Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council

For our second July group from Iraq, the Department of State outlined the following specific objectives:

• To introduce participants to innovative management strategies for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), particularly organizations in the U.S. that champion social or political issues;

• To explore the diversity of the independent sector in the U.S. and the dynamic relationships between business, government and non-governmental organizations; and

• To examine methodologies used by NGOs for strengthening leadership, developing volunteerism, fundraising and advancing missions.

To meet these objectives, we introduced the group to several local leaders and organizations including Dr. Calvin Avant of the Human Relations Commission who answered the visitors’ questions about human rights and community mediation and who welcomed them to Pensacola with a great show of hospitality.  At MANNA Food Pantries, Executive Director Tim Evans explained the “waste not, want not” philosophy of his organization before the visitors rolled up their sleeves and volunteered at the center.

Principal Susan Berry and Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council board member Joe Denmon opened the doors of the Lacey A. Collier Sensory Complex to the group and discussed funding challenges, strategies for growth, and the organizational structure of their school.  Next, M.J. Ziemba of the Florida Inclusion Network, Susan Byram of Autism Pensacola, and Chelsey and Paula Kendig discussed the inclusion of special needs children in the school system, the function of NGOs in this area, and disability advocacy.

Friday night the group was wowed at the Five Flags Speedway, tickets to which were provided by Dave Pavlock helping one visitor meet, as he put it, his “lifelong dream” of attending a car race.  On Sunday, the congregation of Marcus Pointe Baptist Church opened their doors to the Muslim group, including them in their worship service.

Thank you, Escambia County, for opening your doors to this group.