In September 2023, Gulf Coast Diplomacy welcomed five visitors from the Philippines for an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project on maritime security and territorial integrity. Their national program was prepared by Meridian International. Over five days, participants explored how Northwest Florida and the Gulf Coast region safeguard critical waterways, protect marine resources, and foster...
"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." A Visit Focused on Workforce Development In June 2023, Gulf Coast Diplomacy welcomed nine leaders from Bahrain’s Ministry of Youth Affairs for an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project on...
As a rising senior at Pensacola High School, class of 2026, Aniekan Akpan is making a powerful impact as the founder of the Northwest Florida Red Cross Youth Club. Inspired by his early volunteer work and his mother’s role at the Red Cross, he started the club to engage youth across the region. Under his...
Lovingly known as ‘Miss Nancy’ around her community, Nancy Feliciano has spent her life helping others as a mother, military spouse, and community volunteer. “What comes back from volunteering is love from other people.” Her service work centers around her faith community at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Nancy brings joy and warmth to every role...
Daniel Huntley has spent over a decade serving the Pensacola community, most notably as the dedicated advisor for West Florida High School’s Key Club. Inspired by his father’s example of service, Huntley mentors a new generation of student leaders who volunteer with organizations like Ocean Hour, Miracle League, Habitat for Humanity, and many more. He...
Shruti Gupta has served as a volunteer at Manna Food Bank for over 10 years. She works diligently behind the scenes, inspecting donated food and filling bags, to ensure members of our community have access to the resources they need. “If people don’t donate…then we can’t serve the needy.” Manna relies on volunteers to help...
In May 2024, Olivia, a former Youth Diplomat and current undergraduate student at Georgetown University, had the opportunity to present at the VIII International Scientific-Practical Conference on Language and Literature in Modern Poly-Cultural Societies, a virtual event attended by scholars from around the world. This opportunity came through an ongoing relationship she developed in 2022...
At Gulf Coast Diplomacy, our Youth Diplomats aren’t just learning about the world—they’re engaging with it. Thanks to the power of virtual meetings, our teens are connecting face-to-face with peers and professionals from across the globe, developing real-world skills and having a blast along the way. In a recent session, our Youth Diplomats spent an...
Gulf Coast Diplomacy hosted a Congressional Office for International Leadership (COIL) delegation from Tajikistan in May 2024, focusing on an area of critical importance to the United States—cybersecurity. In Pensacola, a representative of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) had the opportunity to share valuable insights at an unclassified level about the growing cyber...
In October 2023, Dr. Jacob Shively, an Associate Professor at the University of West Florida (UWF), demonstrated how local academic leadership can enhance America’s influence on the global stage. Serving remotely as co-chair of an international conference organized by an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumna, Shively contributed to the 1st International Scientific-Practical Conference on...
