CCWA’s speaker programming brings leading experts from around the country right here to Cleveland to share their insights and expertise on topics of pressing international importance. Our Council has promoted international public dialogue in our community for over 97 years.
From Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, to Ambassador Bill Burns, and journalist Robin Wright, we’ve hosted ambassadors, economists, journalists, generals, and thought leaders with wide-ranging perspectives to address our Cleveland audience.
Speaker programming is at the very heart of what the Cleveland Council of World Affairs does. We are passionate about engaging our local community with speakers that are equally passionate about sharing their message and analysis of the world we live in.
The following photo essay will showcase some of our speakers from the past year and the reasons why they come to Cleveland. The guests and programs highlighted are a small handful of the speakers that have made their mark in Northeast Ohio for almost a century.
UPDATES FROM CCWA
CCWA Welcomes Lydia Johnson as its New Associate for Student Programs
The Cleveland Council on World Affairs is pleased to welcome Lydia Johnson as its new Associate for Student Programs. In this role, Lydia oversees CCWA’s Model UN conferences and supports CCWA’s other global education programming….
CCWA’s Global Ambassadors Program Receives Generation NEXT Award
We are thrilled to announce that CCWA’s Global Ambassadors program has been honored as a 2025 Generation NEXT Award Winner for Program of the Year by Engage! Cleveland. The Global Ambassadors program is a transformative,…
CCWA Hosts Latvian State Secretary Aivars Puriņš
On October 13, 2025, CCWA hosted a roundtable discussion with Latvian State Secretary Aivars Puriņš on European security and US-NATO cooperation. State Secretary Puriņš traveled to Cleveland as part of a German Marshall Fund Across…
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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?