In 1948, the World Affairs Council of St. Louis was established to promote understanding and engagement in global affairs. More than seven decades later, the nonprofit remains dedicated to connecting St. Louis to the world—and to introducing the world to St. Louis. The local organization is one of 90 that comprise the World Affairs Councils of America. Its mission is to deepen the global perspective of communities through speaker programs, discussion groups and educational experiences.

The local World Affairs Council was founded shortly after World War II by a group of prominent St. Louisans, including Arthur Compton, Nobel Prize winner and Washington University Chancellor; Morton May, chairman of May Department Stores and co-founder of The Muny; James S. McDonnell, founder of McDonnell Aircraft; and Leo C. Fuller and Sydney Baer, founders of Stix, Baer and Fuller. Their goal was to educate people about world affairs to encourage cooperation between nations. “The mission is just as relevant today as it was in the late 1940s,” says board member Donna Kirtian. “It’s important for American citizens to have a global perspective and an understanding of what is happening in the world. The council works to educate and inform while also remaining above political differences.”

One of The World Affairs Council’s key initiatives is the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP), which is a partnership with the U.S. State Department. The program brings current and emerging foreign leaders to St. Louis for short-term visits, and the council facilitates events and discourse with local businesses, nonprofits and governmental agencies. Last year, the nonprofit hosted 161 international visitors from 74 different countries. “We’re always looking for people to host small groups of visitors for dinners in their homes,” Kirtian explains. “We like to say that our citizen diplomats connect the world at our dinner tables.”

Most of The World Affairs Council’s programming is open to the public. It has sponsored initiatives on a variety of topics, including cybersecurity, agriculture, health and economics. The nonprofit also is dedicated to instilling global awareness in the next generation. It hosts the Academic WorldQuest competition, which tests high school students on their knowledge of important issues. The winning local team is sent to Washington D.C. to compete nationally. “We also have a robust internship program and host networking events for students with international interest,” Kirtian adds. “We are always looking for additional ways to connect with and inspire young St. Louisans.”

The World Affairs Council’s 75th Anniversary Celebration will be held April 10 at the Missouri History Museum. The evening will include a fireside chat led by Missouri Historical Society president and CEO Jody Sowell and featuring Gavin Sundwall, a managing director with the U.S. Department of State, and two St. Louisans: former Ambassador to Ireland Kevin O’Malley and W. Stuart Symington, former Ambassador to Nigeria, Rwanda and Djibouti. “We will be celebrating our long history of citizen diplomacy,” Kirtian says. “In the Midwest, it can be easy to focus on our own day-to-day issues, but the council will continue to provide St. Louisans opportunities to broaden their perspectives.”

The World Affairs Council of St. Louis deepens the global perspective of our community through speaker programs, discussion groups and educational experiences. Its 75th Anniversary Celebration is April 10 at the Missouri History Museum. Pictured on the cover: Former Amb. to Ireland Kevin O’Malley, Burt Follman, Madlena Demirchian, Jody Sowell, Pierce Powers. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 314.727.9988 or visit worldaffairsstl.org.

Cover design by Julie Streiler
Photo courtesy of World Affairs Council of St. Louis

Pictured at top: International visitors find joy in St. Louis.
Photo courtesy of World Affairs Council of St. Louis