Pillars of Service
Programs
The Council hosts expert-led lectures, panel discussions, luncheons, film screenings, networking events and more.
Education
The Council connects students to the global leaders & offers educators personal & professional development opportunities.
Travel
Featured Programs
From Pivot in 2020 to Innovation in 2021 -Impacts On Capital Project Management: A Dialogue with Antoine Schellinger of Koch Project Solutions
Online Program TXDuring our conversation with Antoine Schellinger, we will learn more about Koch Project Solutions (KPS), discuss the work they are doing around the world. We will hear about a few of their latest projects, including in the mining and biofuels space, and potential outcomes for certain industries. With over 20 years in the industry serving in numerous roles, both at home and overseas, Mr. Schellinger brings vast experience to his current work at KPS. He will also share with us how the COVID-19 crisis impacted KPS and the ways in which the company pivoted, adapted and innovated through the upheaval.
Børge Brende, President of the World Economic Forum on the Global Power of Public-Private Cooperation, The Great Reset & Davos Summit
Online Program TXThe World Affairs Council of Greater Houston is honored to host Børge Brende, President of the World Economic Forum. He will highlight the vital work of the WEF and the new Davos Manifesto – ‘a set of ethical principles to guide companies in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution’. He will discuss the role of Public-Private partnerships in making access to technology more equal and being more inclusive in support of innovators around the globe. Brende will also address: the need for transparency and social responsibility in business; the evolving role of energy in the global economy; and ‘The Great Reset’ – the urgent need for all global stakeholders to cooperate in order for the world to recover from the devastation of the COVID-19 crisis.
Global Young Professionals Meetup: Exploring Houston’s Global Reach in Trade & Diplomacy
Kirby Ice House 3333 Eastside St., HoustonHouston offers business opportunities and ties with a myriad of cities around the world and if you are interested in learning more about the city's Trade & International Affairs Office, this is your opportunity! Join us with Jessica Ngo on April 29th at 6pm.
Global Solutions that Impact the Energy Industry: Girish Saligram, President and CEO at Weatherford
Online Program TXGlobal Solutions that Impact the Energy Industry with Girish Saligram, President and CEO at Weatherford
Russia & Putin’s Threat to the Global Order & How the West Can Push Back: Andrea Kendall-Taylor
Online Program TXSince late March, Russia has alarmed the West by amassing an estimated 80,000 soldiers near the Eastern border of Ukraine and in Crimea. The combined force includes large numbers of tanks, artillery, and short-range ballistic missile systems. Former Deputy National Intelligence Officer for Russia at the NIC & CIA senior analyst Andrea Kendall-Taylor discusses what Putin and Russia might do in the next few weeks and the years to come.
Houston’s Vital Role in the Global Commodities World: A Discussion with Bruce Fulin, Vice President of Crude Oil Business Development for Argus Media, Ltd.
Online Program TXValuation, Commodities, Price Indexation. What does it all mean? Bruce Fulin of Argus Media will break it all down for us as we discuss the events of the past year, and how they affect Houston’s vital role on the global energy stage.
Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire- Brad Stone
Online Program TXAn unvarnished picture of Amazon’s unprecedented growth and its billionaire founder, Jeff Bezos, revealing the most important business story of our time, from Senior Executive Editor for Bloomberg News & Best-selling author Brad Stone.
Legacies of the Holocaust & Fighting Hatred Today
Online Program TXThe killing of over 6 Million Jews during the Holocaust shocked the world, and galvanized global efforts to prevent prejudice, discrimination and genocide. Despite the successes of those endeavors, recent years have seen alarming increases in extremism and violence directed towards racial and ethnic minorities, both around the world and in the US. Kelly Zúñiga, CEO of the Holocaust Museum Houston, will address the need to strengthen education regarding the horrors and root causes of the Holocaust, and also what efforts are needed now to fight injustice and intolerance in all forms.
Chelsea Clinton: Global Health and Economic Opportunities to Civic Engagement & Challenges of Global Interdependence.
Online Program TXJoin the Council’s CEO, Maryanne Maldonado, for her one on one conversation with Chelsea Clinton on issues ranging from global health and economic opportunities to civic engagement and meeting the challenges of global interdependence.
Global Young Professionals: Come Fly the World: Pan Am’s Stewardesses Role in History
Online Program TXThis history recounts in this dramatic and outstanding role Pan Am stewardesses played in the Vietnam War….Skillfully intertwining jet-age excitement with the tumultuous politics of the era, this is a unique and compassionate portrait of barrier-breaking women in U.S. History
Global Affairs & U.S. Foreign Policy Institute
World Affairs Council of Greater Houston 2500 East TC Jester Boulevard, Suite 350 HoustonThe Global Affairs & U.S. Foreign Policy Institute will focus on how the current world geopolitical order has come into being, and what has been and can be the US’s role in influencing the world in the years to come.
This is a 6 weeks long course that will meet once a week for a 2 hour session in person.
Global Scholars Academy Session I (Virtual): Middle School & High School
World Affairs Council of Greater Houston 2500 East TC Jester Boulevard, Suite 350 HoustonThe World Affairs Council of Greater Houston Global Scholars Academy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit Academy providing an opportunity for students, grades 7th – 12th, to develop interest and demonstrate expertise in understanding world cultures and international issues. Curriculum includes a globally-focused course of study, including classes, coursework, projects, extracurricular activities and visits to relevant outside organizations.
Global Scholars Academy Session II (In -person): High School
World Affairs Council of Greater Houston 2500 East TC Jester Boulevard, Suite 350 HoustonThe World Affairs Council of Greater Houston Global Scholars Academy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit Academy providing an opportunity for students, grades 7th – 12th, to develop interest and demonstrate expertise in understanding world cultures and international issues. Curriculum includes a globally-focused course of study, including classes, coursework, projects, extracurricular activities and visits to relevant outside organizations.
Global Scholars Academy Session 3 (In-person): Middle School
World Affairs Council of Greater Houston 2500 East TC Jester Boulevard, Suite 350 HoustonAbout The Academy The World Affairs Council of Greater Houston Global Scholars Academy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit Academy providing an opportunity for students, grades 7th – 12th, to develop interest […]
Student World Affairs Councils
Shaping the students of Greater Houston today into the global leaders of tomorrow.
Local to Global:
Early Career Professionals
The Council’s Local To Global discussions engage early career professionals, aged 21 to 40, in peer-driven learning and dialogue on leading international affairs issues.
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Meet
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Global Adventures Travel
We focus on organizing unforgettable journeys to one-of-a-kind destinations for small groups of 10 to 20 travelers. Travelers are guided from the beginning to the end of the experience to ensure safety, knowledge, cultural exchange and entertainment, giving them an opportunity to connect with their surroundings and with one another.
Our Mission
In service to Greater Houston as a Global City, the mission of our Council is to promote understanding of the world – its people, politics, economies and cultures – to enable the Houston community to participate more effectively in the global world.
World Affairs and International Education
At the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston, we offer unprecedented opportunities to get involved with world affairs and international education through a Houston nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to unbiased learning opportunities and the exchange of both global culture and local perspectives.
As a nonpartisan organization, we promote international dialogue and education through cultural sessions, speaking engagements, travel opportunities and much more. All World Affairs Council programming is open to the public, as we are dedicated to free and fair discussion on pressing topics that influence the world today and the world to come.
Exploring the World
As a Houston nonprofit travel organization, we offer global citizens options and opportunities you simply cannot find anywhere else. For instance, the Council organizes insider tours, embassy visits and other such engagements in the countries we visit, offering travelers an inside view to learn about the world, taking this far beyond a simple tourism opportunity. This is a way to travel that can broaden your global perspective and impact and change your life forever.
Engaging in Houston
Of course, you do not have to travel to engage with foreign affairs in Houston. We organize premiere events that bring timely speakers and experts to you. Speakers include senators, national security advisors, presidential candidates, high-level executives, foreign world leaders and the like. Engage with world leaders and acclaimed experts and thought leaders at one of our private luncheons, an intimate Council Cabinet reception, an open dialogue at one of our evening programs, or perhaps over dinner at one of our cultural sessions. As the premier foreign affairs programming in Houston, the options are limitless.
You want to explore the world in a deeply intellectual manner and expand your own perspectives through relentless education. We’re the best Houston international nonprofit organization to make those dreams a reality.
Educational Opportunity
Throughout the academic school year, we also offer educational opportunities and programs for students and teachers. We have a vast array of resources used by teachers and professors, including international affairs lesson plans and discussion modules. Let us bring you something that you just cannot find in a standard classroom. It’s been our mission for years and we continue to work hard toward this end every day. Teachers can receive professional development credit by attending one of our programs or lectures, while students have the opportunity to engage with speakers on a one-on-one basis. As Houston’s premiere nonprofit international education center, we’re proud to offer education beyond the classroom and beyond the headlines.
The Benefits of Membership
When you join, these opportunities become more affordable and accessible than ever. You can experience our international programs in Houston at discounted rates and get advanced notice of upcoming events as soon as they get scheduled. You also get a chance to have more than your standard evening out, joining with other life-long learners and dedicating yourself to the noble pursuit of knowledge and insight on many levels.
If you’d like to learn more about memberships options and the programs we offer, please click here or contact us at 713-522-7811.