News & Updates - World Oregon

Great Decisions 2026—Save the Dates!

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 00:20:49 GMT

Great Decisions Returns in 2026 on Thursdays at PSU

Great Decisions 2026: Thursdays are the New Fridays
Thursdays, January 8–February 26, 12pm
Portland State University —Smith Memorial Student Union (Room 327)
1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201
In-person & Streaming

Mark your calendars for the return of the perennially popular Great Decisions series —diving into the key issues and challenges on the global stage for the U.S.

Great Decisions 2026 Topics:

America's Global Role: Foreign Policy's Next Chapter
Tariffs & the Future of the Global Economy
Strategic Options for U.S.-China Relations
Ruptured Alliances & the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation
Ukraine & the Future of European Security
Multilateral Institutions in a Changing World Order
U.S. Engagement of Africa
The Future of Human Rights & International Law

This year, the series moves to Thursdays and is back in a familiar venue at Smith Memorial Student Union and we are excited to partner once again with PSU's Office of Global Engagement and Innovation to make this longtime flagship program possible.

Registration for the series will open up later in the fall —so stay tuned!

WorldOregon Day Proclaimed in Beaverton & Portland

timd@worldoregon.org (Tim DuRoche) — Mon, 12 May 2025 21:04:25 GMT

Better Together in Beaverton & Portland

WorldOregon is feeling a deep well of gratitude for our community, our members, donors, and sponsors, and everyone who helped make our Bridge Together fundraiser such an overwhelming success! You mean the world to us!

To top off a week of 75th birthday celebrations (and don't worry the diamond anniversary is just revving up—more excitement to come), we were honored to have Mayor Keith Wilson of Portland and Mayor Lacey Beaty of Beaverton each proclaim April 30 WorldOregon Day in their respective cities!

The proclamations celebrated WorldOregon's efforts over the last 75 years to broaden and deepen public awareness, engagement, and understanding of international affairs—and we couldn't be more proud and humbled!

Read Mayor Wilson's proclamation here .
Read Mayor Beaty's proclamation here .

International Exchange Highlights the Power of Partnerships

timd@worldoregon.org (Tim DuRoche) — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 17:54:14 GMT

WorldOregon International Visitor Program highlighted nationally

WorldOregon's work with the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) was recently highlighted in a wonderful piece for written for the Global Ties U.S. website by our own Kristel Wissel, Program Officer for the International Visitor Program!

The feature focused on a recent IVLP project on "Diversifying University Partnerships" that offered WorldOregon the opportunity to host higher education leaders from several Mexican universities to explore binational efforts to support students and staff through cross-cultural collaboration.

THE LEADERS OF NOW —Young Leaders in Action!

timd@worldoregon.org (Tim DuRoche) — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 17:45:37 GMT

Young Leaders in Action produce short film!

The Leaders of Now is a short film that was created by the participants of WorldOregon’s Young Leaders in Action (YLA) program during the 2023–2024 program year. The students created this inspiring short film and activity meant to inspire all youth to recognize their own leadership capacity by highlighting young activists who have been at the forefront of social change in Portland and across the world.

Watch the Film

About Young Leaders in Action (YLA)
YLA brings together high school students to develop leadership skills, gain a global perspective on local justice issues, and learn about skills and strategies of past, present, local, and global youth activists. Each year, YLA students create an Action Project about social justice issues such as climate refugees, systemic racism, gender equity, and gun violence.

WorldOregon receives award for international impact from Travel Portland!

timd@worldoregon.org (Tim DuRoche) — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 17:35:49 GMT

And the envelope, please...

World Oregon was honored to be the recipient of the 2023 International Impact Award at Travel Portland ’s State of the Industry and Annual Awards Celebration in May at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront.

Billie Moser, Travel Portland's Vice President of International Affairs and Strategic Projects, had these warm and kind words to say in introducing the award:

“This year’s International Impact Award recipient is a true Travel Portland partner, positioning Portland as an exceptional global destination. Through partnerships with the U.S. Department of State's international visitor programs, our award winner brings diverse audiences — including youth, students and global leaders — to experience Portland. Notably, their members open their homes and invite visitors around their dinner tables to promote cross-cultural learning. And, they are dedicated to remaining in and revitalizing Portland's Central City core. Their ambitious goal for 2024 is to double the number of international visitors they host, all while showcasing an unwavering commitment to promoting Portland on a global scale. Please join me in congratulating WorldOregon and in welcoming President Derrick Olsen, who is accepting the award on behalf of the organization.”

Photo credit: Andie Petkus Photography

2024 International Speaker Series concludes another vibrant year!

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 17:00:00 GMT

The 2024 International Speaker Series wrapped up June 10 with Paul Rusesabagina, the real-life inspiration for the film Hotel Rwanda. Thank you to all our generous sponsors, WorldOregon members, and the broader community who helped make this year's series at Revolution Hall a vibrant success with robust discussions about challenging global issues!

Your attendance and passionate engagement with this rich array of speakers and topics does our hearts good as we continue to work to connect Oregon and SW Washington to the world! Stay tuned this fall as we look at exciting programs to celebrate WorldOregon’s 75 ^th anniversary bridging the conversations that are shaping our global future!

View pictures from the 2024 International Speaker Series here