PRESS RELEASE: WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S DEPARTURE, SEEKS NEW LEADER

After nearly eight years as Executive Director of the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire, Anna Haigh Berry has announced that she will leave the position in February.

“I’ve been honored to work with such a dedicated board and staff to advance the Council’s mission since 2010,” Berry said. “Together, we’ve greatly expanded the organization’s resources and reach: we’ve hosted over 2,000 international visitors and more than 200 events over the past eight years, creating respectful, informative dialogue in local schools and communities about global issues that matter.

“While my departure is bittersweet, I’m excited about the momentum we’ve created and the opportunity for a new leader with a fresh vision to take the organization to an even higher level.”

Berry will begin a new position as editor of publications at the New Hampshire Bar Association in February. The World Affairs Council’s Board of Directors has appointed a search committee to find a successor and Tim Horgan, currently Associate Director, will serve as Interim Executive Director during the search process. Candidates interested in applying for the position can learn more here: www.wacnh.org/employment

“On behalf of the Council’s Board of Directors, I want to thank Anna for her leadership and vision as we worked collaboratively to modernize the Council’s operations and prepare the Granite State for a global future,” said Steve Solomon, President of the World Affairs Council. “The Council has become one of the state’s leading non-profits providing global education programs and international exchange services. “

“We’re confident that Interim Director Tim Horgan and our next leader will continue to help the Council grow and thrive and we appreciate the support of our members and partners for our critical mission as we carry out this transition.”

The World Affairs Council of New Hampshire is a non-profit, non-partisan organization fostering learning, discussion and citizen involvement in world affairs since 1954. The Council is preparing the Granite State for a global future by creating and sustaining international connections that enhance our state's cultural, economic and civic life; building global knowledge and understanding through educational programs for communities and schools on foreign policy; and furthering the development of international leaders in partnership with the U.S. State Department.

The Council is a member of the World Affairs Councils of America and Global Ties U.S. The Council is supported financially by memberships, program fees, donations from individuals and businesses, grants, a small endowment, and Southern New Hampshire University, which provides office space and other services.

World Affairs Council Celebrates Kitchen Table Diplomacy

In honor of the 15^th anniversary of the International Visitors Program in NH, Council launches cookbook featuring recipes from around the world; NH Food Bank chefs will demonstrate recipes at special event on Tuesday, December 12 in Manchester

MANCHESTER- After 15 years as part of the U.S. State Department’s premiere professional exchange program, the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire has hosted more than 2,200 emerging international leaders from 175 different countries. Now, the Council is launching an international cookbook to celebrate the volunteers who host the visitors for dinner in the Granite State and encourage new citizen diplomats to join the cross-cultural dialogue.

“’Food Diplomacy’ is one of the best ways for people to learn about other cultures,” said Tim Horgan, World Affairs Council Associate Director, who has managed the International Visitors Leadership Program in Manchester for the past 8 years. “From the spicy chilies of Central America to the flavorful Masalas of Southern Asia, food can provide an entryway to experience new countries and cultures.”

“Sharing a meal provides even more opportunities to connect with people from around the world and opens the door to true cultural exchanges. The World Affairs Council of New Hampshire, through this cookbook, hopes to continue to open these pathways for local families to learn about the diversity of the world, from the comfort of their own home.”

 The Council will hold a launch party for the “Kitchen Table Diplomacy” cookbook on Tuesday, December 12 at the NH Food Bank. Chefs from the food bank’s culinary job training program will demonstrate a few of the international recipes and tickets include a copy of the cookbook. For more information, visit www.wacnh.org/eventcalendar or call 603.314.79070.

 “The support of our many volunteer dinner hosts is changing minds from around the world and has a direct impact on building relationships between countries,” Horgan said. “Without a doubt, their efforts are helping make the world smaller and friendlier and we look forward to bringing new volunteers into the program!”

 The World Affairs Council of New Hampshire is one of more than 90 community organizations around the country that host visitors through the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs International Visitors Leadership Program- the department's premier professional exchange program.

This program brings approximately 4,000 foreign leaders and specialists to the United States for short-term (one to three week) professional programs. Participants in the national program, who are leaders and decision-makers in their home countries; travel as individuals or as part of pre-arranged groups.

Some of the groups are fully funded by the U.S. Congress through its appropriation to the U.S. Department of State, while others receive little or no financial support from U.S. government. The national program constitutes a major component of this country's public diplomacy efforts to foster mutual understanding and cooperation between the United States and other countries.

Through a long-standing public-private sector partnership, the U.S. Government works with national private, nonprofit organizations and a network of volunteer-based organizations that are members of Global Ties U.S., a nonprofit organization established in 1961. Together, these organizations design and implement quality, experiential programs for distinguished International Visitors. Through its grassroots network, the National program involves over 80,000 volunteers each year as citizen diplomats who develop enduring international linkages. 

PRESS RELEASE: OCTOBER 26

Global Business Summit to address New Hampshire's role in International Trade

International trade is a critical piece of New Hampshire's economic success: exports of New Hampshire products topped $4 billion last year and trade supports nearly 25% of the state's jobs. How will the current political climate impact free and fair trade? At the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire’s Global Business Summit on November 8 at Southern New Hampshire University, Ambassador Rufus Yerxa will outline the benefits of an open, rules-based world economy and the impact of international trade on businesses, government and communities.

Yerxa is President of the National Foreign Trade Council, and has more than three decades of experience as a lawyer, diplomat, U.S. trade negotiator and international official. He has been in key policymaking and management roles in Congress, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), and also spent several years in private law practice and the corporate world. As Deputy Director General of the WTO from 2002 to 2013 he helped to broaden its membership and strengthen its role as the principal rules-based institution governing world trade.

The program will also include a panel discussion with local business experts discussing New Hampshire’s role in the global economy. Panelists include Kedar Gupta, CEO and Founder of ARC Energy; Dr. Charlotte Broaden, a professor of international business and organizational leadership at SNHU; and Fred Kocher, host of NH Business with Fred Kocher on WMUR, will serve as moderator.

The program will take place in the Dining Center at Southern New Hampshire University on Wednesday, November 8 at 5:30 PM. The Global Business Summit is presented by the World Affairs Council and SNHU and is sponsored by CCA Global Partners, Granite State District Export Council, NH College & University Council, British American Business Council of New England, and Hypersoft.

For more information and tickets, visit www.wacnh.org or call 603.314.7970.

World Affairs Council of NH Names New Board Members

The World Affairs Council of NH is excited to announce two new members joining the Board of Directors: Evelyn Aissa and Norman Turcotte.

Evelyn Aissa, of Concord, is the Executive Director of Reaching Higher NH, an nonprofit organization that fosters support for high quality education in New Hampshire by serving as a public education resource for parents, educators and elected officials. Evelyn has a strong background in policy, advocacy, and management, having spent three years in health policy advocacy in Concord, ten years working in policy research in the US and overseas, and over three years as a successful business owner in New Hampshire. She is a graduate of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, studying Human Security, and Southwest Asia & Islamic Civilization, and Skidmore College.

Norman Turcotte, of Bedford, is the former CEO and President of Associated Grocers of New England, where he worked for 36 years before retiring in 2004. In the course of his career, he served on the board of numerous organizations, including the Manchester Boys and Girls Club, Granite United Way, and more recently, Child Health Services. 

The World Affairs Council of New Hampshire is a non-profit, non-partisan organization fostering learning, discussion and citizen involvement in world affairs since 1954. The Council is preparing the Granite State for a global future by creating and sustaining international connections that enhance our state's cultural, economic and civic life; building global knowledge and understanding through educational programs for communities and schools on foreign policy; and furthering the development of international leaders in partnership with the U.S. State Department. 

The World Affairs Council of NH was honored to host Senator Jeanne Shaheen on Friday, March 24. Coverage of the program by the Associated Press is below. Video of her remarks, via WMUR, is here.

Shaheen: US needs strategy to counter Russian influence

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — A bolder, more aggressive strategy is needed to counter Russia’s efforts to undermine democracy in the United States and western Europe, New Hampshire U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said Friday.

Shaheen, a member of Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, addressed a foreign policy forum at the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire. The group met at Southern New Hampshire University.

Shaheen, a Democrat, said the U.S. must recognize that the architecture of alliances that’s been at the heart of America’s national security for more than seven decades is at risk due to Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

“Putin’s goal is to restore Russia as a dominant power and to recreate a Soviet-style sphere of influence along its border,” she said. “To that end, Putin’s strategy is to disrupt, divide, and weaken the Atlantic Alliance. We need to have a clear-eyed understanding of what Putin is doing. So we really need to work together with our allies to stop him.”

Shaheen noted that Russia has been expanding its military and deploying forces to intimidate Europe and has been “stoking populist nationalism” from Hungary to the Netherlands.

She said Putin dramatically raised the stakes by interfering in the 2016 U.S. election.

“We should all be outraged by Putin’s interference in our election,” she said. “Frankly, if you’re not outraged, you haven’t been paying attention.”

A declassified intelligence report released earlier this year said Putin ordered a hidden campaign to influence the election to favor Republican Donald Trump over Democrat Hillary Clinton. Trump and his supporters have staunchly resisted the findings.

Shaheen said an independent, nonpartisan investigation of Russia’s intervention in the presidential election is needed. She said the U.S. needs a commission similar to the national one that investigated 9/11 “to investigate Russia’s attack on our democracy and to prevent future attacks.”

“The American public needs to know what happened,” she added.

Shaheen is part of a bipartisan group of senators that introduced legislation imposing tougher sanctions on Russia. It also would create an initiative that would support objective, Russian-language, independent media and watchdog groups working to combat corruption.

Milford High Takes Top Honors in 3^rd Annual NH Academic WorldQuest competition; Team Will Represent State at National Academic WorldQuest Competition in Washington, D.C., on April 29

MANCHESTER- The World Affairs Council of New Hampshire held its third annual NH Academic WorldQuest competition on Sunday, March 12 at Southern New Hampshire University and the “blue team” from Milford High School (pictured above) took home the title after a close race. The team won new iPads, provided by SNHU, to use for their studies, and a trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the national Academic WorldQuest competition on April 29, held by the World Affairs Councils of America. Rounding out the top finishers were: St. Thomas Aquinas (2^nd place- blue team); and Pinkerton Academy (grey team) and Oyster River High School (white team), which tied for third.

The winning Milford High team included students Shannon Drew, Maya Flores, Todd Bieschke, and Andrew McNeil, and were coached by social studies teacher Anna Parker. The Carlos and Malu Alvarez 2017 Academic WorldQuest National Competition will be held on Saturday, April 29 at the National Press Club in Washington and will also feature a welcome reception at the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Academic WorldQuest is a quiz-style team competition that tests high school students’ knowledge of international affairs.  This year, 15 teams from around the state competed. Participating schools were: The Derryfield School (Manchester), Milford High School, Oyster River High School (Durham), Pinkerton Academy (Derry), Portsmouth High School, Souhegan High School (Amherst), and St. Thomas Aquinas (Dover).

This year’s competition also featured a keynote speech from Dylan Mahalingam, a remarkable philanthropist and social entrepreneur who hails from New Hampshire. Currently a student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Dylan founded a global non-profit organization at 9 years old. Lil’ MDGs encouraged thousands of children from all over the world to support the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals. The organization raised more than $10 million for victims of natural disasters. Dylan currently serves as the Chief Strategist of Under the Acacia Foundation, a non-profit organization serving communities in Africa. Dylan is a recipient of numerous honors including a place on Youth Service America’s list of the 25 Most Powerful and Influential Young People in the World.

Scott Spradling, of the Spradling Group, hosted the competition. Scott is an Emmy award-winning former reporter, anchor and political director for WMUR-TV.

NH Academic WorldQuest is funded, in part, by the Saul O. Sidore Memorial Foundation and Billings Trust (FBO NH Charities, RSB Citizens, N.A. Trustee) . Presenting sponsors are Pax World and McLane Middleton and other supporters include Southern New Hampshire University and The Derryfield School.

The World Affairs Council of New Hampshire is a non-profit, non-partisan organization fostering learning, discussion and citizen involvement in world affairs.  The Council is preparing the Granite State for a global future by creating and sustaining international connections that enhance our state's cultural, economic and civic life; building global knowledge and understanding through educational programs for communities and schools on foreign policy; and furthering the development of international leaders in partnership with the U.S. State Department. Learn more at www.wacnh.org.

When the topic of refugee resettlement comes up, Estonia is not the first place that many people think of.  Indeed, since 1997 Estonia has only received 74 refugees prior to the crisis in Europe that started last year.  However, with the mass influx of refugees to the continent, Estonia, along with the EU, has agreed to accept these people into their country.  With this in mind, a group of 10 people from Estonia visited New Hampshire through the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to learn about integrating refugees into schools and communities.

Acting as their host, the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire created an International Visitor Leadership Program for the group to meet with various refugee and school officials here in the state. The intent of the program was to introduce them to the different organizations that are helping to integrate refugees, so that when Estonia sees new refugees they are better prepared to welcome them.  During their time in New Hampshire, the group found two of the meetings particularly useful and wanted to further the discussions on these programs back home, the BRING IT program and a Concord High School’s Social Worker who focuses on New Americans.

Anna-Marie DiPasquale, of Concord High School, and Jodi Harper of the Granite State United Way were invited by the group to Estonia this past October to speak at a conference on refugee resettlement.  While both were extremely busy with other obligations, they took this “opportunity of a lifetime” to visit another country and share their expertise in the field.  Their schedule, while there, was quite busy and provided several opportunities for them to engage with local people and explain how things are done in the state.  

Their presentations were quite successful, with participants coming up to them afterwards to continue conversations, something they found out later was quite unusual in Estonian culture.  Anna-Marie was able to set up an opportunity for some of her students to Skype into the conference and talk directly with those in attendance about the experiences of refugee youth in transitioning to a new culture.  This was a highlight for both the youth and participants, allowing for the voices of those who have experienced this journey to inform those looking to make that transition as smooth as possible.

A couple of concrete changes are already starting to occur in Estonia that will benefit the refugees as they begin to be settled there.  First off, Jodi and Anna-Marie both noticed there were some who were resistant to implementing changes, but that conversations started to bring people around to the idea.  Also, they helped the Estonian participants to think things through on issues the US just takes for granted.  An example of this is school lunches that need to accommodate new dietary restrictions.  In Estonia many schools serve one lunch to all students, in contrast to the multiple choices students have here.  This made the US more flexible in making the necessary changes, while Estonia is having more issues around that.  Also, what may seem small is actually indicative of a larger shift in mindset.  Many of the participants picked up on the idea of using the term New Americans, rather than refugees, dedicating themselves to using New Estonians instead.  Going into this work with the idea that refugees are now “one of us”, shifts the mental calculations made about who these people are, creating a more welcoming atmosphere.

In the end, both Jodi and Anna-Marie loved this experience and hope to encounter more opportunities to be Citizen Diplomats.  Not only did this trip benefit the people of Estonia, but both of them now have a wider world view, as well as many students at Concord High School who now feel more empowered than ever.  It truly is amazing that only two people were picked from an entire three week long, country wide visit, to engage in this opportunity and that both of them work here in NH.  Without a doubt, anyone anywhere can create change in the world; you just have to be open to the opportunity.

WACNH Associate Director Receives President's Award at Annual Meeting

On June 8, WACNH held its annual meeting at Southern New Hampshire University.  The meeting is a time for us to reflect, as an organization, on the past year's successes.  It's also an opportunity for us to thank our Board Members, Members and council friends for all the help and support that they give us.  This year our Associate Director, Tim Horgan, received the President's Award for his continued dedication to the Council, especially through the International Visitors Program.  Congratulations, Tim and thank you for all your hard work! 

This past year, Peter Schmidt (center), WACNH’s Vice President and Education Committee Chair and Spanish teacher at Pinkerton Academy, was awarded a fellowship in Global Education with the U.S. Department of State. Pete was selected from over 400 national applicants for only 80 openings in the Teachers for Global Classrooms Program (TGC). The TGC is a specialized training program for K-12 teachers in the study, practice, and theory of Global Education. The year-long fellowship program has three components. 

The first is a graduate-level online course focused on the development of global competencies, cultural programming, cross-curricular pedagogy, global citizenship, project-based learning, and sustainability and global education growth at the local K-12 district level. Upon successful completion of the course, fellows were invited to Washington, D.C. to attend the TGC Global Education Symposium to meet with other fellows, share ideas, work on projects, and attend workshops presented by leaders in the field. Fellows were then assigned an overseas teaching assignment location. 

Pete was chosen to join the Brazilian delegation last summer. Pete spent three weeks in Brazil learning, teaching, and researching. Pete’s ongoing research focused on identifying the principle challenges to ensuring FAPE (free and appropriate education) for Brazilian students and how those challenges were being addressed. Pete’s trip started in Brasilia, Brazil’s capital, where he visited the US Embassy, the Ministry of Education, the offices of the Brazilian State Secretaries of Education, a series of local school visits, and cultural sites around the city. Pete then flew to Nova Iguazu, a suburb of Rio de Janiero to work with a host teacher in the local public schools. During his teaching assignment, Pete primarily taught American Culture to high school students, but also had the opportunity to teach middle school and adult learners, including a joint class at a local university. One of the highlights of his experience was engaging one-on-one with students and teachers. Both teachers and students alike were energetic and interested in learning about the U.S. Likewise, Pete was interested in learning about them and Brazil. It was cross-cultural learning at its finest. 

For Pete, this fellowship has been one the high watermarks of his professional teaching career. He gained much from his experiences afield and has brought back what he has learned to the Granite State. Over the past year, Pete has presented at various state teachers’ conferences on Global Competency in the Classroom and was a presenter last year at our inaugural Academic World Quest/Think Global Conference. He has also been working with the teachers and administration at Pinkerton Academy on the development of a global competency certificate program and increasing domestic and international global engagement opportunities for Pinkerton students. 

As a capstone project for his fellowship, Pete developed a global education resource guide website to help state educators incorporate global competencies into their teaching and curriculum. Globalocity: A Global Education Resource Guide http://globalocityeducation.weebly.com/ The website is full of resources, lesson plan ideas, publications, program and project development, global technology implementation, travel blogs, and more. 

Because of this fellowship, Pete has made global education a part of his ethos and looks to further his passion by connecting New Hampshire students with the world and the world with New Hampshire students. “The only way to truly understand the world beyond our borders, is to embrace it. As our students enter the world of interconnected globalization, the need for fostering global competency, cultural awareness, and cross-cultural dialogue has never been more important.”

PRESS RELEASE: March 11, 2016

Souhegan High School to Represent New Hampshire at National Academic WorldQuest Competition in Washington D.C.

The World Affairs Council of NH’s Hosts Second Annual Global Education Competition

MANCHESTER- On Saturday, March 5, the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire hosted its second annual Academic WorldQuest competition at Southern New Hampshire University. Academic WorldQuest is a quiz-style team competition that tests high school students’ knowledge of international affairs.

11 teams from around the state competed to represent New Hampshire at the National Academic WorldQuest Competition in Washington D.C. on April 23. Out of the participating schools, Souhegan High School took first place, with Oyster River High School in a close second, and St. Thomas Aquinas High School rounding out the top three. Other competing teams represented The Derryfield School; Manchester High School West; Portsmouth High School; and Pinkerton Academy.

The Souhegan High team included students Claire Foley, Callie Cinque, Hannah Gillis, Zack Anton, and Marco Vogt; team coach was teacher Matt McDonald (top middle).

The team received four iPads donated by SNHU to support the school’s Academic WorldQuest program as well as the trip to Washington to compete at the national competition hosted by the World Affairs Councils of America.

This year’s competition also featured a keynote speech from New Hampshire’s own award-winning innovator, Deepika Kurup. Kurup, a native of Nashua and current student at Harvard University, developed a simple and inexpensive water purification technique using solar energy. In 2015, she was named as one of Forbes30 under 30 in Energy for 2015.

Academic WorldQuest was funded, in part, by the General. William Mayer Foundation and the Saul O. Sidore Memorial Foundation. 2016 sponsors are Southern New Hampshire University, Students Love Travel, Manchester Community College, The Derryfield School; Margarita’s Mexican Restaurant; and the India Association of New Hampshire.

The World Affairs Council of New Hampshire is a non-profit, non-partisan organization fostering learning, discussion and citizen involvement in world affairs.  The Council is preparing the Granite State for a global future by creating and sustaining international connections that enhance our state's cultural, economic and civic life; building global knowledge and understanding through educational programs for communities and schools on foreign policy; and furthering the development of international leaders in partnership with the U.S. State Department.