In early November, the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council hosted a group of six visitors from China investigating law & legal issues as part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program.
Councilman Charles Bare welcomed the visitors to the city and provided insight into our history before presenting them with certificates of honorary citizenship to Pensacola.
The group gained a better understanding of the U.S. judicial system during a visit to the First Judicial Circuit Court where Clerk of Court Chief of Operations Brenda Van Brussel explained the jury selection process and welcomed them to observe jury selection. Afterwards, Judge Terry Terrell, Prosecutor Tessa Linde, and Public Defender Emily Huang met the visitors to highlight court procedures and to answer their questions about various aspects of the U.S. legal system. Ana Eligio in Court Administration arranged their time at the courthouse.
Next, the group visited the Escambia Regional Juvenile Detention Center to examine the judicial process for juvenile offenders and to get an overview of the services provided. The visitors received a tour of the facility and discussed legal representation with Superintendent Major Jeneatte Lee and Chief Assistant Public Defender Katina Durost.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) crime lab provides timely, expert, and professional examination of evidentiary materials to aid in investigations; and our visitors toured the facility to see how staff manages and processes evidence. Crime Lab Analyst Supervisor Jay Kelchak welcomed the group and escorted them to the first stop on the tour. During their time in the building, the Chinese visitors met with Latent Prints Analyst Barbara McGlamory, Crime Lab Analyst Taryn Emswiller, and Crime Lab Analyst Blake Lacey. After, they met with Chief of Forensic Services Mary Jane Havener, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Carl Causey, Special Agent Chuck McMullen, and Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille to discuss evidence collection and the relationship between law enforcement and the court system.
At MANNA, a private, not‑for‑profit corporation dedicated to alleviating hunger in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, Outreach Manager JoAnn Howansky met the group to discuss the organization’s food distribution programs for low income and vulnerable residents. The visitors also volunteered in Manna’s warehouse organizing food for distribution to local families.
The time in Pensacola ended with a visit to the National Naval Aviation Museum and with attendance at the Veterans Day parade downtown.
The Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council thanks everyone who volunteered their time with this group. A special thank you is also extended to Suzanne and Randle Carpenter and Jessica and Alex Andrade who hosted the visitors for dinner and fellowship in their homes and to Kim Rivera for facilitating the project.
