In late June, we had the privilege of welcoming five women to Pensacola to study the role of local non-governmental organizations in promoting issues affecting women worldwide. They came from five different countries: Cote d’Ivoire, Jordan, Mozambique, Sudan, and Ukraine.
The following objectives were outlined for this program by the Department of State:
- To examine the impact of the non-profit sector in promoting women’s political participation, economic opportunities, and access to education and health care;
- To examine the partnerships between government and non-governmental organizations in addressing global women’s issues; and
- To examine methodologies used by NGOs for strengthening organizational leadership, developing volunteerism, fundraising and advancing their missions to benefit women.
Faye Messenger and Melanie Johnson of United Way’s First Call for Help met with the delegates to give them an overview of their work in the community improving the lives of families in need. They discussed how they are able to provide assistance to women and families that are struggling through financial hardships by directing them to resources available in the Pensacola area. Next, Fred Sulzbach and Marsha Travis of FAVOR House of Northwest Florida greeted our visitors and spoke about the efforts of the organization to assist victims of domestic violence by providing shelters, one of which they had the chance to visit, supplies and teaching rehabilitative programs for offenders. Afterwards, Cate Jordan of Families Count gave the visitors an overview of her organization’s work in providing assistance to women in need and protecting the welfare of children and families.
On our delegation’s second day, they had a chance to participate in a volunteer activity with the local community by feeding the homeless at First United Methodist Church. Our thanks to Barbara Vititow for arranging this visit. Later the group met with Sergeant Chris Huffman of the Pensacola Police Department to discuss the efforts of law enforcement in protecting the rights of women in our community. They also had the opportunity to tour the police department and also to hear from Interim Chief Chip Simmons and Captain David Alexander. That afternoon they met with Anna Uniacke from the State Attorney’s Office to discuss women’s access to the justice system.
On their last day of appointments, the women met with Sandie Liebenguth as well as some students from the PACE Center for Girls, which provides girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training, and advocacy. They also met with several members of the Human Relations Commission of Escambia County, including executive director Dr. Calvin Avant, to talk about their organization’s focus on protecting human rights and bettering human relations in Pensacola. For their last visit, Deputy Mayor Jewel Cannada-Wynn presented each delegate with an honorary citizenship and spoke with them about her role in the community as a female leader.
We would like to thank several individuals who welcomed our guests into their homes for dinner, including Mike and Karen Jurkowich, Mary Ziemba, and Anne Marie Kietzmann.
