Young Leaders RISE – Renew, Inspire, Serve, and Engage

When an IVLP group comes to Northwest Florida, we don’t just host them; we also provide them with a unique experience. We connect them with the people and places shaping America’s future.

In July 2025, Gulf Coast Diplomacy welcomed eleven participants from North Africa and the Middle East for a six-day International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project focused on leadership, service, and civic engagement. The project was coordinated nationally by the Institute of International Education.

Our intern Clare Reilly, a proud alumna of the Youth Diplomats program, served as facilitator for the group. Two current Youth Diplomats shadowed Clare during professional appointments, gaining invaluable experience in leadership and citizen diplomacy.

Program Highlights

• Official Welcome at Pensacola City Hall
  City Council Vice President Allison Patton and Theresa Cserep provided an introduction to civic leadership, transparency in government, and youth engagement opportunities, offering the group a firsthand look at how local governance works.
• HERricane Florida – Escambia County Emergency Management
  Scottlin Williams introduced HERricane, a program empowering young women to pursue leadership in emergency management. Participants joined an interactive exercise that modeled how youth are prepared for crisis leadership.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida
  Krissy Smith shared how mentorship helps at-risk youth thrive, and how digital strategies support advocacy and outreach to inspire the next generation.
• Exchange Café at Seville Quarter
  Participants engaged in open dialogue with local leaders including Trista Bennett, Reina Cain, John Cromey, Kent DeSantis, Leigh DeSantis, Laura Griffin, Michelle Lamar-Acuff, Evana Lin, Lilah Messerly, Katie Nicholls, Cooper Nolen, Clyde Roark, Tre Robbins, and Jeannine Van Reeth. Conversations centered on community development, retaining young talent, and building diverse economies.
• Youth Diplomats & Faces of Service Session
  One of the most meaningful exchanges took place during an interactive leadership workshop with Gulf Coast Diplomacy’s Youth Diplomats, featuring the Faces of Service initiative. Local teens and international visitors worked side-by-side on action plans for civic engagement, sharing how service strengthens their communities.
• Office of the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
  Robert Bender and Sonya Daniel offered a hands-on look at youth voter education through initiatives like Kids Vote Too/Teens Vote Too, underscoring the importance of transparency and civic responsibility.
• Ocean Hour Florida
  With Sharon Gincauskas, the group joined a Saturday shoreline cleanup alongside local volunteers, gaining insight into youth-led environmental service and grassroots organizing.
• Leadership & Action Planning Workshop
  Dr. Gayle Baugh of the University of West Florida facilitated a skills-based workshop on communication and organizational leadership, preparing participants to translate exchange lessons into action back home.
• Meeting with Representative Alex Andrade
  Florida State Representative Alex Andrade and Kenzi Cueno discussed youth leadership in politics and public service, sharing how civic engagement can shape policy and strengthen democracy.

“Meeting Northwest Florida’s youth leaders gave our visitors a vivid example of how service and civic values are cultivated across generations.”

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Why It Matters

For Our Community
Projects like Young Leaders RISE strengthen the local economy through hotels, restaurants, and transportation, while offering young people life-changing exposure to global perspectives. By shadowing, facilitating, and leading, local teens experienced international collaboration firsthand, skills that prepare them for future careers and civic leadership.

For Our Nation        
This IVLP project advanced the shared values of leadership, service, and civic responsibility. By connecting young leaders from North Africa and the Middle East with American peers, the program fostered lasting bonds that will support community resilience and democratic engagement at home and abroad.

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Thank You to Our Partners

We are grateful to Representative Alex Andrade, Dr. Gayle Baugh, Robert Bender, Theresa Cserep, Kenzi Cueno, Kent DeSantis, Leigh DeSantis, Sharon Gincauskas, Laura Griffin, Michelle Lamar-Acuff, Evana Lin, Lilah Messerly, Katie Nicholls, Cooper Nolen, City Council Vice President Allison Patton, Clare Reilly, Tre Robbins, Clyde Roark, Krissy Smith, Jeannine Van Reeth, and Scottlin Williams, along with the many Youth Diplomats and Faces of Service participants who made this program possible.

Your commitment to youth leadership and civic engagement demonstrates why Northwest Florida is an inspiring place for professional exchange.