World Affairs Council of Miami

Engaging Our Community on Global Issues

Founded in August 2021, the World Affairs Council of Miami is an independent, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing public understanding of international affairs. We are a proud member of the World Affairs Councils of America, the nation’s largest grassroots network educating the public on world affairs. Our mission is simple yet vital: to serve as a public good by enhancing South Florida’s access to high-quality, non-partisan information about the world.

Help us build Miami’s first independent think tank to bridge diplomacy, education, and civic life. Your Give Miami Day gift powers our growth and helps us bring global learning to more Miamians.

Why We Exist

With diplomatic or commercial representation from nearly 100 countries, South Florida is one of the world’s most internationally connected regions. Yet despite this global presence, Greater Miami has no independent policy institute outside academia to interpret international events for the public. 

Since our founding, the World Affairs Council of Miami has filled this gap by:

• Hosting public discussions with global and national policy experts;

• Connecting Miami-based diplomats with the broader community;

• Helping young Miamians explore careers in diplomacy; 

• Teaching media & digital literacy skills to boost critical thinking;

• Convening community and business leaders with foreign officials to advance subnational diplomacy and strengthen Miami’s role as a global city.

In four years, the Council has produced approximately 100 programs with partners including Miami Dade College, FIU, UM, Miami-Dade County, local consulates, the U.S. government, NATO, and the UN. Every event is built around one goal: empowering Miamians with knowledge about a rapidly changing world.

Programs

• Diplomatic Delegations

The Council’s Diplomatic Delegations are individually tailored programs designed for Washington-based embassies to engage directly with Miami. Each visit advances public diplomacy, economic collaboration, and cultural enrichment through public speaker events, business and institutional visits, media engagements, and meetings with local officials. By linking international diplomats to local stakeholders, these delegations deepen Miami’s global ties and spotlight our city as a bridge between the United States and the world.

• Mark Samuelian Distinguished Speaker Series

Named in honor of the late Miami Beach Commissioner Mark Samuelian, this flagship program brings world-class experts in international relations to share their insights with the South Florida community. Speakers have included U.S. and foreign ambassadors, military leaders, and representatives of NATO and the United Nations. Held in partnership with Miami Dade College’s Honors College at the Wolfson Campus, these events are free and open to the public, ensuring that everyone—from students to civic leaders—can access trusted, high-level perspectives on global affairs.

• Consular Partnership Programs

Our Consular Partnership Programs connect South Florida’s diplomatic corps with the broader Miami community through briefings, receptions, roundtables, off-the-record exchanges, and customized conferences. A signature initiative, Tech-Meets-Diplomacy, has linked regional consulates with innovators, investors, and entrepreneurs through prior collaborations with Venture Café. Since 2022, participating partners have included the Consulates of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Taiwan, Israel, Mexico, Canada, Ireland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, as well as the U.S. Navy. With average attendance of 150 and over 2,000 participants to date, these programs have become a cornerstone of Miami’s diplomatic community engagement.

• Community Leader Briefings

The Council convenes Leadership Roundtables and policy workshops to foster informed exchanges among policymakers, diplomats, journalists, and civic leaders. Recent examples include a training on AI-driven disinformation in elections, co-hosted with the German Consulate and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, to equip community leaders with practical tools for democratic resilience.

• Academic WorldQuest

Each spring in partnership with FIU’s Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, we host Academic WorldQuest, a nationwide international affairs competition for high school students endorsed by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. Participants learn from diplomats and public policy profess about diplomatic careers and global issues. Top teams are invited to a briefing at U.S. Southern Command, and the champions earn a fully funded trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the national championship round. While in Washington, students visit Capitol Hill, the Executive Branch, embassies, and leading think tanks. Prior winning teams such as Hialeah–Miami Lakes Senior High and Miami Beach Senior High have been reocgnized for excellence by Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami Beach, respectively.