Founded in 1954 at the direction of Lorrine Emery, the Council’s International Visitor Program was established to coordinate State Department-sponsored visits of delegations and leaders from around the world. Working with an extensive team of local volunteers, businesses and community leaders, the program plays a key role in building public diplomacy and international connections for the region.

Early Years

In its first decade, the Council established itself as a key community institution by hosting visits from such luminaries as President Herbert Hoover, King Baudin of Belgium, and Countess Alexandra Tolstoy. The president of Turkey visited and met with local students as part of “Turkish Week.” For the organization’s South American Ambassadors’ Ball, men wore black ties and women donned their finest gowns, gloves and stoles to enjoy an elegant evening of the continent’s entertainment, food and music.

During the 1960s, highlights included visits by Lebanese President Malik and filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille along with special panels comprised of CBS reporters who went on to become media legends: Walter Cronkite, Edward R. Murrow, Eric Sevareid, Marvin Kalb, Peter Kalischer, Daniel Schorr, and David Schornbrun.

It was 1961 when Les Femmes du Monde, a social and volunteer organization that supported the Council, was founded by local women interested in world affairs.

21st Century

At the dawn of the new century, the Council entered its current phase. In 2001, Jim Falk joined the Council as president and CEO. Two years later, the City of Dallas’ Protocol Office, a unique public/private partnership between the City of Dallas and the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, was established. The Protocol Office works with city officials, the diplomatic corps, the Office of the Mayor and other international stakeholders to represent the City of Dallas in official international activities. It also advises the mayor and other city officials on matters of international protocol, serves as the secretariat to the Consular Corps of Dallas-Fort Worth, and oversees Dallas’ Sister Cities relationships and activities.

The name of the organization changed in 2006 to the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth when the Dallas and Fort Worth Councils merged to create a new regional organization. Also that year, the Council received the President’s Award from the World Affairs Councils of America, naming it “the most dynamic large council in the nation.” This honor, WACA’s most prestigious award, recognizes outstanding achievement and is given annually for “extraordinary innovation, growth, outreach, and impact.”

During the first decade of the 21^st century, the Council presented hundreds of events. Among the most notable speakers were General David Petraeus, Vice President Dick Cheney, former President of Mexico Vicente Fox, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, rock star and humanitarian Bono, The New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, CNN talk show host Fareed Zakaria, author David McCullough, PBS’ NewsHour host Jim Lehrer, and ambassadors from around the world.

In 2009, “Global I.Q. with The Economist” debuted as a free monthly online audiocast that connected listeners with the publication’s journalists around the world to discuss the pressing issues of the day. Hosted by Jim Falk, the interactive audiocasts are enjoyed live or by podcast on the Council’s website. Later, this podcast became known as “Global I.Q. with Jim Falk.”

The Mallon Award Dinners continued into the 21^st century and recipients included Ray L. Hunt, President George H.W. Bush, Raymond D. Nasher, Gerard Arpey, Dr. Kenneth Cooper, Jeff Fegan, and, at its 25^th anniversary celebration, Ross Perot and Ross Perot, Jr. A future Secretary of State, Exxon Mobil’s Rex Tillerson, was honored in 2015.

In 2015, a philanthropic-level membership was established. The Global Forum offers its members special programs, expert briefings, receptions and travel opportunities. By 2017, our membership exceeded 4,000. The Council continues to educate North Texans – adults and students alike – through rich offerings of member-participation programs and distinguished speakers including Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, Secretaries of State James Baker, Condoleezza Rice, and Dr. Henry Kissinger, as well as diplomats, heads of state, Nobel laureates, historians, authors, and experts.

Finally finding our way to a post-pandemic reality and with a couple of years under her belt, President & CEO Liz Brailsford, the Council staff, and board of directors began the process of evolving the Council brand and rebuilding the Council’s website. The experience included deep evaluation of the Council’s rich history, meaningful traditions, critical values, and where this team saw the Council making a difference going forward.

Completed in 2023 – 72 years after being established – the Council’s original mission set out by founder H. Neil Mallon was as clear and compelling as ever for our community: we continue to opperate “in the belief that better community education in world affairs is necessary for sound democratic citizenship; and in order to present facts and realistic appraisals; and to foster free and informed discussions on world problems, including economic, political, and social problems.”

With new tools in place to help educate DFW about world affairs and to encourage citizens to be globally engaged, 2023 casts a vision for the Council of the Future.