From the United States, to Colombia, to Costa Rica - a discussion on global environmental protection efforts, climate change, and how local campaigns are successfully preserving the planet. 

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkdeyuqzIvGNOCzNwL4zuDyas3dABO36Z9

From the United States, to Colombia, to Costa Rica - a discussion on global environmental protection efforts, climate change, and how local campaigns are successfully preserving the planet. This program is in collaboration with Gulf Coast Diplomacy. 

Panelists: 

Genevieve Nowak, Dirctor of Environmental Initiatives and Affairs, Belle Isle Conservancy

Genevieve Nowak is an environmental activist and works to protect, preserve, restore, and enhance the natural environment of Belle Isle as a public park for the enjoyment of all. Her conservancy initiatives include Belle Isle's anti-litter and Keep Belle Isle Beautiful campaigns. Ms. Nowak is also a founding member of the Detroit River Coalition, an international collaboration with organizations from Michigan and Ontario to promote the conservation of the Detroit River. She also serves on the Global Ties Detroit Board of Directors.

Nataly Torres Pinzon, Co-founder and COO, Delcampoati ('From Land to You')

Nataly Torres Pinzon is a multidisciplinary analyst with a background as an environmental engineer. Through Delcampoati, she works with rural populations to develop collaborative business models that improve the incomes of agrarian families by eliminating intermediaries in the sales process of the value chain. She is also Board Member of the Women for Colombia Foundation, a network of more than 15,000 professional women leaders. Ms. Torres Pinzon visited Detroit in February 2020 through the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Women, Peace and Security.

Adolfo Artavia Rodriguez, Conservation Officer, Costa Rica por Siempre ('Forever')

Aldolfo Artavia Rodriguez is a Conservation Officer at the environmental NGO Costa Rica por Siempre ('Forever'). He is responsible for coordinating the first Tropical Forest Conservation Act DebtforNature Swap between the United States and Costa Rica. Mr. Artavia Rodriguez's work has been fundamental to guaranteeing a successful organization of technical, administrative, financial, and communication aspects of projects. He came to Pensacola, FL in February 2020 through the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) NGO Management.

Barbara Albrecht, Coastal Communities Coordinator, University of West Florida Askew Institute for Multidisciplinary Studies

Barbara Albrecht has 30 years experience with local watershed and environmental issues. She is actively engaged with citizen science programs and has served as an advocate for many communities as they address local environmental concerns. She has a long history of working with University faculty and students. Since 2011, Ms. Albrecht has lead the Bream Fishermen Association, a citizen water quality monitoring and watchdog group established in the late 1960s during a time when fish kills were common and measured in square miles. She is also the director of the Panhandle Watershed Alliance, which collaborates between six contiguous interstate watersheds (NW-FL and S-AL) that flow into four northwest FL bays.