International Relations Council

We at the IRC are so, so thankful to the lifeblood of our organization - our members! None of the work we do or programs we hold would be possible without our community. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your support, and we can't wait to see you soon! Curious about IRC membership? The best time to join is today! Visit our website at buff.ly/4g4yL1D to learn more!

Here's a #ThanksgivingEve fun fact: Did you know that Australia has created a unique diplomatic role of Ambassador for First Nations People? Today, we are reflecting on the wonderful visit we had from Justin Mohamed, the inaugural Ambassador for First Nations People, as he shared his expertise with a group of IRC members at Banksia Bakehouse this spring! And as thankful as we are to the wonderful team at Banksia for hosting us - we will never forget how thankful the delegation was to enjoy a Flat White (Australia's signature coffee drink) in the heartland in America!

Limited spaces are still available for our "Solutions & The Path Forward" panel discussion, sponsored by the Missouri Coalition For The Environment, on December 4th! After spending the fall months taking a look at the #ClimateCrisis with programs such as "Relocation & Climate Refugees", "Climate & Biodiversity", and "Sustainability Across Industries", we have an incredible set of panelists who will help guide us through practical solutions to combat the climate crisis, on a local, regional, and global scale! Limited seating for this lunchtime program are still available - visit buff.ly/4g4Eg0l and register today!

The IRC's #ClimateCrisis Series wraps up next week with our "Solutions & The Path Forward" Program on December 4. We are so thankful to all of our speakers, moderators, and hosts for all their thought leadership, hard work, and generosity of spirit as we tackle this critically important issue from six unique perspectives. A special thank you goes out so Stinson LLP for their sponsorship of the Climate Crisis Series!

When the topic of "Sports & Diplomacy" was one of a few topics that the IRC had the option to submit as a potential "Council Breakout Session" at the 2024 WACA National Conference - we knew Travis Murphy would the perfect person to speak. What an honor it was to host a Council Breakout Session at our 2024 National Conference and to talk #SportsDiplomacy on a national stage, and what a pleasure it was to see our friend Travis again!

Wednesday! Join us in welcoming Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff, PhD to speak about her 2023 book: Basketball Empire: France & The Making Of A Global NBA and WNBA. Register here for this 12pm program: https://lnkd.in/gEQBRw_U In this engaging discussion, Dr. Krasnoff will showcase how basketball's global takeover could not have happened without France, exploring its interactions with the United States and colonial legacies with francophone Africa and the Afro-Caribbean. Taking us back to the very beginnings of basketball, she shows how remnants of empire have shaped the game. Asking how and why so many French basketball players have joined the NBA and WNBA, Basketball Empire explores what this has meant for the league and the players themselves.

Wednesday! Join us in welcoming Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff, PhD to speak about her 2023 book: Basketball Empire: France & The Making Of A Global NBA and WNBA. Register here for this 12pm program: https://lnkd.in/gEQBRw_U In this engaging discussion, Dr. Krasnoff will showcase how basketball's global takeover could not have happened without France, exploring its interactions with the United States and colonial legacies with francophone Africa and the Afro-Caribbean. Taking us back to the very beginnings of basketball, she shows how remnants of empire have shaped the game. Asking how and why so many French basketball players have joined the NBA and WNBA, Basketball Empire explores what this has meant for the league and the players themselves.

Wednesday, October 23 at 11:30am at Johnson County Community College. Join us for a panel on the climate industry! The panel will feature Bob Rebori, Dominique Davison AIA, Ryan Grobler and Logan Heley, MPA as moderator. Light snacks will be provided by Johnson County Community College at no cost. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eZWk4Afw

Next week, we are so excited to present a truly all-star panel on Climate & Biodiversity at the KC Farm School at Gibbs Road featuring Dr. Jorge Soberón of the The University of Kansas Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Shari L. Wilson, Ed.D. of Project Central and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and Amy Shields of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The panel will be moderated by Celia Llopis-Jepsen of KCUR 89.3. You can register for this free program at https://lnkd.in/giba-qi4

Today at 6pm! We will be hosting Matt Dimmick (European Program Manager at Spirit Of America & former Director for Russia and Eastern Europe on the National Security Council) for an in-person lecture program held at the WTC Conference Room in Union Station. Matt will present his thoughts on how the war has evolved since the start of Russia's invasion in 2022, the current state of fighting, and where the conflict is heading in the near future. This program will be moderated by Dr. Alan Holiman, Professor of Political Science at William Jewell College. Register here: https://lnkd.in/g69XY9pV