BSC Secretary, Author at Baltimore Sister Cities

July 6 | Baltimore Sister Cities Meet & Greet

Come mingle with our volunteers and friends!

Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2022
Time: 5:30-8pm
Location: R.House, 301 West 29th Street, Baltimore MD 21211
Has outdoors and indoors seating.
Rain date: If it is pouring rain then we’ll move it to July 13 (and we’ll notify people on this webpage)

Meet our friends and volunteers; find out more about our sister cities and our activities at this informal summer get-together.

Spread the word to others in your network and invite them to come, too!

How you can find us: look for people wearing “Baltimore Sister Cities” logo stickers on their shirts, or look for table-top signs with “Baltimore Sister Cities” logo.

No RSVP needed — just show up!

About the R.House

R.House is a food hall with several food stalls from Baltimore chefs and a bar. It is a large space with open floorplan seating — both outdoors and indoors seating available. No reservations accepted — it is walk-in only. Located in the Remington neighborhood, near the Maryland Avenue bike lane and near several bus routes, including Purple Circulator; CityLine Silver; Bus 21. Street parking.

R.House website

July 23 | Bmore for Ukraine!

Bmore for Ukraine fundraiser event July 23, 2022. Illustration of yellow sunflowers with blue stems and leaves on a black background; logos of the sponsors

Date: Saturday, July 23, 2022 (Rain or shine)
Time: 12-6pm ET
Location: Pulaski monument in Patterson Park, Baltimore
For more info and to purchase tickets: Eventbrite page

Join the Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee for the first annual BMore for Ukraine, a celebration of communities coming together to support Ukraine in its time of need. The event will feature live music, cultural dance, raffles, and more!

All proceeds will benefit World Central Kitchen & United Help Ukraine.

Blooming Rainbow Project

During 2021-2022, artists conducted “Blooming Rainbow” — a collaborative class with children, 5-15 years old, in Baltimore and South Korea to create abstract painting jointly together. In this program, children paint scribbles — they can express their feelings, impulsion or their favorite figures. The scribbles are then exchanged with the artists in Baltimore and Korea, who overlap color onto the scribbles. The children learn about the sister cities of Baltimore, Maryland USA and Changwon, South Korea, and learn about abstract art concepts and artists. The program is coordinated by artists Ara Ko, Jack Koppert, and Huaqi Liu (graduate students in MICA’s LeRoy E. Hoffberger Painting MFA Program in Baltimore) and Chaeyeon Hong, Yongeun Kwon and Jaeeun Kim from Ewha University in Seoul, South Korea (who travel to Changwon to teach their group of students).

Baltimore-Changwon Sister City Committee (BCSCC) is a project partner.

Video about the Blooming Rainbow project

Exhibition – Summer 2022

The work is shown online on Instagram, and in an exhibition in summer 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland USA and Changwon, South Korea.

The opening was on June 10 at 7:00pm ET Baltimore time and on June 11 at 8:00 AM Changwon time and was livestreamed online. Dami S. Schlobohm was the MC at the opening show and performed music. Dami is a cellist and music teacher born in Seoul, South Korea and raised in Maryland.

Watch highlights from the exhibition opening event

The full-length recording of the event can be viewed on YouTube.

The artists who are leading this program

Artist Ara Ko with examples of her artwork — Artist Ara Ko

2021 Year in Review: Baltimore Sister Cities

Annual Report & Plan

Baltimore Sister Cities Annual Accomplishments Report for 2021 (PDF, 3mb)

Baltimore Sister Cities Annual Plan for 2022 (PDF, 1.3mb)

Some of our 2021 highlights:

Photo collage of Baltimore Sister Cities 2021 activities - the activities are described in the report.

2nd photo collage of Baltimore Sister Cities 2021 activities - the activities are described in the report.

Baltimore-Xiamen chair speaks at Baltimore Mayor’s “410 Report” event

Xin (Cindy) Wang (Chair, Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Committee) was one of the speakers in the 2022 Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month edition of Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s “410 Report.” Other speakers included HyeSook Chung (President, Baltimore Civic Fund), Cori Dioquino (Co-Executive Director & Co-Founder, Asian Pasifika Arts Collective), and Heang Tan (Deputy Commissioner, Office of Aging). Mayor Scott and these members of our local Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community celebrated the contributions and experiences of our city’s AAPI communities. With a rich history in our city, AAPI communities continue to be a thriving source of what makes Baltimore, Baltimore. The program was originally broadcasted on Thursday, May 19, 2022, on the Mayor’s Facebook page, the CharmTV Facebook page, and the Mayor’s Instagram page.

To view a recording of this program, visit the CharmTV Facebook page.

Help support Odesa, our sister city in Ukraine!

Baltimore-Odesa Sister Cities Fundraiser: Help support Baltimore's Sister City in Ukraine in its time of need! (photos of Mt Vernon Square in Baltimore; the statue of Odesa's founders in Odesa)

Donate via credit card or PayPal: Donate here

The Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee will use the full amount of your donation for humanitarian aid to citizens of Odesa (a.k.a. Odessa).

If you prefer to pay by check (in US dollars): Make your check out to: BSC. Put “Odesa” in the memo line. Mail it to Baltimore Sister Cities, 4701 East Lane, Baltimore MD 21210 USA.

Baltimore Sister Cities, Inc. is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. No goods or services are provided to you for this gift. Please consult your tax advisor regarding specific questions about your deductions.

Come join us at our fundraiser event in Baltimore’s Patterson Park on July 23!

Join the Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee for the first annual BMore for Ukraine, a celebration of communities coming together to support Ukraine in its time of need. The event will feature live music, cultural dance, raffles, and more!

All proceeds will benefit World Central Kitchen & United Help Ukraine.

For more info and to purchase tickets: Eventbrite page

About the Baltimore-Odesa sister city relationship

The Sister Cities International program was established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 to create a force for international cooperation and understanding through community involvement by promoting peace through people-to-people relationships. The Baltimore Sister Cities (BSC) Program was established in the early 1970’s by then-Mayor William Donald Schaefer. The Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee (BOSCC) was established in 1974 and is the second oldest relationship managed by Baltimore Sister Cities, Inc, a non-profit 501c3 corporation.
Visit www.baltimoreodesa.org for more information, more ways to support Odesa and Ukraine, and to volunteer for the committee.

A Tale of Two Cities: Baltimore and Odesa — The Role of Sister Cities in International Relations

Recording of a recent webinar hosted by Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee, where panelists discussed the connection between Baltimore and Odesa in light of current events at the intersection of public, private and government partnerships across the world which help promote international diplomacy.
youtu.be/QxAFORH3MDg

Interview on Baltimore radio

Listen to recent interview on Baltimore’s WYPR radio station with Karina Mandell, Chair, Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee, talking about current events in Baltimore’s sister city of Odesa, Ukraine:
www.wypr.org/2022-02-25/baltmores-sister-odesa-ukraine

April | Baltimore Sister Cities workshops at Enoch Pratt Library

Photos of painted Pysanky egs; paper dolls; Korean fan dance for the workshops on April 9, 14, and 16, 2022. BSC & Enoch Pratt Library logos.

Baltimore’s public library hosts Imagination Celebration throughout the month of April. This signature event celebrates creativity and honors diverse voices and experiences within children’s literature and our communities. The celebration features special events, arts and crafts, and more.

Baltimore Sister Cities offers fun activities for kids from some of our sister city committees!

Admission is free.

Saturday, April 9: Pysanky Eggs

Time: 3pm ET
Location: Patterson Park Branch (158 N. Linwood Avenue, Baltimore MD 21224)
Event page on the library website

Learn about the Ukrainian tradition of decorating pysanky, or eggs, and create your own.

This indoor program has limited space and pre-registration is recommended. To register, please look at the library’s event page for instructions. Walk-ins are also accepted until the program reaches maximum capacity.

Presented by Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee (BOSCC).

Thursday, April 14: Imagine YOU!

Time: 2pm ET
Location: Orleans Street Branch (1303 Orleans St, Baltimore MD 21231)
Event page on the library website

Join Susan L. Roth, author of “Hands Around the Library: Protecting Egypt’s Treasured Books” and Baltiimore-Luxor-Alexandria Sister Cities to make paper dolls together. Create a doll that represents who you are now, or who you want to be in the future. This workshop is inspired by this year’s Imagination Celebration book selection: What Will You Be? by Yamile Saied Méndez.

Presented by Baltimore-Luxor-Alexandria Sister City Committee (BLASCC).

Saturday, April 16: Korean Fan Dance Demonstration

Time: 2pm ET
Location: Central Library (400 Cathedral St, Baltimore MD 21201)
Event page on the library website

Learn about the tradition of Korean fan dance and enjoy a performance from the Baltimore-Changwon Sister City Committee.

Presented by Baltimore-Changwon Sister City Committee (BCSCC).

Maryland bluetech|greentech business delegation to Europe

Maryland Department of Commerce invites Maryland environmental tech and water tech companies to participate in a business trip to the Netherlands, including Water Tech Europe trade show and other site visits, during the week of September 19 – 24, 2022.

The trip includes:

1. Participation in the Water Tech Europe trade fair and the accompanying Wetsus Congress at European Water Technology Week (EWTW) which brings together sessions and field visits focused on topics like sustainable water supply, wastewater treatment and reuse, circular economy, energy production from water, climate resilience, and new water sources. This is the place for professionals working on solutions for tomorrow’s water issues. Maryland Department of Commerce will have a pavilion at Water Tech Europe for environmental tech businesses from Maryland. Attendees include universities, research institutes, innovative companies and corporate end-users, government representatives, and water clusters from Europe, US, and around the world. European Water Technology Week takes place in Leeuwarden in northeast region of the Netherlands.

2. Site visits and networking — Maryland is planning networking opportunities and field visits to sites in The Hague / Rotterdam in the western region of the Netherlands for the delegation to learn about innovative technologies and meet potential business partners. The program will be tailored to the focus sectors of the participating companies.

Goals

Help Maryland firms explore business opportunities abroad
Find international business partners to bring innovative technologies to Maryland
Network with US and European firms, innovation hubs, and research institutes
Raise the international profile of Maryland companies

Focus sectors

The program and topics will be tailored to the focus areas of the participating companies, but it can include topics like:

Drinking water and wastewater management
Urban water management and climate resilience
Maritime and port technologies
Water in agriculture
Aquaculture
Renewable energy
Nature-based solutions for climate adaptation
Circular economy; water conservation and re-use technologies
Pollution; plastic soup
Digitalization

Potential site visits include:

Business networking event in Rotterdam/The Hague region
The Green Village at Delft Technical University
Port of Rotterdam
Port XL maritime tech accelerator
Envirotech testing facilities
Stormwater water infrastructure; storm surge barriers
In addition, the EWTW Wetsus Congress includes field trips related to resource recovery from wastewater, energy production from water, circular water systems, and horticulture. Tours start from WaterCampus in Leeuwarden.

Who can participate

Eligibility: Participation is open to Maryland firms — firms that have their business operations in Maryland.
Financial assistance: Maryland businesses can apply for the Export MD grant to help cover their travel costs (up to $5,000 reimbursement). Deadline to apply for the grant: August 1, 2022.

Take your firm to new international opportunities!

For more information or to participate in this trip:

Contact Andrew Kreinik, Regional Manager for Europe and Australia at Maryland Department of Commerce at andrew.kreinik@maryland.gov (or contact Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee for information).

Space is limited, so contact us soon!

A Tale of Two Cities: Baltimore, MD and Odesa, Ukraine

The Role of Sister Cities in International Relations

City flags of Baltimore, USA and Odesa, Ukraine

Video recording available: youtu.be/QxAFORH3MDg
Webinar was held on March 1, 2022. (Event info page: tinyurl.com/BaltimoreOdesa)

Our esteemed panelists discussed the connection between Baltimore and Odesa in light of current events at the intersection of public, private and government partnerships across the world which help promote international diplomacy.

Webinar panelists include:

Mary E. (‘Mendy’) Nitsch — Director, International Programs at the Maryland Department of Commerce, and coordinator for the State of Maryland’s Sister States program.
Lewis Madanick — Senior Program Manager for Open World Leadership Center
Eric Hontz — Deputy Regional Director for Europe and Eurasia at Center for International Private Enterprise
Ugo Poletti – Chief Editor, Odesa Journal
Moderator — Karina Mandell, Chair, Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee

Webinar organized by Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee (BOSCC).

How you can help Odesa

To support the city of Odesa, Ukraine during its time of need:
Donate to our fundraising drive, organized by Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee.

WYPR interview

About the Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee

Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee Reignites Partnership Through Visit to Odesa

Karina Mandell, Chair of the new Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee, was born in Ukraine and immigrated to the United States as a young girl at the age of 7. She traveled to Ukraine recently to reunite with family members. During this trip, she met with the Mayor of Odesa on August 26, 2021, to explore ideas for mutually beneficial partnerships and potential avenues for further collaborations between Baltimore and Odesa (also known as Odessa).

In October 2021, Karina and other leaders of BOSCC met with Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott and presented the gifts from Odesa City Council (photo below).

Baltimore and Odesa have been sister cities since 1974 and the relationship is managed by ‘The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore’. In coordination with The Associated, the Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee has recently been formed under the auspices of the Baltimore Sister Cites organization in order to broaden the relationship.

If you are interested in this initiative or want to be a volunteer member of our committee, please contact us at

March 2022 Update