The U.S. and Africa: Vital Interests

Cleveland Committee on Foreign Relations events are for CCFR members only. Ambassador Bruce Wharton, former Ambassador to Zimbabwe, served as an officer in the Foreign Service from 1985 to 2017. His career includes assignments in Latin America, Africa, Washington, Europe, and Asia. Ambassador Wharton will join the Cleveland Committee on Foreign Relations to discuss the rise…

Social Entrepreneurs in the United States

International visitors from Burkina Faso, Iraq, Latvia, Morocco, Portugal, South Africa, Turkey and West Bank will examine the role of social entrepreneurship in the U.S. and what makes social ventures sustainable, self-sufficient and scalable. Visitors will get to network with their U.S. counterparts and exchange ideas regarding innovative approaches to social changes in areas such…

Volunteerism and Civic Action

International visitors from Bahrain, Barbados, Israel, Malaysia, Nepal, Poland, Tunisia and Vietnam will travel to Cleveland to examine the impact of volunteerism in the U.S. and the role that social media plays in the volunteer efforts. Visitors will engage with several volunteer-based organizations addressing the  needs for underserved groups, homelessness, and youth outreach. Visitors will…

Taiwan Youth Exchange

Engage in Cross-Cultural Exchange with Taiwan CCWA is seeking Student Ambassadors for May! Five (5) local high school students, sophomore and above, who are willing to engage with 16 Taiwanese students during their program in Cleveland from May 6—May 23, 2019 Program focuses on music performance, music in social change, and leadership Students should have…

Strengthening America’s Arctic Policy at Home and Abroad

Cleveland Committee on Foreign Relations events are for CCFR members only. Dr. Walter Berbrick is the founding director of the Arctic Studies Group at the U.S. Naval War College and an associate professor in the War Gaming Department. At the U.S. Naval War College, he leads research on joint and naval warfare, national security, and strategy…

Happy Dog Takes on the World: Citizen Participation in the Judicial System in Japan & East Asia

Systems that incorporate juries into the legal decision-making process can significantly impact a country’s political system, political culture, and society. Bodies of average citizens can function as powerful tools in educating, ensuring justice, and enhancing the judiciary’s credibility. They also provide a valuable civic engagement tool that enables self-governance and facilitates checks on individuals, industry,…

Sustainable Cities

Urban planners, architects, environmental experts, and civil society leaders representing 21 countries will be in Cleveland to explore how local government and community organizations are advancing sustainability. Visitors will experience a case study in how Northeast Ohio is working to improve environmental resiliency through collaboration in order to promote a green city on a blue…

Redefining National Security: Preparing for Future Foreign Policy Challenges

From climate change to infectious disease and cyber security, global trends are increasingly shaping American security interests both at home and abroad. Additionally, the rise of identity based extremism and the forever wars that America has engaged in post 9/11 continue to threaten our national security and foreign policy. These issues are just some of…

Women as Drivers of Social and Economic Change

International visitors from Central and South America will travel to Cleveland to gain an understanding of the contributions of women leaders throughout the community. Visitors will explore the role of women leaders in various sectors ranging from public services to private programs. Visitors will also examine trends in leadership training, public-private partnerships, social entrepreneurship, and…

Bridges to the World Workshop

Bridges to the World is a series of interactive workshops that examine the key elements of global education and explore a multitude of resources for educators to foster global competence in their classrooms. The semester-long professional development program will train a cohort of educators in middle and high school classrooms to become confident instructors in global…

Healthcare Management in the U.S.

Physicians and public healthcare proponents from Ukraine will be in Northeast Ohio to foster connections with some of Cleveland's world-renowned public and private healthcare systems. Visitors will seek to better understand public health policy development in the U.S. as well as specific health research relating to cancer treatment and pediatrics. Additional topics include state-sponsored medical…

Addressing the Needs of Underserved and At-Risk Youth

CCWA will host visitors representing nine countries from throughout Latin America here to examine primary prevention programs for at-risk youth and family support strategies. While Cleveland youth face a number of health disparities, poverty, and violence, visitors will meet with emerging leaders and educators who are creating positive change among at-risk youth. Meetings and program…