UPCOMING CWAC EVENTS
Plus, please keep scrolling for WACA & Community Events below
Thursday, February 12 | The Nickelodeon | 1607 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201
Reception at 6:45 p.m. | Film at 7:30 p.m.
WATCH TRAILER | GET TICKETS!
Reception at 6:45 p.m. | Film at 7:30 p.m.
WATCH TRAILER | GET TICKETS!
Happy 2026 Lunar New Year: The Year of the Fire Horse! Join us for this special Lunar New Year screening presented in collaboration with the University of South Carolina’s Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, the Walker Institute of International and Area Studies, and The Nickelodeon, honoring the global impact and enduring power of myth on the modern screen.
Ne Zha 2 is a visually spectacular animated epic rooted in Chinese mythology, continuing the story of the rebellious hero Ne Zha and his bond with Ao Bing. Drawing from the 16th-century classic Investiture of the Gods, the film blends action, fantasy, and emotional depth as Ne Zha confronts divine trials, political betrayal, and questions of fate, identity, and justice.
Released on Lunar New Year in 2025, Ne Zha 2 became a global phenomenon—shattering box office records to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time and a landmark for non-English language cinema. Celebrated for its storytelling, animation, and cultural significance, the film stands as a milestone in contemporary Chinese animation and international film history.
Guests are invited to arrive at 6:45 PM for a Lunar New Year reception featuring a live dumpling-making demonstration with Chef Wang Di of Umami Lab, with opportunities to observe and participate. Light bites will be provided for attendees before the film begins at 7:30 PM.
Ne Zha 2 is a visually spectacular animated epic rooted in Chinese mythology, continuing the story of the rebellious hero Ne Zha and his bond with Ao Bing. Drawing from the 16th-century classic Investiture of the Gods, the film blends action, fantasy, and emotional depth as Ne Zha confronts divine trials, political betrayal, and questions of fate, identity, and justice.
Released on Lunar New Year in 2025, Ne Zha 2 became a global phenomenon—shattering box office records to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time and a landmark for non-English language cinema. Celebrated for its storytelling, animation, and cultural significance, the film stands as a milestone in contemporary Chinese animation and international film history.
Guests are invited to arrive at 6:45 PM for a Lunar New Year reception featuring a live dumpling-making demonstration with Chef Wang Di of Umami Lab, with opportunities to observe and participate. Light bites will be provided for attendees before the film begins at 7:30 PM.
From the WACA Network: WorldNow with Jim Falk
Tuesday, February 10 | 7:00-8:00PM EST
Zoom Webinar | Registration required
FREE with RSVP
REGISTER HERE!
Zoom Webinar | Registration required
FREE with RSVP
REGISTER HERE!
Thirty years ago, the world began to discover the power of the Internet: a digital world and resource to connect, share ideas, learn, and earn. While the rest of the world connected, the Chinese government began creating a system of strict surveillance and censorship on its internet – now known as the Great Firewall.
Today, as the country’s leadership intensifies its control of public discourse and Western headlines reduce the Chinese public to a faceless monolith, what is the true online and on-the ground reality for Chinese citizens?
Join us February 10th on WorldNow as author and journalist Yi-Ling Liu tells the untold story of the Chinese internet. Hear how Chinese citizens have navigated the last 30 years of surveillance and censorship while searching for freedom and connection – behind the Great Firewall.
Today, as the country’s leadership intensifies its control of public discourse and Western headlines reduce the Chinese public to a faceless monolith, what is the true online and on-the ground reality for Chinese citizens?
Join us February 10th on WorldNow as author and journalist Yi-Ling Liu tells the untold story of the Chinese internet. Hear how Chinese citizens have navigated the last 30 years of surveillance and censorship while searching for freedom and connection – behind the Great Firewall.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Yi-Ling Liu is a writer & editor covering AI and Chinese society, from a human-centered lens. She is currently a journalist-in-residence at the Tarbell Center for AI Journalism. She is the author of The Wall Dancers: Searching for Freedom and Connection on the Chinese Internet¸ out on February 3rd.
Her work has been published in The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, Harper’s Magazine, WIRED, and The New York Review of Books. She is a New America Fellow, a recipient of the Matthew Power Literary Reporting Award, and an Overseas Press Club Foundation Scholar. Born and raised in Hong Kong, and a graduate of Yale University, she now lives in London.
Yi-Ling Liu is a writer & editor covering AI and Chinese society, from a human-centered lens. She is currently a journalist-in-residence at the Tarbell Center for AI Journalism. She is the author of The Wall Dancers: Searching for Freedom and Connection on the Chinese Internet¸ out on February 3rd.
Her work has been published in The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, Harper’s Magazine, WIRED, and The New York Review of Books. She is a New America Fellow, a recipient of the Matthew Power Literary Reporting Award, and an Overseas Press Club Foundation Scholar. Born and raised in Hong Kong, and a graduate of Yale University, she now lives in London.
MEET THE HOST:
Jim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe, NM, he is a Director of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk, Jim produces and hosts The Forum, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Jim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe, NM, he is a Director of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk, Jim produces and hosts The Forum, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
ABOUT THE BOOK: The Wall Dancers: Searching for Freedom and Connection on the Chinese Internet, by Yi-Ling Liu
An eye-opening exploration of the Chinese internet that reveals the intricate dance between freedom and control in contemporary China
In the late 1990s, as the world was waking up to the power and emancipatory promise of the internet, Chinese authorities began constructing a system of online surveillance and censorship now known as the Great Firewall. But far from being a barren landscape, the digital world that sprouted up behind the firewall brimmed with new subcultures and tech innovations, offering many Chinese citizens previously unimaginable connection and opportunity.
Today, as the country’s leadership intensifies its control of public discourse and Western headlines reduce the Chinese public to a faceless monolith, journalist Yi-Ling Liu presents an intimate portrait of China’s online ecosystem—and a crucial lens into the on-the-ground reality of life there. Tracing the last three decades of the Chinese internet’s evolution—from its lexicon to its memes to the precise nature of its censorship—she equips readers with a critical tool to assess the past, present, and future of a global power.
Drawing on years of firsthand reporting, The Wall Dancers weaves together the stories of individuals navigating China’s transformation into both the world’s largest online user base and one of its most populous authoritarian states. As these entrepreneurs, activists, artists, and dreamers experience the internet’s power as a tool for both control and liberation, they grapple with universal questions of success and authenticity, love and solidarity, faith and resilience.
The Wall Dancers is at once an unforgettable work of human storytelling and a vital exploration of what it means to live with dignity and hope within the technological systems that now shape all our lives.
Pre-order a copy of The Wall Dancers, coming February 3rd, 2026.
An eye-opening exploration of the Chinese internet that reveals the intricate dance between freedom and control in contemporary China
In the late 1990s, as the world was waking up to the power and emancipatory promise of the internet, Chinese authorities began constructing a system of online surveillance and censorship now known as the Great Firewall. But far from being a barren landscape, the digital world that sprouted up behind the firewall brimmed with new subcultures and tech innovations, offering many Chinese citizens previously unimaginable connection and opportunity.
Today, as the country’s leadership intensifies its control of public discourse and Western headlines reduce the Chinese public to a faceless monolith, journalist Yi-Ling Liu presents an intimate portrait of China’s online ecosystem—and a crucial lens into the on-the-ground reality of life there. Tracing the last three decades of the Chinese internet’s evolution—from its lexicon to its memes to the precise nature of its censorship—she equips readers with a critical tool to assess the past, present, and future of a global power.
Drawing on years of firsthand reporting, The Wall Dancers weaves together the stories of individuals navigating China’s transformation into both the world’s largest online user base and one of its most populous authoritarian states. As these entrepreneurs, activists, artists, and dreamers experience the internet’s power as a tool for both control and liberation, they grapple with universal questions of success and authenticity, love and solidarity, faith and resilience.
The Wall Dancers is at once an unforgettable work of human storytelling and a vital exploration of what it means to live with dignity and hope within the technological systems that now shape all our lives.
Pre-order a copy of The Wall Dancers, coming February 3rd, 2026.
PRESENTED BY
WorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and the World Affairs Councils of America. Presented in partnership with Councils nationwide:
WorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and the World Affairs Councils of America. Presented in partnership with Councils nationwide:
COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS
FREE with RSVP | Reception to follow
REGISTER HERE!
REGISTER HERE!
This event provides a rare opportunity to hear from global leaders whose careers reflect deep engagement with some of the world’s most pressing challenges. All are invited to attend and participate in a conversation linking diplomacy, humanitarian work, and legal reform to the shared mission of strengthening the rule of law.
About the Speakers:
Ambassador Matthew Tueller, former U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait, Yemen, and Iraq, will discuss the realities of governing in regions where institutions are weak or contested, offering firsthand insight into how instability affects diplomacy, security, and justice.
Ambassador Eileen A. Malloy, former U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic and former Inspector General of the Department of State, will speak about the obstacles she has faced in promoting the rule of law within developing nations.
Governor David Beasley, former Governor of South Carolina and former Executive Director of the World Food Programme, will address the vital connection between food and the rule of law.
Dean William Hubbard, Dean of the USC Joseph F. Rice School of Law and co-founder of the World Justice Project, will present key findings from the 2025 Rule of Law Index, highlighting global trends, areas of progress, and emerging concerns in the state of justice worldwide.
About the Speakers:
Ambassador Matthew Tueller, former U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait, Yemen, and Iraq, will discuss the realities of governing in regions where institutions are weak or contested, offering firsthand insight into how instability affects diplomacy, security, and justice.
Ambassador Eileen A. Malloy, former U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic and former Inspector General of the Department of State, will speak about the obstacles she has faced in promoting the rule of law within developing nations.
Governor David Beasley, former Governor of South Carolina and former Executive Director of the World Food Programme, will address the vital connection between food and the rule of law.
Dean William Hubbard, Dean of the USC Joseph F. Rice School of Law and co-founder of the World Justice Project, will present key findings from the 2025 Rule of Law Index, highlighting global trends, areas of progress, and emerging concerns in the state of justice worldwide.
The Anne Frank Awards celebrates individuals and organizations who exemplify the values of courage, compassion, and commitment to Holocaust education. This biennial event honors students, educators, artists, and community leaders who have made significant contributions to preserving the legacy of Anne Frank and promoting Holocaust education.
The evening will feature an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding contributions in various categories, accompanied by a soiree with heavy hors d'oeuvres.
The evening will feature an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding contributions in various categories, accompanied by a soiree with heavy hors d'oeuvres.
We invite you to join us for this special event!
Tickets are now on sale. Please check our website for more information.
If you would like to be a sponsor of the event, please contact Amy Austermiller.
Tickets are now on sale. Please check our website for more information.
If you would like to be a sponsor of the event, please contact Amy Austermiller.
About the Anne Frank Center at USC
In 2021, the University of South Carolina became home to the Anne Frank Center, the only such center in North America and one of only four in the world. Listen to our story here on USC’s Remembering the Days, a university podcast dedicated to sharing campus history.
In 2021, the University of South Carolina became home to the Anne Frank Center, the only such center in North America and one of only four in the world. Listen to our story here on USC’s Remembering the Days, a university podcast dedicated to sharing campus history.
Dear Folks Center Friends:
As you can see, 2025 was another banner year for the Folks Center and the International Business Department. Not only have we continued nearly three decades of our No. 1-ranked International Business educational programming and research, but we have also become a central entity on issues of global competitiveness and innovation.
But we need your help now more than ever to build on the legacy of IB@Moore that Randy Folks and his colleagues began over 50 years ago: Our international business activities have taken a major financial shock because of the U.S. Department of Education’s sudden decision to discontinue all grant programs for international studies, including our Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER). Since 1989, CIBER has been at the foundation of all our IB programming, directly impacting our students, faculty, the Folks Center, our partners and our stakeholders, all of which have helped us achieve our important ranking.
We see this crisis as an opportunity: The Folks Center is mobilizing its allies and faculty to create new sources of funding to sustain our success.
Join us in shaping an even more impactful 2026! Please use this link or scan the QR code below to give generously and fuel the continued success of the International Business program.
As you can see, 2025 was another banner year for the Folks Center and the International Business Department. Not only have we continued nearly three decades of our No. 1-ranked International Business educational programming and research, but we have also become a central entity on issues of global competitiveness and innovation.
But we need your help now more than ever to build on the legacy of IB@Moore that Randy Folks and his colleagues began over 50 years ago: Our international business activities have taken a major financial shock because of the U.S. Department of Education’s sudden decision to discontinue all grant programs for international studies, including our Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER). Since 1989, CIBER has been at the foundation of all our IB programming, directly impacting our students, faculty, the Folks Center, our partners and our stakeholders, all of which have helped us achieve our important ranking.
We see this crisis as an opportunity: The Folks Center is mobilizing its allies and faculty to create new sources of funding to sustain our success.
Join us in shaping an even more impactful 2026! Please use this link or scan the QR code below to give generously and fuel the continued success of the International Business program.
With best regards,
Gerald McDermott, PhD Amy G. Thomson
Department Chair Executive Director
Sonoco International Business Department Folks Center for International Business
Gerald McDermott, PhD Amy G. Thomson
Department Chair Executive Director
Sonoco International Business Department Folks Center for International Business