When Americans host international visitors through the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), they often ask: What difference does this make? The answer is: more than you can imagine. In 2017, a couple in Pensacola, Florida—Mike and Karen—welcomed an IVLP participant from Nigeria into their home. During the visit, they shared stories, a meal, and a...
In February 2024, Dr. Jane Caffrey, a Distinguished Professor at the University of West Florida’s Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation (CEDB), traveled to Cancún, Mexico, to speak at the Wetlands Colloquium and meet with the Yucatán Basin Council. The invitation came from Mr. Gonzalo Merediz Alonso, an alumnus of the International Visitor Leadership Program...
The Office of International Visitors in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has recognized First United Methodist Church’s outreach ministry, Serving the Hungry, for its outstanding generosity and commitment to international engagement through volunteerism. For the past 16 years, Serving the Hungry has welcomed hundreds of participants from the International...
RSVP Here Join us for our annual meeting & party! When? Thursday, May 8th, from 5:30 to 8 PM Free for members. $25 for non-members. Please RSVP by clicking the button above. I am learning how to post on the GCCDC web site.
The Youth Diplomats program is more than just an extracurricular activity—it's a powerful investment in our region’s future. By cultivating public speaking skills, intercultural understanding, and real-world experiences, the program strengthens our local workforce and prepares high school students to become thoughtful, informed citizens. Through engaging with international peers and U.S. State Department and Congressional...
Over the years, International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and Open World participants in Northwest Florida whose projects have focused on law enforcement have visited a variety of places, with hands-on site visits and engaging conversations along the way. Our dossier of contacts willing to share their knowledge and talk shop with visitors has grown. From...
Northwest Florida is not just known for its hospitality. Did you know the Center for Cybersecurity at the University of West Florida (UWF) is a regional research and education hub? International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and Open World participants discover this and more while examining ways to increase collaboration with each other and the interlocutors...
Examining the U.S. Judicial System from Northwest Florida is an excellent complement for national itineraries needing a small-to-medium-sized city component as Gulf Coast Diplomacy maintains excellent contacts in both the federal and county courthouses. Past groups spent time at the First Judicial Circuit Court of Florida to examine court administration, case management, and the trial-by-jury...
Gulf Coast Diplomacy reached a milestone in 2024. We officially celebrated five years of our Camp Global program. Camp Global is a local initiative to advance teens in Northwest Florida and beyond in leadership, community engagement, and intercultural competency. Young leaders develop tangible skills for their professional development and explore topics of global importance alongside...
Camp Global 2022 marks Gulf Coast Diplomacy’s third annual virtual summer program, which included 55 young leaders from the United States, Kosovo, Brazil, Pakistan, El Salvador, Palestine, and India. The sessions took place over seven weeks from June through July to promote a greater understanding of global affairs with educational activities for local and international...
