For five days we were pleased to have with us five visitors from Colombia that were here on an informative program to examine “Governance and Public Administration.”
The delegation was welcomed to Pensacola by Councilman Ronald Townsend where they were awarded with honorary citizenship to the City of Pensacola and also commemorative pins of the city. Following their welcome, the group toured Historic Pensacola Village where they were exposed to Pensacola’s lengthy history by a costumed guide who led them through this historical district. They then enjoyed a leisurely lunch at Vic & Ike’s before concluding their day with a visit to the Perdido Landfill to view its award winning gas extraction system that won them the U.S. EPA Agency Landfill Methane Outreach Program 2010 Community Partner of the Year award.
The following afternoon the group met with Deputy Superintendent of Schools Norm Ross and Chairman Bill Slayton at the Escambia County School Board. The group discussed the role of government in education, how schools ensure student safety, and how they enforce code of conduct for students.
Members of Pensacola’s Housing Department, Marcie Whitacker, Tom Lane, and Jimmy McFall, were kind enough to meet the group at the completion of their meeting at the Escambia County School Board where they boarded the bus with the group and gave them a rousing tour of the city’s different housing developments and areas. On the tour, they saw houses that had been developed with a community block grant or other assistive programs. At the completion of the tour, they bid farewell to the group with a lovely tray of spiced pecans and assorted chocolate goodies. The group from Colombia was extremely touched by their hospitality.
That evening, the group was welcomed again to the city by Mayor of Pensacola Ashton Hayward in his private office before attending the City Council Meeting where the group was recognized by the entire council and given a small token of remembrance.
The following morning began with a meeting coordinated by Sena Maddison at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office where the group met with officers who gave the group an overview of gang-related crime in the area and what they are doing to contribute to its decline. They were also greeted by Sherriff David Morgan who shared how this kind of criminal activity is handled in schools and the ways in which it is curtailed.
Following this appointment the group enjoyed a tour of the National Naval Aviation Museum and an evening relaxing on the beach.
