Deborah Watts is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur whose work is grounded in providing a “voice to the voiceless.” She is the co-founder of the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation, created to honor the memory of her cousin, Emmett Till, a 14-year-old boy who was brutally lynched in Mississippi in 1955, and his mother, who devoted...
Daryan “Dare” Rose-Havens has built a life of service rooted in compassion and community support. A librarian in her 20s, she devotes much of her time to the Amazing Grace Bully Rescue in Pensacola, where she cleans kennels and fosters animals in need of homes. Her motivation comes from the belief that “we as a...
Jen Deubler’s dedication to environmental stewardship began when she discovered Ocean Hour on social media and embraced its mission to “defend our natural environment and wildlife by promoting a clean, peaceful, and fulfilling existence through community involvement and education.” She has played a key role in large-scale cleanups and the Borrow-Bins program, which promotes sustainable...
From age five, Cindi Bonner began a journey rooted in compassion, selflessness, and dedication to her community. Inspired by her parents’ example that “giving back is not about recognition or reward but about doing what is right,” she has devoted her life to helping others. She founded the Gulf Coast branch of the Rally Foundation...
Alicia Tappan is the founder and CEO of Survivor-Led Solutions. This company empowers the voices of human trafficking victims and survivors, focusing on “collaborating, uniting, and promoting anti-trafficking efforts locally and around the nation.” Alicia’s story is unique because she is a survivor herself. Her experience motivated her to serve others and give them the...
Good food has a way of bringing people together, and on July 31, it brought Brazilian artificial intelligence professionals, curious locals, and even friends from Alabama into one lively room at the Pensacola MESS Hall. As part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), these AI innovators connected with Northwest Florida...
As a Youth Diplomat, I had the opportunity to shadow the Pensacola portion of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) titled Young Leaders RISE – Renew, Inspire, Serve, and Engage and to interact with the dynamic group of visitors in our hometown of Pensacola, Florida. They connected with local leaders, business officials, and non-profit representatives across...
The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) shadowing experience was by far the most meaningful activity I participated in this summer. It was a way to connect with foreign professionals in various fields, and it allowed for in-depth conversations about their experiences in their countries and the circumstances they are in. A wide variety of participants...
When an IVLP group comes to Northwest Florida, we don’t just host them, we connect them with the people and places shaping America’s future. In July 2025, Gulf Coast Diplomacy welcomed six visitors from Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Panama, Poland, and Taiwan for a multi-regional International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on digital standards, cybersecurity, and artificial...
When an IVLP group comes to Northwest Florida, we don’t just host them, we connect them with the people and places shaping America’s future. In July 2025, Gulf Coast Diplomacy welcomed a six-person group from Brazil for an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project on artificial intelligence. Planned nationally by Meridian International Center, this was...
