Akron Council on World Affairs (ACWA)
 Akron Council on World Affairs (ACWA)
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UPCOMING SPEAKER SERIES EVENT

Antonio Ortiz-Mena

Spain: New Values and Challenges at Home and Abroad

José Luis Briceño, Director of the Department of Industry and Technology, Trade Commission of Spain, Chicago, will provide an updated profile of Spain, bringing into focus major changes in government, trade and social values.

Spain's Socialist government was re-elected in March 2008. A core issue is the significant shift in its economy, following a 14-year boom, and related immigration debates. Accompanying this are major social changes, commitment to international aid and advances in technological fields, including alternative energy and desalination plants. He will also provide perspective on Spain's relationship with the U.S., including its bilateral trade of $10 billion.

ACWA NEWS

GAR Challenge Grant Met

The GAR Foundation recently provided ACWA’s first challenge grant of $2500, in addition to providing $7500 outright. Within weeks, 30 households provided the matching funds necessary.

ACWA thanks the members and friends who contributed, as well as the foundations in our community who support our Global Scholars program for public high school students.

RECENT EVENT

Charles Sheehan
Academic WorldQuest 2008

WorldQuest is a challenging international group trivia contest. ACWA invited area colleges and universities to set up teams to compete in Academic WorldQuest 2008.

Congratulations to our first and second-place finishers: The University of Akron Political Science B Team (75% correct) and Ashland University (71% correct)!

ACWA NEWS

Spring 2008 Global Scholars Orientation Focuses on Global Product Development

For ACWA's Spring 2008 Global Scholars orientation, four Fulbright Scholars interning at Kent State University facilitated small group discussions with students on developing domestic products for global distribution. The countries represented for this exercise were Malaysia, India, Lebanon and Bangladesh.

RECENT EVENT

Antonio Ortiz-Mena

Prospects and Challenges of North American Integration

Antonio Ortiz-Mena, Head of Section, Economic Affairs, Mexican Embassy, Washington, D.C., discussed issues related to the North American economic integration as well as the U.S.-Mexico relationship.

ACWA NEWS

Global Scholars High School Program Adds New School

This fall, students from Akron, Ohio’s Ellet High School began participating in ACWA's Global Scholars program with students from Buchtel and Firestone High Schools. All three are part of the Akron Public Schools system.

ACWA’s increase in funding from community foundations and individual contributors made this expansion possible. We thank the Akron Community Foundation, The GAR Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and OMNOVA Solutions.

SPEAKER REPORT

Haiyan Li

Globalizing India: Opportunities & Challenges

Manoj Joshi, Counsellor, Economic Affairs, Embassy of India, Washington, D.C., discusses India's rapid economic growth, the opportunities it provides to global industry, and the need to leverage this growth to combat poverty and improve infrastructure.

SPEAKER REPORT

Malaysia-U.S. Relations:
The Sky is NOT the Limit

Ilango Karuppannan, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Malaysia, Washington, D.C., discusses the shared values and concerns of Malaysia and the U.S., as well as the growing trade and investment relations between the two countries. Malaysia is the 10th largest trading partner of the U.S.

PROFILES IN SERVICE

Photo: Pawel Flato

Akron Police Chief Hosts Sweden's Minister of Justice

Jane Walker Snider, ACWA Executive Director, reports on the visit to Akron of Beatrice Ask, Sweden’s Minister of Justice.

The Akron Police Department hosted Ms. Ask for a discussion of policing challenges in the Akron area compared with those in Sweden. Ms. Ask and Ms. Snider also rode with Sgt. Daniel J. Caprez for an hour while he covered his district.

Akron's Safety Forces Network Monitors City 24/7

Ms. Snider also reports on the City's high-tech Information Systems dispatch center, which uses sophisticated equipment to process more than 390,000 emergency calls annually.

SPEAKER REPORT

Czech-American Relations in the Context of the Euro-Atlantic Political Debate

Jaroslav Kurfürst, Deputy Chief of Mission, Czech Republic, Washington, D.C., discussed Central Europe's unique success story after the end of the cold war and his country's relations with the U.S. at the April 26 Global Scholars and Speaker Event.

 

PHOTO GALLERY

View photos from recent Global Scholars events.

Global Scholars photos

Snider Web Solutions