ABOUT CCWA
The Cleveland Council on World Affairs (CCWA) has been promoting international engagement in the greater Cleveland area for over 100 years. CCWA was founded in 1923 to foster greater understanding of world affairs amongst citizens of Cleveland, with the notion that better international understanding would help promote world peace.
World peace remains at the heart of our aspirations. Today, we deliver a range of programs that offer international affairs education and build global awareness in the three program areas reflected in our mission: global education and student programs; speaker programs; and international exchanges.
OUR PROGRAM AREAS
Our Impact
To some, CCWA means a community of internationally aware and engaged citizens. To others it is a way to empower students, a resource to international information, or a partner in international initiatives. Over 3,500 people engage with CCWA each year through our international visitor programs, speaker forums, professional development initiatives, and education programs.
CCWA is affiliated with two national network organizations, Global Ties U.S. and World Affairs Councils of America, that help amplify the work that we do locally in the Cleveland area.
Explore
OUR WORK IN THE COMMUNITY
For more about the Council's work – including statistics about our local and international impact – visit our Annual Reports section.
Our History
Our founding stems from an organization created in 1923 by a group of women interested in promoting international peace which later merged with a men’s international study group.
Together they took on a broader role in keeping citizens of Greater Cleveland informed about major international relations under the strong board leadership of Newton D. Baker, former mayor of the City of Cleveland and Secretary of War under Woodrow Wilson. During the inspired leadership of Brooks Emeny, beginning in the mid 1930’s, the Council greatly expanded its public programs and speaker forums and provided education classes in collaboration with Cleveland College.
Many of our programs were established in the period of strong U.S. international involvement that immediately followed World War II. The Council held its first Model United Nations conference for high school students in 1945; we continue to organize Model UN conferences today. In 1948, when Congress first authorized a State Department program designed to build ties with emerging leaders from countries around the world, CCWA began programming visits to Cleveland for international visitors. Today, we welcome about 400 visitors a year.
For more detail on the decades of the Council's history, explore the timeline below, which will be updated throughout the year as part of our centennial celebration.
TIMELINE
A Century of the Council
1920s
The Council's Beginnings
1930s
A Growing Community
The next chapters are coming soon – check back to track the Council's century!
CCWA Centennial
2023 marks the hundredth year of the Cleveland Council on World Affairs. Throughout the year, we'll be celebrating this century of service to the local and international community.
Announcements, special events, and the publication of a centennial retrospective are all in the works for the coming months – check back here for updates as we mark one hundred years of service to Cleveland and the world!
Contribute to Global Connections
SUPPORT THE CLEVELAND COUNCIL ON WORLD AFFAIRS
For a century, the CCWA has brought diverse perspectives on issues of international import to Cleveland. Much of our programming is made possible by the the support of our members and the generosity of our donors. Will you help us continue to create global connections?