At the end of February 2020, we welcomed seven visitors on an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) titled Women as Political and Social Leaders. The exchange participants came from Chad, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan to examine the role of women in the United States government and the community at large and would be the last in-person IVLP for several months.
The group discussed methods of promoting women and minority rights at the local level along with other methods of providing relief to disadvantaged communities with Carol McIntosh and other members of the Progressive Black Women Coalition of Escambia County. They joined a 2020 Women in Leadership Conference watch party hosted by the University of West Florida and the Director of the Executive Mentor Program Dr. Sherry Hartnett. They received a welcome orientation from City of Pensacola Council Member Sherri Meyers and at N.B. Cook Elementary School they met with Principal Larry Knight to explore the school’s focus on the arts and technology. For their last night in Florida, they had an optional cultural event, exploring downtown Pensacola’s Gallery Night.
We extend a special thanks to Patricia McGraw for being the active facilitator during this program that was hosted in conjunction with Meridian International.
