HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-010 CCR Member Dan Ryan introduced the following resolution and
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 2014-10
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER, HENNEPIN COUNTY,
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE CITY OF VOINJAMA, LOFA
COUNTY, REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA
WHEREAS, a Sister City Program has existed in the United States of America
since 1956 when U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed a People-to-People citizen
diplomacy initiative; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of a Sister City Relationship is to establish a long-
term,mutually beneficial partnership between two communities; and
WHEREAS, the Vice President of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph N. Boakai,
along with the Minnesota based Voinjama-Brooklyn Center Sister City Committee comprised of
a broad spectrum of Liberian Community representatives led by Alexander B. Collins have
requested the establishment of a Sister City Relationship with the City of Brooklyn Center; and
WHEREAS, a Sister City Relationship between the cities of Brooklyn Center
and Voinjama will benefit both cities in the following ways:
1. Inclusion and Responsibility,
2. Nurturing of Municipal Partnerships,
3. Cultural Exchange,
4. Transformational Benefits; and
WHEREAS, the potential activities envisioned by this relationship include, but
are not limited to public official exchange visits, cross cultural training activities, sharing of best
practices in municipal leadership, an expansion of Brooklyn Center Liberian native residents'
participation in Brooklyn Center Civic/Community/Governmental activities, and mutual
recognition of the relationship by the symbolic designation of a public asset in honor of this
relationship; and
WHEREAS, except for staff time, no expenditure of tax dollars is expected to
occur in support of carrying out specific Sister City programs or activities, but private donations
to the City may be used in support of these Council-approved activities; and
WHEREAS, the Brooklyn Center City Council originally adopted this resolution
on December 10, 2012, and now restates said resolution for the purpose of incorporating Articles
of Understanding as requested by the representatives of the City of Voinjama expressing their
desire to foster relations, ties of friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding between the
two cities on areas of culture, sciences, education,health,tourism and sport.
RESOLUTION NO. 2014-10
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, that the City Council does hereby establish a Sister City
Relationship with the City of Voinjama, Lofa County, Republic of Liberia with the following
understanding and authorizes the Mayor to sign a Memorandum of Understanding confirming
our commitment.
ARTICLE 1
The parties shall encourage cooperation in areas of culture, arts and sciences through the
exchange of delegations and experiences of exhibitions, festivals, seminars, and conferences.
ARTICLE 2
The parties shall encourage cooperation in the area of education through the exchange of
delegations and experiences with a view to getting acquainted with the cultures and histories of
the people of both cities.
ARTICLE 3
The parties shall encourage cooperation in the area of health and medicine through the exchange
of delegations, studies and experiences and participation in conferences held in the two cities.
ARTICLE 4
The parties shall encourage cooperation in the areas of sports, tourism and youth through the
exchange of delegations and the coordination of participation in relevant activities.
ARTICLE 5
New Horizons Resource Group shall serve as the intermediary between the two cities for the
purpose of coordinating visiting delegations,with the understanding that sending city delegations
will be responsible for travel expenses and receiving cities will work with New Horizons
Resource Group to arrange accommodations and internal transportation. Further, New Horizons
Resource Group will work with the two cities to annually develop a cooperation program
classifying fields of cooperation and relations.
January 13, 2014
Date Mayor
ATTEST: " J�MA"
City Clerk
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member
Lin Myszkowski
and upon vote being taken thereon,the following voted in favor thereof:
Tim Willson, Carol Kleven, Kris Lawrence-Anderson, Lin' Myskkowskl, and Dan Ryan;
and the following voted against the same: none,
whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
ESTABLISHING A SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER, HENNEPIN COUNTY, STATE OF MINNESOTA UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CITY OF VOINJAMA, LOFA COUNTY, REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA WHEREAS, the Brooklyn Center City Council originally adopted a resolution on December 10, 2012, establishing a Sister City Relationship between The City of Brooklyn Center, Hennepin County, State of Minnesota and The City of Voinjama, Lofa County, Republic of Liberia and has restated said resolution for the purpose of incorporating Articles of Understanding as requested by the representatives of the City of Voinjama expressing our desire to foster relations, ties of friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding between the two cities on areas of culture, sciences, education, health, tourism and sport; and WHEREAS, the City of Brooklyn Center is an inclusive community with one of the largest percentages of foreign-born residents in the State of Minnesota, estimated at nearly 23% and of these foreign born residents approximately 8% are from Africa with Liberian born residents composing the largest number of native Africans; and WHEREAS, the City of Brooklyn Center has invested substantial resources to connect, understand, inform, and engage immigrant and minority communities through such programs as the New Americans Academy, Joint Community Police Partnership, Multi-Cultural Advisory Committee; and WHEREAS, the Republic of Liberia has a long historical tie with the United States of America that is deeper than any African nation beginning in 1820 when the American Colonization Society began sending freed slaves and repatriated Americans of African descent, which led to the passage of a Declaration of Independence and Constitution in 1847 modeled on the political principles of the United States Constitution; and WHEREAS, the Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyumah Boakai, through a meeting arranged by New Horizons Resource Group (NHRG)-a nonprofit organization in Minnesota, met with and asked the City of Brooklyn Center for a Sister City Relationship with the City of Voinjama, Lofa County, Liberia and ensured a subsequent visit to the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota by former Deputy Internal Affairs Minister for Urban Affairs Hon. Florence Dukuly and the Mayor of Voinjama- Hon. Younger Sherman; and
WHEREAS, Voinjama City Mayor Younger Sherman, on behalf of the City Council and the hardworking people of Voinjama, Lofa County met with Mayor Tim Willson and the City Council of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota as a follow-up to Vice President Boakai’s Sister City initiative and presented a passed resolution by the Voinjama City Council requesting a Sister City Relationship with Brooklyn Center, Minnesota; and WHEREAS, the Voinjama delegation to Brooklyn Center, Minnesota and the Sister City resolution presented were warmly and graciously received and the City Council of Brooklyn Center passed resolution establishing a Sister City Relationship with Voinjama in 2012; and WHEREAS, the cities of Brooklyn Center, with approximately 30,643-(2012) residents, and a historical link to farming and Voinjama, Lofa County with approximately 26,594 (2008) residents, considered to be the farming land or bread basket of Liberia are similar in size of population and agricultural background; and a Sister City Relationship is expected to strengthen and deepen the emotional connection that Liberians have to the City of Brooklyn Center thereby further strengthening the community fabric of Brooklyn Center; and WHEREAS, New Horizons Resource Group (NHRG)-a Minnesota Non-profit organization leads a sister team including representatives of the Organization of Liberians in Minnesota; Liberian Ministers Association; African Career, Education & Resource, Inc.; African Assistance Program; Liberian Women Initiative –of Minnesota; Liberian Muslim Community in Minnesota; Lofa County Association in Minnesota; and, Redeemed Life Church was formed to work on behalf of Vice President Boakai, Mayor Younger Sherman and the resilient people of Lofa County to work with the City of Voinjama to pursue a Sister City Relationship with the City of Brooklyn Center; and WHEREAS, the Voinjama-Brooklyn Center Sister City Minnesota team includes Rev. Alexander Collins-Chair---CEO and President, New Horizons Resource Group (NHRG), Mrs. Louise Tamba-Director of Community Engagement-NHRG, Mr. Mike Fuah--Board Member-NHRG, Mr. Zubah G. Kpanaku-Board Chairman Organization of Liberians in Minnesota, Doctor Emmanuel J. Tamba--Advisor to NHRG, Reverend Dr. James Wilson-team member, Mr. Wayne Doe--former Executive Director, OLM, Rev. Peter Novelino-Redeemed Life Church, Mr. Clifford G.Travers-NHRG, Mr. Jerry Gibson—NHRG, Mr. Victor Neeplo--NHRG and Mr. John Tarly, Executive Director—African Assistant Program; and WHEREAS, the City of Brooklyn Center will benefit from a Sister City Relationship with Voinjama by encouraging Liberians to greater participation and conscientiousness for the welfare of the city, by increasing engagement and volunteerism and enhancing Brooklyn Center’s community engagement endeavor;
by formulating opportunities for city officials and residents to further explore and experience Liberian culture; by creating an atmosphere which strengthens economic development and community engagement; and WHEREAS, the City of Voinjama will benefit from a Sister City Relationship with Brooklyn Center by nurturing a municipal partnership that will help to creatively learn, work and solve problems together through reciprocal cultural, educational, business, leadership development, professional and technical training and projects especially as Voinjama, Lofa County, and the Republic of Liberia continue their rebuilding process and decentralization efforts in the aftermath of a 14-year civil war; and WHEREAS, this Sister City Relationship has been initiated by His Excellency Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, encouraged by national leaders including Her Excellency, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; Liberian Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Jeremiah C. Sulunteh, Internal Affairs Minister-Hon. Morris Dukuly and leaders in the Minnesota Liberian community; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, that the City Council does hereby establish a Sister City Relationship with the City of Voinjama, Lofa County, Republic of Liberia with the following understanding. ARTICLE 1 The cities shall encourage cooperation in areas of culture, arts and sciences through the exchange of delegations and experiences of exhibitions, festivals, seminars, and conferences. ARTICLE 2 The cities shall encourage cooperation in the area of education through the exchange of delegations and experiences with a view to getting acquainted with the cultures and histories of the people of both cities. ARTICLE 3 The cities shall encourage cooperation in the area of health and medicine through the exchange of delegations, studies and experiences and participation in conferences held in the two cities.
ARTICLE 4 The cities shall encourage cooperation in the areas of sports, tourism and youth through the exchange of delegations and the coordination of participation in relevant activities. ARTICLE 5 New Horizons Resource Group shall serve as the intermediary between the two cities for the purpose of coordinating visiting delegations, with the understanding that sending city delegations will be responsible for travel expenses and receiving cities will work with New Horizons Resource Group (NHRG) to arrange accommodations and internal transportation. In addition, New Horizons Resource Group will connect government, educational and business sector institutions in Brooklyn Center to similar institutions in Voinjama to the mutual benefit of all communities; and will work with the two cities to annually develop a cooperation program classifying fields of cooperation and relations. Signed on this ______ Day of January 2014 By: _________________________________________ Mayor, Tim Willson – City of Brooklyn Center Date _______________________________________ Mayor, Younger Sherman – City of Voinjama Date Witnessed on this ______ Day of January 2014 By: ______________________________________ Hon. Morris M. Dukuly, Minister of Internal Affairs Date Republic of Liberia ________________________________________ Rev. Alexander Collins, CEO & President— Date New Horizons Resource Group (NHRG), Minnesota