World Affairs Council - Seattle

Applications are open to join the 2026-2027 World Affairs Council Fellows Cohort! This program offers a unique professional development opportunity for a small group of greater Seattle's business and community leaders to develop their globally-oriented network amid conversations with high-caliber international experts. The Fellows convene monthly for private roundtable discussions with carefully selected international experts who offer unparalleled insight into current global issues, in addition to meeting throughout the year for Council events, dedicated networking opportunities, and site visits that underscore the value of global perspective in our region.

The priority deadline for applications is July 25th! For more information and to apply, please visit our website (link in bio).

Meet Noa Montagut, one of our fantastic interns who is supporting our Global Classroom team! Originally from France, she is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Language Didactics with a specialization in French as a Foreign Language, at Sorbonne Nouvelle University. She is passionate about education, intercultural exchange, and global learning, and hopes to build a career in bilingual and international education.

Why did she want to join the Council?
"I wanted to join the World Affairs Council because it connects directly to my experience in education, my interest in intercultural exchange, and my goal of working in bilingual and international education. Coming from France and having spent time in Seattle, I’ve seen how important it is to help people understand different cultures and global issues. WAC felt like the right place for me to learn more about global education while contributing to programs that support students and teachers."

Why does she like interning on the Global Classroom team?
"I like working on the Global Classroom team because the work feels meaningful and directly connected to students and teachers. I enjoy being part of a team that creates opportunities for young people to think critically, learn about global topics, and feel more connected to the world. I also appreciate the collaborative environment and the chance to contribute to educational programs that are both practical and inspiring."

Learn more about Noa on our website!

Last week, we were delighted to host Dr. Thea Riofrancos for our monthly Fellows luncheon. She shared wide-ranging insights on the geopolitics and policy around critical minerals, supply chain vulnerabilities, industrial policy, and the global energy system. Thank you to Thea for joining us and bringing much needed depth and nuance to these highly consequential issues in today's context!

One month from now, global leaders will begin arriving for an unforgettable two weeks in Seattle and there’s still time to become part of their journey!

We’re currently welcoming a few more host families to open their homes and hearts for our summer exchange program. For many students, this experience becomes life-changing: new traditions, lifelong friendships, and a true second family far from home.

If you’ve ever considered hosting, now is a wonderful time to learn more before students arrive next month. We’d love to help you explore whether hosting could be a fit for your family.

Learn more and fill out an interest form today here: https://www.world-affairs.org/program/summer2026homestayopportunities/.

How do countries use sport to signal power and legitimacy? What are the political and economic stakes of hosting? And how do these global spectacles reflect broader tensions and alignments in the world today?

As Seattle prepares for the FIFA World Cup 2026, it will become part of a global system in which sport is used to project influence, shape reputation, and advance strategic interests. From public investment and governance decisions to debates over labor, human rights, and global perception, these events reveal how deeply sport is intertwined with international affairs.

Join us for a discussion that goes beyond the pitch to explore how sport operates as a tool of global politics—and what it means for Seattle to take part in this high-stakes arena.

Learn more and register through our website here: https://www.world-affairs.org/event/global-stage-sport-influence-and-the-politics-of-mega-events/.

Congratulations to Catherine Ousselin for being selected as the 2026 World Educator!

Each year, the World Affairs Council honors a local educator who has made exceptional contributions in broadening the global horizons of students and colleagues. The recipient of the World Educator Award is an outstanding K-12 teacher who promotes international understanding in the classroom and contributes to the development of resources so that other educators and community members are better prepared to meet a major challenge of our time. Our children’s lives will be defined by the world within and beyond our borders; a World Affairs Council World Educator is someone who works to ensure that their students’ learning is reflective of that reality.

Catherine is a French teacher at Mt. Vernon High School and the Executive Director of the Washington Association for Language Teaching (WAFLT). A passionate global educator, Catherine’s approach to teaching is deeply rooted in her early experiences growing up in Midwestern communities shaped by Filipino, Cambodian, and Vietnamese immigrants and refugees. These formative years fostered her multilingual abilities and cross-cultural understanding, laying the foundation for a lifelong commitment to global learning.

Catherine’s international experiences span nearly every continent, from Europe and East Asia to Africa and the Pacific. Through her travels, she brings authentic cultural perspectives, resources, and lived experiences directly into her classroom. Her teaching emphasizes not just language acquisition, but the development of cultural competence—ensuring that all students, regardless of their ability to travel, can meaningfully engage with the world.

In her French 1–AP courses, students explore global cultures through immersive, thoughtfully designed units that deepen their understanding of diverse perspectives. Catherine believes that being a “World Educator” means equipping students with the curiosity, respect, and skills needed to navigate an interconnected world—preparing them for future lives and careers as globally minded citizens. Learn more about her by swiping through the carousel!

What role should global citizens play in strengthening democracy, and how can local actions connect to global challenges facing democracy? How can democracy help communities address shared challenges such as climate change, clean water, or sustainable growth, both locally and globally? This year is especially significant to consider these questions as we mark two extraordinary milestones—the 75th Anniversary of the World Affairs Council of Seattle and the 250th Anniversary of the United States.

Together, these anniversaries invite us to reflect on democracy—its promises, its challenges, and the role each of us plays in shaping its future. This year’s World Citizen Essay Contest (WCEC) invited students in grades 3–12 across Washington State to add their voices to this important global conversation. Over 300 students representing 17 schools rose to the occasion, submitting essays that were insightful, imaginative, and full of heart—demonstrating how young people are engaging with the responsibilities of citizenship and envisioning a more just and inclusive democracy. In essays of 1,000 words or less, they offered thoughtful, creative, and deeply personal reflections—highlighting the insight and leadership of the next generation.

We invite you to celebrate these powerful youth voices at the 2026 World Citizen Essay Contest Awards Ceremony, “Celebrating Democracy’s Promise: Youth Reflections at 250 Years,” on Thursday, May 21, 2026, from 6:30–8:00 PM at Lake Washington Girls’ Middle School (doors open at 6:00 PM). Together, we will honor outstanding students, educators, and the broader community that supports global learning and civic engagement.

Join us for an inspiring evening as we uplift youth perspective and explore what democracy can become over the next 75 years! Register now on our website: https://www.world-affairs.org/event/2026-world-citizen-essay-contest-awards-ceremony-celebrating-democracys-promise-youth-reflections-at-250-years/.

Since World War II, the United States and the United Kingdom have maintained a close partnership grounded in shared democratic values, security cooperation, and economic ties. As global dynamics shift, how is this relationship evolving?

King Charles III’s recent State Visit to the United States highlighted both the depth of this alliance and the need to renew it in a changing geopolitical landscape.

Join the World Affairs Council for a conversation with British Consul General Eleanor Kiloh and the British Embassy’s Assistant Military Attaché, Colonel Tom Archer-Burton, on the diplomatic, military, intelligence, and economic dimensions shaping one of the world’s most important strategic partnerships.

Washington’s “maximum pressure” campaign on Cuba has deepened a humanitarian crisis on the island, with food, fuel, and electricity in increasingly short supply. Meanwhile, President Trump has suggested the United States could “take Cuba” and warned that “Cuba’s next,” even as U.S. diplomats quietly returned to Havana for talks—the first such visit since 2016. Is the United States moving toward confrontation, or is there still space for diplomacy? Join the World Affairs Council for a timely discussion exploring the stakes, scenarios, and consequences of U.S. policy at a pivotal moment for Cuba. Register today on our website (link in bio)!

The World Cup is coming to Seattle in the summer, and it is expected to be the largest sports event to occur in the city’s history. Seattle will be hosting 6 matches, and approximately 750,000 people are expected to visit the Seattle region as part of the tournament.

As Seattle prepares to host these games, how are the public safety agencies of the region planning to keep people safe while welcoming the world? Last week, World Affairs Council supporters had the opportunity to go behind the scenes and learn how the King County Sheriff’s Office is preparing to keep people secure, in coordination with dozens of other public safety agencies. They got to talk with the Air Unit, SWAT, UAS (drones), Bomb Squad, Marine Unit, and K9 Unit.

Thank you so much to the King County Sheriff’s Office () for hosting this dynamic briefing in the field!