Finance Committee hears International Diplomatic Alliance presentation; votes to invite IDA representatives

The Brockton Finance Committee on March 3 voted to invite Ward 2 City Councilor Maria Tavares and representatives of the International Diplomatic Alliance (IDA), a Missouri nonprofit, to appear before the committee and present concrete examples of their humanitarian work, including health care, education, social services, food distribution and combating homelessness.

Jared Crockett, introduced by Councilor Tavares, described the group's volunteer operations and overseas work. He said the organization operates in roughly 55 countries and in the U.S. conducts food and clothing distributions, school‑supply drives and disaster relief efforts. Crockett told the committee IDA is funded primarily by private donations and local fundraising and that local volunteers and in‑country representatives identify needs and carry out projects.

“If I have the opportunity to make a positive impact on at least 1 person, then they in turn do that to somebody else causing a chain reaction,” Jared Crockett said during his presentation.

Crockett described recent and planned activities including school‑supply drives, partnering on clothing and food distributions, and water well drilling projects in parts of Africa. He said the organization is seeking to work with larger agencies on disaster relief but has encountered administrative barriers; he cited difficulty reaching staff at federal agencies such as FEMA and USAID.

Councilor Maria Tavares said she joined IDA two years ago and described efforts to partner with a Boston food bank and to begin a local food distribution on Belmont Street pending final city inspection approvals.

After questions from Councilor Nicastro and others, the committee moved and seconded a recommendation to invite Councilor Tavares and any IDA representatives she wishes to bring before the finance committee; the motion passed unanimously.