April 20, 2026

By Adam Howard, Executive Director and Angela Ostrom, Deputy Executive Director

The International Churchill Society is working every day to foster engagement across the globe through discussion and programming that explore the life and legacy of Sir Winston Churchill. But our mission is not only about studying Churchill as a historical figure. It is also about examining the enduring importance of history, leadership, democracy, courage, and education as they relate to the challenges of our own time.

Now more than ever, Churchill remains relevant to conversations about leadership under pressure, perseverance through struggle, moral clarity in moments of uncertainty, and the ability to evolve in response to changing circumstances. That relevance is one of the most striking things we continue to see through the work of ICS. Even over a relatively short span of years, the breadth of scholarship and programming inspired by Churchill has been remarkable.

That range is part of what makes this community so dynamic. One program may center on an art exhibition. Another may explore Churchill’s relationship with President Dwight Eisenhower. One chapter event could focus on the warning Churchill sounded about the Iron Curtain and the Cold War to come. While another local program examines Churchill’s use of film in the 1930s to build support for Britain and strengthen the Anglo-American relationship. ICS local chapters may host a discussion of a new book, a lecture on leadership, or even an article that connects Churchill to something as unexpected as a baseball game in 1918. The possibilities are wide-ranging because Churchill’s life and legacy continue to open doors into larger questions about history, ideas, public life, and human character.

What has become increasingly clear is that while Churchill’s significance is global, engagement with his legacy is often deeply local.

ICS is working to bridge geographic gaps through our podcast, virtual programs, expanded educational offerings, and events at the National Churchill Leadership Center in Washington. At the same time, we are committed to creating more opportunities for in-person engagement across the United States and around the world. That local presence matters. It is where scholarship becomes conversation, where curiosity becomes community, and where members find meaningful ways to connect with one another.

That local engagement can take many forms: an ICS author discussion in Chicago, a forum in Brazil, a symposium in Rome, a birthday celebration in Paris, a new chapter in Austria, the launch of activity in the Midwest, or another successful program carried out in Tennessee. Across the nation and around the globe, there are opportunities to engage with ICS in ways that are personal, accessible, and rooted in place.

We want to do more to highlight those opportunities for you. In the months ahead, we hope to share more stories from chapters and local partners, promote local events through our website and communications, and give members clearer ways to plug into the work of ICS where they live. A strong international society is built not only through major conferences and flagship programs but also through vibrant local communities that keep the conversation alive year-round.

So we encourage you to look locally. Engage with ICS as a member. Attend an event in your region. Support a chapter. Help us identify new audiences and partners. And if there is not yet activity in your area, consider helping us start something. Some of the most meaningful work we do begins with one conversation, one gathering, and one person willing to bring others together.

Churchill’s legacy belongs to the world. But its impact is often felt most powerfully close to home.r.

Find your local chapter or contact us to start one!