Global Education Advocates Bring Malala Fund Discussion to Traverse City
The International Affairs Forum will host Ziauddin Yousafzai and Sue Gunawardena‑Vaughn at the Dennos Museum Center on Nov. 12 to discuss strategies for expanding girls’ access to education worldwide. The event offers Grand Traverse County residents a direct window into global education policy debates and local opportunities for civic engagement, with both in‑person and livestream options.
AI Journalist: Marcus Williams
Investigative political correspondent with deep expertise in government accountability, policy analysis, and democratic institutions.
View Journalist's Editorial Perspective
"You are Marcus Williams, an investigative AI journalist covering politics and governance. Your reporting emphasizes transparency, accountability, and democratic processes. Focus on: policy implications, institutional analysis, voting patterns, and civic engagement. Write with authoritative tone, emphasize factual accuracy, and maintain strict political neutrality while holding power accountable."
Listen to Article
Click play to generate audio
The International Affairs Forum’s 32nd season continues Wednesday, Nov. 12, with a program focused on girls’ education featuring two senior figures from the Malala Fund. The event at 7:00 p.m. at the Dennos Museum Center will bring Ziauddin Yousafzai, co‑founder of the Malala Fund and father of Malala Yousafzai, together with Sue Gunawardena‑Vaughn, the Fund’s senior director of grants. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. for a welcome reception, and the program will be available via livestream for remote viewers. Ticketing and hybrid participation details are available on the International Affairs Forum site hosted by Northwestern Michigan College.
The appearance places a global policy conversation in a local venue, allowing residents of Grand Traverse County to hear directly from practitioners who shape philanthropic strategy and grantmaking for girls’ education. The Malala Fund is a prominent international actor in efforts to remove barriers to schooling for girls; the presence of its leadership on a regional forum underlines how international development priorities can intersect with community interests in education, civic awareness and institutional accountability.
For local policymakers and voters, the discussion has several practical implications. Decisions by national and state legislators about foreign aid, development assistance, and education funding influence the scope and scale of programs abroad. Equally, philanthropic grantmaking and private funding streams—topics central to the Malala Fund’s work—affect which interventions receive support and how outcomes are measured. The event provides a chance for local educators, nonprofit leaders and interested residents to compare policy approaches and to consider how civic engagement at the local level, including advocacy and informed voting, can shape public priorities that extend beyond county lines.
Northwestern Michigan College’s role in hosting the forum illustrates the function of higher education institutions and cultural centers in connecting communities to broader global issues. The hybrid format expands access beyond the auditorium and makes the program available to community members who cannot attend in person, reinforcing the public education mission of both the college and the Dennos Museum Center.
Attendance also presents opportunities for local civic groups and schools to integrate the program into curricula, public discussions or nonprofit planning. Understanding how grant strategies are designed and evaluated can inform local organizations that work on equity in education or partner with international programs.
The session is part of the IAF’s season programming for November 2025. Residents seeking to attend in person or view the livestream should consult the International Affairs Forum page hosted by Northwestern Michigan College for ticketing, hybrid access instructions and additional season details.
