Slide

About Gulf Coast Diplomacy

Annual Members & Friends Party 2026

Join us for an evening of light hors d’oeuvres, live music, and networking with community leaders, members, and friends of Gulf Coast Diplomacy as we celebrate the impact of international exchange in Northwest Florida. The evening will include keynote remarks from The Honorable Jimmy Patronis, U.S. Representative for Florida’s 1st Congressional District.

Please RSVP by May 6th using the link below.

Become a Host Family

Bring the world to your home this summer as a short-term host family for international leaders. This is a fun and enriching way to explore the world outside Florida right from your home.

We will keep the group busy during the work week and you can enjoy time with your visitor(s) during the evenings and weekends.

Upcoming Opportunities:

  • June (one week) – Open World Mongolia with international professionals
  • July (two weeks) – Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP) with English-speaking young leaders ages 15-18

Camp Global 2026

Camp Global is a virtual exchange experience for high school students from the United States and abroad. The program emphasizes leadership and workforce development through structured exchange activities and moderated discussion.

2026 Dates: Tuesday, June 23 through Friday, June 26

Applications are due on June 8th by 11:59 PM U.S. Central Time, and we will notify you of your status by June 12th.

Camp Global Undergrad

The Camp Global Undergrad program will bring together American and international university students for intercultural dialogue and comparative perspectives through facilitated online sessions. Participants engage with peers to explore leadership, communication, cultural context, and global learning.

2026 Dates: Tuesday, June 16 through Friday, June 19

Applications are due on June 8th by 11:59 PM U.S. Central Time, and we will notify you of your status by June 12th.

The Exchange Café

Are you interested in meeting with international visitors?  Do you want to talk to them about their experiences and expertise?  Then join us at our next Exchange Café where you can enjoy a chat over coffee or tea. We are always looking for more locals to take part in these two-way exchanges and would be happy for you to join us!

Change Through Exchange: Expanding Horizons

Supporting tomorrow’s leaders through today’s exchanges

We connect Northwest Florida with the world by hosting international visitors and empowering local high school students through our Youth Diplomats program. These exchanges strengthen our community by generating economic activity, enriching education, and preparing tomorrow’s workforce with the skills and civic values they need to lead. With 80% of our budget dedicated directly to program services, your support of Change Through Exchange makes a meaningful impact today and invests in the leaders of tomorrow.

You can contribute via Venmo, check, or our fundraising page.

Faces of Service

Open to high school students in Northwest Florida! Apply by May 12th, 11:59 PM CDT.

Faces of Service is a multi-year educational campaign launching in Pensacola this spring in collaboration with the National Museum and Center for Service! We are looking for highly motivated, service-oriented teens to get involved in creating a collaborative exhibit. There is no fee to apply or participate.

Our vision is to celebrate the power of service, highlight the impact of ordinary Americans who selflessly contribute to their communities, and inspire a renewed commitment to volunteerism. Click here to learn more about the program!

Great Decisions Returns in 2026

Gulf Coast Diplomacy will once again host Great Decisions, the nation’s largest civic discussion series on global affairs, beginning in early 2026.

Join us for eight thought-provoking sessions held most Tuesdays from 5:30–6:30 PM at Trinity Presbyterian Church from Feb 24 to Apr 28.

Please contact our office before February 24th if you are interested in joining. Early bird registration has now closed, but we are happy to share options to get involved.

Thank you for supporting Gulf Coast Diplomacy. Your participation and generosity keep citizen diplomacy thriving.

Join Us Today

Individual and Corporate Memberships

The U.S. Department of State pays for the delegations’ traveling expenses, but our council is not a government agency and relies on grants and the generosity of local individuals and businesses to help support our non-profit mission.

One of the ways we do this is to offer both individual and corporate memberships.  We hope you’ll consider joining us. You will have the opportunity to network with our international visitors at receptions, lunches, or even in your own home. You will also have the chance to meet an interesting array of locals.

The U.S. Department of State ...

... has a public diplomacy program where opinion-makers travel around the country to meet professionals and ordinary citizens. It’s called the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).

On November 7, 2008 ...

... the National Council for International Visitors granted membership to Gulf Coast Diplomacy. With this status, Northwest Florida was welcomed to the national IVLP itinerary.

Expand Your World ...

... with citizen diplomacy. IVLP participants visit all over our country for mutual exchange & to explore how we do things in the USA. Join our council, meet our visitors, and get involved today!

Our Sponsors

us-flag
Add a heading (3)
Untitled design (2)

You are invited to our annual pre-derby party! It’s a celebration of citizen diplomacy & we hope you’ll join us to congratulate our Citizen of the Year & the recipient of our 2020 Dr. Jack Kichler Hospitality Award.

We will welcome Anne Grimes, Director of the Office of International Visitors at the U.S. Department of State, who will speak on the importance of international exchange & Board Chair Rachel Hendrix will demonstrate how to make a perfect mint julep.

To drum up excitement for our membership event during the days prior to the party, we have an online auction, a virtual red carpet, and an event celebrating the 80th anniversary of the International Visitor Leadership Program!

This year, the event is online & free. We will celebrate on Thursday, September 3rd, from 6:00 – 7:00 PM Central Time (UTC-5). We can’t wait to see you! Please preregister through this link.

Thank You to Our Mint Jubilee Corporate Sponsors

Finding Peace Counseling
Guardian Six
Karen Jurkowich, Realtor
Wade, Palmer & Shoemaker, P.A.
Thank you also to those sponsoring the event who wish to remain anonymous.

Join Us Today!

Individual and Corporate Memberships

The U.S. Department of State pays for the delegations’ traveling expenses, but our council is not a government agency and relies on grants and the generosity of local individuals and businesses to help support our non-profit mission.

One of the ways we do this is to offer both individual and corporate memberships.  We hope you’ll consider joining us. You will have the opportunity to network with our international visitors at receptions, lunches, or even in your own home. You will also have the chance to meet an interesting array of locals.

Diplomacy Begins Here Summit

Come explore what's happening in Northwest Florida in innovation, science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) & the critical role public diplomacy programs play in advancing U.S. foreign policy goals.

You’re invited!

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is time to prepare for our spring celebration, a pre-derby event celebrating citizen diplomacy, hospitality, and the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)!  All the fun happens on Thursday, May 2, 2024.  

This year, we will have visitors from Tajikistan joining us.  Come help us give them a BIG PENSACOLA HELLO!

To learn more and purchase tickets, click here. 

To learn about sponsoring the event, click here.