2020 IVLP Professional In-Person & Virtual Programs
In-Person IVLP Projects
January 22-25
"Election Coverage and Investigative Journalism" Dominican Republic Broadcast, print and on-line journalists from the Dominican Republic traveled to Tampa Bay for discussions on techniques of fact-checking and investigative reporting with the Poynter Institute, the International Fact-Checking Network, Tampa Bay Times, PolitiFact, FloridaPolitics.com, WMNF-FM Community Radio, the director of communications for the City of St. Petersburg, and a longtime WFLA-8 television investigative reporter. |
Non-IVLP Exchange Program (Institute for International Education)
Distinguished Humphrey Leadership Program
February 8-15, 2020
Egypt and Nigeria
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program enhances leadership among international professionals who collaborate to address local and global challenges and foster change for our collective good. Through academic study and professional development with U.S. counterparts, this growing global network shares best practices and builds expertise in fields of critical importance to advance societal and institutional capacity, promote human rights and freedoms, ensure sustainable environments, and develop thriving communities.
For the 2020 Fellowship, the Institute for International Education selected World Partnerships to host two Distinguished Humphrey Leaderships Program Fellows from Egypt and from Nigeria. The Humphrey Leadership Fellows interacted with Tampa Bay's academic, entrepreneurial and high-technology professional resources to create new global collaboration networks and new technology development methodologies.
Click Here for full overview!
Distinguished Humphrey Leadership Program
February 8-15, 2020
Egypt and Nigeria
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program enhances leadership among international professionals who collaborate to address local and global challenges and foster change for our collective good. Through academic study and professional development with U.S. counterparts, this growing global network shares best practices and builds expertise in fields of critical importance to advance societal and institutional capacity, promote human rights and freedoms, ensure sustainable environments, and develop thriving communities.
For the 2020 Fellowship, the Institute for International Education selected World Partnerships to host two Distinguished Humphrey Leaderships Program Fellows from Egypt and from Nigeria. The Humphrey Leadership Fellows interacted with Tampa Bay's academic, entrepreneurial and high-technology professional resources to create new global collaboration networks and new technology development methodologies.
Click Here for full overview!
February 29 – March 4, 2020
"Higher Education Capacity Building Pakistan Comprised of senior academic officials this group came to Tampa Bay to exchange ideas and best practices for faculty development and academic collaboration/exchange. Meetings were held with senior administrators and deans from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg College, the University of South Florida College of Education, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, and Eckerd College. At right, Dr. Peter Armacost, President Emeritus of Eckerd College (St. Petersburg), and President/Rector Emeritus, Forman Christian College (Lahore, Pakistan), conducting a roundtable discussion of his experience leading higher education institutions in both countries. |
February 29 – March 4, 2020
"International Education: Building US-Russia Bridges" Russia Focused on models of successful study-abroad programs and curricula, this group of international program administrators and recruitment specialists exchanged ideas with experts at the University of South Florida, USF World, Pinellas Technical College, Ringling College of Art and Design, and St. Leo University. They also attended the NACAC College Fair at the Florida Fairgrounds. Special thanks to Ms. Margie Carson for hosting this group for home hospitality and a great boat ride! |
March 3-7, 2020
Multi-Regional Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists "Research and Investigation" The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Croatia, Egypt, Hong Kong S.A.R., India, Israel, Republic of Kosovo, Kuwait, Latvia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, and Zambia Journalists from every corner of the earth had an opportunity to discuss and learn best investigative practices the the Poynter Institute's PolitiFact and the International Fact-Checking Network, with former WFLA-8 investigative reporter Mark Douglas, and with Benjamin Kirby, Director of Communications for the City of St. Petersburg. |
March 4-7, 2020
"National Security, Narratives and Counter-Narratives" Moldova Focusing on government communications narratives, this group had roundtable dialogues with policy experts and communications specialists from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, the City of St. Petersburg, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the Poynter Institute's PolitiFact and the International Fact-Checking Network. |
March 5-11, 2020
"Justice System: Cooperation, Transparency and Internal Controls in Investigations, Prosecutions, and the Execution of Court Orders" Afghanistan Opening the program for this group of Federal and provincial prosecutors and law enforcement officials from Afghanistan, Chief Anthony Holloway brought together St. Petersburg Police Department detectives for a roundtable discussion on law enforcement investigations, preparations required for prosecutions, and the process for search warrants and arrest warrants. Chief Holloway and Ms. Andra Dreyfus also welcomed the group to their home for dinner with friends and colleagues. The group also held intensive discussions with Prof. Luz Nagle, Stetson University College of Law; Ms. Sasha Lohn, Executive Director and General Counsel, Suncoast Police Benevolent Association; officials from office of the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida; and with Chief Judge Nelly Khouzam of the Second District Court of Appeal. |
March 10-14, 2020
"Media Responsibility in an Age of Disinformation" Saudi Arabia This group of senior Saudi journalists spent a half-day working with the Poynter Institute, and had discussions with the Tampa Bay Times, the public outreach director of the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the communications director for the City of St. Petersburg, |
March 10-14, 2020
"International Women of Courage" Ms. Ximena Galarza, Journalist Bolivia World Partnerships organized a roundtable discussion with five senior law enforcement officers at the St. Petersburg Police Department to discuss their perspective on women’s leadership in law enforcement and topics that included drug and human trafficking and police department public affairs. At the end of the meeting, Chief Anthony Holloway presented Ximena with a Proclamation from the City of St. Petersburg. Other highlights of the program included a lively luncheon discussion with women leaders from around the Tampa Bay region; meetings with former investigative reporter Mark Douglas and with Kathleen McGrory, deputy investigations editor of the Tampa Bay Times; a lunch meeting with Al Tompkins of the Poynter Institute, and the Rev. Sidney Tompkins; a discussion with United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez; an interview with nationally-syndicated columnist, William Maxwell of the Tampa Bay Times; and home hospitality at the home of World Partnerships Trustee, BJ Sheffield. |
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IVLP Virtual Programs
Non-IVLP Exchange Program (Global Ties U.S.)
August 28
“Police Professionalization Exchange Program for Mexico”
"Women Leaders in Law Enforcement"
This special program, developed under the Merida Initiative and carried out through the US State Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) and Global Ties U.S. in Washington, has trained hundreds of Mexican law enforcement officials in state-of-the-art police techniques over the past four years. World Partnerships was awarded this unique project based on the strength of our longstanding IVLP professional collaborations with the St. Petersburg Police Department and the St. Petersburg College Center for Public Safety Innovation.
Click here for the full overview and video!
August 28
“Police Professionalization Exchange Program for Mexico”
"Women Leaders in Law Enforcement"
This special program, developed under the Merida Initiative and carried out through the US State Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) and Global Ties U.S. in Washington, has trained hundreds of Mexican law enforcement officials in state-of-the-art police techniques over the past four years. World Partnerships was awarded this unique project based on the strength of our longstanding IVLP professional collaborations with the St. Petersburg Police Department and the St. Petersburg College Center for Public Safety Innovation.
Click here for the full overview and video!
September 15 - October 13
"Journalism in the Age of Covid-19"
A Five-Part Series for IVLP Alumni
As the COVID-19 global health crisis continues, journalists worldwide work to keep people informed with accurate, up-to-date information while sifting fact from fiction and seeking to protect their own safety. Journalists look to the past for lessons from prior pandemics, search for new tools and strategies to clarify conflicting information, and portray stories free of bias. As an effort to serve IVLP Alumni, this series will explore these topics and seeks to provide practical information and skills. It will consider solutions for managing disinformation and misinformation, addressing ethical responsibilities, and effectively coping with the stresses of the job.
The U.S. Department of State’s Office of International Visitors and Meridian International Center partnered with World Partnerships and the Poynter Institute (St. Petersburg) to create this IVLP Virtual Alumni Salon Series on Journalism in the Age of COVID-19.
"Journalism in the Age of Covid-19"
A Five-Part Series for IVLP Alumni
As the COVID-19 global health crisis continues, journalists worldwide work to keep people informed with accurate, up-to-date information while sifting fact from fiction and seeking to protect their own safety. Journalists look to the past for lessons from prior pandemics, search for new tools and strategies to clarify conflicting information, and portray stories free of bias. As an effort to serve IVLP Alumni, this series will explore these topics and seeks to provide practical information and skills. It will consider solutions for managing disinformation and misinformation, addressing ethical responsibilities, and effectively coping with the stresses of the job.
The U.S. Department of State’s Office of International Visitors and Meridian International Center partnered with World Partnerships and the Poynter Institute (St. Petersburg) to create this IVLP Virtual Alumni Salon Series on Journalism in the Age of COVID-19.
September 15
"Recognizing Bias when Covering Coronavirus" Albania, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bahrain, Belize, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, India, Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Mali, Mongolia, Namibia, Nigeria, Philippines, Pakistan, Paraguay, Romania, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Suriname, South Sudan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe Journalists are held to the highest standards of accuracy and fairness in their news coverage. Bias-free reporting is especially complicated when covering COVID-19 because the scientific data is often contradictory and incomplete. How can journalists recognize their own biases when receiving and interpreting data about COVID-19? Presenter: Mr. Al Tompkins | Senior Faculty, Poynter Institute |
September 22
"Lessons from Covering Pandemics" Can past pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, SARS, and Ebola provide insight about how the arc of COVID-19 will unfold? How has the start of the COVID-19 pandemic been covered in different countries so far? A panel of IVLP alumni who have covered major health emergencies will discuss what can be learned from examining the past. Presenters: Mr. Umaru Fofana | Correspondent, BBC and Reuters, Sierra Leone Ms. Yuki Akutsu | Vice Director, News Division, Hokkaido Television Broadcasting Co., Ltd., Japan Mr. Adis Nadarevic | Freelance journalist, author and content designer, Bosnia and Herzegovina Moderator: Mr. Al Tompkins | Senior Faculty, Poynter Institute |
September 29
"The Questions That Keep A Medical Ethicist Up At Night" A whole host of moral dilemmas have emerged associated with the coronavirus pandemic. Should schools open? Who should get the first available vaccines? Should employers compel workers to get vaccinated? When do individual rights outweigh public health concerns? Should wealthy countries send vaccines to the most vulnerable countries first? All of these are questions with moral dimensions, and journalists will need to cover stories on these dilemmas in the coming months. A discussion with a prominent medical ethicist will preview the landscape of stories to come. Presenter: Mr. Arthur Caplan, Ph.D. | Professor of Bioethics, Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine |
October 6
"Skills and Tools for Covering a Pandemic" In lieu of going to the scene of a story, which can be unsafe or off-limits (such as large gatherings, hospitals, or schools), unique alternatives have emerged to gather reliable data. This session will focus on investigative journalism, featuring discussions on forensic journalism, open source information, geo-location, and using social media to crowdsource stories Presenter: Mr. Nick Waters | Senior Investigator, Bellingcat |
October 13
"How Journalists Can Fight Stress from Covering the Coronavirus" Journalists are often on the front lines of the pandemic, subjecting themselves to stress and trauma. This session will provide tips for coping with the stresses of the job and methods for recognizing the symptoms of traumatic stress. This begins with taking care of yourself. Presenters: Mr. Al Tompkins | Senior Faculty, Poynter Institute Rev. Sidney Tompkins | Licensed Psychotherapist |
October 13 & October 15
Regional - Western Hemisphere Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists "Research and Investigation" Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Panama, Peru and Venezuela Representing print, television and on-line media, this group of reporters "stopped by" Tampa Bay for virtual meetings with former WFLA-TV investigative reporter and Emmy Award-winner Mark Douglas for a discussion about best practices in investigative reporting, and with Ms. Leonora La Peter Anton, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter on the Tampa Bay Times’ enterprise team, who discussed investigative reporting methodologies, narrative development, and fact-checking. |
November 5 & November 6
"US Technology and Solutions for Waste-to-Energy Program" Pakistan World Partnerships brought expertise in energy finance and regulatory matters together with operators, designers and engineers for this group of industry leaders from Pakistan. Mr. Peter Keller, Managing Director, Energy & Climate, Berkeley Research Group LLC (New York), is an experienced energy professional who has been involved in oil and gas finance since 1978 and utility/power finance since 2003. He has a deep background in transaction negotiation, origination, and structuring in both the institutional and corporate banking sectors. Peter led a discussion on financial and regulatory issues in the waste-to-energy sector. Mr. Mark Wilfalk, Director, Waste Managment, City of Tampa McKay Bay Refuse to Energy Facility, Chuck Conklin, Solid Waste Program Manager, and Christopher Eckert, Waste-To-Energy Plant Manager brought decades of experience to their discussion about the realities and objectives of building, owning and operating a city-owned waste-to-energy facility. On June 16, officials announced that the City of Tampa Department of Solid Waste and Environmental Program Management became the second City in the nation to own and operate its own waste-to-energy facility. At Tampa's McKay Bay Waste-to-Energy Facility, what cannot be recycled is burned at high temperatures in waste-fired boilers to generate steam for electricity, which is purchased by the Seminole Electric Cooperative under a supply agreement. Revenues from the sale of the electricity help the city offset the costs of waste disposal. In addition to recovering energy from municipal solid waste, Tampa has a materials recycling program for recovering glass, plastic, aluminum, paper, and yard waste. Furthermore, the City is also exploring the possibility of recycling the ash that remains after waste is combusted at the waste-to-energy facility. Another key recycling interest for the city is the recycling of metals separated from the ash after combustion. |
December 8 & December 9 Regional Project - African Continent Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists "Media Responsibility in an Age of Disinformation" Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, France, Haiti, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda The Poynter Institute's Al Tompkins led a workshop on fact-checking and countering misinformation and disinformation for this regional group of African journalists, supplying them with new tools, strategies, and techniques. Rob Lorei, co-founder of Tampa Bay's WMNF-FM Community Radio discussed the role and the challenges for community radio when it comes to disinformation. And, Mark Douglas, Emmy Award-winning former investigative reporter for WFLA-8, presented a case study on countering disinformation from government agencies. |
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December 8 & December 10
"Strengthening Government Accountability and Anti Corruption Initiatives" Suriname This virtual project for senior and mid-career Judicial officials was designed to strengthen democratic institutions, the rule of law, good governance, and human rights in Suriname through enhanced public corruption and accountability measures, best practices, and initiatives. World Partnerships brought two senior Assistant United States Attorneys (Federal Prosecutors) to meet with this group of senior judges and prosecutors. AUSA Dan Baeza and AUSA Jay Trezevant discussed US prosecutorial methods in the areas of transnational organized crime, anti-money laundering, and white collar fraud and corruption. |
December 9
"Towards a More Safe and Secure World" A Multi-Regional Virtual Project for TMSSW Alumni Afghanistan, African Union, Albania, Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Estonia, European Union, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lithuania, Mexico, North Macedonia, Palestinian Territories, Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom 2020 marked the third straight year of our collaboration with the St. Petersburg Police Department on this worldwide initiative of the US Department of State. As the closing session for this 3-week virtual alumni project, St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway gave a presentation on "Best Practices and Innovations in Community Policing" to worldwide alumni of this State Department special initiative. Chief Holloway highlighted the SPPD's new division, "Community Assistance Liaison (CAL)". The CAL team will serve as a social service agency arm of the SPPD, consisting of social workers and other social service professionals who would be responsible for responding to nonviolent crisis calls from the public. This new initiative is a pilot project for the entire state of Florida. |