In the autumn of 2017, 13 Members of Parliament from the Central African Republic arrived in Pensacola as part of an U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project titled U.S. Government and Institutions. Its purpose “to examine U.S. federal, state, municipal, and grassroots efforts to formulate policies and communicate effectively with constituents and the public; to review initiatives that enable citizens to foster good governance, ethical standards, and government accountability at various levels; to explore youth engagement and inclusive participation in civic and political processes; and to highlight best practices to strengthen and empower grassroots organizations to further develop a civil society.”
On their first day in town, the group attended a community coffee with Salma Ashmawi, Georgia Blackmon, Jeannie Dumestre, and Pam Schwartz. After the coffee session, City Council Executive Don Kraher shared an overview of regional history and answered questions regarding local government in a welcome orientation in the Pensacola City Council Chambers. Following this, the group visited Holy Cross Metropolitan Community Church to meet with church representatives for a discussion on how it guides its ministry through principles of openness and tolerance towards regardless of race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Representatives included Acting Pastor Father Nathan Monk and Pastor Emeritus Reverend Lee Carlton. Terri Bradfield served as a moderator for the discussion.
The parliamentarians also met with Executive Director of International Affairs Rachel Hendrix of the University of West Florida (UWF), UWF faculty, and UWF students for a discussion with the Common Ground Diversity and Inclusion Training Group, a group dedicated to promoting diversity and exploring different lifestyles and viewpoints among students and faculty. Together, the group explored ways to manage conflict peacefully and create an accepting, tolerant community.
Their next meeting was with Sara Latshaw, Deputy Political Director of Florida American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). At this meeting, the visitors discussed the defense and preservation of individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. They concluded their day with Dr. John Veasley of the Pensacola National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) where they focused on current civil rights issues and the role of the NAACP in the civil rights movement.
In a discussion with Vice President and Education Chair of the Institute for Women in Politics of Northwest Florida Myra Van Hoose and others, the group focused on the gender gap of elected officials in northwest Florida and the services available for women running for political office. Then, the visitors met with Dr. Gayle Baugh of UWF for a synthesis session where they reflected on their national IVLP experience and which led to thoughtful discussion of future plans and opportunities.
A service activity at Feeding the Gulf Coast provided a hands-on experience for the IVLP participants and rounded out the program as did optional cultural offerings such as visiting the Pensacola Museum of Art, the Historic Pensacola Village, the Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival, and an evening concert in downtown Pensacola.
This project created a hitherto nonexistent connection between two areas of the world and illustrates why professional exchange works. When locals discuss best practices in strengthening grassroots organizations, the resulting conversations strengthen everyone’s understanding. Through meetings looking at inclusive participation in civic and political processes and through conversations over coffee, the citizens of Pensacola helped meet the stated objectives of this IVLP project while growing and learning themselves in the process.
