Staff Writer
As the City of Jacksonville continues to pursue global business opportunities, a regional group of professionals has made it a mission to enhance Jacksonville’s role in the global economy.
The World Affairs Council of Jacksonville began as the National Interest Forum in 1985 and 10 years later joined the World Affairs Councils of America.
The group adopted the new name and a mission “to promote understanding of the world and its people and to engage citizens of Northeast Florida in becoming informed participants in the global community.”
Starting with about 100 members, the council has grown to about 800 from throughout Northeast Florida.
“We need to have these conversations and to get this information in order to understand what is happening in the world around us,” said Marilyn McAfee, former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Guatemala and chair of the WAC Advisory Board.
“No country can be competitive in the world market by focusing solely on what is happening within their borders. Our goal is to make these opportunities for discussion and presentations available to the community to help Jacksonville develop business leaders in the global marketplace,” she said.
The council offers a Speaker Series, which features both evening and luncheon events, as well as a Young Professionals program and educational opportunities for students and teachers.
The Speaker Series evening events at the University of North Florida allow speakers more time to delve into their topics and interact with the audience through question-and-answer sessions. They are co-hosted by UNF.
The luncheons, co-hosted by the Gate Governors Club, are geared toward the business community and are held at the River Club Downtown.
While most of its members are adults, the Council also reaches out to students and offers a “Great Decisions” program.
“A big part of the World Affairs Council is to prepare our youngsters to be able to compete in the business world,” said retired Admiral Jonathan Howe, council president. “The Great Decisions program really teaches them in a different way and engages them so they can learn how they can take part in shaping the world they live in.”
The program was developed by the Foreign Policy Association as an after-school program for high-school students. Its goals are to expose students to complex and critical issues facing the world and to develop critical thinking, listening and decision-making skills. The topics covered by the 2009 program included: the U.S. and rising powers, Afghanistan and Pakistan, energy and the global economy, the Arctic Age, Egypt in the 21st century, global food supply, Cuba after Castro and universal human rights.
The council also provides students opportunities to meet with public policy leaders to give them an idea of what it is like to hold public office.
“A lot of these kids don’t have public policy role models,” said Nancy Soderberg, a former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and the council’s vice president of programs.
“Because of this, they don’t know how someone becomes involved in public policy and they think they can’t do it,” she said.
WAC welcomes the opportunity to bring together future community leaders through its Young Professionals program.
The program began about a year ago and combines information and education with opportunities to socialize and network with other young professionals from 21 to 40 years old.
An international trivia night, “Social Fusion” and a mentoring program are available to young professionals of the WAC.
Oxford University Economics Professor Paul Collier, a guest speaker this week, appreciated the organization’s efforts.
“I love visiting with the World Affairs Council here in Jacksonville because its mission is my mission,” said the award-winning author and economist. “That mission is trying to build a more informed society.”
More information on the WAC can be found at www.worldaffairscounciljax.org.
356-2466