UPCOMING EVENTS
Friends & Neighbors
Norwegian jazz quintet
Sponsored by CWAC and the Nordic Club of Columbia, SC
Tickets are $10 at the door
The Norwegian/Swedish Jazz band, Friends & Neighbors, is returning to Columbia! CWAC and the Nordic Club of Columbia are proud to sponsor this phenomenal jazz quintet who have received great acclaim by Columbia audiences in years past. Friends & Neighbors represents a new generation of bands from the Norwegian jazz scene. The music can be described as energetic and melodic free jazz inspired by musicians like Ornette Coleman, Archie Shepp, Pharoah Sanders, and John Carter.
Read more about the band here: www.friendsandneighbors.no
Read more about the band here: www.friendsandneighbors.no
Sponsored by
French Conversation Club Meetings
Bonjour! We hope you can attend one of these French conversation groups over the next month. Below are the groups for this month, as well as other French- and global-related events that may interest you! Please RSVP here to let us know if you'll attend one of the conversation groups.
Also, let us know what you'd like the conversation groups to do and when you'd like them to occur. The weekday groups particularly don't seem to be responding to your needs, so we're hoping to see the date/times that work best for you, as well as any other ideas. https://forms.gle/ESainGE5DKSkmV999
Also, let us know what you'd like the conversation groups to do and when you'd like them to occur. The weekday groups particularly don't seem to be responding to your needs, so we're hoping to see the date/times that work best for you, as well as any other ideas. https://forms.gle/ESainGE5DKSkmV999
Other French and Global-Related Events in the Region
- Music on February 22nd: Friends & Neighbors: Norwegian/Swedish Jazz Quintet (see above)
Portuguese Conversation Group
Do you speak Portuguese and want to keep your skills sharp? Are you interested in learning Portuguese and exploring the cultures that speak it? Just curious? Then join the Portuguese Conversation Group for their next meetup at Hunter Gatherer on Main Street!
The event is free and open to the public. Bring a friend!
For more information and to RSVP, please contact the group leader, Victoria Mann at LusophoneCola@gmail.com
The event is free and open to the public. Bring a friend!
For more information and to RSVP, please contact the group leader, Victoria Mann at LusophoneCola@gmail.com
Distinguished Speaker Series:
The Rise and Challenges of Authoritarian Populism in Europe and the U.S.
with Distinguished Speaker Dr. David Sirakov, Director of the Atlantic Academy, Kaiserslautern, Germany
Wednesday, March 18
12:00 to 2:00 p.m.
The Palmetto Club
1231 Sumter St, Columbia, SC 29201
12:00 to 2:00 p.m.
The Palmetto Club
1231 Sumter St, Columbia, SC 29201
Join us for a special Distinguished Speaker luncheon with Dr. David Sirakov, from Columbia's Sister City, Kaiserslautern, Germany!
With the success of populist movements, candidates, and parties across Europe and in the U.S., Western democracies face new challenges from within their own societies. Since we experience movements and parties in Europe like the Rassemblement National in France, Fidesz in Hungary or the Alternative for Germany as well as the Tea Party or politicians like Donald Trump in the U.S., the question arises as to how societal trends of uncertainty, inequality, and, thus, polarization leads to such developments. In the talk, these factors will be addressed in a comparative perspective.
With the success of populist movements, candidates, and parties across Europe and in the U.S., Western democracies face new challenges from within their own societies. Since we experience movements and parties in Europe like the Rassemblement National in France, Fidesz in Hungary or the Alternative for Germany as well as the Tea Party or politicians like Donald Trump in the U.S., the question arises as to how societal trends of uncertainty, inequality, and, thus, polarization leads to such developments. In the talk, these factors will be addressed in a comparative perspective.
Dr. David Sirakov is the director of the Atlantic Academy Rheinland-Pfalz. He studied political science and public law at the University of Trier. After completing his studies, he worked as a research associate in political science at the Technical University Kaiserslautern. He obtained his doctorate on the U.S.-Russian relations in the Bush-Putin era (2000-2008). His research focuses on the polarization in U.S. Congress and American society, the U.S.-Russia relations and theories of international relations. Since 2015, Dr. Sirakov is a member of the Advisory Board Landesarbeitsausschuss) of the Rhinland-Palatinate State Center for Political Education. Since 2017, he is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies.
$25 Members | $35 Nonmembers | $20 Students
$25 Members | $35 Nonmembers | $20 Students
Past Events, Programs & Partnerships
2019
January 8
Benelux: Celebration 60 Years of Union, Distinguished Speaker panel with William De Baets, Consul General of Belgium; Georges Hoffman, Honorary Consul of Luxembourg; and Dr. Marc van Essen, USC Darla Moore School of Business (representing the Netherlands)
March 4
2019 Columbia World Affairs Council Annual Meeting
March 13
BREXIT over Breakfast with Distinguished Speaker British Consul General Andrew Staunton
March 23
Academic WorldQuest Midlands Regional Competition
April 5
Norwegian/Swedish Jazz Quintet Friends & Neighbors Concert at if ART Gallery
April 10
Academic WorldQuest Trivia Night Fundraiser
April 12-13
Teaching the Past in the Future Series, a Goethe Institute/Deutschlandjahr program of the Hanns Seidel Foundation in association with Centropa, USC, and the Columbia World Affairs Council
April 16-17
Diplomacy Begins Here Series, a visit to Columbia by Distinguished Speaker Katherine Brown, President and CEO of Global Ties US
April 25
Brexit and the Future of European Integration with Distinguished Speaker Dr. Matthias Matthijs, John Hopkins University
April 26-27
The Carlos and Malú Alvarez 2019 Academic WorldQuest National Competition in Washington, D.C.
May 1-4
Women in Politics & Civil Society, an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) for multiple countries
May 2-6
Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists U.S. Foreign Policy, IVLP for multiple countries
May 22
Taiwan-United States Relations and the 40th Anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act with Distinguished Speaker Vincent Jing-Yen Liu, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta
May 29-June 5
Stars and Stripes over the Rhine: The American Occupation in Germany after World War I (1918-1923) exhibition at the Koger Center for the Arts, in partnership with the Atlantic Academy (Kaiserslautern, Germany), University of Mainz, and the WWI Centennial Commission. A Wunderbar Together program
May 31-June 8
Decentralization/Regional Economic Development, IVLP for Ukraine
June 9-11
Moreton Bay Regional Council and University of the Sunshine Coast delegation from Queensland, Australia visit to Columbia.
June 12
Claire Rousay & Jacob Wick Jazz Duet Concert at if ART Gallery
June 26-29
Free and Fair Electoral Processes, IVLP for Ethiopia's National Electoral Board
June 27
Happy Hour at the Hunter Gatherer Brewery Curtiss-Wright Hangar
July 18-August 15
Glory & Gratitude to the United States exhibition at the Koger Center for the Arts, in partnership with the Consulate General of Belgium in Atlanta, Honorary Consulate of Belgium in South Carolina, and FN America, LLC
August 1
Boris Johnson and the Future of Brexit with Distinguished Speaker Alexander Hall Hall, Chief British Brexit Counsellor to the US
August 17
Polyglot Meet-Up, with all CWAC language conversation groups, at World of Beer
August 19-September 27
Belgium Comic Expo in Columbia: Highlights of Belgian Comic Strip Art exhibition at the Koger Center for the Arts, in partnership the Consulate General of Belgium in Atlanta & Honorary Consulate of Belgium in South Carolina
August 20
CWAC Membership Committee Info Session
August 27
Global Alliance South Carolina luncheon
September 18
Exploring the Cuisine and Culture of Ghana, Taste of the World Dinner at Asanka Kitchen
September 30-October 10
Heimat/Home: The 2019 Columbia – Kaiserslautern Artists Exchange
October 15
Coffee & Conversations with Teagen Barresi, Peace Corps
Benelux: Celebration 60 Years of Union, Distinguished Speaker panel with William De Baets, Consul General of Belgium; Georges Hoffman, Honorary Consul of Luxembourg; and Dr. Marc van Essen, USC Darla Moore School of Business (representing the Netherlands)
March 4
2019 Columbia World Affairs Council Annual Meeting
March 13
BREXIT over Breakfast with Distinguished Speaker British Consul General Andrew Staunton
March 23
Academic WorldQuest Midlands Regional Competition
April 5
Norwegian/Swedish Jazz Quintet Friends & Neighbors Concert at if ART Gallery
April 10
Academic WorldQuest Trivia Night Fundraiser
April 12-13
Teaching the Past in the Future Series, a Goethe Institute/Deutschlandjahr program of the Hanns Seidel Foundation in association with Centropa, USC, and the Columbia World Affairs Council
April 16-17
Diplomacy Begins Here Series, a visit to Columbia by Distinguished Speaker Katherine Brown, President and CEO of Global Ties US
April 25
Brexit and the Future of European Integration with Distinguished Speaker Dr. Matthias Matthijs, John Hopkins University
April 26-27
The Carlos and Malú Alvarez 2019 Academic WorldQuest National Competition in Washington, D.C.
May 1-4
Women in Politics & Civil Society, an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) for multiple countries
May 2-6
Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists U.S. Foreign Policy, IVLP for multiple countries
May 22
Taiwan-United States Relations and the 40th Anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act with Distinguished Speaker Vincent Jing-Yen Liu, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta
May 29-June 5
Stars and Stripes over the Rhine: The American Occupation in Germany after World War I (1918-1923) exhibition at the Koger Center for the Arts, in partnership with the Atlantic Academy (Kaiserslautern, Germany), University of Mainz, and the WWI Centennial Commission. A Wunderbar Together program
May 31-June 8
Decentralization/Regional Economic Development, IVLP for Ukraine
June 9-11
Moreton Bay Regional Council and University of the Sunshine Coast delegation from Queensland, Australia visit to Columbia.
June 12
Claire Rousay & Jacob Wick Jazz Duet Concert at if ART Gallery
June 26-29
Free and Fair Electoral Processes, IVLP for Ethiopia's National Electoral Board
June 27
Happy Hour at the Hunter Gatherer Brewery Curtiss-Wright Hangar
July 18-August 15
Glory & Gratitude to the United States exhibition at the Koger Center for the Arts, in partnership with the Consulate General of Belgium in Atlanta, Honorary Consulate of Belgium in South Carolina, and FN America, LLC
August 1
Boris Johnson and the Future of Brexit with Distinguished Speaker Alexander Hall Hall, Chief British Brexit Counsellor to the US
August 17
Polyglot Meet-Up, with all CWAC language conversation groups, at World of Beer
August 19-September 27
Belgium Comic Expo in Columbia: Highlights of Belgian Comic Strip Art exhibition at the Koger Center for the Arts, in partnership the Consulate General of Belgium in Atlanta & Honorary Consulate of Belgium in South Carolina
August 20
CWAC Membership Committee Info Session
August 27
Global Alliance South Carolina luncheon
September 18
Exploring the Cuisine and Culture of Ghana, Taste of the World Dinner at Asanka Kitchen
September 30-October 10
Heimat/Home: The 2019 Columbia – Kaiserslautern Artists Exchange
October 15
Coffee & Conversations with Teagen Barresi, Peace Corps
2018
January 24
CWAC Annual Meeting
February 4-7
Cultural Vistas, IVLP for India: Integrity in Journalism: New and Traditional Broadcast Media, A Project for India
February 13
China and the United States: Cooperation beyond Competition with guest speaker Yanxi Liu
March 9-17
Open World Leadership Center Program for Russia: Women in Business
March 13
The Risk of War with Iran: a talk and book signing by Trita Parsi
March 15
The Political Crisis of March 2009 in Madagascar: A Case Study of Conflict and Conflict Mediation with guest speaker Dr. Adrien M. Ratsimbaharison
April 11
Barack Obama and the Dilemmas of American Leadership with guest speaker Mario Del Pero @ the International House at Maxcy College, USC
April 14-15
Columbia International Festival
April 25
Opening Honorary Consulate of Belgium and nomination of Honorary Consul in South Carolina: A reception for Jean-Louis Vanderstraeten
May 16-23
CWAC/City of Columbia Economic Development and International Relationship Mission to Paris, France and Liege, Belgium
May 30
New Member Happy Hour at the Hunter Gatherer Brewery @ the Curtiss-Wright Hangar
June 6
Summer Concert: Party Knüllers X Jaimie Branch @ if Art Gallery
June 14
Summer Concert: Paal Nilssen-Love’s Large Unit @ 701 CCA
June 20
Distinguished Speaker: H.E. Javlon Vakhabov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan
July 14
Bastille Day Brunch w/ the French Conversation Group @ Crepes & Croissants
July 24
Astronomers Without Borders @ the South Carolina State Museum
August 20
Doing Business with Saudi Arabia with guest speaker David Callahan, Senior Vice President, U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council
August 28 to Sept. 5
CWAC Delegation Sister Cities Mission: Kaiserslautern, Germany and Cluj-Napoca, Romania
September 6
Distinguished Speaker: Klaus Becker, Honorary Consul of Germany in North Carolina, co-hosted w/ USC Global Studies
September 20
CWAC Happy Hour at Stormwater Studios
September 28
Teachers on the Global Stage: The surprising educational connections between Romania and South Carolina. A panel discussion and reception w/ USC's College of Education
September 28 to Oct. 6
Open World Leadership Program for Russia: Entrepreneurship
October 2 & 3
Engage America Series: Oman 2018 with Distinguished Speaker Ms. Haura Al Wahaibi, Commercial Attaché, Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman
November 2-7
Graduate School USA, IVLP for Multi-Regional Delegation: Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists -- New and Traditional Broadcast Media
November 7-9
Meridian, IVLP for Sweden: Swedish-U.S. Foreign Policy and Media Exchange
November 8-13
Cultural Vistas, IVLP for Multi-Regional Delegation: Investigative Journalism - Best Practices in Ethical Reporting
November 29
25th Anniversary Global Vision Award Gala honoring Senator Hugh K. Leatherman
December 6-11
Meridian, IVLP for Georgia: Labor Rights and Economic Development
December 7
Winter Concert: Frode Gjerstad Quartet from Norway at if ART Gallery
CWAC Annual Meeting
February 4-7
Cultural Vistas, IVLP for India: Integrity in Journalism: New and Traditional Broadcast Media, A Project for India
February 13
China and the United States: Cooperation beyond Competition with guest speaker Yanxi Liu
March 9-17
Open World Leadership Center Program for Russia: Women in Business
March 13
The Risk of War with Iran: a talk and book signing by Trita Parsi
March 15
The Political Crisis of March 2009 in Madagascar: A Case Study of Conflict and Conflict Mediation with guest speaker Dr. Adrien M. Ratsimbaharison
April 11
Barack Obama and the Dilemmas of American Leadership with guest speaker Mario Del Pero @ the International House at Maxcy College, USC
April 14-15
Columbia International Festival
April 25
Opening Honorary Consulate of Belgium and nomination of Honorary Consul in South Carolina: A reception for Jean-Louis Vanderstraeten
May 16-23
CWAC/City of Columbia Economic Development and International Relationship Mission to Paris, France and Liege, Belgium
May 30
New Member Happy Hour at the Hunter Gatherer Brewery @ the Curtiss-Wright Hangar
June 6
Summer Concert: Party Knüllers X Jaimie Branch @ if Art Gallery
June 14
Summer Concert: Paal Nilssen-Love’s Large Unit @ 701 CCA
June 20
Distinguished Speaker: H.E. Javlon Vakhabov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan
July 14
Bastille Day Brunch w/ the French Conversation Group @ Crepes & Croissants
July 24
Astronomers Without Borders @ the South Carolina State Museum
August 20
Doing Business with Saudi Arabia with guest speaker David Callahan, Senior Vice President, U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council
August 28 to Sept. 5
CWAC Delegation Sister Cities Mission: Kaiserslautern, Germany and Cluj-Napoca, Romania
September 6
Distinguished Speaker: Klaus Becker, Honorary Consul of Germany in North Carolina, co-hosted w/ USC Global Studies
September 20
CWAC Happy Hour at Stormwater Studios
September 28
Teachers on the Global Stage: The surprising educational connections between Romania and South Carolina. A panel discussion and reception w/ USC's College of Education
September 28 to Oct. 6
Open World Leadership Program for Russia: Entrepreneurship
October 2 & 3
Engage America Series: Oman 2018 with Distinguished Speaker Ms. Haura Al Wahaibi, Commercial Attaché, Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman
November 2-7
Graduate School USA, IVLP for Multi-Regional Delegation: Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists -- New and Traditional Broadcast Media
November 7-9
Meridian, IVLP for Sweden: Swedish-U.S. Foreign Policy and Media Exchange
November 8-13
Cultural Vistas, IVLP for Multi-Regional Delegation: Investigative Journalism - Best Practices in Ethical Reporting
November 29
25th Anniversary Global Vision Award Gala honoring Senator Hugh K. Leatherman
December 6-11
Meridian, IVLP for Georgia: Labor Rights and Economic Development
December 7
Winter Concert: Frode Gjerstad Quartet from Norway at if ART Gallery
2017
January 31
Distinguished Speaker: Consul General of India in Atlanta, Nagesh Singh
February 2
Reception for Michel Martelly, former President of Haiti, with Claflin University
February 4
Academic WorldQuest 2017 Regional Competition
February 15
Reception welcoming International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) guests from Ukraine and Afghanistan
February 17
Women in Leadership with IVLP guests from Ukraine at Columbia College
March 14
Taste of the World Dinner at Il Giorgione
March 23
Distinguished Speaker: Dr. Mohamed Moncef Marzouki, former President of Tunisia
April 4
The Recent Turmoil in Turkey and Freedom of the Press with Turkish newspaper executive in exile Abdülhamit Bilici
April 6
Reception for Ambassador Budimir Loncar, former Yugoslav Ambassador to the US
April 20
Jihad in Hollywood: An Evening of Film, Art & Music with Syrian artists Jihad Abdo and Fadia Afashe at the Columbia Museum of Art
April 22
Biergarten on Main Street with Bierkeller Columbia
April 28
Reception for the Beyond Bollywood: Indian-Americans Shape the Nation exhibition at the South Carolina State Museum with Pratik Mathur, First Secretary, Embassy of India
May 8
Bringing the World to South Carolina with Dolly Chewning, International Sales and Marketing, South Carolina Parks, Recreation & Tourism
May 30
Starless Dreams film screening and discussion on the Travel Ban at The Nickelodeon Theatre
July 12-21
South Carolina Estonia Trade Agreement delegation to Estonia led by Harry Huge, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Estonia for the state of South Carolina
August 10
Making the Connection: Lucerne, Switzerland meets Columbia & South Carolina with Michelle Abboud, VP, North America for Lucerne Business, and Susanna auf der Maur, Kaufmann Ruedi Law Firm
August 30
Women’s Economic Advancement and Policy: A Look Abroad and at Home, a panel discussion with CARE USA and the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network
September 26 & 27
Future of Korea series with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Korea Economic Institute (KEI), and the U.S. Department of State. Sponsored by the World Affairs Councils of America and KEI
October 18
Building an International Mobility Center in South Carolina: The German Israeli American Innovation Triangle with Morris Ellison, Womble Carlyle
November 2
European Union trade delegation luncheon
November 5-9
International Visitor Leadership Program: Current US Social, Political and Economic Issues for Young Russian Leaders
November 8
2017 Global Vision Award Gala honoring former Charleston, SC Mayor Joe Riley at the Columbia Marriott
November 13
Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World film screening and discussion with artist and author Steven Naifeh at the Columbia Museum of Art, in partnership with the Carolina Peace Resource Center and USC’s International Education Week
December 1
Artist Salon: Poetry in the Galleries at the Columbia Museum of Art with the French Conversation Group in connection with the Henri Matisse: Jazz & Poetry on Paper exhibition
December 13
French Conversation Group Wine Down Wednesday at Lula Drake Wine Parlour
December 16
Christmas Biergarten on Main Street with Bierkeller Columbia
Distinguished Speaker: Consul General of India in Atlanta, Nagesh Singh
February 2
Reception for Michel Martelly, former President of Haiti, with Claflin University
February 4
Academic WorldQuest 2017 Regional Competition
February 15
Reception welcoming International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) guests from Ukraine and Afghanistan
February 17
Women in Leadership with IVLP guests from Ukraine at Columbia College
March 14
Taste of the World Dinner at Il Giorgione
March 23
Distinguished Speaker: Dr. Mohamed Moncef Marzouki, former President of Tunisia
April 4
The Recent Turmoil in Turkey and Freedom of the Press with Turkish newspaper executive in exile Abdülhamit Bilici
April 6
Reception for Ambassador Budimir Loncar, former Yugoslav Ambassador to the US
April 20
Jihad in Hollywood: An Evening of Film, Art & Music with Syrian artists Jihad Abdo and Fadia Afashe at the Columbia Museum of Art
April 22
Biergarten on Main Street with Bierkeller Columbia
April 28
Reception for the Beyond Bollywood: Indian-Americans Shape the Nation exhibition at the South Carolina State Museum with Pratik Mathur, First Secretary, Embassy of India
May 8
Bringing the World to South Carolina with Dolly Chewning, International Sales and Marketing, South Carolina Parks, Recreation & Tourism
May 30
Starless Dreams film screening and discussion on the Travel Ban at The Nickelodeon Theatre
July 12-21
South Carolina Estonia Trade Agreement delegation to Estonia led by Harry Huge, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Estonia for the state of South Carolina
August 10
Making the Connection: Lucerne, Switzerland meets Columbia & South Carolina with Michelle Abboud, VP, North America for Lucerne Business, and Susanna auf der Maur, Kaufmann Ruedi Law Firm
August 30
Women’s Economic Advancement and Policy: A Look Abroad and at Home, a panel discussion with CARE USA and the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network
September 26 & 27
Future of Korea series with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Korea Economic Institute (KEI), and the U.S. Department of State. Sponsored by the World Affairs Councils of America and KEI
October 18
Building an International Mobility Center in South Carolina: The German Israeli American Innovation Triangle with Morris Ellison, Womble Carlyle
November 2
European Union trade delegation luncheon
November 5-9
International Visitor Leadership Program: Current US Social, Political and Economic Issues for Young Russian Leaders
November 8
2017 Global Vision Award Gala honoring former Charleston, SC Mayor Joe Riley at the Columbia Marriott
November 13
Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World film screening and discussion with artist and author Steven Naifeh at the Columbia Museum of Art, in partnership with the Carolina Peace Resource Center and USC’s International Education Week
December 1
Artist Salon: Poetry in the Galleries at the Columbia Museum of Art with the French Conversation Group in connection with the Henri Matisse: Jazz & Poetry on Paper exhibition
December 13
French Conversation Group Wine Down Wednesday at Lula Drake Wine Parlour
December 16
Christmas Biergarten on Main Street with Bierkeller Columbia