The Richmond Sister Cities Commission will welcome The Honorable Madani Sissoko, Councilman, Segou, Republic of Mali (Africa), and President of the Segou Sister City Commission, during its upcoming monthly meeting
RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
900 E. Broad Street, Suite 200 - Richmond, Virginia 23219 - www.council.richmondva.gov
COUNCIL PUBLIC INFORMATION NEWS RELEASE
IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO BE FORWARDED AND SHARED
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Richmond Sister Cities Commission to welcome City Councilmember from African Sister City
Councilman Madani Sissoko, Segou, Republic of Mali to visit; Citizens invited and encouraged to attend
WHAT The Richmond Sister Cities Commission will welcome The Honorable Madani Sissoko, Councilman, Segou, Republic of Mali (Africa), and President of the Segou Sister City Commission, during its upcoming monthly meeting.
Richmond’s partnership with Segou is our city’s newest Sister City relationship. Richmond and Segou became Sister Cities in 2009 following the adoption of Richmond City Council Resolution 2009-R99-109, adopted July 27, 2009 that invited Segou to be a formal Sister City of Richmond, and the formalization of the relationship in Richmond on October 12, 2009 with a visiting delegation of dignitaries from Segou.
This meeting represents an opportunity for Richmond and Segou to review accomplishments resulting from the Richmond-Segou Sister City relationship.
In April 2010 Richmond was awarded an $115,000 grant from Sister Cities International for a two-year African Sustainability Project that will be used to assist with performing projects in Segou that will assist with addressing sanitation, health, and water issues.
Regular Richmond Sister Cities Commission meeting agendas typically include the following:
• Welcome
• New Business
• Updates
• Committee Reports
• Closing Remarks/Adjournment
WHERE
Richmond City Hall – 2nd Floor Large Conference Room
Richmond City Hall, 2nd floor; 900 E. Broad Street
WHEN Wednesday, October 6, 2010; 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Upcoming Monthly meetings include:
Wednesday, November 3, 2010; 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010; 5:00-6:30 p.m.
WHO
The Honorable Bruce Tyler, Councilman, Richmond City Council, West End 1st District; Member, Richmond Sister Cities Commission
The Honorable Madani Sissoko, Councilman, Segou, Republic of Mali (Africa), and President of the Segou Sister City Commission,
Mr. John Pope, Director, Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities
Ms. Roslyn Johnson, Deputy Director, Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities
Members of the Richmond Sister Cities Commission
Ms Ana Edwards, President, Virginia Friends of Mali
Mr. Rumy Mohta, Executive Committee, Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce
CONTACT
For more information, please call My Lan Tran, Chairman, Richmond Sister Cities Commission, at 804.646.6046 or my.lan.tran@richmondgov.com (email)
For more information regarding Richmond and Segou, Republic of Mali relationship, please contact, Allan Levenberg, Member, Richmond Sister Cities Commission, at 804.241.0287, or allanlevenberg@comcast.net
BACKGROUND ____________________________________________________________________
The Richmond City Council Sister Cities Commission, established in 1980, manages the Richmond Sister City Program. The Commission operates under guidelines provided by Council and by requirements of the Sister Cities International organization, located in Washington, D. C. An early champion of international relations, Richmond began its first relationship with its namesake, Richmond Upon Thames, England, in 1930.
Overview of Sister City Program
A formal Sister City concept was created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. His idea called for exchanges between Americans and people in other countries, with a goal of fostering peace, understanding and harmony.
The term “Sister City” is used to express a closeness that is engendered through commonalities between communities. Formal friendships are then established to promote cultural understanding and educational and economic prosperity.
For example, cities linked with Richmond are generally capital cities with comparable populations, notable points of historic interest, and potential opportunities for economic development and trade.
Globally, there are more than 2,400 Sister City partnerships in 134 countries. Nineteen Virginia cities represent approximately 50 of those partnerships. This includes seven in Richmond.
Richmond Sister City Relationships
As of May 17, 2010 Richmond maintains the following Sister City relationships:
1. Richmond upon Thames, England
2. Saitama City, Japan
3. Olysztyn, Poland
4. Uijeongbu, Korea
5. Windhoek, Namibia (Africa)
6. Zhengzhou, China
7. Segou, Republic of Mali (Africa)
Interest
Throughout the year, Richmond City Council receives requests from citizens and interested cities regarding its Sister Cities Program, which are shared with the Commission.
Recent Sister Cities Activities
Republic of Mali: Richmond’s partnership with Segou is our city’s newest Sister City relationship. Richmond and Segou became Sister Cities in 2009 following the adoption of Richmond City Council Resolution 2009-R99-109, adopted July 27, 2009 that invited Segou to be a formal Sister City of Richmond, and the formalization of the relationship in Richmond on October 12, 2009 with a visiting delegation of dignitaries from Segou. In April 2010 Richmond was awarded a $115,000 grant from Sister Cities International for a two-year African Sustainability Project that will be used to assist with performing projects in Segou that will assist with addressing sanitation, health, and water issues. On May 10, 2010 Richmond City Council received and welcomed a visiting delegation from the Republic of Mali. The delegation included six members of the country’s government who were in Richmond for the day as part of a government training program sponsored by the Institute for Global Training, USAID in Washington D.C. and were being show state and local government by the University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center’s Virginia Institute of Government.
Richmond upon Thames: 2008 visit from the Mayor and Councilmember's to Richmond; 2007 visit of Mayor and Council members. Planning for Virginia’s 2007 celebration.
Zhenghou, China: Continued supporting teacher exchanges of art and culture through museums, economic trips to China (conducted by Governor of Virginia with representation from Richmond). A book collection was presented to Richmond citizens from Zhengzhou citizens, which is displayed at the City’s Main Library.
Saitama, Japan: Annual baseball exchange between communities. The exchange features 30 10-12 year olds and their families who spend several days in Richmond visiting sites, playing baseball, and developing friendships and cultural understanding.
Windhoek, Namibia: August 2007: the U.S. State Department brought a camera crew to Richmond from Windhoek coordinated events. July 2003: Richmond donated a Fire Truck to Windhoek.
Uijeongbu, Korea: Includes relationships with the Richmond Korean community and business exchange as well as educational and cultural programs.
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Steven R. Skinner, APR
Council Public Information Manager
Office of the Chief of Staff
RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
Richmond City Hall
900 E. Broad Street, Suite 305
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804.646.6052 (office)
804.335.4054 (mobile)
804.937.1386 (home/mobile)
804.646.5468 (fax)
skinnesr@ci.richmond.va.us (email)
www.council.richmondva.gov(website)
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MISSION The mission of Richmond City Council
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local laws, providing government policy and
oversight, and approving the city budget.
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