WorldDenver (also known as the Denver World Affairs Council) is the Denver, Colorado affiliate of the World Affairs Council, an international affairs educational and civic organization.

Background

WorldDenver was registered as a charitable nonprofit organization in Denver, Colorado in March 2012 under the name “Denver World Affairs Council.” ^{1 2}

According to WorldDenver’s website, as of March 2024, the organization has roughly 1,000 members and 5,000 “supporting community members.” ¹

Activities

In collaboration with the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program, WorldDenver annually facilitates the visits of approximately 600 foreigners to the city for the purpose of engaging in networking and educational programs with local professionals and community members. For instance, the organization facilitates “WorldDinners” in which volunteers host two to four foreign visitors for a meal of the host’s choosing, as well as “Homestays” in which volunteers host foreign visitors for a period ranging from a few nights to a full month. ³

On April 7, 2021, WorldDenver announced its implementation of the World Affairs Challenge Virtual Exchange, a project funded by a grant from the Stevens Initiative of the Aspen Institute. As part of the exchange, teams of six to ten youth engage in networking and development programs aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. ⁴

Though the grant for the program came from the Aspen Institute’s Stevens Initiative, the initiative itself is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, with funding from the United States Government, the Bezos Family Foundation, and the governments of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. ⁴

Funding

Aside from grant funding from the Aspen Institute’s Stevens Initiative, WorldDenver has also received grants from organizations including Global Ties U.S. ^{5 6}

Leadership

Charlene Krogh is the chair of WorldDenver’s board of directors as well as the chair of Dorsey and Whitney LLP’s Trademark, Copyright, and Advertising practice group and co-manager of Dorsey and Whitney LLP’s intellectual property blog, TheTMCA.com. ^{7 8}

John M. Krieger, is the executive director of WorldDenver. Previously, he was the director of campaigns at the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado; staff attorney, lobbyist, and communications director for the United States Public Interest Research Group; and a member of the Alumni Board of Directors of Flagler College. ⁹

Lauren Osga is the director of development and communications at WorldDenver. Previously, she was the senior director of programs and development at the World Affairs Council of Charlotte, a community organizer with Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, and DOVE, Inc., a domestic violence nonprofit. ⁹

Sarah Wilkinson is the director of international exchange programs at WorldDenver. Previously, she founded Project PeacePal, a pen pal initiative that was later rebranded as Global One to One. ⁹

1. “Who We Are.” WorldDenver. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://worlddenver.org/worlddenver-who-we-are/
2. “Denver World Affairs Council.” ProPublica. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/454346778
3.  “Our Programs.” WorldDenver. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://worlddenver.org/our-programs/
4. “WORLDDENVER RECEIVES STEVENS INITIATIVE FUNDING FOR PROGRAM TO VIRTUALLY CONNECT YOUNG PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.” WorldDenver. April 7, 2021. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://worlddenver.org/file_download/inline/a5508dad-d329-4ae6-a5e9-e779ddc448ca
5. “About Us.” Global Ties US. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://www.globaltiesus.org/about-us/
6. “WorldDenver.” CauseIQ. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/world-denver,454346778/
7. ^[1] “Charlene Krogh.” Dorsey and Whitney LLP. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://www.dorsey.com/people/k/krogh-charlene#:~:text=Charlene%20is%20Chair%20of%20Dorsey’s,%2C%20software%2C%20and%20medical%20devices.
8. “Who We Are: Board of Directors.” WorldDenver. Accessed March 11, 2024.  https://worlddenver.org/worlddenver-who-we-are/board-of-directors.html
9. “Who We Are: Staff.” WorldDenver. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://worlddenver.org/worlddenver-who-we-are/staff.html