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About the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan
In 1949, a group of community leaders in Grand Rapids founded the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan. They believed an organization dedicated to international topics and American foreign policy issues was necessary in order to combat the isolationism in this area following World War II. Since then, the World Affairs Council has been dedicated to educating people in western Michigan about other countries, cultures and regions of the world, as well as providing a forum for discussion of critical foreign policy issues facing this country.
Both gentlemen have now passed on. This photo was taken the month before the Council
celebrated its 50th Anniversary (50th celebration in October 1999)."
A Tribute to our Founder Mr. Edgar Orr
Our Co-Founder and Dear Friend Mr. Edgar Orr passed Wednesday June 10th, 2009. He was thrilled at the growth of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan into a powerhouse Council with a national reputation. Please feel free to share your thoughts with us by
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to email us.
Mr and Mrs Orr with the Honorable James Baker, U.S. Secretary of State (former)
at our 58th Anniversary Dinner in October 2007. (right)
World Affairs Council of Western Michigan
In the years after World War II, Western Michigan was becoming increasingly isolationist. So, in 1949, two young men – Edgar Orr and Douglas Hillman -- started an organization that was solely concerned with American foreign policy and international issues.
We are a non-partisan; non-advocacy educational non-profit. We take no stand on any issue. Our members are from all over the political spectrum and would agree on only one issue: they want the World Affairs Council to start the conversation in this community on American foreign policy and other international issues.
The Council is best known for its sponsorship of the Great Decisions Foreign Policy Lecture Series since the early 1960s and for its Community Ambassadors and Teenagers Abroad programs, started in the 1950s.
The World Affairs Council is dedicated to educating people in western Michigan about other countries, cultures and regions of the world, as well as providing a forum for discussion of critical foreign policy issues facing this country.