Holmes and Dan Murphy back to Connecticut. Power Clash will explore increasing competition and rising tensions between the U.S. and China, and U.S. strategy in this battle for hegemony. If you missed out during Global Security Forum, you don’t want to miss this again.
Moderated by Scott Bates, Deputy Secretary of the State.
Tickets: Free for Members | $10 NonMembers
More information and register here.

Featuring:
James Holmes, Ph.D.
J. C. Wylie Chair of Maritime Strategy at the U.S. Naval War College
James Holmes holds the J. C. Wylie Chair of Maritime Strategy at the Naval War College and served on the faculty of the University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs. A former U.S. Navy surface-warfare officer, he was the last gunnery officer in history to fire a battleship’s big guns in anger, during the first Gulf War in 1991. He earned the Naval War College Foundation Award in 1994, signifying the top graduate in his class. His books include Red Star over the Pacific, an Atlantic Monthly Best Book of 2010 and a fixture on the Navy Professional Reading List. General James Mattis deems him “troublesome.”
Dan Murphy
Executive Director of the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies and the Harvard China Fund
Before coming to Harvard Dan served as the inaugural program director for Yale Center Beijing. In that role, he worked in partnership with deans, faculty, and key contacts in China to produce programming at Yale’s facility in Beijing. From 2008-14 Dan was at the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, finishing as director of special initiatives. At the National Committee, he grew the Public Intellectuals Program, which connects America’s next generation of leading China scholars with policymakers and the media. He also led delegations of senior American Congressional staff on study visits to China, directed a range of other programming, and led successful grant initiatives that were funded by the State Department and private foundations.
Dan is a member of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, serves on the advisory board of SupChina, and is an ex officio member of the executive committee of the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies. He speaks fluent Mandarin.

Deputy Secretary of the State Scott D. Bates
Scott Bates has served in leadership roles at the state, national and international levels in policy development and government for over twenty five years.
After September 11th, Bates became the first Senior Policy Advisor to the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee and led a team that produced a dozen reports on homeland security issues ranging from border security to bioterrorism. He then served as President of the Center for National Policy, a Washington DC think tank focusing on topics of national security. Bates has also taught at the National Defense University in Washington D.C, University of Indiana School of Law, the University of Tokyo, and the University of Pristina.
Scott Bates has been on the ground in every war zone where American troops have fought in this generation. He has worked with elected leaders and activists alike to build democratic institutions and governance structures in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia, Haiti and the Persian Gulf. He has been a featured speaker on defense issues and international affairs at numerous national and international conferences.
Bates served as Chief of Staff for Congressman Nick Lampson, Counsel to Congressman Jim Turner, and Senior Advisor to Congressman Maurice Hinchey. He was appointed Secretary of the State and Legislative Director for Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder and is credited for the state’s ethics reforms and an unprecedented expansion in appointments of women and minorities to state boards and commissions.
He holds a JD from the University Of Virginia School Of Law, a MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics and graduated magna cum laude in History and Political Science from the University of Dayton. The Bates family lives in Stonington, and are actively involved in their community.

Luminary Award 2019
2019-05-09 17:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Hartford Marriott Downtown, 200 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT, 06103, United States
2019 Luminary Award Recipient
The World Affairs Council is thrilled to announce Stanley Black & Decker will receive the 2019 Luminary Award. We are proud to honor Stanley Black & Decker, a global leader anchored in Connecticut. Stanley Black & Decker provides the ideas and tools for those who make the world™.
Sponsorship Opportunities Available
Click here for details: Sponsorship Opportunities

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
2018 – Yale Cancer Center

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.

Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor: A Conversation with Yossi Klein Halevi and Ghaith Al-Omari
2019-03-25 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | UConn Storrs Campus, Konover Auditorium at Dodd Research Center, 405 Babbidge Road, Storrs, Connecticut
Monday, March 25 | 7 to 9 p.m.
UConn Storrs Campus | Konover Auditorium at Dodd Research Center
The Thomas J. Dodd Research Center is located at 405 Babbidge Road.
Paid parking is available in the South Garage at 505 Jim Calhoun Way.
Join us for a fascinating and important conversation about the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians with bestselling Israeli author and journalist Yossi Klein Halevi and former Palestinian Authority advisor Ghaith Al-Omari.
Free and open to the public
RSVP by Monday, March 18
Visit bit.ly/Letters325 or call 860.486.5131
Yossi Klein Halevi is the author most recently of Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor, a heartfelt plea for peace and new dialogue based on common ground in faith, a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and a frequent contributor to the New York Times, Wall Street
Journal, The Times of Israel and many more.
Ghaith Al-Omari is a senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Mideast Policy and nonresident fellow at the American Task Force on Palestine who served as a high-level advisor in the Palestinian Authority.
Daniel Weiner, Vice President for Global Affairs and Professor of Geography at the University of Connecticut, will moderate the conversation, which will include a Q&A.

Sponsored By

Friendship Across Difference: A Conversation with Yossi Klein Halevi and Parvez Ahmed
2019-03-24 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | West Hartford Town Hall, 50 S Main St, West Hartford, CT, 06107
SUNDAY, MARCH 24 | 7 TO 9 P.M.
West Hartford Conference Center at Town Hall
50 South Main Street | West Hartford
Validated parking is available in the Town Hall lot.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
RSVP by Monday, March 18 at bit.ly/Friendship324
Or call 860.727.6103
What issues and forces divide the American Jewish and Muslim communities, including challenges in the Middle East? What could unite them? Join us for an important dialogue with bestselling Israeli author and journalist Yossi Klein Halevi and Muslim American commentator Parvez Ahmed, Ph.D.

Yossi Klein Halevi is the author most recently of Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor, a heartfelt plea for peace and new dialogue based on common ground in faith, a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and a frequent contributor to the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Times of Israel and many more.
Dr. Parvez Ahmed is a Professor of Finance at the University of North Florida, a Fulbright Scholar, and a former fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Muslim Leadership Initiative. He contributes regularly to Huffington Post and has been published in the Miami Herald, The Times of Israel and many other papers.
Megan Clark Torrey, Chief Executive Officer of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, will moderate the conversation, which will include a Q&A.

Sponsored By

Diplomat Reception 2019
2019-03-19 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main Street, Hartford, CT, 06103, United States
Over 20 nations will be represented. Be in the room for Connecticut’s premier global event.
Join us on the red carpet to welcome diplomats from around the world to our state. Network, make exclusive business contacts, and meet a new global connection at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.
Enjoy food and drink while mingling with the diplomats from the greater Connecticut region.

Featuring:
Bangladesh
Consul General Sadia Faizunnesa, Consul General of Bangladesh in New York
Brazil
Ambassador Fernando Barreto, Consul General of Brazil in Hartford
Canada
Title TBA
China
Deputy Consul General Dr. Yumin Zhao, Deputy Consul General of China in New York
Germany
Honorary Consul Janet Danisman, Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany
Ghana
Consul General Samuel Amoako, Consul General of the Republic of Ghana in New York
Hungary
Honorary Consul Christopher Ball, Honorary Consul of Hungary in Connecticut
India
Mr. Devi Prasad Misra, Consul (Trade, Commerce & Education) in New York
Japan
Honorary Consul General Gregory Boyko, Honorary Consul General of Japan in Connecticut
Kazakhstan
Consul General Zhanibek Abdrashov, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in New York
Mexico
Acting Consul General Vivian Juárez Mondragón, Acting Consul General of Mexico in New York
Nepal
Consul General Pushpa Raj Bhattarai, Consul General of Nepal in New York
Nigeria
Consul General Benaoyagha B. M. Okoyen, Consul General of Nigeria in New York
Pakistan
Consul General Naeem Cheema, Acting Consul General of Pakistan in New York
Peru
Consul General Eduardo Gonzalez, Consul General of Peru in Hartford
Deputy Consul General Maria Arce
Poland
Honorary Consul Darek Barcikowski, Honorary Consul of Poland in Connecticut
Qatar
Consul General Nasser Ibrahim Allenqawi, Consul General of Qatar in New York
Romania
Honorary Consul Dana Bucin, Honorary Consul of Romania in Connecticut
Russia
Head of Division Oleg A. Melnik, Trade Representation of the Russian Federation in the USA
Rwanda
Mr. Kagenza Rumongi, Communications Expert at the Permanent Mission of Rwanda in New York
Turkey
Consul General Ceylan Özen Erişen, Consul General of Turkey in Boston
United Arab Emirates
Consul General Majid Al-Suwaidi, Consul General of the United Arab Emirates in New York
United Kingdom
Vice Consul Joy Kinnear, Trade & Investment Officer at the Department for International Trade of the UK in Boston
*with additional guests as confirmed

Sponsorsed By

Sponsorship Opportunities Available
To discuss Sponsorship Opportunites, please contact CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org

Venezuela: An International Standoff
2019-03-14 18:00 - 19:15 (America/New_York) | Connecticut Learning Lab, 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT, 06105, United States
Space Limited!
If tickets are sold out, please contact Amanda Jolly, Program Director, at ajolly@ctwac.org or (860) 241-6118 to be added to the wait-list.
Recently Venezuela has dominated the headlines and the international stage. Countries are choosing sides, protests are raging, humanitarian health crises are piling up, and there is no definitive end in sight. Join us and Dr. Alejandro Velasco, a professor and historian of modern Latin America at NYU Gallatin, as we explore what happened in Venezuela and what the future holds for the South American country.

Featuring:

Alejandro Velasco is a historian of modern Latin America whose research and teaching interests are in the areas of social movements, urban culture and democratization. His book, Barrio Rising: Urban Popular Politics and the Making of Modern Venezuela (University of California Press, 2015), couples archival and ethnographic research to examine how residents of Venezuela’s largest public housing community pursued full citizenship during the heyday of Latin America’s once-model democracy.
Before joining the Gallatin faculty, Professor Velasco taught at Hampshire College, where he was a Five College Fellow, and at Duke University. His teaching record includes interdisciplinary courses on contemporary Latin America, including seminars on human rights, cultural studies, and urban social movements; historical methods courses on 20th-century revolutions; graduate history courses on urban political history and workshops with primary and secondary school educators. Professor Velasco’s research has won major funding support from the Social Science Research Council, the American Historical Association, the Ford Foundation, and the Mellon Foundation, among others, and he has presented widely at both national and international conferences and symposia.

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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>Hors d’oeuvres and light bites will be served.
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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.
