Baltimore’s first sister city relationship was established 50 years ago in 1973 with Gbarnga in Liberia. In Baltimore, the relationship is managed by Baltimore-Gbarnga Sister City Committee (BGSSC); in Gbarnga is it managed by Gbarnga-Baltimore Sister City Committee (GBSC Liberia).
Baltimore is located in the state of Maryland, near Washington, DC (the capital of USA). Gbarnga is the capital of Bong County, northeast of Monrovia (the capital of Liberia). Maryland has historical connections to Liberia and has sister state relationships with two counties in Liberia: Bong County and Maryland County.
A year of celebration
2023 is the 50th year of the Baltimore-Gbarnga sister city relationship. There are several special events throughout the year:
December 2022 | B4 Youth Theatre: 200 Years of Returns
Baltimore-Gbarnga Sister City Committee (BGSSC) supported and collaborated with the Program in Racism, Immigration, and Citizenship (RIC) at Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins University (JHU) on a historic trip commemorating the 200th year since the arrival of the first repatriated families in Liberia. B4 Youth Theatre, a troupe of young Baltimore performers, performed in Liberia to build a cultural and societal bridge between the two countries and its peoples. The performance, 200 Years of Returns, commemorated the Liberia Bicentennial. A collaboration with the Angels of Praise dancers and the Just One Spirit dance ministry — the culmination of more than a year of rehearsing, research, and performances in Virginia and Maryland. B4 Youth Theatre visited Gbarnga and its community college during their trip. More information about this trip
About B4 Youth Theatre: www.b4youththeatre.org
About the Johns Hopkins University program: JHU’s RIC Supports Trip to Liberia for Baltimore Schoolchildren
June 23, 2023 | Anniversary celebration in Gbarnga
The Gbarnga-Baltimore Sister City Committee (GBSC Liberia) held a special event in Gbarnga on June 23, 2023 with Gbarnga Mayor Herbert to celebrate the sister city relationship with Baltimore.
July 7, 2023 | Special event in Baltimore
The event recognizes and celebrates the December 2022 ‘200 Years of Returns’ trip to Liberia organized and sponsored by the Johns Hopkins Krieger School program in Racism, Immigration and Citizenship (‘RIC’) and the Baltimore-Gbarnga Sister City Committee. This event includes the presentation of the Baltimore Mayor’s ‘Certificates of Recognition’ to the 29 youth and adults who traveled to Liberia or supported the trip in other ways, a cultural troupe performance, premiere screening of ‘200 Years of Returns” as performed on UNESCO World Heritage site Providence Island in Liberia, Q&A with the actors and travelers, and a light reception.
Post-event press release and photos
