Connecting Greater Cincinnati to the World

Connecting Greater Cincinnati to the World

As Cincinnati continues to shine as a growing, thriving city, the World Affairs Council of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky acts as a bridge to connect it to the rest of the world. Cincinnati has so much culture and diversity to discover – it truly is a global community.

Dedicated to fostering community and perspective in an increasingly interconnected world, the nonprofit promotes understanding, education, engagement and cooperation by presenting and promoting events and outreach.

“Connecting students to global experiences increases their international awareness, empathy and cultural knowledge,” says Michelle Harpenau Glandorf, executive director of the World Affairs Council. “And it matters more than ever.”

The organization has enhanced lives worldwide for quite some time; this year, the World Affairs Council celebrates 100 years of strengthening the global community.

After the First World War, Glandorf explains, “there was concern that Americans would choose an isolationist foreign policy over one of engagement and involvement in the international conversation.” That concern led to the founding of Cincinnati’s World Affairs Council as a chapter of the World Affairs Councils of America network.

The organization brought in foreign affairs experts to discuss issues such as the League of Nations, reparations after WWI, and a need for the U.S. to defend democracy in Europe.

Today, the World Affairs Council of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky promotes programs and events presented by itself and other organizations throughout our region. “We’re here to help people understand that it’s possible to connect with the world wherever they are,” Glandorf says.

With so many different cultures within our region, the World Affairs Council acts as a guide to help people discover the cultural diversity in Cincinnati. From authentic restaurants, festivals and grocery stores to local historical sites and artifacts, the World Affairs Council acts as a hub for everything that makes Cincinnati unique while connecting to the broader global community.

The council’s mission has a far-reaching impact: Through global education, international exchange and cultural awareness initiatives, the council strengthens Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky’s own international identity and engages local individuals with foreign affairs.

Events promoted by the World Affairs Council are inclusive, and individuals of any age are welcome to get involved. Student outreach is a particularly popular component of the council’s mission.

For example, a partnership with elementary students in Covington, Kentucky, included a global camp program last year which shared a greater understanding about the lives of refugees. “Students learned from our Global Guide from Uganda, Enock Sadiki, who shared his story of being a refugee growing up in Uganda,” Glandorf says. “He also talked about how soccer helped him persevere throughout his time there. At the end of Camp Covington, each student received a signed copy of Enock’s memoir and two multicultural books purchased from the nonprofit Friends of the Public Library.”

The council also engaged with nearly 200 high school students at last year’s 17th International Education Summit. “Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval addressed regional climate change efforts,” Glandorf explains. “Students learned ways to act locally while thinking globally through hands-on, interactive workshops from local businesses.” Twenty-five local professionals also participated and spoke to those students about how they became locally based global business leaders.

“We want everyone to understand what it means to be a global citizen,” Glandorf says. “The more you keep in touch and get involved, the more you’ll learn and educate yourself.”

It’s a belief that was key to creating the World Affairs Council. A hundred years later, Glandorf says, “we continue this type of work today.”

Do you want to get involved with The World Affairs Council? Visit globalcincinnati.org for more information.

Related Stories

No stories found.
Venue Cincinnati
www.venuecincinnati.com