Statements
Mission
The mission of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness, understanding and connections to enhance the region's global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world.
Background
The Tennessee World Affairs Council was incorporated on February 14, 2007 as a nonprofit educational charity (IRS 501c3) with the mission of delivering global awareness programs and resources to communities and especially schools in Tennessee.
It was founded by community members from a cross section of professions who were concerned about the lack of knowledge about world affairs. Among the evidence that concerned them was the results of a National Geographic/Roper survey in which, among other shortfalls, only 37% of 18-24 year-olds could find Iraq on a map, three years into the war.
After opening the doors of its office in Cookeville, Tennessee on May 1, 2007 the Council became a member of the national network of World Affairs Councils of America (WACA), all independent, nonpartisan organizations that share the same goal to bring global affairs awareness programs to Americans. By affiliating with the WACA network the Tennessee Council became eligible to share their national programs with local schools and communities that would not have been able to access these resources otherwise.
The Tennessee World Affairs Council delivered programs and resources to the Upper Cumberland region of the state in its first few years but soon developed a state-wide charter as teachers, students and organizations that could not access the Councils' network program sought out international education opportunities.
In 2015 the Council announced its relaunch from Nashville hosted at Belmont University. The TNWAC provides international education awareness opportunities to the Nashville and Middle Tennessee communities and schools, and continues to serve state-wide needs through remote programs and visits from speakers and program providers.
The partnership with Belmont University expanded with the Council taking residence in a building on Compton Avenue in Nashville that it shared with Sister Cities of Nashville. Both later relocated to Fidelity Hall on the Belmont Campus. TNWAC hosts most of its community program on campus and its relationship with the University is an ongoing benefit to both.
In Nashville TNWAC expanded community speaker programs and education outreach. The Academic WorldQuest high school program - TNWAC's flagship education opportunity - was augmented with other opportunities for students to become engaged. Regular international careers panels rotating around campuses in Middle Tennessee provided college students and young professionals a chance to lea
Impact
TNWAC's impact has been acknowledged by the November 2022 award of World Affairs Council of the Year from among the 95 councils in the national network of independent councils.
Academic WorldQuest How best to get youth involved? Make it fun. WorldQuest is the flagship educational outreach program of the Council. It is a quiz competition that encourages reading and preparation for an academic game. TN WAC hosts a state championship match and sponsors the winning team to the national title competition in Washington. Past winners included Martin Luther King, Jr. Magnet HS and Montgomery Bell Academy. In 2016-2017 the Council continued to grow the program with the addition of a dedicated Education Outreach Coordinator, a retired MNPS social studies teacher to expand and improve the program. WorldQuest is complemented with a popular 'What in the World?' weekly quiz and a 'Tennessee Global Scholar Certificate' program that recognizes year-round global affairs awareness involvement by students.Distinguished Visiting Speaker/Ambassadorial Series Face-to-face with global leaders and policymakers. The ability of World Affairs Councils to bring foreign affairs officials, business people, military officers, academics and others to contact with our audiences is a hallmark of the WAC network. The Council organizes panel discussions, seminars and symposia under the speaker series, such as public affairs briefings with the Ambassador of Russia Sergei I. Kislyak, Ambassador of Ireland Anne Anderson and Consul General of Japan Masami Kinefuchi. In addition to officials, business people, scholars, and others who speak at Tennessee WAC events in the coming year we will welcome about four visits by foreign ambassadors.
Global Dialogue Conversations Tackle 'Hot Topics'Local discussion groups - like classical 'salons' - bring people together for conversations about international issues in the news. The Council launched a monthly program to facilitate social meetings for that purpose -- open to the general public and students. These groups are provided readings to prepare for give and take where they share their insights and perspectives in a mutually respectful dialogue. TN WAC Global Dialogues help citizens get global affairs insights and perspectives to be responsible participants in American foreign policy direction.'Global Tennessee' Podcast The launch of the Global Tennessee Podcast extended the reach of the Council dramatically to bring international affairs awareness to new members of the community who may not be able to attend our in-person events. The Podcast provides a regular 'Roundtable' on global issues and events affecting Nashville and across the state along with a 'Conversation' segment that gives insights and perspectives with interview subjects on a wide spectrum of international affairs. Between the regular Podcast -- every two weeks -- and the frequent special episodes, Global Tennessee Podcast subscribers and new listeners gain a better understanding of the world. Conversations already recorded: Senator Bob Corker, Chairman Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Bart Edes, North American Rep. Asian Development Bank; Lori Odom, VP International, Nashville Area Chamber; Lisset Diaz, lead vocals Sweet Lizzy Band from Havana, Cuba; Dr. Marieta Velikova on US-Russia relations; and Ronald Modra, renowned photographer on international/travel photography. 2019 GOALS Management and Development This year is a transitional year of growth for the TN WAC. Capitalizing on an expanded board with a new position for a chair and a new office along with a grant to support program and development growth, the Council will be hiring it's first full-time employee, increasing its volunteer and intern staff and increasing its communication and fundraising operations. 2018 will be a milestone year for the Council.
Needs
The Tennessee World Affairs Council needs to (1) continue to build the organization's base including volunteer and paid staff, the board of advisors and its board of directors; (2) establish a financial base for regular expenses including overhead; (3) continue to expand its membership and organizational partnerships; (4) institutionalize its regular program offerings; and (5) develop a durable network of educators across the state to help deliver programs and resources to Tennessee students.
CEO Statement
The Tennessee World Affairs Council (TNWAC) is the first and only educational organization in the state devoted to improving global awareness in our communities and schools, and affiliated with the national network of the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA). The founders felt very strongly -- backed by empirical data -- there was a severe shortfall in programs and resources for Tennesseans to increase their understanding of developments in the international arena, especially among our school age children. They face the most challenging global environment in America's history. American's 'global literacy' is subpar. The initial approach was an organization to provide programs and resources locally. But the founders saw no other organization in the state could access the national level programs available through the WACA network, so they chose to offer programs to any community or school in Tennessee. The Council offers programs, such as the Academic WorldQuest national global awareness competition for high schools, to every school in the state. By establishing partnerships the TNWAC is able to bring distinguished visiting speakers - ambassadors, foreign affairs specialists, military officers, and scholars - to communities and schools that would not otherwise have access to such opportunities. We often refer to the story of Olivia to make the point about the World Affairs Council's unique mission and impact. In our first year of operation, 2007, I had an opportunity to bring four high school students to a conference I was attending for my professional needs, the Arab-US Policymakers Conference in Washington. Olivia and her classmates were assigned to make mini-videos of interviews they captured with conference speakers and attendees -- ambassadors, officials, scholars, business people, military officers and such.
Board Chair Statement
The Tennessee World Affairs Council, as it works to become a more sustainable organization, faces the same challenges as other nonprofits including the paradox of trying to solidify its foundation at the same time it works to develop programs. However, the Council has been successful in its first years of operation in Cookeville office, expanding programs state-wide; successful in shifting the base of operations to Nashville through a partnership with Belmont University; and in laying the groundwork for expansion of its role as tacking the 'global literacy' shortfall among our citizens and students. When I agreed to become World Affairs Council chair I was attracted by the important work it was doing and the legacy of success it had earned in its first decade. I appreciated the need for a World Affairs Council. Since joining the World Affairs Council and agreeing to serve as chair I have been pleased to see the Board of Directors -- a solid collection of professionals from the community -- aggressively tackle the various tasks needed to grow and professionalize the Council:Standing up functional committees to develop and follow up on key-performance indicators in the areas of finance, communications, development and programming.Worked with the Treasurer, a Nashville-based international telecommunications firm's VP, to incorporate sound financial practices and bookkeeping. Coordinated with the communications and development committees to set out an agenda to improve those areas of operations .Launched a strategic-planning process that will codify the mission and vision of the World Affairs Council into a clear path for future growth.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | International, Foreign Affairs, and National Security - Promotion of International Understanding |
| Secondary Category: | Public & Societal Benefit - Citizen Participation |
| Tertiary Category: | Education - Educational Services |
Areas Served
The Tennessee World Affairs Council was founded in Middle Tennessee but offers its services, especially access for educators to national level programs through the WAC network, to a statewide audience.
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