Hear first-hand from world leaders and dignitaries on current global developments at WACC programs and events We connect the world to Charlotte through community engagement and public discourse. WACC programs provide excellent networking opportunities & corporate visibility through membership and sponsorship WACC programs provide opportunity for one-on-one interaction with leaders who are driving change around the world. Explore the world with the World Affairs Council of Charlotte through the Travel Advantage Program

Featured Events

Joint WorldQuest / Academic WorldQuest 2026 (In Memory of Pierre Lipton)

On November 12, the World Affairs Council of Charlotte will gather at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown for a joint evening of Academic WorldQuest and WorldQuest as high school students and adult teams play side by side, testing what they know about the world. This year's competition is held in memory of Pierre Lipton, who lived that very arc: first as an Academic WorldQuest competitor for Myers Park High School, and later as a WorldQuest player with the Charlottans.

September 22nd, 2026: WACC Speaker Series with Michael O’Hanlon, Senior Fellow, Director of Research for the Foreign Policy Program, Inaugural Holder of the Philip H. Knight Chair in Defense and Strategy at the Brookings Institution, and Author

Join the World Affairs Council of Charlotte for a luncheon on Tuesday, September 22 with Michael O'Hanlon, Senior Fellow and Director of Research for the Foreign Policy Program at the Brookings Institution and author of To Dare Mighty Things: U.S. Defense Strategy Since the Revolution. Drawing on 250 years of American military history, O'Hanlon examines how the U.S. has waged war, sustained peace, and projected power.

September 10th, 2026: WACC National Security Series with Chris Inglis, Former Deputy Director of the National Security Agency and the First National Cyber Director

Chris Inglis doesn't just understand America's cyber threats; he helped build the architecture to defend against them. Inglis served as Deputy Director of the National Security Agency under both the George W. Bush and Obama administrations, spending decades across the NSA and Department of Defense before becoming the nation's first-ever National Cyber Director, a role created by Congress in 2021 to unify a fragmented federal cyber defense landscape. He was unanimously confirmed by the Senate, reflecting the breadth of trust he commanded across party lines. Join the World Affairs Council of Charlotte on Thursday, September 10, 2026, for a lunch conversation with one of the most consequential figures in American cybersecurity, who will offer thought-provoking insights on the threats that defined his career and the challenges that define America's future.

August 13th, 2026: YPWACC Pickleball Mixer at the Tipsy Pickle

Meet and mingle over drinks while playing pickleball on Thursday, August 13th with visiting Fulbright scholars from 15+ countries, hosted by Charlotte Global at UNC Charlotte, and fellow internationally-minded Charlotte young professionals at the Tipsy Pickle located in Camp North End.

Video Highlights

WACC in the News

Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins (WFAE): Journalist David Sanger Discusses the Changing U.S. Role on the Global Stage Listen Now

Union County Public Schools: A School Counselor’s Trip Abroad Shapes How She Supports Students at Home. Read Now

Inside UNC Charlotte: UNC Charlotte Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber honored with World Citizen Award. Read Now

Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins (WFAE): Foreign Adversaries Sow Division in Local Communities, Including North Carolina, Report Says. Listen Now

Roll Call: An Election That’s Bigger Than One Country. Read Now

City of Charlotte: Mayor Lyles To Present 26th Mayor’s International Community Awards. Read Now

Charlotte Observer: It’s Time to Meet Your Neighbor Across the World, says Rick Steves. It Starts with Travel. Read Now

Charlotte Ledger: Rick Steves is Traveling with a Mission. Read More

Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins (WFAE): Getting to Know Travel Extraordinaire Rick Steves. Listen Now

Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins (WFAE): A Conversation with Fiona Hill — Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and the White House’s former top Russia adviser. Listen Now

Atrium Health: Dr. Derek Raghavan Reflects on Upcoming Retirement. Read Now

FOX 46 Charlotte: Retired Lieutenant General in Charlotte Gives Insight Into Russia-Ukraine War. Watch Now (YouTube)

WFAE: Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins  — Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Ben Hodges, former Commanding General US Army Europe and Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). Listen Now

WFAE: Delays Push Carolina Theatre Project To 2022, Hotel Coming Later. Read More

Charlotte Business Journal: Top Execs at Atrium Health, Wake Forest Discuss Why the Combination Made Sense. Read More

Charlotte Business Journal: President of Truist Financial Emphasizes Focus on Community Impact, Innovation at Charlotte Luncheon. Read More

WFAE: The President’s Finger Is The Only One On ‘The Button.’ Listen Now

WFAE: Charlotte MLS Team President Talks Atlanta Rivalry, Big Tepper Sports Plans. Read More