Engage America National Speakers & Initiatives
Smaller and mid-sized communities across the United States play a vital role in shaping informed, globally aware citizens, yet they often have limited access to nationally recognized experts and high-level policy discussions. Programs like the Engage America Speaker Series help close that gap by bringing leading voices in diplomacy, journalism, and international affairs directly to local audiences. By creating opportunities for students, educators, and community members to engage with complex global issues in person, these initiatives strengthen civic dialogue, broaden perspectives, and ensure that important national and international conversations are not confined to major metropolitan centers.
WACNWO was selected in 2014, 2025 and 2026 for Engage America Speaker programs.
2026 Engage America: Future of Korea (in progress & will be implemented October 27-29, 2026)
2025 Engage America: Europe at a Crossroads — Why Diplomacy Can’t Wait
From September 3–5, 2025, the World Affairs Council of Northwest Ohio (WACNWO) hosted an Engage America lecture series titled “Europe at a Crossroads: Why Diplomacy Can’t Wait,” featuring George Beebe, Director of Grand Strategy at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and former Director of Russia Analysis at the CIA. The program was supported by a grant from the Quincy Institute through the World Affairs Councils of America and was designed to bring a national conversation on European security and diplomacy to the Northwest Ohio community.
The main event took place on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at the University of Toledo College of Law. The evening began at 5:00 PM with a social hour and community organization displays, followed by Beebe’s keynote lecture and a question-and-answer session concluding at 8:00 PM. During the social hour, students and educators participated in a smaller, dedicated pre-event session with the speaker, allowing direct dialogue and informal discussion. High school students valued this opportunity to engage personally with a nationally recognized expert.
Drawing on more than two decades of experience as an intelligence analyst, diplomat, and policy adviser, Beebe offered a nuanced perspective on the war in Ukraine and broader Russia–West relations. His background at the CIA and in senior advisory roles, combined with his current work at the Quincy Institute, enabled him to frame the current moment as a strategic crossroads for Europe—one in which decisions made by the United States and its allies will shape long-term security outcomes.
The lecture emphasized the limits of military approaches alone in achieving lasting stability. Beebe argued that renewed diplomatic efforts are essential to prevent escalation, rebuild communication channels, and develop a more sustainable European security framework. He highlighted the need for updated institutions and mechanisms capable of managing great-power competition while reducing the risks of miscalculation and conflict.
The program was intentionally designed to connect global issues with local engagement. During the social hour, attendees explored exhibits from regional organizations involved in international education, foreign policy dialogue, and humanitarian initiatives. This format encouraged participants to identify concrete ways to remain engaged in global issues within their own community. Feedback from attendees reflected strong interest in the topic and appreciation for the opportunity to engage in complex issues in an accessible, nonpartisan setting.
Approximately 250 people participated in the series of events, generating strong community interest and positive media coverage. A pre-event program at the University of Toledo drew significant participation from high school students, whose feedback underscored the importance of creating more opportunities for youth engagement in global affairs.
One student reflected on the experience:
“This event was very interesting. At first, I was hesitant to attend because I did not know much about it, but once it began, I found it to be a captivating experience. Many students may avoid events like this because they feel unsure or disconnected from politics. I used to feel the same way, but I have made it a goal to become more informed and engaged. This event helped me do that. I learned more about foreign diplomacy and global developments than I typically would in a classroom, and it was especially meaningful to meet someone directly involved in international policy work.”
In addition to the main lecture, WACNWO hosted a welcome dinner at Byblos Restaurant in Toledo, providing an opportunity to introduce the speaker to the local community and discuss key themes in advance. The following day included media interviews in Toledo and Bowling Green, as well as a lunch discussion with students and faculty at Bowling Green State University.
The 2025 Engage America program strengthened WACNWO’s partnerships with the University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University and demonstrated the value of grant-supported initiatives in expanding access to high-quality foreign policy programming. Its format—combining expert insight, community engagement, and collaboration with local organizations—serves as a strong model for future programs.
2014 Engage America Speaker Program: Understanding Muslim Societies
In 2014, the World Affairs Council of Northwest Ohio hosted Dr. Lawrence Pintak as part of the World Affairs Councils of America’s “Understanding Muslim Societies” program, supported by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The visit brought together community members, students, and local partners for a timely exploration of how global events shape perceptions and experiences of Muslim communities in the United States and around the world.
Dr. Pintak, a journalist and founding dean of the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University, presented “Covering Islam on Main Street: How Foreign Crises Have Become a Domestic News Story.” His talk examined the role of media in shaping public understanding and highlighted the importance of accurate, nuanced reporting on global issues at the local level. The main event took place on September 30, 2014, at the University of Toledo’s McQuade Law Auditorium and included a lecture followed by a question-and-answer session.
The program extended beyond the evening lecture to reach audiences across Northwest Ohio.
Dr. Pintak participated in a breakfast discussion with leaders of the local Muslim community at the Islamic Center of Perrysburg, followed by a campus presentation and discussion with students and faculty at Bowling Green State University, along with media interviews. He also met with WACNWO leaders and partners for a dinner discussion prior to the main event.
Despite a brief visit of just one full day, Dr. Pintak engaged nearly 200 individuals through these combined activities. The program fostered meaningful dialogue, encouraged cross-cultural understanding, and strengthened connections among community organizations, universities, and local media.
This initiative advanced WACNWO’s mission by bringing global perspectives to Northwest Ohio through respectful, informed public discussion. It also increased awareness of Muslim societies, supported constructive community dialogue, and reinforced the organization’s role in facilitating ongoing engagement with international issues.
2013 and 2014 Engage America “Not My Life”
The World Affairs Council of Northwest Ohio was selected to participate in a national human trafficking awareness initiative and received grants in 2013 and 2014 from the Carlson & Carlson Family Foundation through the World Affairs Council of America.
Human trafficking and modern slavery are both global and local concerns. In Northwest Ohio, Toledo was identified in 2006 as a significant recruitment area for human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of children. A 2012 report found that more than 35 percent of a sample of sex-trafficking victims in five Ohio cities entered the sex trade before the age of 18; the most common age at which these victims were first sold into the sex trade was 13. In response to Toledo’s designation as a human trafficking “hotspot,” numerous organizations have been established to prevent trafficking, assist survivors, and increase public awareness of this critical issue.
Through this initiative, the World Affairs Council of Northwest Ohio organized community awareness events featuring screenings of the documentary Not My Life, followed by panel discussions with local experts and facilitated audience dialogues. The second year of grant funding placed a stronger emphasis on youth outreach, enabling the Council to engage a larger number of young people in conversations about prevention, recognition, and community action.
The Council partnered with the University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, Lourdes University, and the Toledo Chapter of the Pan Pacific Southeast Asian Women’s Association (PSEAWA). Events were held at universities, libraries, and community venues across Northwest Ohio in 2013 and 2014, directly engaging approximately 300 to 400 participants.
Program Events:
April 2013: University of Toledo
October 2013: Bowling Green State University
February 2014: Lourdes University
September 2014: Sylvania Public Library,
in collaboration with the PSEAWA Toledo Chapter
December 2014: Bowling Green
Not My Life was the first documentary film to comprehensively depict human trafficking and modern slavery on a global scale. Filmed across five continents and in 12 countries, the film
examines the exploitation of millions of children through forced labor,
domestic servitude, begging, sex tourism, sexual exploitation, and the use of
child soldiers.
While the film portrays the devastating realities of trafficking and exploitation, its central message is one of hope. Survivors can regain their freedom and build extraordinary lives, while advocates and communities continue to strengthen their efforts to prevent exploitation, support survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable. The film challenges viewers to recognize human trafficking as one of the defining human rights issues of our time and to consider their own role in confronting it.
The conversations following each screening were especially meaningful because they focused on practical action—what individuals, institutions, and communities can do to make Northwest Ohio safer. One of the earliest events concluded with a simple but powerful question: “Now you know. What will you do?”
In December 2014, the World Affairs Council of Northwest Ohio also organized a Human Trafficking Awareness Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest. Dr. Gonzalez’s group at Bowling Green High School received the Council’s $1,000 award.
In January 2015, the Bowling Green High School Drama Troupe was recognized with first place in the Council’s PSA contest for its work promoting awareness of human trafficking as a global and local issue. The winning PSA, titled “Jobeth Human Trafficking PSA Final,” was created by Brandon Willinger, Mira Kokomoor, Jessica Beckford, Nathan Maynard, Andrew Weedon, Martin Simon, Megan Worthy, and Marissa Ramos.
