The Council

The World Affairs Council of Oregon is a private, non-profit, non-partisan educational organization dedicated to broadening public understanding of international affairs.

The Council offers over 40 public programs each year with experts and world leaders speaking on a variety of international topics. We also annually host some 500 emerging leaders from around the world as well as entrepreneurs from Russia and the Newly Independent States who come to the U.S. to participate in professional exchanges and business training programs. Other Council programs provide assistance to K-12 schools in their important work of teaching students about the world, and arrange educational travel tours for members to selected destinations abroad.

History

In the wake of America’s growing isolationism after World War II, a group of Reed College professors and friends organized an informal group in 1947 to encourage discussion of international issues. The group flourished under the leadership of Dr. Frank Munk and was incorporated as the World Affairs Council of Oregon in 1950.

During the 1950s, the Council emerged as Oregon’s leading international affairs organization. It was the pilot site for the Foreign Policy Association’s Great Decisions program, a community-based discussion series that still thrives today in Oregon and in thousands of communities throughout the U.S. At various points in its history, the Council has produced several long-running television series on international issues, operated a 24-hour a day volunteer interpreter service for over 60 languages, created and managed city-wide international festivals, hosted presidents and royalty, organized foreign policy conferences and economic summits, and served as a community resource for all manner of international interests.

For decades, the Council has led the state in providing educational programs, public discussion, study opportunities, and professional training programs designed to enhance international awareness. The World Affairs Council of Oregon is affiliated with the national World Affairs Councils of America, the largest international affairs non-profit in the United States with over 80,000 members.

Mission Statement

The mission of the World Affairs Council of Oregon is to broaden public awareness and understanding of international affairs and to engage Oregonians with the world.  Its staff and programs work to serve as a community resource on international affairs; enhance international education in the schools, and sponsor international professional visitors.