Citizen Education

Today we are constantly bombarded with information about what's happening in our country and around the world. And yet our internet access and 24/7 news programs don't always give us the insight and understanding we need to be "informed citizens". The World Affairs Council of Jacksonville seeks to fill that gap with our Global Issues Forum - an evening lecture series delivered by prominent speakers on a range of international issues, and followed by an an extended Q&A period. These programs, which run from September through April, promote a deeper understanding of world affairs and underscore our global interconnectivity within today's complex world.

The 2008-2009 Global Issues Forum is co-hosted by and held at the University of North Florida and is included as a part of their Distinguished Voices series. 

Speakers

Prior year's speakers have attracted individual audiences from 500 to over 800 people. In 2007-2008, our Global Issues Forum attracted audiences exceeding 6,000 people. Past speakers have included: 

• David Broder

• David Brooks

• Ken Burns

• Dr. Jared Diamond

• Tom Friedman

• David Gergen

• Brian Greene

• Dr. Richard Leakey

• Dr. Joseph Stiglitz

• George Will

• Fareed Zakaria

The 2008-2009 Fall Speakers Schedule includes: 

• Martin Indyk " The Arab-Israeli Conflict"

• John Zogby, "International Public Opinion"

• David Brooks, "The Political Outlook"