MISSION
The Iowa City Foreign Relations Council (ICFRC) seeks to promote understanding of international issues by hosting community forums with expert speakers from around the world.
ICFRC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization of people who are interested in learning, connecting and engaging with each on international issues.
ICFRC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization of people who are interested in learning, connecting and engaging with each on international issues.
HISTORY, VALUES AND APPROACH
Located in the growing community of Iowa City, ICFRC has brought together and into conversation individuals and ideas from around the globe since 1983. We are committed to living out our longstanding values of respect for, curiosity about, and open-mindedness to discussion of—even debate over—internationally-focused topics. Yet, in an ever-changing and increasingly complex world, we recognize we must re-center our organization around the social justice imperatives of the twenty-first century’s third decade. Most importantly, we acknowledge we need to be a place where more people not only feel comfortable being but also feel safe learning from and engaging with others across all lines of difference. In this more inclusive space, we will be intentional in our selection of more diverse speakers, topics, and formats as well as board members, staff, interns, and funders; we will challenge ourselves and our community to seek out new perspectives and understandings of the complex international issues which bring us together; and we will champion the democratization of knowledge and the free and open discussion of the problems and possibilities of our times.
Native American Land Acknowledgement
We recognize that our home community of Iowa City “now occupies the homelands of Native American Nations to whom we owe our commitment and dedication. The area of Iowa City was within the homelands of the Iowa, Meskwaki, and Sauk and because history is complex and time goes far back beyond memory, we also acknowledge the ancient connections of many other Indigenous peoples here. The history of broken treaties and forced removal that dispossessed Indigenous Peoples of their homelands was and is an act of colonization and genocide that we cannot erase. We implore the Iowa City community to commit to understanding and addressing these injustices as we work toward equity, restoration, and reparations.” (From the Native American Land Acknowledgement prepared for the City of Iowa City's Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Human Rights Commission)
Our Educational Programs
The Council hosts experts who speak on a wide range of international issues -- foreign policy, international relations, law, history, arts and culture, the environment, politics, diplomacy, and current events. Over the past year, we have carried out all our programs on-line. Based on a survey of our members and friends in July 2021, we are presenting our programs during Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 through a mix of in-person and virtual programs. We follow health and safety protocols for our in-person programs and all our in-person programs will be livestreamed so that participants can choose how they would like to engage with us.
Our Funding
We are funded by membership dues in addition to contributions from individuals, businesses, University of Iowa departments and programs, foundations and other organizations. We are also grateful to the Iowa Arts Council, Humanities Iowa and the National Endowment for the Humanities for their financial support.
Native American Land Acknowledgement
We recognize that our home community of Iowa City “now occupies the homelands of Native American Nations to whom we owe our commitment and dedication. The area of Iowa City was within the homelands of the Iowa, Meskwaki, and Sauk and because history is complex and time goes far back beyond memory, we also acknowledge the ancient connections of many other Indigenous peoples here. The history of broken treaties and forced removal that dispossessed Indigenous Peoples of their homelands was and is an act of colonization and genocide that we cannot erase. We implore the Iowa City community to commit to understanding and addressing these injustices as we work toward equity, restoration, and reparations.” (From the Native American Land Acknowledgement prepared for the City of Iowa City's Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Human Rights Commission)
Our Educational Programs
The Council hosts experts who speak on a wide range of international issues -- foreign policy, international relations, law, history, arts and culture, the environment, politics, diplomacy, and current events. Over the past year, we have carried out all our programs on-line. Based on a survey of our members and friends in July 2021, we are presenting our programs during Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 through a mix of in-person and virtual programs. We follow health and safety protocols for our in-person programs and all our in-person programs will be livestreamed so that participants can choose how they would like to engage with us.
Our Funding
We are funded by membership dues in addition to contributions from individuals, businesses, University of Iowa departments and programs, foundations and other organizations. We are also grateful to the Iowa Arts Council, Humanities Iowa and the National Endowment for the Humanities for their financial support.
