In June, I started my internship with the Gulf Coast Citizens Diplomacy Council. My first few days were spent shadowing an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) for Haiti which examined what conflict management in community organizations looks like in the United States, particularly in Pensacola, Florida. Instead of spending my day touring the office building...
In May, the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council hosted a group of six international visitors from Japan, Kosovo, New Zealand, South Africa, Uruguay, and Vietnam as part of a U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project looking at different aspects of U.S. Foreign Policy. The visitors began their visit at Pensacola City...
We have stellar individuals coming into the area every month through the International Visitor Leadership Program and other exchanges. To make sure they are meeting our own up-and-coming locals, we began brainstorming with 20- and 30-somethings in the community. The result is a new group dedicated to helping young professionals develop a worldwide network of...
In early May, the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council (GCCDC) hosted a group of seven environmental activists and youth workers from Algeria and Morocco as part of a U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project focusing on “Galvanizing Youth for Environmental Protection.” The visitors were interested in meeting and speaking with American...
In late April, the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council welcomed a group of six women from Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, and Saudi Arabia as part of a U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project focusing on women’s innovations in science and entrepreneurship. The ladies kicked off their program with a...
In July 2015, the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council and several local families hosted Mexican youth who had traveled to the United States on Jóvenes en Acción (Youth in Action), a U.S. Department of State leadership exchange. Program Coordinator Matthew Rizzo was one of two Americans selected to attend the group's reunion in Mexico City in...
Our International Speaker Series continues with a talk on "Moving Beyond Injury and Overcoming Adversity" by IVLP participant Mr. David Wiseman, offered to the community in partnership with the Panhandle Tiger Bay Club: Monday, July 18th 6 - 7 PM Pensacola Downtown Library 239 N. Spring St. Wiseman is Head of Armed Forces Programmes...
On May 26, 24 members of the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council and their four guests gathered at the Artel Gallery for the group's 2016 Annual Meeting. Dr. Allan Ford and Keith Wilkins both received certificates of appreciation from the Office of International Visitors in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S....
In late March and early April, the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council hosted two visitors from Iraq as part of an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project focusing on civilian and military cooperation during emergencies. The group’s first meeting was with Jonathan Diamond of the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies, or BRACE. Jonathan spoke...
From March 10th to the 15th, the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council hosted six international visitors from Algeria, Bulgaria, Nepal, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and Tajikistan as part of an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project focusing on volunteerism in the U.S. The visitors’ first meeting in Pensacola was with City Councilwoman Sherri Myers who welcomed...
