World Affairs Council of Hampton Roads

05/21/2026

Insightful comments and discussion at Wednesday’s event with New York Times correspondent Suzy Hansen on her recent years’ experience in Turkey embedded in a neighborhood in Istanbul to explore how global geopolitics are affecting everyday
people by examining the human realities of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s rise to power, the influx of Syrian refugees, and the slow, disorienting advance of 21st-century authoritarianism.

Geopolitics is not just something that happens in government offices; it unfolds at barber shops, over coffee with family and friends and on city streets.

Thank you to sponsors Norfolk Arts Commission, Slover Library Foundation, and Dominion Energy.

05/19/2026

05/19/2026

Artificial intelligence is becoming part of how NATO trains, adapts, and prepares for the future fight. That is exactly what in Audacious Training beacon project is designed to support.

As one of NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT)’s 2026 Beacon Projects, AI in Audacious Training is helping modernize how exercises are designed, controlled, and refined through practical AI-enabled tools that support exercise teams in building faster, more dynamic, and more realistic training scenarios.

Developed in close coordination between the NATO Joint Warfare Centre, the NATO Joint Force Training Centre, and NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT), the project is already moving from experimentation toward practical implementation in major NATO exercises.

Read more: https://www.act.nato.int/article/ai-in-audacious-training/

05/19/2026

05/19/2026

Last day to fill out the application is TODAY!
https://forms.gle/b5o99pBPNpHgbucV9

05/15/2026

✨ Come travel the world with the World Affairs Council of Jacksonville! ✨
We are thrilled to share the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia’s Celtic Lands: Featuring Normandy & the D-Day Beaches journey, sailing from May 1–10, 2027 aboard the elegant Le Lapérouse and hosted by Trina Medarev! Even more exciting — six Jacksonville travelers have already signed on for this unforgettable experience!
From the historic shores of Normandy and Omaha Beach to the castles of Wales, the streets of Dublin, and the breathtaking Scottish Isles, this immersive voyage blends history, culture, and lifelong learning in extraordinary ways. Acclaimed historian Dwight David Eisenhower II will join travelers throughout the journey as featured guest speaker.
This beloved program sells out quickly, and special savings of up to $2,000 per couple are currently available.
History. Culture. Camaraderie. Adventure.
We would love for you to join us! 🌍

05/13/2026

Tallwood High School took Hampton Roads to the national stage 🇺🇸🌍

After winning our 2025 WorldQuest competition, Tallwood advanced to the Academic WorldQuest National Competition in Washington, DC, competing against top teams from across the country and representing our region with confidence and distinction!

Academic WorldQuest extends far beyond a competition. While in DC, students connected with peers from over 50 councils nationwide, attended receptions, and explored the world of foreign policy firsthand, including visits to the Embassy of Australia and the Embassy of Qatar. From embassies to monuments, they brought global learning to life.

This moment is part of something bigger. World Affairs Council of Hampton Roads founded their WorldQuest competition locally 25 years ago, before the national competition existed. Today, it continues to bring students and community members together around global issues, current events, and culture.

A huge thank you to everyone who makes this possible, especially Ron and Debbie Ritter, who have supported student participation for over 20 years.

We’re proud of Tallwood for an incredible season and for representing Hampton Roads on the national stage! 👏

05/11/2026

Still time to register!

By understanding other regions, while questioning one’s own culture and national beliefs, Hansen blends memoir with cultural criticism, ultimately challenging readers to reflect on a diverse global picture. Life From Itself encapsulates the greater transformation of nations like Turkey, highlighting westernization in the globalized world.

Through personal stories and political analysis, Hansen demonstrates how living under Erdoğan reshaped her perspective. Suzy Hansen lived in Istanbul for more than a decade, where she was a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine and many other publications. Her first book, Notes on a Foreign Country, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Nonfiction and the winner of the Overseas Press Club of America’s Cornelius Ryan Award. She has taught writing at Princeton University, New York University, and Bard College.

Join us on May 20, 2026 at Slover Library (6th floor) as we close our 2025-2026 Distinguished Speakers Series. The lecture begins at 7pm with a Q&A session and our annual membership meeting to follow.

Special thanks to Norfolk ARTS, The Slover /The Slover Foundation, and Dominion Energy for their support!

REGISTER HERE: https://www.memberplanet.com/events/wacghr/lifeundererdoğanwithsuzyhansen