Peoria-Area Community Impact Guide 2023-2024

PEORIA AREA WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL Our mission is to bring the world to Central Illinois. The Peoria Area World Affairs Council is a non-partisan, multi-generational, membership organization, and takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.

1501 W. Bradley Avenue, BR 248B Peoria, IL 61625 Phone: (309) 677-2454

Email: director@pawac.org Website: www.PAWAC.org Facebook : @peoriapawac Twitter : @PeoriaWorld

Instagram : @peoriaareaworldaffairscouncil LinkedIn : Peoria Area World Affairs Council (PAWAC) YouTube : Peoria Area World Affairs Council Virtual Events EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND OFFICERS Julia Ghantous, President Conrad Stinnett, President-Elect Octavian Gabor, Immediate Past President

Connie Tomczyk, Secretary Michael Gilles, Treasurer Angela Weck, Executive Director

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Edith Barnard Alan Dickey Michelle Eaton Anne Fox Dr. Beverly Ketel Leslie Murphy Dr. Amer Qatanani Don Samford Conrad Stinnett Dr. Gregory Wilson Joshua Zulu

PAWAC promotes a better understanding of global history, culture and current events through a variety of engaging educational initiatives that provide opportunities for face-to-face learning and dialogue with global leaders, business executives, diplomats, policy experts, social innovators, and distinguished opinion makers. All events are open to the public, and candid, civil dialog is always encouraged.

As a non-partisan organization, PAWAC offers a broad tent for people looking for civil discussion of the day’s most pressing global concerns, with a particular focus on how they affect us here in Central Illinois. We believe this enables our communities to better compete, collaborate and make informed decisions. WHAT WE DO PAWAC hosts a variety of educational opportunities. These include dinner programs and lectures with distinguished speakers; the annual International Scholastic Bowl for high school students; pop-up conversations with experts concerning hot topics in global news; a quarterly book club; a weekly world news quiz; discounts on major publications; exciting travel opportunities; and more. DID YOU KNOW? PAWAC is a local chapter of a nationwide network created more than a century ago to nurture public awareness of critical international issues affecting the United States. The Peoria Area World Affairs Council celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2020, and are making plans for our next fifty years.

HOW TO HELP As a member-driven, volunteer orga nization, we invite members to share their talents by joining one of the organization’s committees, such as Programming, Educational Outreach, Membership, Finance and Develop ment, Marketing, and Scholastic Bowl. Committees meet monthly or quarter ly. The schedule can be found on the website at www.pawac.org .

OUR VALUES Through expanded, informed, respectful public discourse about international relations and current events, we can transform how people think about the world and encourage them to act accordingly.

78

peoriamagazine.com