1. October 27, 2011

2. What is a Sister City? Broad-based, officially approved, long-termpartnership between two communities. Becomes official with the signing of anagreement by officials of the two cities, afterapproval by city councils of each community. Allows citizen volunteers of bothcommunities to get involved in internationalrelations, citizen diplomacy & projects ofmutual interest.2 3. Why Have a Sister City? To increase understanding between cultures,through direct, friendly, personal contact As long term partners, to open dialogues withpeople of another culture who can share insightsand perspectives 3 4. Columbias Current Sister Cities1. Cergy-Pontoise, France (since 1977)2. Tres Cantos, Spain (since 1990) Hundreds of high school students have gained globalperspective, improved language skills through CA youthexchanges. CA has also sponsored adult exchanges, based onbusiness, art and cuisine. Columbia International Day was created to celebratethe annual July Sister Cities High School Exchange,beginning in 1995. 4 5. New Sister City for Columbia Interest in developing relationships with non-European nations is growing. Community members began meeting in June 2011 to explore the possibility of a relationship with a planned city in Africa. Tema in Ghana was identified by community members as a planned city, with potential for a sister city relationship with Columbia 5 6. Selection Criteria Planned community, like Columbia Safe and welcoming for visitors Politically stable country Non-stop flight accessibility Near the nations capital Opportunities for cultural, educational& economic exchanges Reflective of a large segment ofColumbias diverse population6 7. Why Africa? 24.8% of Columbias population is African-American. Manyhave profound interest in Africa. Many Ghanaians and Nigerians live in Columbia 21044 is #77 on list of zip codes w/largest percentage ofGhanaian first ancestries 21046 is #83 on list with the largest percentage ofNigerian first ancestries (source: city-data.com) Columbias diversity should be reflected in CAsinternational programs Our Sister Cities currently only involve European cities.7 8. 8 9. 9 10. 10 11. 11 12. 12 13. Why Ghana? Diplomacy 50 years of good relations with U.S. Peaceful, stable democratic country Well-respected, welcoming nation 13 14. 14 15. 15 16. 16 17. In June 2011, Ghana was selected as oneof four nations to continue to accessgrants under the MillenniumChallenge, given to nations workingtoward: ruling justly investing in people encouraging economic freedom.17 18. Why Ghana? Education Public education is free and mandatory English is official language; taught in all the schools 5 public and 12 private universities, and 10 publicpolytechnics offering British Higher National Diploma18 19. 19 20. Why Ghana? Visitor-friendly 2010 Global Sister Cities Foundation InternationalConference held in Accra. First country to welcome the Peace Corps program;Former CA President Pat Kennedy accompanied very firstPeace Corps group in 1961. Popular destination for Columbians: African Art Museumof Maryland and Columbia Chapter of Alpha Phi AlphaFraternity have organized several trips there. Students and faculty from Howard Community CollegesNursing Dept. have visited health clinics in Kumasi. 20 21. 21 22. 22 23. 23 24. Why Ghana? Business-friendly U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Accra includes Cargill IBM ADM 3M DHL Motorola FedEx Star-Kist UPS PriceWaterhouseCoopers KPM United Airlines Coca Cola Delta Air Lines S.C. Johnson National Cash Register Ralston Purina Pfizer 24 25. Over the last 20 years, politicalstability and economic growth hasbeen the long-term trend. Ghana is ontrack to meet the MillenniumDevelopment goal of halving extremepoverty by 2015. State Dept. background note25 26. Reasons for Selecting Tema Tema, like Columbia, began in the 1960s as a plannedcommunity Tema has many different ethnic and language groups --primary language is English Only 16 miles from the nations capital, Accra, on the coast. Population of Tema Township: 120,00026 27. 27 28. 28 29. 29 30. 30 31. Temas Current Sister Cities San Diego, CA (since 1976): Norfolk , VA (since 2010): Greenwich, England (since 1990)Sister Cities International requires that Columbia signCooperative Agreements with Temas existing U.S. sistercities in order to develop a new sister city relationship. 31 32. Exploration with Tema To Date Dr. Willie B. Lamous Smith hand-delivered letter from CA to Temas governmentto gauge interest Dec. 2010 Tema Mayor, Hon. Robert KempesOfosuware, responded with letter of interest Jan 2011 CA Program Manager Laura Smit has been inemail contact with Frank Asante, officer incharge of Sister Cities relations for Tema 32 33. Potential focus forColumbia Tema relationship Cultural/historical Visual and performing arts Sports Health Education Media Technology Environment, water management & sanitation City planning Business partnershipsYouth & Adult In-person Exchanges AND via videoconferencingand other electronic media33 34. Committee Members withLinks to Ghana Doris Ligon , African Art Museum of Maryland sponsors trips to Ghana andvisits Tema Ken Jennings & David Barrett, Alpha Phi Alpha members regularly takeHoward County teens to Ghana and visit Tema Kwaku Ofori-Ansa, Ghanaian, Howard University professor of Visual Arts Willie B. Lamous-Smith, originally from Cape Coast, Ghana, withcontacts in Tema Pat Kennedy took first Peace Corps group to Ghana Harriet Lancaster Peace Corps Director in Ghana 5 yrs Jim Lancaster President & Founder of African Literacy, Art & DevelopmentAssociation, Honorary Chief of Torgorme, Volta Region Gerry Maxwell-Jones, Ghanaian Arts & Crafts Gloria Paul born in Ghana. Bill Paul, Bill is grandson of a ParamountChief34 35. 35 36. Estimated Cost Tema, Ghana Sister City Program Hosting of Ghanaian exchange visitors by community membersin their homes no cost to CA Travel by Columbians at their own expense no cost to CA Miscellaneous expenses for Ghanaian exchange visitors, such aswelcome dinner with CA staff/board, refreshments forparticipants in events Administrative expenses, such as meeting refreshments,copies/printing, office supplies, postage Airfare for one trip by Program Manager in FY13 - $1,200; somemeals & hotel if not staying with local hostFY12: Under $500FY13: Under $2,000 36 37. Next steps Gain approval from the Columbia Association Boardof Directors to proceed with the Sister City partnershipprocess with Tema, Ghana Collaborate with Tema to develop a partnershipagreement and organize signing ceremony Research initial exchanges, activities, travel, etc. 37 38. Planning Committee Members(page 1) DAVID BARRETT, leads Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternitys Ghana study tours ELIZABETH (Liz) BOBO, State Delegate BRITTANY DUNBAR, CA Camp Staff, former student at George WashingtonUniversity, business project with Ghanaian street vendors KEN JENNINGS, leads Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternitys Ghana study tours PADRAIC KENNEDY, former CA president; organized first Peace Corp mission toGhana STACY KORBELAK, Assistant Professor at Howard Community College; Coordinatorof its Global Distinction program WILLIE B. LAMOUSE-SMITH, Professor Emeritus of Africana Studies at UMBC HARRIET LANCASTER, former Director for the Peace Corps in Ghana JIM LANCASTER JR., served in senior positions with ACTION/Peace Corps 38 39. Committee members (cont.) DORIS LIGON, Founder and Director of African Art Museum of Maryland JOSEPH MASON , HCC professor GERRY MAXWELL-JONES, African art & crafts, former HCPSS educator VALERIE MONTAGUE, chair of CAs International and Multicultural Advisory Committee; formercultural exchange program manager KWAKU OFORI-ANSA , Associate Professor African Visual Culture at Howard University; created itsGhana study tour program BILL & GLORIA PAUL, Columbia residents with strong family ties to Ghana JEAN TOOMER, Chair of board of trustees of the African Art Museum of MarylandStaff: Laura Smit, Program Manager, International & Multicultural Programs Katelyn Ely, HCPSS GT Intern39