Great Decisions Global Discussions
Livestreamed to YouTube
Mondays 6 - 7:15 PM
Know the World, then Change the World
Diplomats, policy makers and practitioners, think tank specialists and journalists
lead conversations on global issues that impact us locally.
February 8 through March 29, 2021
Virtual events. Public invited.
Webinars will be viewable live and as archives.
$10 admission per discussion, $60 for a series pass
New topic and speaker each week
Free admission to WACWM corporate members and their employees; Senator members; and the faculty, staff and students of our educational partners.
Support the series through our Friends of Great Decisions campaign.
Register for the series or individual programs.
NEW to the Council and its members: "The Global Mixer," an informal, Zoom-based conversation about the Great Decisions topic of the week, other world issues members wish to discuss, and light-hearted banter about global culture, food, and travel. Join Council member Cathy Dopp, the Council staff, and other Council members every Wednesday at 7 p.m. in February and March for an hour (or so) of global banter--and bring your favorite beverage!
Click on speakers' images or topic titles for more information on topic and speaker
Engage with our experts
February 8
"North Korea: Getting Diplomacy Back on Track"
Suzanne DiMaggio
Senior fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
sponsored by Friends of Great Decisions
Rescheduled: February 23
"Have We Learned Anything about this Pandemic?"
Andrew Natsios
Director of the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs, The Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M
Link to publications available for purchase from this speaker
Snowcraft Infectious Disease Information Platform
February 22
"The European Union: The New Agenda Post-Brexit"
Tomas Baert
Head of Trade and Agriculture, European Delegation to the U.S.
sponsored by Bank of America
March 1
"The Future of Business and Global Supply Chains"
Judy Samuelson, founder and executive director, Aspen Institute Business and Society Program
with moderator Brian Kraus, Vice President, Global Manufacturing, Amway
sponsored by Steelcase
Six New Rules of Business
Mar. 29
"The Saudi-Arabian- U.S. Relationship: Decades in the Making"
Thomas W. Lippman
author, consultant, and lecturer
Great Decisions is America's largest discussion program on world affairs, initiated by the Foreign Policy Association in New York City.
Want to dig deeper? The FPA offers program resources, including briefing books that cover each topic.
Series Sponsor:
Livestream Sponsor:
Media Sponsors:
Topic Sponsors:
Friends of Great Decisions
The Vernis Schad 2021 Lectureship for Women in Global Studies
Educational Partners:
Aquinas College Calvin University Central Michigan University Davenport University Ferris State University Grand Rapids Community College Grand Valley State University
Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University Montcalm Community College Northern Michigan University Western Michigan University
Community Partners:
Arctic Ecology Program (AEP) at Grand Valley State University
Calvin Academy for Lifelong Learning (CALL) Citizens Climate Lobby of Grand Rapids
City of Holland Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and Museum
Grand Rapids Sister Cities International Kent District Library
U.S. Commercial Services - Grand Rapids