Skip to Content
Close
World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts
Menu Join Donate Cart Search
  • About
    • Board of Directors
  • News & Notables
  • Programs
    • Events
    • Past Programs
  • Membership
    • Corporate Members and Sponsors
  • Get Involved
  • Contact

Linking Western Massachusetts to the world since 1926

Photo Credit: Michael S. Gordon

We are a nonpartisan organization dedicated to promoting citizen diplomacy and civil, informed discourse on international affairs. 

#
Speaker Events
Speaker Events
#

Speaker Events

Learn More...
#
Citizen Diplomacy
Citizen Diplomacy
#

Citizen Diplomacy

Learn More...
#
Social Events
Social Events
#

Social Events

Learn More...
#
Classroom Engagement
Classroom Engagement
#

Classroom Engagement

Learn More...

Upcoming Events

Sep 18
Instant Issues with Greg White: Refugees of the Apocalypse?: A Critique of the Concept of “Climate Refugees"
Category
Featured
Dates & Times
Starts: 09/18/2023 @ 12:00 pm
Ends: 09/18/2023 @ 1:00 pm
Summary
The World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts will present an Instant Issues event featuring Dr. Gregory White, Mary Huggins Gamble Professor of Government; Chair of Environmental Science and Policy at Smith College, on Refugees of the Apocalypse?: A Critique of the Concept of “Climate Refugees" on Monday, September18, 2023 at Noon, in the 9th Floor Gallery at 1350 Main Street in downtown Springfield.
Attachment
Gregory-White.jpg
Register Here
May 12
Instant Issues: Massachusetts & Catalonia, strengthening a partnership
Category
Featured
Dates & Times
Starts: 05/12/2023 @ 12:00 pm
Ends: 05/12/2023 @ 1:00 pm
Location
1350 Main Street, 9th Floor, Springfield, MA
Summary
The World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts will present an Instant Issues event featuring Isidre Sala Queralt, the Head of the Delegation of the Government of Catalonia to the United States and Canada, on Massachusetts & Catalonia, strengthening a partnership on Friday, May 12, 2023 at Noon, in the 9th Floor Gallery at 1350 Main Street in downtown Springfield. Isidre Sala Queralt was the Director General for Global Affairs from April to September 2019 at the Secretariat for Foreign Affairs and European Union of the Government of Catalonia, where he previously was Director General for Multilateral and European Affairs . From these posts, he worked to foster cooperation between the Government of Catalonia and the multilateral organizations in order to maximize Catalonia’s potential contribution to the main global challenges. From 2014 to 2017, he promoted Catalonia’s policy in international finance institutions and other international organizations with an economic mandate.
Register Here
Apr 27
Instant Issues: U.S. Department of Commerce and Assisting Western MA Exporters Go Global
Category
Featured
Dates & Times
Starts: 04/27/2023 @ 12:00 pm
Ends: 04/27/2023 @ 1:00 pm
Location
1350 Main Street, 9th Floor, Springfield, MA
Summary
The World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts will present Director of the Boston Office of the U.S. Commercial Service James Paul on U.S. Department of Commerce and Assisting Western MA Exporters Go Global on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at Noon, in the 9th Floor Community Room at 1350 Main Street in downtown Springfield. Jim Paul is Director of the Boston Office for the U.S. Commercial Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. Jim will discuss his agency’s Rural Export Center and many other resources that help Western Massachusetts organizations compete and win in the global marketplace. He will also brief on available assistance to enhance foreign direct investment, travel and tourism from abroad, and international student recruitment to the area’s local high schools and universities.
Register Here
Mar 21
Mike Chinoy on American Journalists Covering China
Category
Featured
Dates & Times
Starts: 03/21/2023 @ 12:00 pm
Ends: 03/21/2023 @ 1:30 pm
Location
The Student Prince, 8 Fort Street, Springfield, MA
Summary
Veteran journalist Mike Chinoy will speak at a luncheon on his new book, Assignment China: An Oral History of American Journalists in the People's Republic. The book tells the story of how American journalists have covered China—from the civil war of the 1940s through the COVID-19 pandemic—in their own words. They share behind-the-scenes stories of reporting on historic moments such as Richard Nixon’s groundbreaking visit in 1972, China’s opening up to the outside world and its emergence as a global superpower, and the crackdowns in Tiananmen Square and Xinjiang.
Register Here
Feb 9
Mouloud Said on The Human Face of the Western Sahara Conflict
Category
Featured
Dates & Times
Starts: 02/09/2023 @ 5:00 pm
Ends: 02/09/2023 @ 6:00 pm
Location
1350 Main Street, 9th Floor, Springfield, MA
Summary
The World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts will present US Representative of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic in Washington in conversation with Nina Nedrebø, on The Rights of the People of Western Sahara: The Human Face of the Conflict on Thursday, February 9 at 5:00 PM EDT, in the 9th Floor Gallery at 1350 Main Street in downtown Springfield. The event is free and open to the public, but advanced registration is required. Light refreshments will be provided.
Register Here
Jan 13
Instant Issues: Women & Youth Movements in Iran
Category
Featured
Dates & Times
Starts: 01/13/2023 @ 12:00 pm
Ends: 01/13/2023 @ 1:00 pm
Location
1350 Main Street, 9th Floor, Springfield, MA
Summary
The World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts will present longtime friend of the Council Attorney Mahsa Khanbabai, Khanbabai Immigration Law, on Women and Youth Movements in Iran on Friday, January 13 at Noon EDT, in the 9th Floor Gallery at 1350 Main Street in downtown Springfield. Attorney Khanbabai was born in Iran and raised in Western Massachusetts. She is regularly interviewed by news agencies such as NPR, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, MSNBC, and others. Her legal advocacy and strategic use of the media spotlight has led to numerous high impact immigration changes including the reinstatement of Deferred Action.
Register Here
Nov 30 2022
Instant Issues: Right Across the World - Italy, Sweden & Brazil
Category
Featured
Dates & Times
Starts: 11/30/2022 @ 12:00 pm
Ends: 11/30/2022 @ 1:00 pm
Location
1350 Main Street, 3rd Floor Community Room, Springfield, MA
Summary
The World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts will present John Feffer, director of Foreign Policy in Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, on "Right Across the World: Italy, Sweden & Brazil" on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at Noon EDT, in the Community Room at 1350 Main Street in downtown Springfield. John Feffer is the author of several books and numerous articles. His latest non-fiction book is "Right Across the World: The Global Networking of the Far-Right and the Left Response ". He is a senior associate at the Asia Institute in Seoul and has been both a Writing Fellow at Provisions Library in Washington, DC and a PanTech fellow in Korean Studies at Stanford University. He is a former associate editor of World Policy Journal. He has worked as an international affairs representative in Eastern Europe and East Asia for the American Friends Service Committee. The Instant Issues series is generously sponsored by Wilbraham & Monson Academy, Glenmeadow, & Sir Speedy. Special thanks to NAI Plotkin
Register Now!
Oct 25 2022
96th Annual Meeting Featuring Farah Pandith on How to Win: Soft Power & Fighting Hate
Category
Featured
Dates & Times
Starts: 10/25/2022 @ 6:00 pm
Ends: 10/25/2022 @ 8:30 pm
Location
Springfield Sheraton Hotel at Monarch Place
Summary
The Board of Directors of the World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts cordially invite you to attend the 96th Annual Meeting and Dinner with featured speaker Farah Pandith on How We Win: Soft power and Fighting Hate. Farah Pandith is an author, foreign policy strategist, and former diplomat. A world-leading expert and pioneer in countering violent extremism, she is a frequent media commentator and public speaker. Her book is How We Win: How Cutting-Edge Entrepreneurs, Political Visionaries, Enlightened Business Leaders, and Social Media Mavens Can Defeat the Extremist Threat. She served as a political appointee under Presidents George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, and most recently she was the first-ever Special Representative to Muslim Communities, serving both Secretaries Hillary Clinton and John Kerry. She has served on the National Security Council, at the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in various senior roles. She is a senior fellow with the Future of Diplomacy Project at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School as well as an adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. In fall 2020, the Muhammad Ali Center named Pandith the first-ever Muhammad Ali Global Peace Laureate for her proven track record of and commitment to promoting diversity, cohesion and respect. Special thanks to NAI Plotkin This event is generously sponsored by M & T Bank.
For More Information & to Register
View All Events

WACWM News & Notables

Sep
18
Dr. Gregory White: Refugees of the Apocalypse?: A Critique of the Concept of “Climate Refugees"
Dr. Gregory White: Refugees of the Apocalypse?: A Critique of the Concept of “Climate Refugees"
September, 18th 2023
The World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts presented an Instant Issues event featuring Dr. Gregory White, Mary Huggins Gamble Professor of Government; Chair of Environmental Science and Policy at Smith College. Date: September18, 2023 - Springfield, MA.
Mar
24
Return to In-Person Programs: What Does it Mean?
Return to In-Person Programs: What Does it Mean?
March, 24th 2022
Protocols for return to in-person events
May
28
Instant Issues Online:  Lisa Napoli on CNN & the Impact of the 24-Hour News Cycle on Global Events
Instant Issues Online: Lisa Napoli on CNN & the Impact of the 24-Hour News Cycle on Global Events
May, 28th 2020
Journalist Lisa Napoli will speak at an Instant Issues Online event Thursday, May 28 from 1:00-1:30 PM on her new book Up All Night: Ted Turner, CNN, and the Birth of 24-Hour News. This event is free. In over three decades as a journalist, Lisa Napoli covered…
View All News
Past Programs
Join Now
Contact Us

World Affairs Councils of America
Global Ties U.S.
Join Our Newsletter
Subscribe
Stay Connected
Link to: https://www.facebook.com/WACWestMA/posts/10157037725220767 Link to: https://twitter.com/WACWestMA Link to: https://www.instagram.com/wacwestma/

Benefactors

Carousel Previous
Carousel Next

Instagram

follow wacwestma

World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts
1350 Main Street, 12th Floor | PO Box 4234
Springfield, MA 01101-4234
(413) 733-0110
© 2023 World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts, All Rights Reserved
PlusPortals Sign In

Can't access your account?

  • About
    • Board of Directors
  • News & Notables
  • Programs
    • Events
    • Past Programs
  • Membership
    • Corporate Members and Sponsors
  • Get Involved
  • Contact

Quick Links

Sample Link