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SUMMARY:What Happens if Democracy Fails? With Asha Rangappa
DESCRIPTION:Around the world – and here at home – democracy is under pressure. \nWhat does the rise of authoritarianism actually look like? How do democratic systems erode? And are we seeing those warning signs now? \nJoin us in conversation with Asha Rangappa\, Senior Lecturer at Yale and former FBI special agent. Asha spent years investigating threats to U.S. democracy from the inside. Now\, she’s helping the public understand what’s at stake. \nOpens with a reception featuring light bites and refreshments. \nThe Details \nTuesday\, April 21 | 5:30pm – 7:00pm\n5:30pm Reception | 6pm Discussion\nStudio A\, World Affairs Council | 1049 Asylum Ave\, Hartford\nTickets: $28 General Admission | $18 Member Admission | No Charge for Students \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nWith Special Guest\n \nAsha Rangappa is a Senior Lecturer at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs and a former Associate Dean at Yale Law School. \nPrior to her current position\, Asha served as a Special Agent in the New York Division of the FBI\, specializing in counterintelligence investigations.  Her work involved assessing threats to national security\, conducting classified investigations on suspected foreign agents and performing undercover work.  While in the FBI\, Asha gained experience in electronic surveillance\, interview and interrogation techniques\, firearms and the use of deadly force. She has taught National Security Law and related courses at Yale University\, Wesleyan University\, and University of New Haven. \nAsha graduated cum laude from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study constitutional reform in Bogotá\, Colombia.  She received her law degree from Yale Law School and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Juan R. Torruella on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in San Juan\, Puerto Rico. She is admitted to the State Bar of New York (2003) and Connecticut (2003). \nAsha has published op-eds in The New York Times\, The Wall Street Journal\, and The Washington Post among others\, and has been a legal and national security analyst for CNN\, as well as appearing on NPR\, BBC\, and several other major television networks. She is currently a legal contributor for ABC News\, an editor for Just Security\, and a contributor for former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s legal newsletter\, CAFE Insider. Asha is a life member of the Council of Foreign Relations\, a fellow with the International Career Advancement Program (ICAP)\, and a security fellow with the Truman National Security Project. \nAsha lives in Hamden\, Connecticut with her two children. \n\nJoin the Community\nWith continuous breaking global news\, Council membership allows you to understand it all. Members gain lower-cost and exclusive access to discussions with foreign and local leaders\, events with experts and opposing views\, and – most essentially – a community of engaged people like yourself. \nBecome a member or renew today. \n\nMission Partners\n\nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/democracy-with-asha-rangappa/
LOCATION:World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, 1049 Asylum Ave\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260420T200000
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SUMMARY:The Iran War: What We Know\, What Comes Next | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:With the U.S. and Iran now in open conflict and the world’s energy supply under threat\, the stakes could not be higher – or more uncertain. \nJoin us on WorldNow with Jim Falk as we sit down with Steven Cook\, senior Middle East expert at the Council on Foreign Relations; Amb. Deborah Jones\, U.S. Ambassador (ret.) to Kuwait and Libya; and Beth Sanner\, CNN National Security Contributor and former Deputy Director of National Intelligence. \nWe’ll explore what’s happened so far in the conflict with Iran\, what may happen next\, and the war’s long-term impact on the region and beyond. \nThe details:\nWhen: Monday\, April 20 | 8:00pm-9:00pm EDT / 7pm CDT\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: Registration Required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \nAs this program will be simulcast with KSFR’s The Forum\, it will begin one hour later than our usual start time. The Zoom link will open at 8:00 PM EDT\, and the program will get underway at 8:04 PM EDT. \n\nFeaturing\n \nSteven A. Cook \nSenior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies\, Council on Foreign Relations \nSteven Cook is Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies and director of the International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). He is an expert on Arab and Turkish politics as well as U.S.-Middle East policy. Cook is the author of The End of Ambition: America’s Past\, Present\, and Future in the Middle East.  \n\nAmb. Deborah Jones\nU.S. Ambassador (ret.) to Kuwait and Libya \nAmbassador Deborah Jones retired from the U.S. Department of State in 2016 with the rank of Career Minister following a 34-year diplomatic career that included assignments in Argentina\, Iraq\, Tunisia\, Syria\, Ethiopia\, the United Arab Emirates\, and Turkey\, as well as service as U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait and Libya. \n\n \nBeth Sanner\nDeputy Director of National Intelligence (2019-2021)\, National Security Contributor for CNN \nBeth Sanner\, a leading commentator and analyst of global affairs\, is a national security contributor for CNN\, director of geopolitics and strategy at International Capital Strategies. As Deputy Director of National Intelligence from April 2019 to March 2021\, Beth was the nation’s top intelligence analyst and also served as President Trump’s intelligence briefer during his first term. \nIn an intelligence career spanning three decades\, she was director of the President’s Daily Brief\, vice chair of the National Intelligence Council\, and a senior executive in CIA’s Directorate of Analysis\, before being appointed DDNI. She also served on the White House National Security Council staff and at the State Department. \nIn 2021\, Beth received the Presidential Rank Award\, the highest honor granted to civil servants\, for her leadership role in support of U.S. national security and the Distinguished Intelligence Service Medal\, the Intelligence Community’s highest award. \n\nModerated by\n\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n\nPresented by\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and the World Affairs Councils of America. Presented in partnership with Councils nationwide: \n \n\nMission Partners\n\nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. Council members gain exclusive\, lower-cost access to global events and travel opportunities\, while engaging with top international leaders. Join our community of global citizens and let us bring the world to you. \n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/the-iran-war-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260413T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260413T193000
DTSTAMP:20260424T120257
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SUMMARY:Second Monday with CTWAC | April 2026
DESCRIPTION:Join fellow World Affairs Council members and friends in conversation over dinner on the issues impacting our world. Connect and engage with others\, share your thoughts\, and explore how we can secure our global future. \n\n\n\nTopic: When Inequality Becomes Instability\n\n\nEconomic pressure is rising worldwide – and so is political tension. From protests to polarization\, the effects are becoming harder to ignore.\nWhen does economic inequality start to destabilize societies? Are governments getting ahead of the problem\, or falling behind it? And how might these pressures reshape global politics in the years ahead?\nThis is a no-homework event\, but supplemental readings will be provided to attendees\n\n\n\nThe Details: \nWhen: Monday\, April 13th | 6-7:30PM\nWhere: McCarter & English\, LLP\, Stamford\, CT\nTickets: $20 Members\, $30 Non-members | Registration required\nSpace is limited \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nUpcoming Second Mondays:\nApril 13th - When Inequality Becomes Instability\nMay 11th - *Topic TBA\n*Topics will be announced 1 week prior to events. \n\nPast Second Mondays:\nMarch 9th - The Iran Question\nFebruary 9th - Is 'The West' Over?\nJanuary 12th - What Just Happened in Venezuela? \n2025\nDecember 8th - Global Inequality & its Impacts on Societal Stability\nNovember 10th - Nuclear Deterrence in the Age of Drones\nOctober 13th - A New Era of U.S. Foreign Policy\nSeptember 15th - Counterterrorism or Extra-Legal Killings: When Do Strikes on Non-State Targets Cross the Line?\nJune 9th - What's at stake in the India-Pakistan conflict?\nMay 12th - So many elections - what do they all mean?\nApril 28th (Special Edition) – Sudan’s Civil War & Sub-Saharan Africa after USAID\nApril 14th - The Future of Immigration Policy\nMarch 10th - NATO's Uncertain Future\nFebruary 10th – The End of USAID?\nJanuary 13th – Greenland\, the Panama Canal\, and The Future of Immigration Policy \n2024\nDecember 9th – A Rebalancing in the Middle East and the Taiwan Question\nNovember 12th – Foreign Policy in a New Administration\nOctober 14th – The World After the U.S. Election\nSeptember 30th – Worldwide Efforts to Battle - or Embrace - Disinformation\nJuly 15th – The Climate Crisis & Global Instability\nJune 10th – Potential Flash Points - How is the U.S. positioned and what happens next?\nMay 20th – Democratic Systems at a Crossroad\nApril 8th – War in Gaza: How did we get here?\nMarch 11th – Western Consensus on Ukraine: What’s Next? \n\nMission Partners\n\nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/second-monday-with-ctwac-april-2026/
LOCATION:McCarter & English\, Two Stamford Plaza\, 281 Tresser Blvd\, 11th Floor\, Stamford\, CT\, 06901\, United States
CATEGORIES:Fairfield County
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260407T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260407T193000
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SUMMARY:The Best & Worst: 250 Years of American Foreign Policy with James Lindsay
DESCRIPTION:For 250 years\, U.S. foreign policy decisions have shaped the course of history—often debated not only in government halls but in the taverns\, inns\, and meeting places where early Americans gathered to exchange ideas. From the Marshall Plan to the Louisiana Purchase\, these decisions helped define the nation’s role in the world. \nOn April 7\, join Dr. James M. Lindsay\, Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations\, as he unveils his definitive rankings of the best and worst U.S. foreign policy decisions over the past 250 years. \nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut and the Fairfield Museum invite you to join in this exclusive\, thought-provoking conversation you won’t want to miss. This event is sure to sell out fast – RSVP today to secure your seat. \nDetails\nTuesday\, April 7\, 2026 | 6:00pm – 7:30pm\nFairfield Museum & History Center\, 370 Beach Rd\, Fairfield\, CT 06824\nTickets: $10 Members\, $15 Non-Members\nSpace is limited and tickets are first-come-first-serve. \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nWith Special Guest\n \nJames M. Lindsay is the Mary and David Boies distinguished senior fellow in U.S. foreign policy at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). From 2009 to 2024\, he was senior vice president\, director of studies\, and Maurice R. Greenberg chair at CFR\, where he oversaw the Council’s in-house think tank\, the David Rockefeller Studies Program. His scholarly work examines U.S. national security policy\, the U.S. foreign policymaking process\, and the domestic politics of U.S. foreign policy. \nHe has written and edited more than a dozen books on American politics and foreign policy. His book with Ivo H. Daalder\, America Unbound: The Bush Revolution in Foreign Policy\, was awarded the 2003 Lionel Gelber Prize. \nDr. Lindsay was a senior fellow in foreign policy studies at the Brookings Institution from 1999 to 2003 and taught at the University of Iowa (1987-1999) and the University of Texas (2003-2006). In 1996–97\, he served as director for global issues and multilateral affairs on the staff of the National Security Council at the White House. He hosts the weekly podcast The President’s Inbox. \n\n \n\nJoin the Community\nWith continuous breaking global news\, Council membership allows you to understand it all. Members gain lower-cost and exclusive access to discussions with foreign and local leaders\, events with experts and opposing views\, and – most essentially – a community of engaged people like yourself. \nBecome a member or renew today. \n\nMission Partners\n\nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/250-years-american-foreign-policy-fairfield-museum/
LOCATION:Fairfield Museum & History Center\, 370 Beach Road\, Fairfield\, 06824\, United States
CATEGORIES:Fairfield County
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260331T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260331T200000
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SUMMARY:The Best & Worst: 250 Years of U.S. Foreign Policy with CFR’s James Lindsay | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:From the Marshall Plan\, the Louisiana Purchase\, and the creation of the United Nations to the bombing of Nagasaki\, Indian Removal Act\, and the invasion of Iraq\, U.S. foreign policy decisions throughout its 250-year history have had an immense impact in reshaping our nation and the world. \nJames Lindsay\, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations\, unveils the ultimate rankings of the best and worst decisions in U.S. foreign policy in 250 years. Join us March 31 on WorldNow with Jim Falk as we explore these foreign policy moves\, their impact on the U.S. and the world\, and the future of U.S. foreign policy in the century ahead. \nThe details:\nWhen: Tuesday\, March 31 | 7:00pm-8:00pm Eastern / 6pm Central\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Guest\n \nJames M. Lindsay is the Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy and Director of Fellowship Affairs at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). A leading expert on U.S. national security and foreign policy\, Lindsay has held senior roles at CFR and previously served on the National Security Council. \nHe is the author of several acclaimed books\, including The Empty Throne and America Unbound\, and hosts the podcast The President’s Inbox. He holds advanced degrees from Yale University and has taught at the University of Texas and the University of Iowa. \n\nMeet the Host\n\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n\nPresented by\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and the World Affairs Councils of America. Presented in partnership with Councils nationwide: \n \n\nMission Partners\n\nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. Council members gain exclusive\, lower-cost access to global events and travel opportunities\, while engaging with top international leaders. Join our community of global citizens and let us bring the world to you. \n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/250-years-of-us-foreign-policy-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260320T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260320T110000
DTSTAMP:20260424T120257
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SUMMARY:Travel the World with World Affairs
DESCRIPTION:Ready to plan your next adventure? Join fellow explorers\, globally curious friends\, and Council members for an engaging morning of conversation\, connection\, and inspiration. \nWe are delighted to welcome Andrew Haught\, Director of Travel at the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia\, who will share insider insights on upcoming international journeys designed to bring global learning and cultural immersion to life. \nWhether you’re a seasoned traveler or just dreaming about your next destination\, this is your opportunity to: \n\nConnect with fellow travelers and globally minded peers\nShare stories and inspiration from past adventures\nDiscover exclusive upcoming travel opportunities through the World Affairs network\nBegin planning your next unforgettable journey\n\nJoin us to enjoy coffee and light bites\, ignite your curiosity\, and discover where in the world you’ll go next. \nThe Details\nWhen: Friday\, March 20 | 10am – 11am\nWhere: World Affairs Council Office\, 1049 Asylum Ave\, Hartford\, CT\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP Required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\nFree Parking on site | Refreshments and light bites \n\nMission Partners\n \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities - or learn more on our website. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/travel-the-world-with-world-affairs/
LOCATION:World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, 1049 Asylum Ave\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T200000
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SUMMARY:An Evening with Rick Steves Presented by Bradley International Airport
DESCRIPTION:Join the World Affairs Council of Connecticut to welcome Rick Steves – America’s favorite travel guide – for a special one-night event in Hartford. Presented by Bradley International Airport\, where your next journey to Ireland\, UK\, and Europe begins. RSVP Today.\nFor decades\, Rick Steves has helped Americans discover the world through his iconic travel guidebooks\, TV shows\, and advocacy for travel as a bridge to global understanding. \nThis spring at the Council\, hear from America’s most trusted travel expert and beloved host of Rick Steves Europe as he shares his personal journey\, memorable travel stories\, and why he believes in travel as a political act. \nCome early for the World Affairs Council Travel Expo & Reception\, where you’ll explore exciting travel opportunities from Connecticut to destinations around the globe. Meet expert travel advisors\, uncover exclusive offers\, and spark ideas for your next great adventure. \nThursday\, March 19 | 5-8pm | Goodwin University\, Hartford\, CT \n5pm | World Affairs Council Travel Expo\n6pm | Presentation by Rick Steves\n7:30pm | Book Sale & Signing \nTickets: $55 General Admission | $45 Member Admission \nPlease note: All ticket sales are final and non-refundable. Thank you for understanding.\n Get Tickets  \n\n\n \n\nUnlock special member pricing for this event by becoming a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut today. \nNot a member? Join here or select the membership add-on during checkout. Reach out to Abby Noyes at noyesa[@]ctwac.org with any questions. \n\nAbout Rick\n \nRick Steves is a popular public television host\, a best-selling guidebook author\, and an outspoken activist who encourages Americans to broaden their perspectives through travel. He is the founder and owner of Rick Steves' Europe\, a travel business with a small-group tour program that brings more than 30\,000 people to Europe annually. Rick lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds\, Washington\, where his office window overlooks his old junior high school. \nLearn more about Rick and explore all his works at ricksteves.com. \n  \n\nSponsored By\n \n  \n  \n  \n \n  \n\nJoin the Community\nWith continuous breaking global news\, Council membership allows you to understand it all. Members gain lower-cost and exclusive access to discussions with foreign and local leaders\, events with experts and opposing views\, and – most essentially – a community of engaged people like yourself. \nBecome a member or renew today. \n\nMission Partners\n \n\nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\nSe-Min Sohn\n  \n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/an-evening-with-rick-steves/
LOCATION:Goodwin University Auditorium\, 1 Riverside Drive\, East Hartford\, CT\, 06118
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260309T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260309T193000
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SUMMARY:Second Monday with CTWAC | March 2026
DESCRIPTION:Join fellow World Affairs Council members and friends in conversation over dinner on the issues impacting our world. Connect and engage with others\, share your thoughts\, and explore how we can secure our global future. \n\n\n\nTopic: The Iran Question\n\n\nThis weekend’s U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran – which killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior leaders – have shaken the region and plunged the world into uncertainty. Iran and its allies have retaliated with missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases and military sites across the region\, while the U.S. President weighs an extended war against Iran. Do these strikes open the door for regime change in Iran\, or is the Middle East now headed towards a wider war? What comes next for regional stability\, global oil markets\, and international security?\nThis is a no-homework event\, but supplemental readings will be provided to attendees\n\n\n\nThe Details: \nWhen: Monday\, March 9th | 6-7:30PM\nWhere: McCarter & English\, LLP\, Stamford\, CT\nTickets: $20 Members\, $30 Non-members | Registration required\nSpace is limited \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nUpcoming Second Mondays:\nMarch 9th - *Topic TBA\n*Topics will be announced 1 week prior to events. \n\nPast Second Mondays:\nFebruary 9th - Is 'The West' Over?\nJanuary 12th - What Just Happened in Venezuela? \n2025\nDecember 8th - Global Inequality & its Impacts on Societal Stability\nNovember 10th - Nuclear Deterrence in the Age of Drones\nOctober 13th - A New Era of U.S. Foreign Policy\nSeptember 15th - Counterterrorism or Extra-Legal Killings: When Do Strikes on Non-State Targets Cross the Line?\nJune 9th - What's at stake in the India-Pakistan conflict?\nMay 12th - So many elections - what do they all mean?\nApril 28th (Special Edition) – Sudan’s Civil War & Sub-Saharan Africa after USAID\nApril 14th - The Future of Immigration Policy\nMarch 10th - NATO's Uncertain Future\nFebruary 10th – The End of USAID?\nJanuary 13th – Greenland\, the Panama Canal\, and The Future of Immigration Policy \n2024\nDecember 9th – A Rebalancing in the Middle East and the Taiwan Question\nNovember 12th – Foreign Policy in a New Administration\nOctober 14th – The World After the U.S. Election\nSeptember 30th – Worldwide Efforts to Battle - or Embrace - Disinformation\nJuly 15th – The Climate Crisis & Global Instability\nJune 10th – Potential Flash Points - How is the U.S. positioned and what happens next?\nMay 20th – Democratic Systems at a Crossroad\nApril 8th – War in Gaza: How did we get here?\nMarch 11th – Western Consensus on Ukraine: What’s Next? \n\nMission Partners\n\nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/second-monday-with-ctwac-march-2026/
LOCATION:McCarter & English\, Two Stamford Plaza\, 281 Tresser Blvd\, 11th Floor\, Stamford\, CT\, 06901\, United States
CATEGORIES:Fairfield County
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END:VEVENT
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260305T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260305T124000
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SUMMARY:Women in Power: Ambassador Susan Page | International Women’s Day
DESCRIPTION:Women’s representation in global leadership has slowed and\, in some places\, backslid in recent years. We ask why this is occurring – and where women’s leadership is thriving – with Ambassador Susan Page. Ambassador Page was the first U.S. Ambassador to the newly independent South Sudan and served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. \nCelebrate International Women’s Day and explore where women are leading – from Ukraine to Mexico to Italy – where women leaders are facing increased challenges\, and what it means for the world when women are in power. \nThis celebration of International Women’s Day is part of an annual collaboration between the Women’s Leadership Center at the University of Saint Joseph and the World Affairs Council of Connecticut. \nThe Details\nWhen: Thursday\, March 5 | 12:00PM – 12:40PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, suggested $20 donation \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nFeaturing\n \nAmbassador Susan D. Page \nFormer U.S. Amb. to South Sudan; Director\, Weiser Diplomacy Center; Professor of Practice in International Diplomacy at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy\, and Professor from Practice at the University of Michigan's Law School \nAmbassador Susan D. Page\, a former diplomat\, joined the Ford School faculty and the Weiser Diplomacy Center in 2020 as a Professor of Practice in International Diplomacy. She also serves as a Professor from Practice at the Law School. Page has served the U.S. Department of State\, the U.S. Agency for International Development\, the United Nations\, and non-governmental organizations in senior roles for decades\, across East\, Central\, and Southern Africa\, and in Haiti and Nepal. \nPage was the first U.S. ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan and served as deputy assistant secretary of State for African Affairs\, covering Central and Southern Africa\, and Sudan; legal adviser to the IGAD-led peace process that resulted in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) for Sudan. Page also served as Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH). Among her many roles\, she was attorney-adviser for Politico-Military Affairs in the State Department’s Office of the Legal Adviser\, USAID regional legal advisor in Kenya and Botswana covering East and Southern Africa\, and political officer in Rwanda. \nPage earned a JD from Harvard Law School and an AB in English with high distinction from the University of Michigan. She was awarded a Rotary International Postgraduate Fellowship to Nepal where she conducted research on women’s and children’s rights. In addition\, she received certificates of merit and distinction from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland before attending law school. Ambassador Page is an elected member of the American Academy of Diplomacy\, a board member of Road Scholar\, and a member of the Association of Black American Ambassadors. \n\nPresented By\n \n\nJoin the Community\nWith continuous breaking global news\, Council membership allows you to understand it all. Members gain lower-cost and exclusive access to discussions with foreign and local leaders\, events with experts and opposing views\, and – most essentially – a community of engaged people like yourself. \nBecome a member or renew today. \n\nMission Partners\n \n\nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\nSe-Min Sohn\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/women-in-power-iwd-2026/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Women-in-Power.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260219T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260219T190000
DTSTAMP:20260424T120257
CREATED:20260205T203706Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260211T210240Z
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SUMMARY:Immigration\, Enforcement\, & Human Rights with Kica Matos
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a candid conversation with Kica Matos\, President of the National Immigration Law Center\, on the realities of U.S. immigration policy today – and how these decisions resonate far beyond our borders. \nFrom ICE enforcement practices and detention policy to ongoing legal challenges and federal reform efforts\, this timely program will examine how immigration policy is being shaped – and contested – in real time\, and what it means for communities\, the rule of law\, and our nation’s future. \nA partnership between the World Affairs Council of Connecticut and Hartford Public Library \nDetails\nWhen: Thursday\, February 19 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm\nDoors open 5:30pm\nWhere: Hartford Public Library’s Downtown Library\nCenter for Contemporary Culture\n500 Main Street\nTickets: No charge | RSVP Required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \nPlease consider making a small contribution to the World Affairs Council when registering in support of this program. \nIf you require special accommodations to take part in this program\, please call (860)874-2434 at least two weeks in advance. \n\nWith Special Guest\n \nKica Matos is the president of the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) and the Immigrant Justice Fund (IJF). She is also a Distinguished Practitioner at Yale University’s Brady Johnson Program in Grand Strategy. Kica joined NILC and IJF as executive vice president of programs and strategy in January 2023. Prior to this\, Kica was vice president of initiatives at the Vera Institute of Justice. She also served as the director of immigrant rights and racial justice at the Center for Community Change. She has extensive experience as an advocate\, community organizer\, and lawyer. \nKica has also headed up the U.S. Reconciliation and Human Rights Program at Atlantic Philanthropies. Before joining Atlantic Philanthropies\, she was deputy mayor in New Haven\, overseeing community programs and launching new initiatives\, including prisoner re-entry and youth and immigrant integration. Kica was previously the executive director of JUNTA\, New Haven’s oldest Latino advocacy organization. She also worked as an assistant federal defender for death-sentenced inmates and with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and Amnesty International on the death penalty and criminal justice issues. \nShe has a B.A. from Victoria University of Wellington\, New Zealand\, an M.A. from the New School\, and a J.D. from Cornell Law School. She was awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Albertus Magnus College in 2017 and the University of New Haven in 2019. She is a recipient of the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award\, and in 2021\, she was inducted into the CT Women’s Hall of Fame. \n\nIn partnership with\n \n\nJoin the Community\nWith continuous breaking global news\, Council membership allows you to understand it all. Members gain lower-cost and exclusive access to discussions with foreign and local leaders\, events with experts and opposing views\, and – most essentially – a community of engaged people like yourself. \nBecome a member or renew today. \n\nMission Partners\n\nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/immigration-enforcement-human-rights-with-kica-matos/
LOCATION:Hartford Public Library\, 500 Main St\,  Hartford\, CT
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260210T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260210T200000
DTSTAMP:20260424T120257
CREATED:20251219T210051Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260206T193612Z
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SUMMARY:The Great Firewall with Yi-Ling Liu | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:Thirty years ago\, the world began to discover the power of the Internet: a digital world and resource to connect\, share ideas\, learn\, and earn. While the rest of the world connected\, the Chinese government began creating a system of strict surveillance and censorship on its internet – now known as the Great Firewall. \nToday\, as the country’s leadership intensifies its control of public discourse and Western headlines reduce the Chinese public to a faceless monolith\, what is the true online and on-the ground reality for Chinese citizens? \nJoin us February 10th on WorldNow as author and journalist Yi-Ling Liu tells the untold story of the Chinese internet. Hear how Chinese citizens have navigated the last 30 years of surveillance and censorship while searching for freedom and connection – behind the Great Firewall \nThe details:\nWhen: Tuesday\, February 10 | 7:00pm-8:00pm Eastern / 6pm Central\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Author\n \nYi-Ling Liu is a writer & editor covering AI and Chinese society\, from a human-centered lens. She is currently a journalist-in-residence at the Tarbell Center for AI Journalism. She is the author of The Wall Dancers: Searching for Freedom and Connection on the Chinese Internet¸out on February 3rd. \nHer work has been published in The New York Times Magazine\, The New Yorker\, Harper’s Magazine\, WIRED\, and The New York Review of Books. She is a New America Fellow\, a recipient of the Matthew Power Literary Reporting Award\, and an Overseas Press Club Foundation Scholar. Born and raised in Hong Kong\, and a graduate of Yale University\, she now lives in London. \n\nMeet the Host\n\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is a Director of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n  \n\nAbout the Book\n \nThe Wall Dancers: Searching for Freedom and Connection on the Chinese Internet by Yi-Ling Liu \nAn eye-opening exploration of the Chinese internet that reveals the intricate dance between freedom and control in contemporary China.\nIn the late 1990s\, as the world was waking up to the power and emancipatory promise of the internet\, Chinese authorities began constructing a system of online surveillance and censorship now known as the Great Firewall. But far from being a barren landscape\, the digital world that sprouted up behind the firewall brimmed with new subcultures and tech innovations\, offering many Chinese citizens previously unimaginable connection and opportunity. \nToday\, as the country’s leadership intensifies its control of public discourse and Western headlines reduce the Chinese public to a faceless monolith\, journalist Yi-Ling Liu presents an intimate portrait of China’s online ecosystem—and a crucial lens into the on-the-ground reality of life there. Tracing the last three decades of the Chinese internet’s evolution—from its lexicon to its memes to the precise nature of its censorship—she equips readers with a critical tool to assess the past\, present\, and future of a global power. \nDrawing on years of firsthand reporting\, The Wall Dancers weaves together the stories of individuals navigating China’s transformation into both the world’s largest online user base and one of its most populous authoritarian states. As these entrepreneurs\, activists\, artists\, and dreamers experience the internet’s power as a tool for both control and liberation\, they grapple with universal questions of success and authenticity\, love and solidarity\, faith and resilience. \nThe Wall Dancers is at once an unforgettable work of human storytelling and a vital exploration of what it means to live with dignity and hope within the technological systems that now shape all our lives. \nOrder a copy of The Wall Dancers\, out on February 3\, 2026. \n\nPresented by\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and the World Affairs Councils of America. Presented in partnership with Councils nationwide: \n \n\n\n\nMission Partners\n \n\nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\nSe-Min Sohn\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you. \n\n\n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/the-great-firewall-liu-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Great-Firewall-WorldNow.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260209T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260209T193000
DTSTAMP:20260424T120257
CREATED:20260115T174218Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260129T185330Z
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SUMMARY:Second Monday with CTWAC | February 2026
DESCRIPTION:Join fellow World Affairs Council members and friends in conversation over dinner on the issues impacting our world. Connect and engage with others\, share your thoughts\, and explore how we can secure our global future. \n\n\n\nTopic: Is ‘The West’ Over?\n\n\nU.S. tariff threats\, uncertainty facing Greenland and NATO\, and growing strains in EU-U.S. relations are testing once-solid transatlantic ties. Are these tensions temporary realignments that will strengthen the transatlantic partnership – or a sign that the idea of “the West” is unraveling? If so\, what replaces it\, and how might that reshape global trade\, security\, and international alliances?\nThis is a no-homework event\, but supplemental readings will be provided to attendees\n\n\n\nThe Details:\nWhen: Monday\, February 9th | 6-7:30PM\nWhere: McCarter & English\, LLP\, Stamford\, CT\nTickets: $20 Members\, $30 Non-members | Registration required\nSpace is limited \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nUpcoming Second Mondays:\nFebruary 9th - Is 'The West' Over?\nMarch 9th - *Topic TBA\n*Topics will be announced 1 week prior to events. \n\nPast Second Mondays:\nJanuary 12th - What Just Happened in Venezuela? \n2025\nDecember 8th - Global Inequality & its Impacts on Societal Stability\nNovember 10th - Nuclear Deterrence in the Age of Drones\nOctober 13th - A New Era of U.S. Foreign Policy\nSeptember 15th - Counterterrorism or Extra-Legal Killings: When Do Strikes on Non-State Targets Cross the Line?\nJune 9th - What's at stake in the India-Pakistan conflict?\nMay 12th - So many elections - what do they all mean?\nApril 28th (Special Edition) – Sudan’s Civil War & Sub-Saharan Africa after USAID\nApril 14th - The Future of Immigration Policy\nMarch 10th - NATO's Uncertain Future\nFebruary 10th – The End of USAID?\nJanuary 13th – Greenland\, the Panama Canal\, and The Future of Immigration Policy \n2024\nDecember 9th – A Rebalancing in the Middle East and the Taiwan Question\nNovember 12th – Foreign Policy in a New Administration\nOctober 14th – The World After the U.S. Election\nSeptember 30th – Worldwide Efforts to Battle - or Embrace - Disinformation\nJuly 15th – The Climate Crisis & Global Instability\nJune 10th – Potential Flash Points - How is the U.S. positioned and what happens next?\nMay 20th – Democratic Systems at a Crossroad\nApril 8th – War in Gaza: How did we get here?\nMarch 11th – Western Consensus on Ukraine: What’s Next? \n\nMission Partners\n\nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/second-monday-with-ctwac-february-2026/
LOCATION:McCarter & English\, Two Stamford Plaza\, 281 Tresser Blvd\, 11th Floor\, Stamford\, CT\, 06901\, United States
CATEGORIES:Fairfield County
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260204T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260204T193000
DTSTAMP:20260424T120257
CREATED:20260131T204119Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T164909Z
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SUMMARY:Bad Bunny and the History of Puerto Rico with Dr. Jorell Meléndez-Badillo
DESCRIPTION:Global superstar and Puerto Rican icon Bad Bunny is headlining the Super Bowl halftime show\, and we refuse to let you show up without context. \nBefore kickoff\, join Dr. Jorell Meléndez-Badillo\, UConn alum\, author of Puerto Rico: A National History\, and the historian who worked with Bad Bunny on his Puerto Rican residency\, for a deeper look at Puerto Rico’s history\, its complex relationship with the United States\, and the futures the Puerto Rican people envision for themselves. We’ll also explore behind the scenes of Bad Bunny’s meteoric rise\, the messages in his music\, and his global impact. \nCome for the context\, stay for the culture\, and leave ready to impress your friends and family with the best Bad Bunny facts at your Super Bowl party. \nKnow the lyrics? Now know the history. RSVP today. \nThe Details\nWhen: Wednesday\, Feb. 4 | 7:00PM – 7:30PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, suggested $20 donation \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nFeaturing\nDr. Jorell Meléndez-Badillo \nAuthor & Associate Professor of History\, University of Wisconsin-Madison \nDr. Jorell Meléndez-Badillo is a historian of Puerto Rico\, the Caribbean\, and Latin America and the author\, most recently\, of the critically acclaimed book\, Puerto Rico: A National History (Princeton University Press\, 2024)\, translated to Spanish by Aurora Lauzardo Ugarte as Puerto Rico: historia de una nación (Grupo Planeta\, 2024). He is also the author of The Lettered Barriada: Workers\, Archival Power\, and the Politics of Knowledge in Puerto Rico (Duke University Press\, 2021) and Voces libertarias: Orígenes del anarquismo en Puerto Rico (Secret Sailor Books\, 2013) \nDr. Meléndez-Badillo is also the co-editor of Without Borders or Limits: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Anarchist Studies (Cambridge Scholars Publishing\, 2013) and editor of Páginas libres: Breve antología del pensamiento anarquista en Puerto Rico (Editora Educación Emergente\, 2021). I am also the co-editor of Interrogating the Future of Puerto Rican Studies\, forthcoming with Duke University Press in 2026. \nMore recently\, he collaborated with global superstar Bad Bunny in the creation of historical narratives that accompanied each song’s YouTube visualizer in DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. He also wrote 40 historical and cultural short texts that are used in the screens of Bad Bunny’s historic residency in Puerto Rico. His work has been featured in the LA Times\, Vogue\, New York Magazine\, Good Morning America\, Univisión\, Telemundo\, AFP\, La Nación\, La Jornada\, and El Nuevo Día\, among many national and international outlets. \nBefore UW-Madison\, he was a Mellon Faculty Fellow and Assistant Professor of History at Dartmouth College. He is from the capital of the Caribbean: Aguadilla\, Puerto Rico. \n\nModerated By\nAmanda Jolly \nModerator | World Affairs Council of Connecticut \nAmanda is the former Vice President for Programs and Communications at the World Affairs Council of Connecticut and international nonprofit technology consultant. Amanda is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University SAIS with a Master’s Degree in Global Risk and a specialization in digital policy. \n\nHost & Partners\n\nJoin the Community\nWith continuous breaking global news\, Council membership allows you to understand it all. Members gain lower-cost and exclusive access to discussions with foreign and local leaders\, events with experts and opposing views\, and – most essentially – a community of engaged people like yourself. \nBecome a member or renew today. \n\nMission Partners\n \n\nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\nSe-Min Sohn\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/bad-bunny-history-of-puerto-rico/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Bad-Bunny-and-the-History-of-Puerto-Rico-Event-Graphic.png
END:VEVENT
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T200000
DTSTAMP:20260424T120257
CREATED:20251218T203335Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251219T205320Z
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SUMMARY:The Trillion Dollar War Machine with Bill Hartung | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:The U.S. spends nearly a trillion dollars on its military each year\, making up 40% of the world’s military spending. Is this spending really keeping America safe? \nBill Hartung\, author and senior fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft\, argues that not only is this spending not keeping America safe\, but it is endangering both the U.S. and the world at large. \nOn January 21st\, Hartung joins WorldNow with Jim Falk to reveal how the American military industrial complex operates\, its key players – from Hollywood and Silicon Valley to lobbyists and the Pentagon’s top contractors – and how we can secure America’s future and prosperity by re-envisioning America’s trillion-dollar war machine. \nThe details:\nWhen: Wednesday\, January 21 | 7:00pm-8:00pm Eastern / 6pm Central\nWhere: Zoom Webinar | Registration required\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Author\n \nWilliam D. Hartung is a senior fellow at the Quincy Institute\, focusing on the arms industry and US military budget. He was previously the director of the Arms and Security Program at the Center for International Policy and the co-director of the Center’s Sustainable Defense Task Force. Bill is the co-author\, with Ben Freeman\, of the recently released The Trillion Dollar War Machine: How Runaway Military Spending Drives America into Foreign Wars and Bankrupts Us at Home. \nBill previously directed programs at the New America Foundation and the World Policy Institute. He also worked as a speechwriter and policy analyst for New York State Attorney General Robert Abrams. Hartung’s articles on security issues have appeared in the New York Times\, the Washington Post\, the Los Angeles Times\, The Nation\, and the World Policy Journal. \nHe has been a featured expert on national security issues on CBS 60 Minutes\, NBC Nightly News\, the PBS Newshour\, CNN\, Fox News\, and scores of local\, regional\, and international TV and radio outlets. \n\nMeet the Host\n\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is a Director of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n  \n\nAbout the Book\n \nThe Trillion Dollar War Machine: How Runaway Military Spending Drives America into Foreign Wars and Bankrupts Us at Home by William D. Hartung and Ben Freeman \nA hard-hitting investigation into how the Pentagon’s runaway spending embroils America in foreign wars\, squanders its wealth\, and enriches a privileged elite\n“A damning indictment of the conflicts of interest running rampant in the defense establishment.”―Publishers Weekly\nAmerica spends nearly a trillion dollars a year on its military. This extraordinary spending not only detracts from our ability to address pressing social problems but compels us into foreign wars to justify our vast arsenal. Sold to us in the name of “security\,” our military industrial complex actually makes us far less safe. \nTop policy experts William D. Hartung and Ben Freeman follow the profits of militarism from traditional Pentagon contractors\, which receive more than half of the Pentagon’s budget\, to the upstart high-tech firms that shamelessly promote unproven and destabilizing technologies. They unmask the enablers of the war machine—politicians\, lobbyists\, the media\, Hollywood\, think tanks\, and so many more—whose work enriches a wealthy elite at the expense of everybody else\, spreading conflict around the world and embroiling America in endless wars. \nA damning tour de force\, The Trillion Dollar War Machine shows who is pulling the strings and pushing for war\, and offers a blueprint for how we can shut down the war machine and restore American security and prosperity. \nGet yourself a copy of The Trillion Dollar War Machine on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore. \n\nPresented by\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and the World Affairs Councils of America. Presented in partnership with Councils nationwide: \n \n\n\n\nMission Partners\n \n\nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\nSe-Min Sohn\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you. \n\n\n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/trillion-dollar-war-machine-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T130000
DTSTAMP:20260424T120257
CREATED:20260114T212116Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T214318Z
UID:10000405-1768996800-1769000400@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:[Postponed] Greenland\, Denmark\, & the U.S.
DESCRIPTION:Thank you for your interest in this event. Unfortunately\, this discussion has been postponed as MG Jensen’s schedule has changed due to the unprecedented current events that require his full attention. \nThe Embassy of Denmark would like to share that MG Jensen highly values this discourse and we’re working hard to reschedule. We will announce the new date and time as soon as MG Jensen’s schedule and the diplomatic situation allows. Please check back soon. \nAny questions\, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Council at: info@ctwac.org. \n\nThe U.S. has stated its desire to take Greenland – by purchase or by force. \nPresident Trump claims the island is a strategic Arctic asset\, and that U.S. ownership would deter Russia and China. Denmark’s leadership states the island is “not for sale\,” and the use of military force to take Greenland could mean the end of NATO. Greenland itself prefers Denmark\, according to its Prime Minister. \nAs this conflict unfolds between NATO allies\, Major General Karsten Jensen\, Defence Attache of Denmark to the U.S. joins the Council to speak with us directly. \nRSVP now to hear directly from Denmark’s top military representative in the U.S.\, on Denmark’s response to U.S. threats and the future of the Denmark\, Greenland\, and the U.S. \nThe Details \nWhen: Wednesday\, Jan. 21 | 12:00PM – 1:00PM ET Postponed\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, suggested $20 donation \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nJoin the Community\nWith continuous breaking global news\, Council membership allows you to understand it all. Members gain lower-cost and exclusive access to discussions with foreign and local leaders\, events with experts and opposing views\, and – most essentially – a community of engaged people like yourself. \nBecome a member or renew today. \n\nMission Partners\n \n\nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\nSe-Min Sohn\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/greenland-denmark-us/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Greenland-Denmark-and-the-U.S.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260115T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260115T193000
DTSTAMP:20260424T120257
CREATED:20251210T175517Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251219T172631Z
UID:10000399-1768500000-1768505400@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:250 Years of American Diplomacy
DESCRIPTION:Featuring Michael Brenes\, Director of the Brady-Johnson Program in Grand Strategy at Yale\n\n\n\nAs the United States approaches its 250th anniversary\, we’re taking a closer look at the powerful force that is U.S. diplomacy. \nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut and the Pequot Library invite you to a special evening exploring the evolution of U.S. diplomacy – from pivotal decisions to defining figures and from the impact of U.S. leadership on world history to where the U.S. is headed in the century ahead. \nHow did diplomacy shape the nation into a superpower and where is the U.S. headed next? RSVP to find out. \n\nDetails\nThursday\, January 15\, 2026 | 6pm – 7:30pm\nPequot Library\, 720 Pequot Ave\, Southport\nTickets: No Charge\, RSVP Required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nWith Special Guest\nMichael Brenes is co-director of the Brady-Johnson Program in Grand Strategy and lecturer in history at Yale University. \nHis research interests include United States foreign policy\, political history\, and political economy. He is the author of For Might and Right: Cold War Defense Spending and the Remaking of American Democracy\, published by University of Massachusetts Press in 2020\, and the co-editor (with Daniel Bessner) of Rethinking U.S. Power: Domestic Histories of U.S. Foreign Relations\, published by Palgrave MacMillan in 2024. His next book\, co-authored with Van Jackson\, is titled The Rivalry Peril: How Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy\, and will be published by Yale University Press in January 2025. \nIn addition to his academic articles and book chapters\, his work has been published in The New York Times\, The New Republic\, Foreign Affairs\, Foreign Policy\, Politico\, Dissent\, Boston Review\, The Nation\, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. \nHe is currently writing a history of the War and Terror from the 1990s to the present\, to be published by Grove/Atlantic. He is also finalizing a co-edited volume with Daniel Bessner on Cold War liberalism\, which is under contract with Cambridge University Press. \n\n \n\nJoin the Community\nWith continuous breaking global news\, Council membership allows you to understand it all. Members gain lower-cost and exclusive access to discussions with foreign and local leaders\, events with experts and opposing views\, and – most essentially – a community of engaged people like yourself. \nBecome a member or renew today. \n\nMission Partners\n \n\nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\nSe-Min Sohn\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/250-years-of-american-diplomacy/
LOCATION:Pequot Library\, 720 Pequot Ave\, Fairfield\, CT\, 06890\, United States
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260114T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260114T200000
DTSTAMP:20260424T120257
CREATED:20251215T171603Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T190623Z
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SUMMARY:The Architect of Espionage: The Man Who Built Israel's Mossad | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:How did Mossad\, Israel’s intelligence service\, come to be one of the world’s most notorious and prominent players in global intelligence? Just look to Meir Dagan\, the Mossad’s former director who transformed the service into the leading force in counterterrorism and espionage it is today. \nSamuel Katz\, bestselling author of The Architect of Espionage: The Man Who Built Israel’s Mossad in to the World’s Boldest Intelligence Force\, joins WorldNow to introduce us to the former Mossad director. \nKatz will give us an inside look at Dagan’s leadership and the operations carried out during his tenure\, including counterterrorism efforts\, covert missions related to Iran’s nuclear program\, and expanded intelligence cooperation with international partners – and how he transformed modern espionage and the Middle East. \nThe details: \nWhen: Wednesday\, January 14 | 7:00PM EST / 6PM Central\nWhere: Zoom Webinar | Registration required\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Author\n \nSamuel M. Katz is a New York Times bestselling author who has written over twenty books on the Arab Israeli conflict\, military and law enforcement special operations\, espionage\, and counterterrorism. He has written hundreds of articles for magazines and journals around the world\, as well as documentaries for television. He is also the former editor-in-chief of Special Operations Report\, a trade publication for the world’s commando and counterterrorist community. Katz lectures police agencies and military commands around the world on the history of terrorism\, and he is a frequent guest on television and radio networks. \n\nMeet the Host\n\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is a Director of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n  \n  \n\nAbout the Book\nThe Architect of Espionage: The Man Who Built Israel’s Mossad into the World’s Boldest Intelligence Force by Samuel M. Katz \nFrom a New York Times bestselling author and an expert on Middle Eastern conflict comes a riveting biography of Meir Dagan\, the legendary Mossad director who transformed Israel’s intelligence service into a global powerhouse of espionage and counterterrorism.\nIn The Architect of Espionage\, Samuel M. Katz masterfully chronicles the life of Meir Dagan\, a visionary covert warfare veteran who revolutionized the art of intelligence and espionage. Born in the shadows of the Holocaust\, his life personified the modern history of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Dagan’s journey embodies decisive action\, innovative thought\, and bold leadership under fire. His tenure as the head of the Mossad marked a transformative era in Israel’s history\, reshaping the agency into a formidable global force. \nDagan spent thirty-two years in uniform\, and under his eight-year leadership\, Mossad orchestrated a series of high-stakes missions\, including targeted assassinations\, clandestine attempts to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power\, and the covert expansion of Israel’s strategic collaborations with members of the global intelligence fraternity\, notably with the CIA. These operations not only bolstered Israel’s security but also altered the geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East. \nKatz brings to life the portrait of a spymaster whose influence extended far beyond Israel’s borders\, shaping intelligence relationships across the Middle East and worldwide. \nFor anyone captivated by espionage thrillers or historical biographies\, this is an essential and timely read\, providing an insightful glimpse into the mind of one of the most influential spymasters of our era. \nGet yourself a copy of The Architect of Espionage on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore. \n\nPresented by\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and the World Affairs Councils of America. Presented in partnership with Councils nationwide: \n \n\n\n\nMission Partners\n \n\nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\nSe-Min Sohn\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you. \n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint. \n\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/the-architect-of-espionage-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260112T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260112T193000
DTSTAMP:20260424T120257
CREATED:20251212T153912Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260106T213654Z
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SUMMARY:Second Monday with CTWAC | January 2026
DESCRIPTION:Join fellow World Affairs Council members and friends in conversation over dinner on the issues impacting our world. Connect and engage with others\, share your thoughts\, and explore how we can secure our global future. \n \nThe Details:\nWhen: Monday\, January 12th | 6-7:30PM\nWhere: McCarter & English\, LLP\, Stamford\, CT\nTickets: $20 Members\, $30 Non-members | Registration required\nSpace is limited \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nUpcoming Second Mondays:\n2026\nJanuary 12th - What Just Happened in Venezuela?\nFebruary 9th - *Topic TBA\nMarch 9th\n*Topics will be announced 1 week prior to events. \n\nPast Second Mondays:\n2025\nDecember 8th - Global Inequality & its Impacts on Societal Stability\nNovember 10th - Nuclear Deterrence in the Age of Drones\nOctober 13th - A New Era of U.S. Foreign Policy\nSeptember 15th - Counterterrorism or Extra-Legal Killings: When Do Strikes on Non-State Targets Cross the Line?\nJune 9th - What's at stake in the India-Pakistan conflict?\nMay 12th - So many elections - what do they all mean?\nApril 28th (Special Edition) – Sudan’s Civil War & Sub-Saharan Africa after USAID\nApril 14th - The Future of Immigration Policy\nMarch 10th - NATO's Uncertain Future\nFebruary 10th – The End of USAID?\nJanuary 13th – Greenland\, the Panama Canal\, and The Future of Immigration Policy \n2024\nDecember 9th – A Rebalancing in the Middle East and the Taiwan Question\nNovember 12th – Foreign Policy in a New Administration\nOctober 14th – The World After the U.S. Election\nSeptember 30th – Worldwide Efforts to Battle - or Embrace - Disinformation\nJuly 15th – The Climate Crisis & Global Instability\nJune 10th – Potential Flash Points - How is the U.S. positioned and what happens next?\nMay 20th – Democratic Systems at a Crossroad\nApril 8th – War in Gaza: How did we get here?\nMarch 11th – Western Consensus on Ukraine: What’s Next? \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/second-monday-with-ctwac-january-2026/
LOCATION:McCarter & English\, Two Stamford Plaza\, 281 Tresser Blvd\, 11th Floor\, Stamford\, CT\, 06901\, United States
CATEGORIES:Fairfield County
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260107T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260107T130000
DTSTAMP:20260424T120257
CREATED:20260106T202428Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260106T202644Z
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SUMMARY:Briefing: Maduro's Capture & the Future of U.S.-Venezuela Relations
DESCRIPTION:What just happened in Venezuela?  \nJoin us for a special virtual briefing with Amb. Charles Shapiro\, former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela (2002-2004)\, on the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. troops in Caracas and what’s next for U.S.-Venezuela relations. \nCo-moderated by Aaron Rosen\, President & Founder of the World Affairs Council of Miami and Rickey Bevington\, President of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta. \nFeatures special commentary on counter-narcotics by former U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica Luis Moreno\, former U.S. Narcotics Affairs Director in Bogota\, Colombia. \nDetails\nWednesday\, January 7 | 12:00pm ET\nZoom Webinar \n\n\nFeaturing\nAmbassador Charles Shapiro \nAmbassador (ret.) Charles Shapiro is a senior advisor at the Pendleton Group\, co-founder of Art of Diplomacy Tours\, and a Professor of Practice at the Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech. \nA career foreign service officer with 34 years of service\, Shapiro held a number of senior positions at the United States Department of State including Ambassador to Venezuela\, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere\, and Coordinator for Cuban Affairs. \nIn 2011 Shapiro became the president of the Institute of the Americas\, a think tank at the University of California San Diego. In 2014 he became president of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta. While at the World Affairs Council\, he taught international business in the Executive MBA program at the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. \nShapiro’s op-eds have been published in the Toronto Star\, Efecto Cocuyo\, the Atlanta Journal Constitution\, the Atlanta Business Chronicle\, the Miami Herald\, the San Diego Union Tribune\, and the Los Angeles Times.\nAmbassador Luis G. Moreno \nAmbassador Moreno previously served as U.S. Narcotics Affairs Director in Bogota\, Colombia and was instrumental in planning and implementing Plan Colombia (a U.S. foreign aid and military initiative aimed at supporting counter-narcotics in Colombia) \n\nPresented by
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/briefing-maduros-capture-us-venezuela/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Venezuela-Briefing.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251217T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251217T190000
DTSTAMP:20260424T120257
CREATED:20251208T202230Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T143610Z
UID:10000398-1765990800-1765998000@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Holiday Open House
DESCRIPTION:You’re invited to a fun and festive happy hour open house with fellow World Affairs Council members\, board of directors\, and special guests. Featuring festive drinks and snacks\, and – above all – the chance to connect\, discuss everything that happened in the world this year\, and meet a new connection at the Council. We can’t wait to see you there. \nThe Details\nWhen: Wednesday\, Dec. 17 | 5:00PM – 7:00PM\nWhere: World Affairs Council Office\, 1049 Asylum Ave\, Hartford\, CT\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP Required\nFree Parking on site | Festive Refreshments and light bites \n RSVP  \n\n\n \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you. \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities - or learn more on our website. \n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/holiday-open-house-2025/
LOCATION:World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, 1049 Asylum Ave\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251209T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251209T200000
DTSTAMP:20260424T120257
CREATED:20251120T191357Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T175529Z
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SUMMARY:Venezuela and the U.S.: What Comes Next?
DESCRIPTION:Gunboat diplomacy\, armed conflict\, or all-out regime change? As tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela continue to rachet up\, all outcomes and more seem to be on the table. \nThe U.S. has declared an armed conflict with Venezuela\, increased military pressure in the Caribbean\, and accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of heading Cartel de los Soles\, recently declared to be a foreign terrorist organization. Simultaneously\, President Trump has indicated an openness to talks with his Venezuelan counterpart. \nIs the U.S. headed towards war with Venezuela? \nFormer Ambassador to Venezuela\, Charles Shapiro\, joins us to unpack everything we know about the potential of further U.S. military action and what could come next. \nA career foreign service officer with 34 years of service\, Amb. Shapiro held a number of senior positions at the United States Department of State including Ambassador to Venezuela\, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere\, and Coordinator for Cuban Affairs. \nThe Details:\nWhen: Tuesday\, Dec. 9 | 7:00PM – 8:00PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, suggested $20 donation \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nFeaturing\nAmbassador Charles Shapiro \nAmbassador (ret.) Charles Shapiro is a senior advisor at the Pendleton Group\, co-founder of Art of Diplomacy Tours\, and a Professor of Practice at the Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech. \nA career foreign service officer with 34 years of service\, Shapiro held a number of senior positions at the United States Department of State including Ambassador to Venezuela\, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere\, and Coordinator for Cuban Affairs. \nIn 2011 Shapiro became the president of the Institute of the Americas\, a think tank at the University of California San Diego. In 2014 he became president of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta. While at the World Affairs Council\, he taught international business in the Executive MBA program at the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. \nShapiro’s op-eds have been published in the Toronto Star\, Efecto Cocuyo\, the Atlanta Journal Constitution\, the Atlanta Business Chronicle\, the Miami Herald\, the San Diego Union Tribune\, and the Los Angeles Times. \nModerated by\n \nMegan Clark Torrey \nCEO\, World Affairs Council of Connecticut \nMegan Clark Torrey is the CEO of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut. In 2016\, she founded the Global Security Forum – a globally recognized forum for defense and security hosted annually in Hartford\, CT. \nIn 2022\, Megan participated in the Secretary of Defense Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC93)\, and in 2023 was nominated by Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro to be the first U.S. Navy Community Ambassador to Connecticut. \nBefore joining the Council in 2003\, she worked with UNESCO’s International Year for the Culture of Peace at its headquarters in Paris and the UN International Training & Research Institute for the Advancement of Women. Megan holds two degrees in International Relations and Diplomacy. \n\nPresented by\n \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities - or learn more on our website. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/venezuela-and-the-u-s-what-comes-next/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Venezuela-Event-Image.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251208T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251208T193000
DTSTAMP:20260424T120257
CREATED:20251120T194016Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251201T163708Z
UID:10000397-1765216800-1765222200@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Second Monday with CTWAC | December
DESCRIPTION:Join fellow World Affairs Council members and friends in conversation over dinner on the issues impacting our world. Connect and engage with others\, share your thoughts\, and explore how we can secure our global future. \n\nThe Details:\nWhen: Monday\, December 8th | 6-7:30PM\nWhere: McCarter & English\, LLP | Two Stamford Plaza – 281 Tresser Blvd\, 11th Floor\, Stamford\, CT 06901\nTickets: $15 Members\, $25 Non-members | Registration required\nSpace is limited \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nUpcoming Second Mondays:\nDecember 8th - Global Inequality & its Impacts on Societal Stability\n*Topics will be announced 1 week prior to events. \n\nPast Second Mondays:\n2025\nNovember 10th - Nuclear Deterrence in the Age of Drones\nOctober 13th - A New Era of U.S. Foreign Policy\nSeptember 15th - Counterterrorism or Extra-Legal Killings: When Do Strikes on Non-State Targets Cross the Line?\nJune 9th - What's at stake in the India-Pakistan conflict?\nMay 12th - So many elections - what do they all mean?\nApril 28th (Special Edition) – Sudan’s Civil War & Sub-Saharan Africa after USAID\nApril 14th - The Future of Immigration Policy\nMarch 10th - NATO's Uncertain Future\nFebruary 10th – The End of USAID?\nJanuary 13th – Greenland\, the Panama Canal\, and The Future of Immigration Policy \n2024\nDecember 9th – A Rebalancing in the Middle East and the Taiwan Question\nNovember 12th – Foreign Policy in a New Administration\nOctober 14th – The World After the U.S. Election\nSeptember 30th – Worldwide Efforts to Battle - or Embrace - Disinformation\nJuly 15th – The Climate Crisis & Global Instability\nJune 10th – Potential Flash Points - How is the U.S. positioned and what happens next?\nMay 20th – Democratic Systems at a Crossroad\nApril 8th – War in Gaza: How did we get here?\nMarch 11th – Western Consensus on Ukraine: What’s Next? \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/second-monday-with-ctwac-december-2025/
LOCATION:McCarter & English\, Two Stamford Plaza\, 281 Tresser Blvd\, 11th Floor\, Stamford\, CT\, 06901\, United States
CATEGORIES:Fairfield County
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251208T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251208T130000
DTSTAMP:20260424T120257
CREATED:20251112T212908Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251120T212851Z
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SUMMARY:The World Ahead 2026
DESCRIPTION:Each year\, The Economist publishes The World Ahead series: an informed prediction of the major themes that will dominate the coming year. Spanning topics from politics to technology to sociology and more\, this series edited by Tom Standage is as ambitious as it is awe-inspiring. \nOn December 8\, Standage rejoins the Council to discuss his publication’s analysis for 2026. In conversation with Jim Falk\, host of WorldNow. \nJoin us to unpack all of the trends that will define 2026 – from a possible AI bubble and global climate policy controversies to evolving global conflicts\, problems for Europe\, and China’s rise. \nThe details: \nWhen: Monday\, December 8 | 12:00PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar | Registration required\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Economist\nTom Standage is deputy editor of The Economist and editor of its future-gazing annual\, “The World Ahead.” Standage directs the newspaper’s digital strategy and the development of new digital products and is the author of seven history books\, including Writing on the Wall (2013)\, The Victorian Internet (1998)\, and A History of the World in 6 Glasses (2005). He studied engineering and computing at Oxford University and has written for other publications including the New York Times\, Daily Telegraph\, The Guardian\, and Wired. \n\nMeet the Host\n\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n  \n  \n  \n\n\n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you. \n\n\n\n\n\n Add to calendar\n\n\n\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/the-world-ahead-2026/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251205
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251207
DTSTAMP:20260424T120257
CREATED:20250702T170905Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250702T172554Z
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SUMMARY:Model United Nations 2025
DESCRIPTION:The CTWAC Model United Nations brings together over 1\,100 Connecticut high school students to engage in debate and diplomacy\, preparing them to become our future leaders. \nThe Council’s MUN program is exclusively student-run\, offering students opportunities to take leadership positions and negotiate with peers. Students experience the inner workings of diplomacy as they tackle global controversies\, navigate crisis scenarios\, debate solutions\, and draft resolutions. Delegates also have the opportunity to travel to the UN Headquarters in New York\, meet diplomats from the countries they’ll represent\, and discuss timely issues with the policymakers currently working to solve them. \nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut’s Model UN began in 1952 at Hartford Public High School and is now one of the largest and longest continuously running Model UN programs in the world. In its 73 years\, the program has impacted over 55\,000 students across Connecticut. \n\nLearn more about the CTWAC Model UN program and how to get involved here. \n\n\nParticipating Connecticut Schools\n \n\nSponsors\n \n \n  \nRoz & Alan Spier \n\nModel UN’s impact on the students: \n“I learned new skills every year I participated\, and though this was my last year with MUN\, the skills I’m walking away with are ones that I will carry with me forever.” \n“Through MUN\, I was able to craft my own opinions on our world’s pressing issues and work to create a resolution to solve them.” \n“Model UN gave me a place to learn more about the world\, while also giving me an outlet to better my public speaking skills and my research skills.” \n\nAbout the World Affairs Council of Connecticut \nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut (CTWAC) is a non-profit\, non-partisan organization founded in 1924. Through community engagement and collaboration\, the World Affairs Council of Connecticut creates experiences that explore critical global issues and promote a greater understanding of the world. Learn more about what we do here and how you can get involved. You can also connect with us on Facebook\, Instagram\, LinkedIn and YouTube.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/model-united-nations-2025/
LOCATION:University of Hartford\, 200 Bloomfield Ave\, West Hartford\, CT\, 06117\, US
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251118T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251118T190000
DTSTAMP:20260424T120257
CREATED:20250923T231128Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251118T131443Z
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SUMMARY:[SOLD OUT] Hon. Kevin Rudd\, Australia's Ambassador to the U.S. and 26th Prime Minister | GSF2025
DESCRIPTION:This event is sold out. Please contact us at (860) 241-6118 with special requests. \nJoin us for an exclusive off-the-record conversation with the Honorable Kevin Rudd\, Ambassador of Australia to the U.S.\, 26th Prime Minister of Australia\, and former President of the Asia Society\, at the signature event of the 2025 Global Security Forum Series. \nAmbassador Rudd will offer expert insight on the future of the U.S.-Australia alliance\, security and economic cooperation through AUKUS\, relations with China\, and Australia’s role on the global stage. This is a rare opportunity to engage directly with one of the world’s most respected voices in international affairs. \nModerated by CNN’s Jim Sciutto\, chief national security analyst and anchor of The Brief with Jim Sciutto. \nThe Details\nWhen: Tuesday\, November 18th | 5:30pm – 7:00pm ET\nWhere: Mark Twain House\, Hartford CT\nTickets: $40 General Admission | $30 CTWAC Member Admission\nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \nIntroducing: GSF2025 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only)\nYour ticket to all upcoming in-person and virtual GSF2025 events (excluding dinners and private events) - for just $99. Click the button below to unlock this member-exclusive offer. \nGSF2025 All-Access Pass \n\n\n \n\nUnlock special member pricing for all GSF2025 events by becoming a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut today. Join on our website or select the membership add-on during checkout.\nNot sure if you're a member? Call us or reach out to Abby Noyes at noyesa[@]ctwac.org. \n\nWith Special Guests\nH.E. The Hon. Dr. Kevin Rudd AC\nAmbassador of Australia to the U.S. and 26th Prime Minister of Australia \nHE the Hon Dr Kevin Rudd AC is Australia’s Ambassador to the United States of America\, taking up his posting in Washington in March 2023. \nAmbassador Rudd served as Australia’s twenty-sixth Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010\, then as Minister for Foreign Affairs\, before a second term as Prime Minister in 2013. He was Member for Griffith in the Australian Parliament from 1998 to 2013. \nSince leaving government\, Ambassador Rudd has resided in the United States where he is recognised as a leading analyst of China. In 2015\, he became inaugural President of the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York. In 2020\, he was appointed President and CEO of the Asia Society globally and\, in 2022\, he founded the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis. \nLearn more about Ambassador Rudd here. \n  \nJim Sciutto \nCNN’s chief national security analyst & anchor of The Brief with Jim Sciutto  \nSciutto reports and provides analysis on all aspects of U.S. national security including foreign policy\, the military\, intelligence community and the State Department. \nThroughout his career\, he has reported from more than 50 countries across the globe including dozens of assignments from inside Iraq\, Afghanistan and Iran\, as well as multiple assignments in Ukraine and the Middle East. Sciutto has also served as chief of staff and senior advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to China\, Gary Locke. \nSciutto is the author of four books\, including the New York Times Bestseller\, The Return of Great Powers: Russia\, China and the Next World War\, which examines the breakdown of a decades-old international order among the world’s strongest powers. \n\nThis event is part of the Global Security Forum Series 2025 (GSF2025). GSF2025 is evolving to reach a growing number of attendees and to host more international and national leaders than ever before. GSF has expanded from a one-day gathering into a dynamic series of in-person and virtual events throughout Fall 2025. Learn more and find the full schedule here. \nThe theme of GSF2025 is Unraveling Order. We explore the edge of uncertainty – the threats that emerge when norms collapse and the opportunities that arise when power shifts. GSF2025 gathers the world’s top leaders and minds to ask: when certainty collapses\, what comes next? \n\nThank you to GSF2025 Sponsors\nBecome a GSF2025 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access\, increased visibility\, and shape the future of global security.\nGSF2025 Series Sponsorship Package (PDF) \n \n\nGSF2025 Presenting Partners\n \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/conversation-with-hon-kevin-rudd-ambassador-of-australia-gsf2025/
LOCATION:Mark Twain House & Museum\, 351 Farmington Avenue\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Global Security Forum 2025
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251112T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251112T200000
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SUMMARY:The New Global Disorder with Ambassador Michael McFaul
DESCRIPTION:Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul joins us on WorldNow with Jim Falk to explore the global rise of autocracy\, new challenges posed by an assertive Russia and China\, and an increasingly insular America – and what it all means for democracy and security in a changing world. \nIn Autocrats vs. Democrats\, Ambassador McFaul makes the case for democracy and defines the threats posed by China\, Russia\, and America’s shift to isolationism to the global international order as we know it. \nJoin us November 12th to hear exclusive insight from Ambassador McFaul\, the leading Russia and Eurasian affairs expert\, on his forthcoming book and his vision of American leadership on the world stage. \nThe details:\nWhen: Wednesday\, November 12th | 7:00pm-8:00pm Eastern / 6pm Central\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge | RSVP Required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Author\nAmbassador Michael McFaul\nU.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation (2012-2014) \nAmbassador McFaul is a Professor of Political Science\, Director of Freeman Spogli Institute & Hoover Senior Fellow all at Stanford University. He is also an international affairs analyst for NBC News. \nPreviously\, he served in the Obama administration as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council at the White House (2009–2012) and then as U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation in (2012-2014). He has authored several books\, including\, most recently\, the New York Times bestseller From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin’s Russia. \n\nMeet the Host\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n\nAbout the Book\nAutocrats vs. Democrats: China\, Russia\, America\, and the New Global Disorder by Michael McFaul \nA bold\, clear-eyed look at how the autocracies of China and Russia are challenging the current global order\, and how America’s future depends on successfully confronting this threat. \nThe rise of China\, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine\, and the reelection of President Donald Trump have reinforced a gloomy yet growing consensus: the old global order has ended\, and a new Cold War has begun. \nIn this sweeping account of great power competition between the United States\, China\, and Russia over the past three centuries\, Michael McFaul—former ambassador to Russia and international affairs analyst for NBC News—argues persuasively that today’s challenges require fresh thinking\, not constrained by distant memories of the Cold War or the nationalist dreams of MAGA. \nOne of the preeminent thinkers on American foreign policy for decades\, McFaul crafts a new grand strategy for America in this age of global disorder. Acknowledging how Xi’s China\, Putin’s Russia\, and Trump’s America are upending the current international system\, Autocrats vs Democrats makes the case against America’s retreat from the world\, detailing why: \n\nRussia’s disruptive ambitions should not be underestimated.\nChina’s capabilities should not be overestimated.\nTrump’s shift toward isolationism and autocracy will weaken America’s place in the world.\n\nAt once a clarion call for American diplomacy and a forceful rebuttal of the Trump administration’s policies\, Autocrats vs Democrats provides a nuanced assessment of the China and Russia threats\, as well as a bold vision for renewing America’s leadership on the world stage. \nPre-order a copy of Autocrats vs. Democrats\, coming October 28th\, 2025 \n\n\nHosts & Partners\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, Global Santa Fe\, and the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. \n \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/the-new-global-disorder-amb-michael-mcfaul/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
CATEGORIES:Global Security Forum 2025
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251110T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251110T193000
DTSTAMP:20260424T120258
CREATED:20250917T151957Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251104T162108Z
UID:10000386-1762797600-1762803000@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Second Monday with CTWAC | November
DESCRIPTION:Join fellow World Affairs Council members in conversation over dinner on the issues impacting our world. Connect and engage with others\, share your thoughts\, and explore how we can secure our global future. \n\nThe Details:\nWhen: Monday\, November 10th | 6-7:30PM\nWhere: McCarter & English\, LLP | Two Stamford Plaza – 281 Tresser Blvd\, 11th Floor\, Stamford\, CT 06901\nTickets: $15 Members\, $25 Non-members | Registration required\nSpace is limited \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nUpcoming Second Mondays:\nNovember 10th - Nuclear Deterrence in the Age of Drones\nDecember 8th - *Topic TBA\n*Topics will be announced 1 week prior to events. \n\nPast Second Mondays:\n2025 \nOctober 13th - A New Era of U.S. Foreign Policy\nSeptember 15th - Counterterrorism or Extra-Legal Killings: When Do Strikes on Non-State Targets Cross the Line?\nJune 9th - What's at stake in the India-Pakistan conflict?\nMay 12th - So many elections - what do they all mean?\nApril 28th (Special Edition) – Sudan’s Civil War & Sub-Saharan Africa after USAID\nApril 14th - The Future of Immigration Policy\nMarch 10th - NATO's Uncertain Future\nFebruary 10th – The End of USAID?\nJanuary 13th – Greenland\, the Panama Canal\, and The Future of Immigration Policy \n2024\nDecember 9th – A Rebalancing in the Middle East and the Taiwan Question\nNovember 12th – Foreign Policy in a New Administration\nOctober 14th – The World After the U.S. Election\nSeptember 30th – Worldwide Efforts to Battle - or Embrace - Disinformation\nJuly 15th – The Climate Crisis & Global Instability\nJune 10th – Potential Flash Points - How is the U.S. positioned and what happens next?\nMay 20th – Democratic Systems at a Crossroad\nApril 8th – War in Gaza: How did we get here?\nMarch 11th – Western Consensus on Ukraine: What’s Next? \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/second-monday-with-ctwac-november/
LOCATION:McCarter & English\, Two Stamford Plaza\, 281 Tresser Blvd\, 11th Floor\, Stamford\, CT\, 06901\, United States
CATEGORIES:Fairfield County
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251106T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251106T190000
DTSTAMP:20260424T120258
CREATED:20250923T230452Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251031T200108Z
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SUMMARY:Conversation with H.E. Esteban Moctezuma Barragán\, Ambassador of Mexico to the U.S. | GSF2025
DESCRIPTION:We’re thrilled to be joined by H.E. Esteban Moctezuma Barragán\, Ambassador of Mexico to the U.S.\, for this special edition of the 2025 Global Security Forum Series. We’ll discuss everything from the transformation of U.S.-Mexico relations to the impact of tariffs and remittance taxes\, and the future of security cooperation. \nThursday\, November 6 | 5:30-7:00pm\nStudio A\, World Affairs Council\, Hartford\, CT\nTickets: $40 General Admission | $25 CTWAC Member Admission \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \nIntroducing: GSF2025 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only)\nYour ticket to all upcoming in-person and virtual GSF2025 events (excluding dinners and private events) - for just $99. Click the button below to unlock this member-exclusive offer. \nGSF2025 All-Access Pass \n\n\n \n\nUnlock special member pricing for all GSF2025 events by becoming a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut today. Join on our website or select the membership add-on during checkout.\nNot sure if you're a member? Call us or reach out to Abby Noyes at noyesa[@]ctwac.org. \n\nAbout the Ambassador\nH.E. Esteban Moctezuma Barragán\nAmbassador of Mexico to the U.S. \nAmbassador Esteban Moctezuma was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mexico to the United States of America by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. He was ratified by the Senate of the Republic in February 2021 with 115 votes in favor of 116 attending senators. \nHe was secretary of public education since 2018. A former Senator\, he also previously served as Secretary of Social Development; Secretary of Interior; and more. He was responsible for implementing the autonomy of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (1994). \nIn civil society\, he served as Executive President of Fundación Azteca (2001-2018); as well as many more community organizations dedicated to public health and education. Ambassador Moctezuma has been a columnist for several Mexican newspapers and has written several books. \n\nThis event is part of the Global Security Forum Series 2025 (GSF2025). GSF2025 is evolving to reach a growing number of attendees and to host more international and national leaders than ever before. GSF has expanded from a one-day gathering into a dynamic series of in-person and virtual events throughout Fall 2025. Learn more and find the full schedule here. \nThe theme of GSF2025 is Unraveling Order. We explore the edge of uncertainty - the threats that emerge when norms collapse and the opportunities that arise when power shifts. GSF2025 gathers the world’s top leaders and minds to ask: when certainty collapses\, what comes next? \n\nThank you to GSF2025 Sponsors\nBecome a GSF2025 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access\, increased visibility\, and shape the future of global security.\nGSF2025 Series Sponsorship Package (PDF) \n \n\nGSF2025 Presenting Partners\n \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/conversation-with-the-ambassador-of-mexico-gsf2025/
LOCATION:Studio A at CT Public\, 1049 Asylum Ave\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Global Security Forum 2025
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251103T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251103T160000
DTSTAMP:20260424T120258
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SUMMARY:Edible Economics: A Hungry Economist Explains the World
DESCRIPTION:Presented by the World Affairs Council of Alaska \nWhat do okra\, chocolate\, and economic theory have in common? Join the Alaska World Affairs Council for a thought-provoking conversation with renowned economist and bestselling author Ha-Joon Chang as he explores the surprising connections between food\, economics\, and global change. \nDrawing from his latest work\, Edible Economics\, Chang uses the stories behind everyday foods to illuminate big questions about globalization\, climate change\, inequality\, and the future of capitalism. Through humor\, insight\, and real-world examples\, he challenges conventional thinking and offers fresh ways to understand the forces shaping our world. \nThis is not your average economics talk — it’s a global feast for curious minds. \nWhen: Monday\, November 3rd | 3pm-4pm Eastern\nWhere: Zoom Webinar \n\n\nAbout the Speaker\nHa-Joon Chang is a Distinguished Research Professor of economics\, as well as Co-director of CSST (Centre for Sustainable Structural Transformation) and of DLD (Development Leadership Dialogue) at SOAS University of London. Previously he taught at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Cambridge (1990-2022). In addition to numerous journal articles and book chapters\, he has published 17 authored books (five co-authored) and 11 edited books (seven co-edited). His main books include The Political Economy of Industrial Policy (1994)\, Kicking Away the Ladder (2002)\, Bad Samaritans (2007)\, 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism (2010)\, Economics: The User’s Guide (2014)\, and Edible Economics (2022). His writings have been translated and published in 46 languages and 48 countries. Worldwide\, his books have sold around 3 million copies. Chang has advised numerous international organizations\, national governments\, civil society organizations\, and corporations (both private-sector and public). He is currently a member of CDP (Committee for Development Policy)\, the highest advisory body of the United Nations on development issues\, as well as committees overseeing or advising other international organizations\, academic bodies\, and charitable organisations. Chang is the winner of the 2003 Gunnar Myrdal Prize and the 2005 Wassily Leontief Prize. \n\nAbout the Moderator\nLise Kristiansen\, born and raised in Anchorage\, Alaska\, serves as the Norwegian Honorary Consul for Alaska and Advisor to the Alaska World Affairs Council. From 2007 to 2023\, she was President and CEO of the Alaska World Affairs Council\, where she developed high-impact programs featuring more than 450 world leaders\, including diplomats\, NATO commanders\, policymakers\, public officials\, presidents\, and royalty. \nLise has been recognized for her leadership and civic contributions\, including being named one of Anchorage’s Top 40 Under 40\, inducted into the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Athena Society\, and honored as Leader of the Year by the National World Affairs Councils of America — selected from 94 council leaders nationwide. \nA frequent speaker on Arctic and international affairs\, Lise has shared her expertise both nationally and internationally. In recognition of her contributions to Norway-Alaska relations\, she was awarded the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit\, Knight 1st Class\, by the King of Norway. \nLise has a passion for sports and music\, including playing the piano\, and has participated in 6 Ironman Triathlons including the Ironman World Championship in Kona\, Hawaii.  During her free time\, you can often find her on a nearby pickleball court. \n\nHosted By\n \n\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/edible-economics-a-hungry-economist-explains-the-world/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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SUMMARY:Unraveling Order with David Sanger: Russia\, China\, & the U.S. | GSF2025
DESCRIPTION:RSVP Today\nWith geopolitical tensions and global uncertainty on the rise\, we’re thrilled to bring back David Sanger\, Chief White House & National Security Correspondent for The New York Times\, for this special event of the 2025 Global Security Forum Series. \nA four-time GSF fan-favorite\, David is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of New Cold Wars: China’s Rise\, Russia’s Invasion\, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West. He has been a member of three teams that won the Pulitzer Prize\, including in 2017 for international reporting about Russia’s effort to manipulate the presidential election. \nJoin us on October 22nd at the historic Mark Twain House and hear from one of the top experts in foreign policy and global security. \n\nWednesday\, October 22nd | 7:00-8:00pm | Mark Twain House\, Hartford\, CT\nDoors open 6:30pm\nTickets: $55 General Admission | $40 Member Admission\nThe first 8 people to register will win a free copy of one of David’s books \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n Unlock special member pricing for all GSF2025 events by becoming a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut today. Join on our website or select the membership add-on during checkout. \nIf you are a federal employee who is furloughed\, you are invited to attend this event free of charge. Contact Abby Noyes at noyesa[@]ctwac.org to RSVP. \n\nIntroducing: GSF2025 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only)\nYour ticket to all upcoming in-person and virtual GSF2025 events (excluding dinners and private events) - for just $99. Click the button below to unlock this member-exclusive offer. \nGSF2025 All-Access Pass \n\n\n \n\nFeaturing\nDavid Sanger\nChief White House and National Security Correspondent\, The New York Times \nDavid E. Sanger is the White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times and the bestselling author of The Inheritance\, Confront and Conceal\, and The Perfect Weapon. He has been a member of three teams that won the Pulitzer Prize\, including in 2017 for international reporting about Russia’s effort to manipulate the presidential election. A contributor to CNN\, he also teaches national security policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. \n\nThis event is part of the Global Security Forum Series 2025 (GSF2025). GSF2025 is evolving to reach a growing number of attendees and to host more international and national leaders than ever before. GSF has expanded from a one-day gathering into a dynamic series of in-person and virtual events throughout Fall 2025. Learn more and find the full schedule here. \nThe theme of GSF2025 is Unraveling Order. We explore the edge of uncertainty - the threats that emerge when norms collapse and the opportunities that arise when power shifts. GSF2025 gathers the world’s top leaders and minds to ask: when certainty collapses\, what comes next? \n\nThank you to GSF2025 Sponsors\nBecome a GSF2025 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access\, increased visibility\, and shape the future of global security.\nGSF2025 Series Sponsorship Package (PDF) \n \n\nGSF2025 Presenting Partners\n \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/unraveling-order-david-sanger-gsf2025/
LOCATION:Mark Twain House & Museum\, 351 Farmington Avenue\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Global Security Forum 2025
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