It all begins with civil discourse.
Maybe you want to learn more about the world. Maybe you want to connect with others in Vermont. Or maybe you have a unique perspective you want to share with the world. Whatever the reason, joining in civil discourse with others from around the globe can make all the difference.
VCWA Speaker Series.
The VCWA’s Speaker Series aims to foster the appreciation for and practice of diversity through civil discourse in order to make a difference in the world. We do this through partnering with NGOs, corporations, government agencies and individuals to arrange timely discussions on critical international topics. ..
Our 2020 Speaker Series has just finished. Please stay tuned for details of our 2021 speaker series!
2020 VCWA Speaker Series:
Climate Change and a New Era of Geopolitics in the Arctic
February 19th
Join special guest Rebecca Pincus, Assistant Professor in the Strategic and Operational Research Department in the Center for Naval Warfare Studies at the US Naval War College and a member of the Institute for Future Warfare Studies, as she discusses how climate change will impact global geopolitics and how nations around the world are working to combat climate change.
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6:00-7:30 pm | ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain | 1 College St, Burlington, VT 05401
China's Grand Strategy: Weaving a New Silk Road to Global Primacy
March 4th
Join special guest Sarwar Kashmeri, Applied Research Fellow at Norwich University’s Peace & War Center and Fellow of the Foreign Policy Association, as he discusses China’s “One Belt, One Road” Plan and the country’s growing influence in the Western Hemisphere and around the world. How will China’s increasing role in Latin America and elsewhere impact the United States’ historic relationship with China and countries throughout the world? How can America engage China strategically in a rapidly closing window of opportunity?
6:00-7:30 pm | The Gallery at Main Street Landing | 3 Main St, Burlington, VT 05401
Two Global Powers: A Transformation in India-US Relations
March 18th
Join special guest Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty, Consul General of India to New York, as he discusses the state of relations between India and the United States, the lasting implications of President Trump’s recent visit to India, and the strengthening of economic and political relations.
6:00-7:30 pm | The Gallery at Main Street Landing | 3 Main St, Burlington, VT 05401
Human Trafficking: A View of the International, Local, and Individual Context
April 15
Join special guests Erin Albright, anti-trafficking trainer, speaker, and consultant; Edith Klimoski, Director of Give Way to Freedom; and Courtney Albert, Founder and President of Give Way to Freedom, as they discuss the global, national, and local impacts of human trafficking and modern slavery. By offering insights into the nuances surrounding human trafficking and the mindset of traffickers, they will explore the impact the trauma associated with this victimization has on survivors and the community at large.
6:00-7:30 pm | Virtual Webinar
Security, Politics, and Diplomacy in the Red Sea Region
April 29th
Join special guest Payton Knopf, Africa Program Adviser at the US Institute of Peace, to discuss the current state of affairs in the Red Sea region. How are regional and international geopolitics impacting the economics, politics, and security of this important region, and what are some of the potential flash-points in the area? Join us to discuss these questions and more!
6:00-7:30 pm | Virtual Webinar
Artificial Intelligence and Data
May 13th
Join special guest John Cohn, IBM Fellow and member of the Vermont Artificial Intelligence Taskforce, as he discusses the growing ubiquity of Artificial Intelligence and the ways countries throughout the world are beginning to regulate the companies developing these technologies.
6:00-7:30 pm | Virtual Webinar
“I firmly believe that individuals have the right, if not the responsibility, to help shape U.S. foreign relations. The VCWA provides us with a platform to be citizen diplomats. Whether welcoming Ambassadors to our state, hosting international visitors, or learning about the global impacts of climate change or immigration policy; we can practice citizen diplomacy.”
— Peter Clavelle, Board Member
