The Mariposa Museum will launch the 2026 season of its foreign affairs discussion series on Thursday, Feb. 5, with a new name and a revised format designed to be more timely and relevant.
Formerly affiliated with the nonpartisan Foreign Policy Association’s “Great Decisions” program, the series has been renamed the “Peterborough International Affairs Forum.” Programs will be planned locally by a steering committee.
Peterborough residents Bob Beck, whose foreign service career spanned more than 30 years, and Peter Henriques, a former international business executive, will return as moderators for the 2026 season.
All meetings will begin at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month, running from February through May and again from September through December. Each session will focus on what organizers identify as the most critical issue in American foreign affairs at the time. Moderators will present an overview, with a group discussion to follow.
Assisting with topic selection and discussion planning is a steering committee that includes Dan Grosz, Karl Kaiser, Tony Pascale and Jay Schechter.
During the first half of 2026, meetings will be held on Feb. 5, March 5, April 2 and May 7. After a summer break, the series will resume on Sept. 3, Oct. 1, Nov. 5 and Dec. 3.
Sessions are free and open to the public. The steering committee encourages participants to become members of the Mariposa Museum, with annual memberships ranging from $80 to $100, or to donate $10 per meeting.
The Mariposa Museum is a nonprofit world culture center located at 25 Main St. in Peterborough.