Flagship Programs
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Flagship programs are high-profile programs that are broadly supported throughout the council system, something which builds the name and impact of the system and its councils. Broad support does not mean “universally supported” or “required.” Many councils participate in all five flagship programs.
Our Flagship Programs
Great Decisions
Great Decisions promotes citizen engagement in foreign policy issues. Run by the Foreign Policy Association in New York, it is the oldest and largest grassroots educational program on world affairs of its kind in the country. It is based on a book published in January each year with eight new foreign affairs topics. The topics are the basis of discussion groups, public lectures, a PBS television series, and a national opinion poll. Some 350,000 people and 450 colleges use Great Decisions around the country. The program has been running since 1954.
World in Transition
Southern Center of International Studies, our Atlanta council, produces multimedia curriculum units for use in classrooms around the country. The series is called World in Transition. These teacher-friendly units cover Latin America, Africa, East Asia, Russia and Eurasia, and Europe. The South Asia unit is due out soon. Several state school systems have adopted the materials, which are used by thousands of teachers and students around the country. Individual councils put on teachers workshops with the Southern Center around the country.
WorldQuest
The national association hosts a national high-school world affairs knowledge competition called Academic WorldQuest in Washington every year. Some 50 teams, sponsored by local councils compete in a major institutional setting. Some 40 councils now host local WorldQuest competitions to choose their high school team. WorldQuest was invented by Jennifer Watson Roberts and the Charlotte Council. About 25 councils play it at the adult level as well.
It’s Your World
Our San Francisco world affairs council hosts a one-hour weekly radio program called It's Your World on KQED radio moderated by the council president. It is a news, interview, discussion, and call-in program on world news. It has been running for over 50 years and has a broad listener base in the Bay Area. The council system is seeking to have it syndicated throughout the country in the NPR system.
Travel the World
The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, which organizes all the Travel the World trips, has been offering tours to its members and to cooperating councils for more than twenty years. These trips offer all the highlights of touring plus access to political leaders and other local experts who give behind the scenes views and briefings that make their trips special and unique. Approximately 250-300 people travel on the 15 - 20 trips offered every year.