The World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Roads is a registered (section 501c3) non-profit, non-partisan educational organization whose mission is to promote a greater understanding and awareness of and interest in matters of international relations, foreign policy and diplomacy. Its goals are to inform and educate the Hampton Roads community based on the belief that a well-informed public is essential for the conduct of foreign policy in a democracy. The Council believes in a strong community and student outreach program. Towards these ends, the Council sponsors and subsidizes student participation at all of its events. In addition, and through a series of side events, the Council creates constructive liaisons and networking exchanges between its distinguished visiting speakers and Hampton Roads organizations, businesses, and community leaders, for the further benefit of the communities of Hampton Roads.
 
The World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Roads is a preeminent source of information on international affairs in the Hampton Roads region of southern Virginia. With vast port and harbor facilities, eight colleges and universities, major military installations and unique coastal tourist attractions, Greater Hampton Roads, consisting of the cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News and Suffolk, is a hub for international trade. The Council’s programs attract over 4,000 attendees per year and the Council subsidizes the attendance of over 400 students per year at Council events.