Category: General

World Affairs Council of Monterey Bay is excited to partner with Los Angeles World Affairs Council for their upcoming July 31 webinar on “The Trump Administration and Latin America.” Please see details and link below to participate in this FREE webinar.

LA WAC Presents:

On July 31st from 12:00-1:00 pm, join two Latin-America experts Professor Abraham Lowenthal, Emeritus Professor of International Relations at USC and Professor Jane Jacquette, Emeritus Professor of Politics and Diplomacy at Occidental College for a timely Zoom webinar exploring how the Trump administration’s tariffs, such as the recent 50% levies on Brazilian exports and 10–25% duties on broader Latin American imports, have driven regional diplomatic shifts, accelerated economic realignment toward China, and reshaped trade and migration strategies across the hemisphere.

Dr. Richard Downie, President & CEO of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council (LAWAC) will serve as the moderator for this webinar. Additionally, Consul General of Mexico in Los Angeles, Ambassador Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez will make introductory remarks.

Monterey HS Team will compete in the National Competition on April 28,2025

Congratulations to Monterey High School for taking first place in our regional Academic World Quest competition (AWQ). The four team members, Zahra Sellami, Vrishabh Gupta, Eunyul Kim, and Khushi Shah, along with their coach, Nicholaus Bourgeois, will travel to Washington, D.C. in April to participate in the national Academic World Quest competition. Thanks to funds raised by the World Affairs Council of Monterey Bay Area (WACMB), travel expenses will be covered, ensuring these students have the opportunity to compete on the national stage.

Academic World Quest is a rigorous team challenge that assesses students’ understanding of international affairs and U.S. foreign policy. Competing in teams of four, students answered questions spanning six critical global topics, showcasing their depth of knowledge and collaborative skills.

The Monterey County Office of Education in partnership with WACMB hosted the regional Academic World Quest Competition on Saturday, February 22, 2025, bringing together Monterey County high school teams for an exciting test of global knowledge and critical thinking.

Coach Bourgeois said of the regional competition, “The entire experience has been rewarding and a wonderful learning opportunity for our students.” Zahra Sellami, Monterey High School team leader reflected, “AWQ was an incredibly rewarding experience that exposed us to eclectic topics surrounding our world today. Our dedication, collaboration, and lighthearted attitude made this event truly delightful. As we advance to the national level, we are determined to excel and represent Monterey County with pride.”

Read the news release from MCOE here.

Informational Zoom Session for High School Educators

For more detailed information contact Norma Esparza at nesparza@montereycoe.org

Click here for information about the national competition.

WACMB is thrilled to be selected again for the annual MC – Gives campaign supporting local nonprofits in Monterey County. Our BIG IDEA this year continues our Youth Education Initiative, the Academic world Quest (AWQ) Program, a National contest with a fun, fast-paced team competition for high school students that tests participant knowledge of current international politics, geography, global economics, history and cultures.

The AWQ Program is sponsored by the World Affairs Council of America (WACA), our parent organization in Washington, D.C..Funds raised for our Monterey County high school competition will provide both cash awards for the three highest placed teams and an all-expense paid trip for the winning team
of 4 students and their Coach to compete in the National competition in Washington D.C. next April. Last year’s local winning team Monterey High School will be looking to repeat their success against other County high Schools.

Monterey County Gives!, aka MCGives!, is a fundraising program for nonprofit organizations in Monterey County that is run by the Community Foundation for Monterey County, the Monterey County Weekly, and the Monterey Peninsula Foundation. Founded in 2009, MCGives! adds additional prorated funds to every dollar raised by a participating organization in support of its “Big Idea.”

What, you ask, is Academic WorldQuest? It’s the flagship youth education program of the World Affairs Councils of America (which is the umbrella organization for the more than 90 World Affairs Councils across the United States). Structured as a fun, fast-paced team competition for high school students, Academic WorldQuest tests players’ knowledge of current international politics, geography, global economics, history, and world cultures. The program fits nicely with WACMB’s longtime support for local students who are interested in international affairs. WACMB will use funds raised through MCGives! to sponsor Monterey County’s third annual Academic World Quest competition, which will be held in February 2024. We will also pay to send Monterey County’s winning team to Washington, DC, to compete in the national championships in April 2025.

How can you support this Big Idea through MCGives!? There are three easy ways to to donate to the World Affairs Council of the Monterey Bay Area (WACMB) :

1. By credit-card online.
2. By check made payable to “Community Foundation of Monterey County (CFMC)”, indicating”to the benefit of the World Affairs Council of the Monterey Bay Area (WACMB)”. mail checks to CFMC, attn. MC-Gives !, 2354 Garden Road, Monterey, CA 93940.
3. By an IRA Qualified Charitable Donation (QCD). Process information is available on the website.

Don’t delay! The program runs from November 14 through December 31. Also remember: the more we donate, the more our donations will generate additional funds. So be generous!

This article in the May 24, 2024 edition of the Monterey County Weekly tells how a team from Greenfield High School won the local competition for Academic WorldQuest and traveled to Washington DC to compete in the national event.

https://flipbook.montereycountyweekly.com/archive/2024/05-09-24/6/#zoom=true

WACMB is thrilled to be selected again for the annual MC – Gives campaign supporting local nonprofits in Monterey County. Our BIG IDEA this year continues our Youth Education Initiative, the Academic world Quest (AWQ) Program, a National contest with a fun, fast-paced team competition for high school students that tests participant knowledge of current international politics, geography, global economics, history and cultures.

The AWQ Program is sponsored by the World Affairs Council of America (WACA), our parent organization in Washington, D.C..Funds raised for our Monterey County high school competition will provide both cash awards for the three highest placed teams and an all-expense paid trip for the winning team
of 4 students and their Coach to compete in the National competition in Washington D.C. next April. Last year’s local winning team Monterey High School will be looking to repeat their success against other County high Schools.

Monterey County Gives!, aka MCGives!, is a fundraising program for nonprofit organizations in Monterey County that is run by the Community Foundation for Monterey County, the Monterey County Weekly, and the Monterey Peninsula Foundation. Founded in 2009, MCGives! adds additional prorated funds to every dollar raised by a participating organization in support of its “Big Idea.”

Our “Big Idea” kicked off last year: WACMB brought Academic WorldQuest to Monterey County high schools. What, you ask, is Academic WorldQuest? It’s the flagship youth education program of the World Affairs Councils of America (which is the umbrella organization for the more than 90 World Affairs Councils across the United States). Structured as a fun, fast-paced team competition for high school students, Academic WorldQuest tests players’ knowledge of current international politics, geography, global economics, history, and world cultures. The program fits nicely with WACMB’s longtime support for local students who are interested in international affairs. WACMB will use funds raised through MCGives! to sponsor Monterey County’s second annual Academic World Quest competition, which will be held in February 2024. We will also pay to send Monterey County’s winning team to Washington, DC, to compete in the national championships in April 2024.

How can you support this Big Idea through MCGives!? There are three easy ways to to donate to the World Affairs Council of the Monterey Bay Area (WACMB) :

1. By credit-card online.
2. By check made payable to “Community Foundation of Monterey County (CFMC)”, indicating”to the benefit of the World Affairs Council of the Monterey Bay Area (WACMB)”. mail checks to CFMC, attn. MC-Gives !, 2354 Garden Road, Monterey, CA 93940.
3. By an IRA Qualified Charitable Donation (QCD). Process information is available on the website.

Don’t delay! The program runs from November 9 through December 31. Also remember: the more we donate, the more our donations will generate additional funds. So be generous!

We, at WACMB, are grateful to Monterey Gives and our donors for making our inaugural Academic World Quest such a success. We are also grateful to David Schmaltz for sharing the following article in the Monterey County Weekly.

Read the article here.

The Monterey County Weekly gave kudos to the Academic WorldQuest tream at Monterey High School in the competition hosted by World Affairs Council of Monterey Bay. Read more at The Buzz 02.23.23 or pick up a copy of the Feb 23, 2022 MCW at a local newstand.

Read more about the AWQ program and the World Affairs Council of Monterey Bay here.

Monterey County Gives!, aka MCGives!, is a fundraising program for nonprofit organizations in Monterey County that is run by the Community Foundation for Monterey County, the Monterey County Weekly, and the Monterey Peninsula Foundation. Founded in 2009, MCGives! adds additional prorated funds to every dollar raised by a participating organization in support of its “Big Idea.” Last year, WACMB raised more than $6000 through MCGives!

So what’s our Big Idea? It’s not just an idea any more: WACMB is bringing Academic WorldQuest to Monterey County high schools. What, you ask, is Academic WorldQuest? It’s the flagship youth education program of the World Affairs Councils of America (which is the umbrella organization for the more than 90 World Affairs Councils across the United States). Structured as a fun, fast-paced team competition for high school students, Academic WorldQuest tests players’ knowledge of current international politics, geography, global economics, history, and world cultures. The program fits nicely with WACMB’s longtime support for local students who are interested in international affairs. WACMB will use funds raised through MCGives! to sponsor Monterey County’s first annual Academic World Quest competition, which will be held in February 2023. We will also pay to send Monterey County’s winning team to Washington, DC, to compete in the national championships in April 2023.

How can you support this Big Idea through MCGives!? It’s easy! Beginning November 10, just go to the WACMB page on the Monterey County Gives! website and follow the directions there to make a donation online in support of WACMB’s sponsorship of Academic WorldQuest. If you’d rather send a check, make it payable to Community Foundation for Monterey County and write WACMB in the Memo line or on an attached note. (Please do NOT make your check out to WACMB.) Mail your check to CFMC, Attn. MCGives!, 2354 Garden Road, Monterey, CA, 93940.

Don’t delay! The program runs from November 10 through December 31. Also remember: the more we donate, the more our donations will generate additional funds. So be generous!

When you join the World Affairs Council of the Monterey Bay Area, you become part of an organization of thoughtful and engaged global citizens who seek to learn more about contemporary world affairs. You can see benefits provided to the public by the Council, and the additional benefits for members, on our web page at https://wacmb.xyz/membership/

Please join us at an upcoming event or discussion group and consider becoming a member of the Council or renewing your current membership.

Our Regards,

Judith Glickman
President of The World Affairs Council of the Monterey Bay Area