TRAVERSE CITY — The International Affairs Forum at Northwestern Michigan College is continuing its 32nd season with a slate of ticketed, public programs on executive power, space competition, the Rights of Nature movement, Israeli-Palestinian peacebuilding, press freedom and climate security.
According to a Jan. 22 NMC news release, most programs will begin at 7 p.m. with a welcome reception at 6 p.m. at the Dennos Museum Center Milliken Auditorium, 1701 E. Front St., Traverse City. Events will be presented in a hybrid format with in-person attendance and an online livestream option.
The season’s next event is “Long Arm or Strongarm: Executive Power in Foreign Policy & At Home” on Feb. 19 featuring Kori Schake, senior fellow and director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute.
The event is presented in partnership with the Central Michigan University Hart-Milliken Speaker Series. Book sales will be provided by Bay Books.
On March 19, Northwestern Michigan College students on the International Affairs Forum Student Leadership Team will present “The New Space Race: How Data, Resources, and Power Are Shaping Our Future.” Speakers are to be announced.
The program will explore competition in space among governments and corporations and the implications for technology, law, environmental stewardship and global cooperation. The event underwriter is Eleanor Lynn.
“Rights of Nature: Global Movement, Local Values” is scheduled for April 15 with Frank Bibeau and Hugo Echeverría. Bibeau is tribal attorney and director of the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights’ Tribal Rights of Nature Program and has worked on cases protecting manoomin, or wild rice, among other legal conservation work. Echeverría, based in Quito, Ecuador, has worked in environmental law since 2001 with an emphasis on biodiversity conservation and the Rights of Nature. The event underwriter is the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation.
On April 19, the International Affairs Forum and the National Writers Series will present “The Future is Peace — A Conversation with Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon.” Abu Sarah is a Palestinian peacebuilder and Inon is an Israeli peace activist.
The two are co-CEOs of InterAct and are described as directly impacted by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The program is billed as a conversation focused on coexistence grounded in human connection and mutual understanding.
In May, the International Affairs Forum will host the inaugural Robert & Nancy Giles Press Freedom Lecture. Speakers are to be announced. The release encouraged people to subscribe for International Affairs Forum newsletter updates.
The season continues with “Threat Multiplier: Climate, Military Leadership, and the Fight for Global Security” on June 11 featuring author Sherri Goodman, secretary general of the International Military Council on Climate & Security, distinguished fellow and board director at the Atlantic Council and former U.S. deputy undersecretary of defense for environmental security.
The event underwriters are Harold and Pam Lassers. Book sales will be provided by Bay Books.
Tickets for regular season events are required. Advance in-person tickets and online livestream access are available through TCIAF.com at $15 per person purchased in advance, $20 per person at the door or $10 for online livestream access.
On event days, in-person tickets are sold at the door while seats remain. Current students, educators and active-duty military members receive free admission with required check-in, according to the release.
International Affairs Forum programming at Northwestern Michigan College is supported by gifts from community members and sponsors.
The release listed Grand Traverse Pie Company and Thompson Retractor as International Affairs Forum gold sponsors, along with event underwriters Eleanor Lynn for March, Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation for April and Harold and Pam Lassers for June.
More information about membership, event details and tickets is available at TCIAF.com. Information on event sponsorship and opportunities to support is available at tciaf.com/support.