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New Orleans Citizen Diplomacy Council
Spring 2011 
New Orleans Citizen Diplomacy Council Newsletter

In This Issue
Upcoming Programs
NOCDC Reception in Historic Home
European Parliament Member studies Oil Spill
BBC Article on IVLP
Hospitality
Thank you to our Professional Resources
Thank You to our Hosts
Board & Staff
Quick Links
Sign up for our email newsletter by sending an email to office@nocdc.com.

Upcoming Programs:

 

Religious Tolerance and Interfaith Dialogue in the U.S.

A Regional Program for Africa

May 3-7 

12 Visitors

 

Economic Growth and Environmental Issues

A Project for Colombia

May 11-14

5 Visitors

 

Senator Sidi Dieng

A Project for Senegal

May 14-18

1 Visitor

 

Mr. Oliver Cachard

A Project for France

May 31 - June 4

1 Visitor

 

Grassroots Democracy in the U.S. (French/English)

A Regional Project for Africa

June 7-10

18 Visitors

 

Grassroots Civic Engagement

A Project for Near East Asia and North Africa

June11-15

8 Visitors

 

Foreign Service Nationals

Information Sciences 

June 19-25

22 Visitors

 

Transparency and Good Governance III

A Regional Project for Africa

June 21-25

11 Visitors

 

Cultural Heritage Preservation

A Project for Near East Asia and North Africa

June 28 - July 1

8 Visitors

 

U.S. Trade Policy  

A Multi-Regional Project

July 20-25

6 Visitors 

 

NOCDC Reception held in Historic Home

Historic Home
Mr. Eric Iglesias describes the history of 1228 Race Street.

On Thursday, April 14 the NOCDC held a reception for 11 cultural heritage preservation visitors from South and Central Asia at an historic Henry Howard home in the Lower Garden District. Old and new NOCDC members enjoyed meeting  architects and preservationists from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Mr. Eric Iglesias of HRI provided a brief history of the 8,000 square foot home and its painstaking restoration.

 

European Parliament Member studies Oil Spill   

 

Euro Parliament Member
Mr. Mike Roberts, Mr. Clint Guidry, Ms. Tracy Kuhns, and Ms. Sandrine Belier on Barataria Bay

From April 23-27 Ms. Sandrine Belier, member of European Parliament from France, visited Louisiana through the International Visitor Leadership Program. Ms. Belier.  Ms. Belier's goal was to examine U.S. positions on leading environmental issues. On April 26 Ms. Belier received a tour of Barataria Bay from Tracy Kuhns and Mike Roberts of Louisiana Bayoukeeper. Louisiana Bayoukeeper was created in 2004 by the Association of Family Fishermen in an effort to preserve the water quality and fisheries of Barataria Bay.  Clint Guidry, President of the Louisiana Shrimp Association, joined Ms. Kuhns and Mr. Roberts to brief Ms. Belier on how the BP oil spill has adversely affected  the economy, environment, and the health of the residents of Barataria and other regions of the Gulf.

 

BBC Article on IVLP



On March 29 the BBC featured a piece about the International Visitor Leadership Program titled "How do you spot a future world leader?"  The article, which can be read in its full length at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12880901, discusses the history of the IVLP and how the State Department identifies upcoming leaders. Critics of the program say that by doing this the U.S. interferers in other countries' interior affairs by "molding" young up-and-comers to "Washington-approved candidates."  The program, however, is not designed only for politicians, but for professionals in various fields, such as the arts, education, and medicine. Two alumni featured in the story explain that participation in the program deepened their understanding of the United States and its people and they will cherish the relationships they built on the trip for the rest of their lives.


Hospitality 

 

"When you open your homes, when you open your communities, when you open your hearts to visitors from around the world, you give your guests a chance to see America at our best; to see our warmth and our base of diversity, and our conviction that seeking discussion and sincere exchanges of views can yield tangible results."

 

-Former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell


Thank you to our Professional Resources:


Thank you to our professional resources, who met with our international guests from March to April, 2011.

 

American Civil Liberties Union - Ms. Julie Thibodaux, Education Outreach Coordinator

 

America's Wetland Foundation - Ms. Sidney Coffee Senior Advisor, Climate, Energy and the Coast

 

Ashe' Cultural Arts Center - Ms. Carol Bebelle, Director

 

Baptist Crossroads Foundation - Mr. Jared Pryer, Volunteer Coordinator

 

Bureau of Governmental Research - Mr. Peter Reichard, Projects Manager

 

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans - Ms. Karla Sikaffy, Director of Adult Education, Ms. Tessa Wheelock, ESL Coordinator

 

City Hall - Dr. Karen DeSalvo, New Orleans Health Commissioner and Senior Health Policy Advisor to the Mayor

 

Coaxum Enterprises, Inc. - Ms. Karen Coaxum, Co-Owner

 

Crescent City Lights Youth Theater - Ms. Julie Condy, Executive Director and Founder

 

Crime Prevention Section: New Orleans Police Department - Sgt. Michael LeVasseur, Commander

 

Deep South Center for Environmental Justice - Dr. Beverly Wright,Founder and Executive Director, Ms. Mary Williams, Program Manager for Community Outreach

 

Delgado Community College Service Learning Program - Warren Puneky, Director; Dean of Business and Technology Division,Ms. Angela Lorenzo, Service Learning Coordinator,Amy Schlegel, Coordinator; AmeriCorps VISTA, Matt Sweeney, Coordinator; Community Care Initiative

 

Ethics Review Board of New Orleans Office of Inspector General - Edouardo Quatrevaux, Inspector General

 

Evacuteer.org - Mr. Shawn Chollette, Senior Vice President of Operations

 

Federal Bureau of Investigation - Mr. David Welker, Special Agent, Mr. Todd Cox, Assistant Special Agent

 

Federal Emergency Management Agency - Mr. Andre Cadogan, LRO Deputy Director of Programs, Ms. Kristy Christiansen, Public Affairs Specialist, Ms. Andrea Davis, External Affairs Director, Ms. Nora Huete, Individual Assistance Section Chief, Mr. Gerry Stolar, LRO Deputy Director of Support Services, Mr. Joe Threat, Louisiana Recovery Office (LRO) Acting Executive Director, Mr. Charlie Tobelman, Deputy Mitigation Section Chief, Ms. Amy Webbeking, External Affairs Outreach Lead, Mr. Eddie Williams, Public Assistance Division Supervisor

 

First NBC Bank - Mr. Michael LeBeau

 

Greater New Orleans Disaster Recovery Partnership:  

Lutheran Disaster Response - Ms. Jessica Vermilyea, Vice Chair

 

Greater New Orleans, Inc - Mr. Michael Hecht, President & CEO; Mr. Robin Barnes, Executive Vice-President of Programs

 

Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra - Dr. Jean Montès, Music Director & Symphony Conductor

 

Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness - Mr. Pat Santos, Deputy Director of Emergency Management

 

Guerrilla Garden - Ms. Jenga Mwendo, Founder

 

Gulf Restoration Network - Mr. Jonathan Henderson, Coastal Resiliency Organizer 

 

Hands on New Orleans - Ms. Lindsay Nash Volunteer Programs Supervisor

 

Hip Hop for Hope - Mr. Ben Brubaker, Founder and Director

 

Hon. Constance Willems - Honorary Consul of the Netherlands

 

Hope Federal Credit Union - Mr. Gary Williams, Community Developer

 

International School of Louisiana - Ms. Pamela Stewart,  Director of Institutional Advancement

 

John Quincy Adams Middle School - Ms. Ester Perez-Zemmels, Head of ESL Program

 

Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana - Mr. John Williams, Staff Attorney

 

Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation - Ms. Anne Rheams, Executive Director

 

Laura Plantation - Mr. Jay Schexnaydre, Assistant Manager

 

Louisiana BoyouKeeper - Ms. Tracy Kuhns and Mr. Mike Roberts, Founders

 

Louisiana Department Health and Hospitals - Mr. Brian Warren, Sanitarian Program Manager

 

Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections - Ms. Susan Lindsey, Region 3 Director

 

Louisiana Economic Development - Mr. John Matthews, Director, Entrepreneurial Services

 

Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association - Mr. Richard Metcalf, Director of Environmental Affairs

 

Louisiana Small Business Development Center Greater New Orleans Region - Ms. Carmen Sunda, Director

 

Loyola Institute of Politics - Mr. Tommy Screen, Executive Director

 

Loyola University Law School - Professor Bernard Keith Vetter, Mr. Walter Wolf, Adjunct Professor,

 

Lowernine.org - Ms. Laura Paul, Director of Development

 

Ms. Machelle Lee Hall - Attorney

 

Mayor's Office of Homeland Security - Col. Jerry Sneed, Director

 

Metropolitan Center for Women and Children - Ms. Dale Standifer, Executive Director, Mr. Wayne Barnes, Community Educator

 

Metropolitan Crime Commission - Mr. Anthony Radosti, Vice President

 

Mr. Sidney Arroyo, Political Media Strategist

 

Mr. Terry Ebbert, COL USMC (Ret) - Former Director New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Ebbert and Associates

 

New Orleans Center for Creative Arts - Mr. Brian Hammell, Director of Communications

 

New Orleans Citizen Participation Project - Mr. Keith Twitchell, President, Ms. Hillary Brown, Community Development Director

 

New Orleans School Board - Mr. Woody Koppel, Member

 

Oak Alley Plantation - Mr. Doug Pitre, Superintendant of Facilities, Mr. Vince Yardas, Historian

 

Office of Cultural Development: Louisiana Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism - Ms. Dabne Whitemore, Program Director

 

Orleans Parish Juvenile Court - Honorable Tammy Stewart, Judge, Ms. Erin Buggage, Executive Assistant

 

Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office - Sheriff Marlin Gusman;Ms. Ida Barr, Executive Assistant to Sheriff Marlin Gusman

 

Preservation Resource Center - Ms. Patricia Gay, Executive Director

 

Sidcat Strategies, Mr. Sidney Arroyo, President

 

SGS New Orleans - Mr. Peter Legemaate, Director

 

Senator Mary Landrieu's Office - Mr. Wes Kungel, Regional Representative

 

Small Business Administration - Mr. Michael Ricks, District Director; Ms. Loretta Poree, Public Information Officer    

 

Southeast Louisiana Red Cross - Ms. Kay Wilkins, Chief Executive Officer

 

Southern United States Trade Association - Mr. Jerry Hingle, Executive Director

 

Stephenson Disaster Management Institute: Louisiana State University - Col. Joseph Booth, Executive Director

 

Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann - Mr. Keith Hall, Attorney

 

The Home Depot - Mr. Ricky Dezayas, District Manager

 

The New Orleans String Project - Fred Chambers, Board of Directors

 

The Times Picayune - Ms. Martha Carr, Editor, New Orleans City Desk, Ms. Michelle Krupa, City Hall Reporter, Ms. Andrea Shaw, West Bank bureau chief

 

Tipitina's Foundation - Mr. Todd Souvignier, Program Director

 

Total Sentencing Alternatives - Mr. Dwight Richards, Vice President

 

Tulane University, Department of Political Science

 

Tulane University Law School-Domestic Violence Clinic-Ms.Becki T. Kondkar, Professor of the Practice and Deputy Director, Ms. Tania Tetlow, Associate Professor of Law and Director

 

Tulane University School of Architecture - Prof. Grover Mouton, III, Professor of Architecture

 

Tulane University - Capt. Keith Amacker, Homeland Security Studies Director

 

University of New Orleans - Dr. Michael Huelshoff, Associate Professor of History, Ms. Dana Criswell, Director Intensive English Language Program (IELP)

 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Mr. Lawrence Cutno, Team New Orleans

 

U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of Louisiana - Ms. Julia Evans, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Ms. Jan Mann, 1st Asst.  US Attorney

 

US District Court Eastern District LA - Honorable Jay Zainey, Section A - Judge, Ms. Pamela Angelette, Judicial Assistant

 

Women's Business Resource Center - Mr. Winston  

Williams, Business Consultant

 

Women with a Vision - Ms. Deon Haywood, Founder

 

Xavier University South Campus - Mr. Michael McKenna, Senior Business Development Manager SeedCo. Financial


 

Thank you to our Hosts:



Thank you to home hospitality hosts and volunteer drivers from March to April, 2011.

 

Ms. Suzanne deBoisblanc Tyler- hosted Dr. Marco Valletta from Italy for dinner, and drove Ms. Sandrine Belier of France to her professional meetings.

 

Mrs. Susannah Coolidge and Mr. Fredric Diegel - hosted seven visitors from Africa studying women in leadership for a special reception. They also hosted three visitors from Latin America studying the African diaspora. 

 

Ms. Alea Cot - hosted Ms. Morrison and Ms. Humad from Africa studying women in leadership for dinner.

 

Mrs. Rosemarie Fowler - hosted seven visitors from Africa studying women in leadership for a special reception. Mrs. Fowler also narrated a two-hour driving tour of New Orleans for 11 visitors studying the African diaspora.  

 

Mr. Robert Freeland - hosted two Brazilian visitors studying African Diaspora for dinner.

 

Judge Tamia Gordon - hosted Ms. Ibrahim from Egypt studying engaging youth through music for dinner.

 

Ms. Machelle and Mr. Keith Hall - hosted three visitors from Africa studying women in leadership for dinner.  They also hosted visitors from Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru studying the African diaspora for dinner.

 

Mr. John Hopper - hosted visitors from Dominican Republic and Uruguay studying the African Diaspora for dinner.   

 

Mr. Bruno Jubelin - hosted two visitors from Morocco studying engaging youth through music for dinner

 

Ms. Alexandra Mora & Mr. Walter Wolf- hosted Mr. Steenbakkers from the Netherlands studying crisis management for dinner.

 

Ms. Felicity Strachan and family - hosted a musician from Egypt for dinner.

 

Ms. Jo-Ann Testa and Mr. Jim Hebert- hosted a journalist from Italy in their home for dinner.

 

Ms. Judyth Wier - hosted a visitor from Honduras studying the African diaspora for dinner.


Board Members

Machelle Lee Hall, President
John Hopper, Treasurer
Nathalie Bastin

Bruno Jubelin
Alexandra Mora
Lillian Thompson
Walter F. Wolf, III, Immediate Past President
  

Staff


Susannah Coolidge, Executive Director
Ines Sigel, Program Coordinator
Adnan Suleman, Program Officer
Jessica Elias, Program Intern 

Maryam Kased, Program Intern

 


New Orleans Citizen Diplomacy Council

1215 Prytania Street, Suite 203

New Orleans, LA 70130

504-529-1509

info@nocdc.com