World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh

The Council is committed to promoting successful experiential learning and providing preparation for higher education and the 21st-century workforce. Our programs work as addendums to the traditional formal education system and fill the gaps left behind in schools in relation to global opportunities and global learning. Global learning has the power to transform the ways that students see the World around themselves and change the way they see themselves in relation to the World. In doing so, it emboldens and empowers their traditional education by bringing new perspectives and new understandings into their classrooms.the Council is creating these new perspectives and understandings through three initiatives under the umbrella of youth programming: our global minds program, driven by a by-youth and for-youth approach, our global travel scholarship program, and our teacher training program.global minds is a for-youth, by-youth leadership model that inspires students to form social bonds, intercultural friendships, and to consider global issues through youth-led extracurricular activities. As of 2022, global minds encompassed 10 after-school chapters across north america. The program will continue to increase youth voice across our operations and programming, catalyzing youth-led action for inclusive and welcoming schools.the youth fellowship program is a leadership and career development program that provides high school students with hands-on educational and professional development. Through the fellowship program, students have the opportunity to work alongside change-makers to lead the future of global learning in Pittsburgh and beyond. Youth board members directly impact World Affairs Council programs and services by providing valuable feedback, working on projects to support the Council's work, and representing the Council. Youth board members also serve as a co-chair of the youth board or on one of the Council's adult board committees. They also have the opportunity to receive guidance and mentorship from non-profit leaders in Pittsburgh. In addition, youth board members will receive professional development alongside our youth fellows and work with them to develop youth-led adult training.

The Council's public programming provides an in-depth, non-partisan look at relevant international topics. Speakers offer information and analysis that allow attendees to broaden their awareness, gain new perspectives, and make informed decisions. The Council's public programming includes webinars, panel discussions, and forums to engage everyone in discussion around one or more of the following global focus areas: in 2023, our global focus areas include global migration, women and girls, and climate action, with the overarching themes of truth and compassion.the covid-19 pandemic highlighted our profound connections through humanity while reminding us of the persistent injustices that continue to live in our World and in Pittsburgh. Following the Council's established tradition in presenting innovative programs and activities on global issues, we continued to provide virtual events as a platform for diverse audiences and speakers to come together and build stronger, more resilient connections that transcend all communities so that as we move forward, we will be stronger together. In 2022, 1,200 individuals attended 17 Council events with 96 expert speakers. The Council served 1,000 students and 94 educators through 44 youth programming events across 45 different schools.

The Council reinitiated student recruitment for the global travel scholarship program in 2021, following a program pause due to international travel restrictions related to the covid-19 pandemic. In partnership with the experiment in international living, the Council provides scholarships to local high school students to attend a culturally immersive program abroad for three to five weeks over the summer. The trips involve a combination of host family stays, language training, community service, and outdoor adventures. The students selected have a level of financial need that would otherwise limit their ability for international travel. The scholarship covers passport costs, flights, and program expenses. In 2021, the Council had 52 students apply for the global travel scholarship program, of which twelve students were selected to travel to six countries in the summer of 2022. Eight students were sent abroad in 2023, including one that was fully funded by jane voros and the Council's voros investment fund.