Introducing VCWA’s 2026 International Day of Peace Theme
The world is shifting. Technology, shifting alliances, economic uncertainty, and global challenges are reshaping how people connect, communicate, and engage with one another. These forces may seem distant, but they increasingly influence our communities, institutions, and everyday lives here in Vermont. Join the Vermont Council on World Affairs on Wednesday, September 23rd for the 2026 State of the World Summit, a full-day gathering designed to help Vermonters better understand the forces reshaping the global landscape and what they mean for our future.
This summit will examine:
This summit is designed as a platform to get informed about today’s most pressing global challenges and discover concrete ways to stay engaged in the democratic process. Through distinguished voices in peacebuilding, diplomacy, and human rights, attendees will explore how informed participation and respectful dialogue can foster understanding, build trust, and strengthen communities.
This is how democracies grow resilient, through citizens who understand the stakes and know how to engage constructively across differences.
International Day of Peace
Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, International Day of Peace represents a globally shared day for all humanity to commit to building a culture of peace in communities around the world. The Vermont Council on World Affairs is excited to once again celebrate International Day of Peace with programming focused on this important topic.
What to expect at this summit
Attendees will leave the summit equipped with tools to bridge divides, both locally and globally.
Schedule and Pricing
Building Bridges in a
Fractured World
11:00 am - 5:00 pm | Hula Lakeside
Followed by an afternoon networking reception.
With a keynote address and sessions on civil discourse, the evolving role of international development, and an in-depth look at the causes of genocide.
Tickets:
Full-day: $75
Special pricing for VCWA Members - email elizabeth@vcwa.org for more information
Full-day tickets include breakfast, lunch, exclusive networking opportunities.
Agenda
*We believe cost should never be a barrier to attending our events. To support accessibility, we offer sliding-scale ticket options. Please contact elizabeth@vcwa.org for details and assistance.
Summit Overview
In an era of growing division and misinformation, civil discourse is a vital tool for preventing and resolving conflict. This session will explore how open, respectful dialogue can bridge cultural and ideological divides, build trust, and foster lasting peace. It will also examine the role of media in shaping public perception, the impact of misinformation on polarization, and strategies individuals and organizations can use to promote fact-based, constructive conversations.
Session 1:
From Conflict to Connection: Discourse as a Peace Tool
Jim Welch | Journalist; Former Editor in Chief, VTDigger
Speakers:
Christina Barsky | Associate Professor; Director, Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program, University of Vermont
Wilmer Chavarria | Moderator
For decades, USAID has been a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy, using development aid to prevent conflict, stabilize societies, and expand American influence. However, dramatic funding cuts are leaving a gap that global competitors are quick to fill. China now outspends the U.S. 4:1 on development and citizen diplomacy, expanding its reach, while other nations have adopted the U.S. soft power playbook to strengthen their geopolitical standing. This session will explore the consequences of these shifts - how reduced U.S. engagement impacts global stability, who is stepping in to fill the void, and what it means for the future of American influence.
Session 2:
Power and Presence: What Happens When the U.S. Steps Back
Speakers:
Courtney Chubb | Retired Senior Foreign Service Officer
Garrett Graff | Journalist, Historian
Sarwar Kashmeri | Host, Polaris-Live.com; Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Association; Applied Research Fellow, Peace & War Center, Norwich University
In predominantly white spaces like Vermont, fostering inclusivity requires intentional effort, self-reflection, and action. This session, presented in partnership with Bellwether International and World Affairs Councils of America, will examine the concept of “other-ness” and how systemic barriers prevent equitable representation. This panel will explore how racism fuels larger-scale injustices, including genocide, and the importance of early intervention to prevent such atrocities.
The Other-ing Effect: Preventing Hate Through Inclusion
Ellen Yount | Moderator
Session 3:
Speakers:
Rachel Miner | Founder, Bellwether International
Paul Suk-Hyun Yoon | Chief Culture and Compliance Officer, Vermont State University
Sarika Tandon | Race Equity Consultant, Rise Consulting
Patrick Brown | Moderator
Meet the Speakers
State of the World Address
Major General Harder
BIO and/blurb here
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Keynote Speakers
J.J. Green is the national security correspondent at WTOP. He reports daily on international security, intelligence, foreign policy, terrorism, and cyber developments.
He’s the author of the new book The Noise War: How to Fight Disinformation and Find Truth When Everything is Lying to You. It’s a detailed field manual that shows how to identify, contain, and neutralize disinformation before it takes root. See J.J. Green’s full bio here.
“Disinformation is the new weapon of mass destruction. It’s invisible, silent, and instantaneous. It doesn’t work because we’re unfamiliar with it. It works because we’re human. It preys upon our frailties. I’m looking forward to joining the State of the World Summit to discuss my new book The Noise War and how to recognize disinformation, understand it, and fight back against it.”
J.J. Green
Session 3
From Maple Syrup to Microchips: How Global Economics and Geopolitics Shape Vermont
Session 4: Panel Discussion
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Courtney Chubb is a retired Senior Foreign Service Officer with over 25 years of leadership experience at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). She served as Mission Director in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where she advanced democratic governance, energy reform, and economic development. Previously, she led the USAID Mission/West Bank and Gaza, navigating high-stakes diplomacy and restarting a $100M assistance program. Her international assignments also included leadership roles in Thailand, Russia, Mexico, Colombia, and as Director of USAID’s Foreign Service Center in Washington, D.C.
Courtney is known for her strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and ability to manage complex operations in challenging political environments. She has successfully guided multi-million-dollar portfolios, mentored diverse teams, and briefed senior U.S. government officials during crises, including the 2021 Gaza conflict.
She is married to a retired Department of State Foreign Service Officer and has two sons.
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Journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist historian Garrett M. Graff has covered politics, technology, and national security for two decades. The former editor of POLITICO Magazine, he writes the popular Doomsday Scenario newsletter and hosts the Edward R. Murrow Award-winning podcast, Long Shadow. The author of ten books, including Watergate: A New History, he is best known for his bestselling landmark volumes of oral histories, The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11, When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day, and, most recently, The Devil Reached Toward the Sky, about the making of the atomic bomb.
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Sarwar Kashmeri is an international relations specialist, author, and commentator known for his expertise on U.S. global strategy and national security. He is the founder and host of Polaris-Live.com, a program exploring the geopolitical and economic impact of China’s rise. A Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Association and an Applied Research Fellow at Norwich University’s Peace and War Center, Kashmeri has authored several influential works, including China’s Grand Strategy and two Telegram reports on U.S.-China policy. He has spoken at West Point, appeared in global media outlets such as CNN, Deutsche Welle, and The Guardian, and served as a communications advisor and former CEO in the tech sector.
Kashmeri holds engineering degrees from Saint Louis University, where he also taught and led major computing initiatives.
Moderator
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During her 25+ year career in international development, Ellen has focused on governance, strategic communications, capacity building and gender. She has served as a trainer and advisor in more than 30 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East -- on the importance of free and fair elections, advocacy, and women’s leadership. Along with her husband, Ellen co-founded the One Connected Village Foundation to devote resources to women and girls in conflict.
Session 4
BIO and/blurb here
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Lowell Bailey
Thank you to our sponsors
Interested in sponsoring this event?
Email elizabeth@vcwa.org for more information