From March 10th to the 15th, the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council hosted six international visitors from Algeria, Bulgaria, Nepal, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and Tajikistan as part of an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project focusing on volunteerism in the U.S.
The visitors’ first meeting in Pensacola was with City Councilwoman Sherri Myers who welcomed them to the city and presented them with certificates of honorary citizenship.
Next, Zach Schang of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) hosted the IVLP group for a discussion of FDEP’s use of volunteers and a site visit to Project Greenshores. After lunch, the visitors enjoyed a community coffee discussion at Seville Quarter. Locals and visitors shared perspectives and opinions on volunteerism. Thank you to Deni Avelar, Sue Brye, Julie Connerly, Kent DeSantis, Leigh DeSantis, Kyle Gallagher, Rachel Hendrix, Becky Krisch, Scarlett Munoz-Perez, and Trudy Walden for attending.
Over the weekend, the group enjoyed dinners in the homes of Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council members. Thank you to Hilda and Ray Jones, Liz and Basil Yelverton, and Bonnie Livingston and Chris Crawford for opening your homes to our international guests.
On Monday morning, the IVLP visitors met with Eileen Perrigo and Claudine Kriss of the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival (GGAF) for a discussion about volunteer recruitment and community partnerships. Afterwards, Melanie Jacobi hosted the group for a discussion at Habitat for Humanity to highlight how that organization recruits and manages volunteers in order to further its mission.
The day, and program, wrapped up on Monday afternoon with an interfaith roundtable discussion on volunteerism. Locals who attended were Pastor Scott Grantland, Rabbi Joel Fleekop, Mr. Abdul Mando, and Pastor David Wiggins.
Thank you to all of those who gave their time and shared their expertise with these international visitors. Your collaboration ensured this project was a success!
