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YOUNG PROFESSIONALS INTERNATIONAL FORUM

 

The Young Professionals International Forum (IF) connects individuals with a passion for international affairs, expanding their networks and knowledge of pressing global issues. The all volunteer group offers a variety of activities covering a broad spectrum of disciplines, including speaker presentations, informal discussion groups, foreign language dinners, social gatherings, and language, book and foreign film groups.

Programs & Social Activities

The Young Professionals International Forum (IF) develops and hosts various activities throughout the year, ranging from public programs with receptions to the casual internationally-themed dinners to more formal seasonal receptions with distinguished foreign diplomats. These events are a great way to meet internationally-minded people and learn about the various IF projects. For more information on upcoming events, please visit the International Forum Event Calendar.

Discussion group

The monthly IF discussion group, Global Town Hall, is designed to allow IF members to exchange opinions in a friendly, conversational forum while hearing a diversity of perspectives on complex global issues. All Global Town Halls are open to the public and free of charge. Also, if you would like to help organize or moderate a session, join us at our monthly Steering Committee meetings where we brainstorm and choose upcoming discussion topics.

Global Town Halls are tentatively scheduled for the second Monday of every month but are subject to change. For more information on the discussion group and to learn about upcoming discussions, please visit the International Forum Event Calendar or contact Ashley Murphy.

Foreign Language Groups

The IF Language Dinner groups meet with the explicit purpose of eating delicious food, spiced with good conversation in a foreign language.

Whether you’ve just come back from abroad and are looking to keep the rust off your foreign language skills, or you just enjoy a good meal and conversation, pull up a plate at one of our many international language dinners. We have groups in the following languages: French, Hindi/Urdu, Italian, Mandarin, German, Russian and Spanish. Check out our Volunteer Opportunities to find out how you can start your own foreign language group. For more information, contact the appropriate Language Group Coordinators.

For more information on the language dinners and to learn about upcoming meetings, please visit the International Forum Event Calendar or contact Giulissa Principe.

Foreign Film Group

Do you enjoy watching films from countries where cinema is still seen as an art form? Do you love foreign films enough to watch them alone, but would rather talk and share your impressions with others? The IF Foreign Film Group, Subtitles & Subtleties, meets about once a month to watch foreign films in theaters around the Bay Area. After the films, they gather for social discussions in nearby cafés.

To learn more about Subtitles & Subtleties and to learn about upcoming screenings, please visit the International Forum Event Calendar or contact Igor Sinyak or Diane Murk.

Book club

Reading broadens your mind – now share it with the IF Book Club. We meet once per month to discuss a contemporary book of common interest, be it fiction or non-fiction. Books are available at Books Inc. in Opera Plaza at a 15% discount. Tell them you are with the World Affairs Council Book Club. To see our current reading list and to explore texts we have read in the past, check out our Book List.

For more information on the book club, upcoming meetings and texts to be read, please visit the International Forum Event Calendar or contact Brennan and Maryanne. To request to be added to the distribution list for book announcements, please go to our Book Club Google Groups page.