World Affairs Council Of Oregon Inc

THE MISSION OF WORLDOREGON IS TO ENGAGE OREGONIANS WITH THE WORLD AND BROADEN PUBLIC AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.

INTERNATIONAL VISITORS PROGRAMS-DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WORLDOREGON CONVERTED ALL PROGRAMS TO VIRTUAL. THE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION BELOW DESCRIBES A NORMAL YEAR, AND WHILE WORLDOREGON HAS ADJUSTED AS WELL AS POSSIBLE, THE ORGANIZATION AIMS TO MOVE TOWARD HYBRID IN-PERSON/VIRTUAL PROGRAMMMING ONCE THE PANDEMIC SUBSIDES. THE ORGANIZATION COORDINATES PROFESSIONAL VISITS AND TRAINING PROGRAMS TO OREGON FOR APPROXIMATELY 500 CURRENT AND EMERGING LEADERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD EACH YEAR. THESE VISITORS ARE TOP BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL, CULTURAL, AND YOUTH LEADERS, AND PROMISING EMERGING LEADERS. THEY ARE CONNECTED WITH THEIR PROFESSIONAL COUNTERPARTS IN OREGON FOR MEETINGS, OR COME FOR WEEK TO MONTH-LONG PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS. THE VISITORS COME THROUGH HIGH-PROFILE PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATES INTERNATIONAL VISITOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (IVLP), THE USAID-SPONSORED COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS PROGRAM, AND THE OPEN WORLD PROGRAM-THE ONLY INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE THROUGH THE U.S. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH. WHILE IVLP PARTICIPANTS STAY IN HOTELS, THE REMAINING GROUPS OFTEN STAY WITH LOCAL VOLUNTEER HOST FAMILIES. THE INTERNATIONAL VISITORS PROGRAM ENABLES CROSS-CULTURAL CONVERSATIONS AND FACILITATES PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE BETWEEN OREGONIANS AND THE WORLD. AN INTERNATIONAL VISITORS ADVISORY COUNCIL HELPS PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL RESOURCEES INPUT TO THIS WORK.

GLOBAL CLASSROOM-DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WORLDOREGON CONVERTED ALL PROGRAMS TO VIRTUAL. THE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION BELOW DESCRIBES A NORMAL YEAR, AND WHILE WORLDOREGON HAS ADJUSTED AS WELL AS POSSIBLE, THE ORGANIZATION AIMS TO MOVE TOWARD HYBRID IN-PERSON/VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING ONCE THE PANDEMIC SUBSIDES. THE GLOBAL CLASSROOM INCLUDES THE GLOBAL & MULTICULTURAL RESOURCE CENTER, INCLUDING CULTURE BOXES, TEACH THE WORLD EDUCATOR WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES AND YOUTH FORUMS, YOUNG LEADERS IN ACTION, AND INTERNATIONAL YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAMS. THE GLOBAL CLASSROOM ENABLES K-12 EDUCATORS TO TEACH ABOUT THE WORLD BY PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONNECTING THEM WITH MATERIALS, PEOPLE, AND CREATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES, SUCH AS A LIBRARY OF OVER 100 CULTURE BOXES, SUPPLEMENTARY ONLINE MATERIALS, LESSON PLANS, AND CLASSROOM CURRICULUM ABOUT THE MOST PRESSING GLOBAL ISSUES WE FACE TODAY. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING ( TEACH THE WORLD), SPEAKERS ON INTERNATIONAL ISSUES, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHERS AND CONNECTIONS WITH STUDENTS ON INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES. AN EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL HELPS PROVIDE TEACHER INPUT TO THIS WORK. THE YOUNG LEADERS IN ACTION PROGRAM INCLUDES 20-25 STUDENTS ANNUALLY FROM PORTLAND METRO AREA HIGH SCHOOLS WHO ENGAGE IN LEADERSHIP TRAINING, EXECUTE ACTION PLANS AND SERVE AS AMBASSADORS TO THEIR SCHOOLS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HOSTS APPROXIMATELY 50 HIGH SCHOOL LEADERS ANNUALLY FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD THROUGH U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS. THESE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH ENGAGE WITH AREA YOUTH LEADERS AND STAY WITH LOCAL VOLUNTEER HOST FAMILIES IN OFTEN THEIR FIRST EXPOSURE TO INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AND U.S. CULTURE.

INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS SERIES-DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WORLDOREGON CONVERTED ALL PROGRAMS TO VIRTUAL. THE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION BELOW DESCRIBES A NORMAL YEAR, AND WHILE WORLDOREGON HAS ADJUSTED AS WELL AS POSSIBLE, THE ORGANIZATION AIMS TO MOVE TOWARD HYBRID IN-PERSON/VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING ONCE THE PANDEMIC SUBSIDES. EVERY YEAR THE INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER SERIES FEATURES PROMINENT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FIGURES WHO ADDRESS THE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES OF THE MOMENT. INAUGURATED IN 2000 TO CELEBRATE THE ORGANIZATIONS 50TH ANNIVERSARY, THE SERIES HAS BECOME THE NATIONS PREMIER SPEAKER SERIES FOCUSING ON INTERNATIONAL DISCUSSION AND EDUCATION. THE SERIES BRINGS AUDIENCES FACE TO FACE WITH THE GLOBAL LEADERS, VISIONARIES, AND INSPIRING VOICES THAT ARE CHANGING OUR WORLD.

GLOBAL CONVERSATIONS-DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WORLDOREGON CONVERTED ALL PROGRAMS TO VIRTUAL. THE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION BELOW DESCRIBES A NORMAL YEAR, AND WHILE WORLDOREGON HAS ADJUSTED AS WELL AS POSSIBLE, THE ORGANIZATION AIMS TO MOVE TOWARD HYBRID IN-PERSON/VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING ONCE THE PANDEMIC SUBSIDES. THE ORGANIZATION SPONSORS APPROXIMATELY 50 PUBLIC PROGRAMS EACH YEAR FEATURING EXPERTS ON INTERNATIONAL ISSUES WHO ENGAGE IN SPIRITED Q&A WITH THE AUDIENCE. PROGRAMS INCLUDE A YOUNG PROFESSIONALS GROUP AND CULTURE AND/OR RECREATION-ORIENTED EVENTS. THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTS ANNUALLY THE GREAT DECISIONS SERIES ON THE EIGHT MOST CRITICAL FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES FACING THE U.S. A GLOBAL CONVERSATIONS ADVISORY COUNCIL HELPS PROVIDE COMMUNITY INPUT TO THIS WORK.