The 2016 Youth Ambassadors Caribbean exchange brought fourteen teens and mentors from the Caribbean countries of the Bahamas, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago to Pensacola for twelve days in August.
The exchange focused on the sub themes of youth and social transformation. Participating students and mentors engaged in a range of discussions, workshops, and activities designed to focus on local organizations’ best practices in social transformation and give the group a better understanding of what that looks like on the ground.
After an orientation, the group kicked off their first week with meetings at Pensacola City Hall where Councilwoman Sherri Myers presented the students with certificates of honorary citizenship and shared her lifelong work in defending the civil rights of minorities, women, and people with disabilities.
In order to introduce the concept of community transformation, the Caribbean participants met with a wide range of local organizations working to make a positive difference in their community. They attended a discussion on coalition-building and fundraising strategies at United Way of Escambia County led by Community Engagement Director Carlee Hoffman. During the group’s visit to Waterfront Rescue Mission, President Devin Simmons, Senior Vice President Angie Ishee, and Program Director Frederick Henderson highlighted how the organization works to transform the lives of its clients affected by homelessness and drug addiction. Marny Needle of IMPACT 100 spoke to the Caribbean Youth Ambassadors about the power of women-led philanthropy to positively impact a community, while Grace McCaffery, publisher of bilingual newspaper La Costa Latina, spoke about her background and how she has become a bridge between the Latino and wider Pensacola communities. When the students visited 90Works, Stability and Support Director Stacy Ray and Veterans Stability Program Manager Matt Peterson spoke with them about how that organization works to fulfill its mission of helping clients to transform their lives and get on the right track with regards to housing, employment, mental health, and substance abuse addiction within a 90-day program.
The group delved into the issues of advocating for social justice and civil rights during discussions with local community activist Keyontay Humphries and civil rights leader Reverend H.K. Matthews. During a visit to Appetite 4 Life, Director of Operations Marcus Ditty highlighted the importance of protecting the human rights of vulnerable communities, especially citizens living with HIV/AIDS.
Students and mentors also looked at civic participation and volunteerism as tools for creating positive community change.
At the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office, Supervisor of Elections David Stafford highlighted the elections process and the importance of voting and participating in democracy in order to affect change. Florida Department of Environmental Protection Aquatic Preserve Manager Beth Fugate led participants in a site visit to the FDEP plant nursery and Project Greenshores as part of a discussion on the importance of healthy environments to the well-being of communities. She also discussed the effectiveness of community volunteerism and educational advocacy for environmental protection.
At Feeding the Gulf Coast, Volunteer Manager Kyle Schoolar spoke about the transformational power of food banks and nutritional programs in combating community hunger. The Caribbean participants then got busy volunteering as they sorted hundreds of donated food items for distribution.
A visit to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida focused on a different kind of transformational volunteerism, mentoring. Case Managers Michelle Byrd, Shannon Carter, and Danielle Vannoy shared their mission and gave examples of how “big-little” partnerships make communities stronger and change the lives of both adult volunteers and young people who they mentor. Afterwards, the group had the chance to spend time with mentors and their “littles” from the organization during a bowling party.
In addition to voting, citizens have the ability to affect positive change in their community through active engagement with elected officials and local government. That was the takeaway from time spent observing local government in action at an Escambia County Board of County Commissioners Agenda Conference and a student-led city council simulation where participants took on the roles of elected officials and community groups to debate and vote on an ordinance that would impose curfews on teenagers. Thank you to former City Councilwoman Maren DeWeese for facilitating this simulation and leading students in discussion on the importance for young people to make their voices heard to their local government if they want to see change.
The group also visited the Pensacola News Journal and met with Opinions Editor Tom Ninestine to discuss the importance of a free press in reporting on issues affecting community members, and they looked at the power of entrepreneurship to spur economic growth and prosperity in a community during a discussion with Kelly Reeser of FloridaWEST Economic Development Alliance. Haley Richards, Vice President of Professional Development for Pensacola Young Professionals, met with the Youth Ambassadors and discussed how the organization gives young people an opportunity to give back to their community and speak with a greater, unified voice on community issues.
The final program activity was the culmination of three public speaking workshops and involved the Caribbean students spending time at a residential juvenile detention facility for teenage boys, Escambia Boys Base. The Youth Ambassadors shared presentations about their culture to the residents and then engaged them in conversation and Q&A.
Throughout the group’s time in Pensacola they also had many opportunities for cultural exploration and fun! One evening, the group enjoyed dinner on Pensacola Beach before heading to Bands on the Beach to enjoy the music and sunset along the gulf. They also visited the T.T. Wentworth Museum to explore local history and culture.
We would like to thank all of the wonderful host families who opened their homes to these young leaders: David and Tonya Del Gallo, Kent and Leigh DeSantis, Teresa Frank, Drew and Thuy-Thien McLaughlin, Jena Melançon, Kathie Richardson, John and Patti Salvaggio, Dedra Thompson, Craig and Brenda Van Brussel, Jeannine Van Reeth, and Basil and Liz Yelverton.
The Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council would like to thank all of those who contributed their time and energy to meeting with our Caribbean Youth Ambassadors and ensuring that this project was a success.
We are fortunate to have a generous, passionate community that continually steps up to support the concept of citizen diplomacy and the power it has to improve the world one handshake at a time.
