International Relations Council

08/20/2026

POV: You just checked the weather report and realized the Ethnic Enrichment Festival won't feel like it's being held on the surface of the sun this year!

THIS FRIDAY, SATURDAY, & SUNDAY
YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT
(stop by the irc booth and say hi)

08/19/2026

announcing our October leture program!

08/18/2026

Students all across the Kansas City metro have been thrilled to learn about how many differently global opportunities are at their fingertips with their next step thanks for the Your Global Future College & Career Fair!

We are SO grateful & thankful for Avila University for partnering with the IRC on Your Global Future 2026, allowing us to expand the fair into an event for high school AND college students!

08/12/2026

Last week, we had the privilege of hosting Amb. Ronald Neumann, the former U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain, Algeria, and Afghanistan, and one of only two father-and-son pairs (along with John & John Quincy Adams) to both serve as ambassadors to the same country! Amb. Neumann's stories from his time in the foreign service, insights on the state of U.S. diplomacy, and answers to our audience Q&A were truly enlightening!

Thank you to for hosting the event in their (beautiful) space, to Frank Klimas for his expert moderation, to Amb. Neumann for making the trip, and to everyone who took the time out of their Wednesday evening to spend some time engaging with a complex & emotional topic.

08/11/2026

It's hard not to have a smile on your face when you're surrounded by the incredible energy of the Ethnic Enrichment Festival at Swope Park! Friday, Aug. 21 - Sunday, August 23.

The IRC is seeking 2-3 more volunteers on Saturday afternoon & evening to spend a couple hours tabling at the IRC booth at the festival, meeting the people and learning about Kansas City's global interests & perspectives.

If you'd like to volunteer, comment below or get in touch with Dan via email!

07/30/2026

Her name is Caitlin Biddolph, she is a lecturer in International Relations at the University of Technology Sydney, and tonight - she joins the IRC (virtually) from Sydney to discuss Queering International Relations!

It's free, it's open to the public, and it's followed by a post-program discussion!

07/28/2026

Last week, we hosted a series of events & programs with our delegation of Lt. Col Minyoung Ang, Jim Pershing, and Arius Derr, visiting Kansas City through the and through The World Affairs Councils of America's Engage America Program.

We have so many people to thank for helping to make their visit so special.

Bety, Christine, Lauri, & the whole team at for opening up for our welcome party, and Saranya, Zach, & the team at .kc for the wonderful food!

Dr. Hyunjin Seo of the University of Kansas for her expert moderation of the public panel, and the Lenexa Community Forum for hosting us!

Ben Ahn, Grace Ahn, Joshua Do, Kay Mun, the entire .kbn, and all of our attendees for making sure our business roundtable with the delegation was a wonderful & impactful morning.

Stephen Slaughter for his photography of the program, Col. (Ret). Mike Burke for giving the delegation a tour of the National World War I Museum & Memorial, Yara Elkoush for volunteering with social media help, and of course, to Minyoung, Jim, and Arius for taking the time to travel to Kansas City!

07/27/2026

The IRC hosts community conversations in 3 forms this week:

- Roundtable Discussion on Sub-Saharan Africa
- Book Club Discussion on Kevin Rudd's On Xi Jinping
- Post-Program Discussion: Queering International Relations

All 3 will take place at Park39. Virtual options are available on Monday and Tuesday, and to hear Dr. Caitlin Biddolph's lecture on Thursday, but following her talk, we'll be hosting a post-program discussion exclusively for in-person attendees!

07/22/2026

IRC Roundtables roll on this Monday!

Monday evenings at Park39 are for discovering the global community that's all around Kansas City. Sectioned into 7 different regions, these discussion groups explore local connections + current events across the globe.

Our summer session continues with our Sub-Saharan Africa Roundtable, with this session's topic being "Africa's Impact on the 2026 World Cup.

This roundtable is facilitated by Mike Burke, a retired professor at Command & General Staff College with decades of experience working in Africa!

Roundtables are free + open to the public. A virtual option is available to those who register in advance.

07/21/2026

If you've been waiting for a reason to finally go to your first KC Current game... here it is!

🌎 Every successful trade relationship starts with a connection.

Over the past few weeks, we've watched the world's game bring people, cultures, and countries together. It's a reminder that the strongest partnerships—whether on the pitch or in business—are built through relationships.

That's exactly what international trade is all about.

Join the International Trade Council of Greater Kansas City's Current Connections networking event and meet the professionals who are shaping global business right here in our region. Whether you're just starting your career or looking to expand your network, this is your opportunity to build relationships that can open doors for years to come.

After an hour of networking over drinks and snacks, continue the evening with fellow attendees by taking advantage of discounted group tickets to watch the Kansas City Current take on Angel City FC.

📅 Saturday, August 1

⏰ 4:00–5:00 PM

📍 Port KC

🎟️ Free for ITC Members

🎟️ $5 for Non-Members

👥 Guests are encouraged!

https://itcgkc.org/event-6632036

Because in international trade, connections aren't just important—they're the building blocks of opportunity.