IRC Roundtables offer a welcoming space for people from all walks of life to come together and explore the world, one region at a time. Meeting on Monday evenings at Park39 (and via Zoom), these discussion groups aren’t just a public forum for the globally curious, they’re also a place where different ideas and perspectives intersect in a respectful manner.
Whether you’re a lifelong learner, a world traveler, and whether you do or don’t have professional or academic experience in world affairs – you’ll find conversation partners who share your interest in understanding the world beyond our borders.
Each session connects the local to the global through lively dialogue and special guests (from authors and artists to diplomats and scholars) who share firsthand insights on world regions or the policies that help to shape our politics.
Come join the conversation and see how global understanding is being cultivated right here in Kansas City!
Regional and Policy Roundtables
Regional Roundtables: The IRC offers 7 different Regional Roundtables, designed to discuss regions of the world with depth and nuance, while exploring current events and local connections. Our 7 Roundtable Regions are: Central & South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe & Russia, Middle East & North Africa, East Asia, Southeast Asia & Oceania, and The Americas
Policy Roundtables: The IRC holds Policy Roundtables throughout the year; these programs are designed when there are topics of great interest to our discussion groups, but that span across multiple world regions. These roundtables will be facilitated by a subject matter expert within the community, with an open-forum Q&A session following the presentatoin. Examples of previous policy roundtables are: Queer Rights Around The World, Public Transit, Nuclear Energy, & Critical Minerals.
2026 Summer/Fall Regional Roundtable Schedule:
Monday, July 20: Central & South Asia Roundtable
Monday, July 27: Sub-Saharan Africa Roundtable
Monday, August 3: Europe and Russia Roundtable
Monday, August 17: East Asia Roundtable
Monday, August 24: Middle East/North Africa Roundtable
Monday, August 31: Southeast Asia & Oceania Roundtable
Monday, September 14: The Americas Roundtable