In late January, the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council hosted a group of eight visitors from Algeria, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, the Palestinian Territories, and Tunisia. While in Pensacola, they engaged in a schedule of meetings aimed at giving them an insight into the best management practices of nonprofit organizations.
First, Pensacola City Councilman P.C. Wu welcomed the group at Pensacola City Hall where they received an overview of the history and local government structure of the area before Dr. Wu presented them with certificates of honorary citizenship to the city.
The group next visited the Gulf Coast Kid’s House where they met Office Manager Debra Bond, Child Protection Team Nurse Barbie Valletto, Lutheran Services of Florida Counseling Supervisor Jessica Mayo, and Anne Patterson, a prosecutor with the Office of the State Attorney. They discussed best practices in establishing and maintaining community partnerships to sustain NGO work.
After lunch downtown, the visitors met with United Way’s Development Director Laura Hill, Campaign Manager Frank Giammaria, and Donor Relations Manager Kagan Jenkins for a discussion on nonprofit fundraising strategies.
The next day began with a discussion on volunteer recruitment and management and internal financial accountability with Manna Food Pantries Outreach Manager JoAnn Howansky. After discussion, the group volunteered in the warehouse sorting donated food items.
At Pathways for Change (PFC), Executive Director Connie Bookman spoke about nonprofit program management and took the visitors on a tour of PFC’s various facilities where they met and spoke with Brunie Emmanuel, director of PFC’s Men’s Residential Treatment Program.
Over the weekend, the group had a wonderful time visiting cultural highlights such as the National Naval Aviation Museum and Fort Pickens as well enjoying dinner in the homes of local Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council members Debbie Santavy, Sandra and Rob Horton, and Jenn and Rusty Scott.
Their final professional day in Pensacola was on Monday, and the visitors kicked it off with the always engaging community coffee discussion. Locals who attended to speak about their experiences volunteering in their community were Brigette Brooks, Bill Clark, Donna Clark, Allan Ford, Becky Kirsch, Bob Moulton, Eve Skelton, and Trudy Walden.
The day continued at the Pen Air Federal Credit Union’s downtown community meeting room where IMPACT 100’s Marny Needle spoke to the group about that organization’s unique structure and how donated funds are managed and disbursed in a transparent, accountable manner.
The visitors’ final scheduled professional appointment in Pensacola was with Gulf Breeze Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Kristen Loera who discussed the importance of building and maintaining a strong organizational leadership team and board of directors.
However, several interested visitors in the group then toured the Escambia County Jail thanks to a suggestion by Gene Mitchell and facilitation of the visit by Escambia County Assistant Administrator Chip Simmons.
The Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council thanks all of those who met with these international professionals and made this local exchange project possible, and a special thank you goes out to Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council volunteer facilitator Susan Senkarik who guided the delegation through their time in Pensacola.
At Manna Food Pantries