These city photos can be used by Baltimore Sister Cities members as backgrounds in meeting platforms such as Zoom.

City photos are listed alphabetically below the instructions.

A. Instructions

Note you will need the latest version of Zoom (client software) installed on your hard drive in order to do this.

To use a photo background in Zoom:

1. See cities further below. Click on link to a city’s photo, to go to its full-size photo. After that, right-click on the city’s full-size photo to get a context menu. Save the image to your hard drive.

2. When you are in a zoom meeting, hover over the bottom of the screen to see bar with video icon, chat icon, etc. Click the arrow icon next to the Video icon:

3. Select “Choose Virtual Background” from the menu:

4. On the Background & Filters screen, Choose the Add button > Add image. Find the city photo on your hard drive and upload it.

Questions? Visit the Zoom help center.

B. City photos

Alexandria, Egypt

https://baltimoresistercities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AlexandriaLibrary-Background.jpg

Baltimore, USA

https://baltimoresistercities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Baltimore-Background.jpg

Changwon, South Korea

https://baltimoresistercities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Changwon-Background.jpg

Gbarnga, Liberia

https://baltimoresistercities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Gbarnga-Background.jpg

Kawasaki, Japan

https://baltimoresistercities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Kawasaki-Background.jpg

Luxor, Egypt

https://baltimoresistercities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Luxor-Background.jpg

Odessa, Ukraine

https://baltimoresistercities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Ukraine-Background.jpg

Piraeus, Greece

https://baltimoresistercities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Piraeus-Background.jpg

Rotterdam, the Netherlands

https://baltimoresistercities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Rotterdam-Background.jpg

Xiamen, China

https://baltimoresistercities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Xiamen-Background.jpg

In the January 29, 2021 annual membership meeting of Baltimore Sister Cities, Inc., (BSC, Inc.) the following items will be submitted for approval by the BSC, Inc. membership (members of BSC board and the constituent sister city committees). The information has been posted on this webpage so that members have a chance to review it before the January 29, 2021 meeting.

A. 2020 ACCOMPLISHMENTS REPORT

(for BSC-level activities and activities for the constituent sister city committees)

View proposed 2020 Accomplishments Report (PDF, 1.7mb)

PDF last updated: 2021-01-24 9pm ET

B. 2021 PLAN

(for BSC-level activities and activities for the constituent sister city committees)

View proposed 2021 Plan (PDF, 1.4mb)

PDF last updated: 2021-01-24 9pm ET

C. Board Elections

Below is the list of board directors that represent sister city committees and other organizations on our board, as defined in our bylaws.

Persons in bold font with an asterisk (*) are nominees, up for election this year. These nominations were made by the sister city committees and other organizations represented on our BSC, Inc. board. Opposing nominations, if desired, can be made at the January 29, 2021 annual meeting.

Persons WITHOUT an asterisk are in the middle of their board term and therefore NOT up for reelection this year.

BSC:	Changwon (BCSCC) Representative: Michelle Lee *
	Gbarnga (BGSCC) Representative: Tambi Taylor
	Kawasaki (BKSCC) Representative: Jay Gordon *
	Luxor-Alexandria (BLASCC) Representative: Karen Leggett Abouraya *
	Piraeus (BPSCC) Representative: Diane Homberg
	Rotterdam (BRSCC) Representative: Gary Davison
	Xiamen (BXSCC) Representative: Xin (Cindy) Wang
BDC:	Baltimore Development Corporation Representative: Larry Collins (Director of Foreign Trade Zone)
BOPA:	Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts Representative: Laura Green * (Director of Marketing)
Mayor’s Office:	Baltimore Mayor’s Office Representative: Leslie Carter * (Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Administration)
MIMA:	Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Representative: Catalina Rodriguez-Lima * (Director of MIMA)

Update: Added Leslie Carter and Catalina Rodriguez-Lima to the above list on 2021-01-28 at 2:26 pm ET

Note: Non-voting board members (currently Geri Byrd, Hosea Chew, and Nancy Taylor) are not approved at the Annual Membership Meeting but at the 1st regular board meeting of the year following the annual meeting. This year that board meeting is scheduled for February 24, 2021. BSC officers are also elected at the February 24 meeting. The officer positions to be elected this year are: Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Assistant Secretary.

When: Wednesday, December 2, 2020
4pm ET / Breakout sessions
5pm ET / State of the Ports Panel
Format: Virtual conference
Admission: Free; advance registration required
Register here: www.wtci.org/stateoftheports

About

For more than a decade World Trade Center Institute (WTCI), the State of Maryland, and Ports America Chesapeake have hosted the annual Maryland State of the Ports — a forum where senior transportation officials share an update on the latest results, major infrastructure projects, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Attendees learn about the latest developments at these key regional economic drivers and meet the many companies that help keep the people and cargo moving through our ports. In addition to the State of the Ports, this year’s virtual conference will include two breakout sessions – there is no cost to participate.

Program

4 pm ET / Breakout sessions

• E-commerce & the Port Economy
• The Future of Travel

5pm ET / 2020 State of the Ports Address

A panel of leaders at Maryland’s ports will highlight the latest developments and give an inside view of what the future holds. Featuring:

• Greg Slater — Secretary, Maryland Department of Transportation
• Bayard Hogans — Vice President, Ports America Chesapeake
• Ricky Smith — CEO, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
• Bill Doyle — Executive Director, Port of Baltimore

Attend this event to get the latest developments at Maryland’s ports.

Baltimore Sister Cities encourages people engaged in international commerce to attend this event and learn more about the current conditions and trends at the Port of Baltimore and Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Baltimore Sister Cities is proud to be a co-op partner with WTCI for this event which boasts the region’s largest gathering of port industry representatives.

For more information and to register: www.wtci.org/stateoftheports

Baltimore Sister Cities is a member of WTCI.

Join us for the 14th annual CHINA Town Hall, hosted nationwide by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR) and in Baltimore by the Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Committee.

In light of the growing downturn in U.S.-China relations over the past year, CHINA Town Hall has expanded from a single night into a multi-night series of programming to address the range of issues confronting the relationship. The series will kick off at 7:00PM on Tuesday, November 10th, starting with a keynote event with renowned investor Ray Dalio, followed by events on three subsequent evenings, each focused on a specific issue area: economics and trade, climate and health, and society and culture. In addition, a fifth Mandarin-language event will be held for Chinese-speaking audiences in the United States, China, and around the world. Due to public health concerns, Baltimore’s 2020 edition of this event will be all-virtual. To allow a wider audience to participate, this year’s event is free to attend.

Program

• Keynote | Tuesday, November 10, 7:00 p.m. EST | Ray Dalio
• Society & Culture | Thursday, November 12, 7:00 p.m. EST | Raymond Chang, Lucas Sin, and Janet Yang
• U.S. Perspectives in Chinese | Monday, November 16, 8:00 a.m. EST | Robert Daly, June Mei, and Matt Sheehan
• Economics & Trade | Tuesday, November 17, 7:00 p.m. EST | Amy Celico, Huang Yiping, and Andy Rothman
• Health & Climate | Wednesday, November 18, 7:00 p.m. EST | Margaret Hamburg, Ryan Hass, and Angel Hsu

For more information and to register: Eventbrite page

International travel has slowed down these days due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Baltimore Sister Cities (BSC) is still busy building Baltimore’s global neighborhood!

Look for our new poster at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) in the International Terminal (Concourse E) through February 2021. BWI’s Community Partners Program is featuring the posters of BSC and several other Maryland nonprofits throughout the airport.

— June 5, 2020 —

In 2020 our world is faced with threats to drive us apart. The COVID-19 pandemic has physically separated us and driven us to panic and fear from an unseen enemy. The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others, have dramatically exposed the tragically inhumane treatment of African Americans. Now is the time to respond to these threats and show who we really are as people.

We at Baltimore Sister Cities are in pain over the events of this year. They remind us with death and sadness of all the ways we are not treating each other with common respect. During these difficult times, we support solidarity and a strengthened commitment to care for each other and work to improve our community, our city, our country and our world.

As Sister Cities, we strive to build empathy across diverse cultures and peoples with friends from Gbarnga to Rotterdam, from Alexandria and Luxor to Xiamen and Changwon, from Kawasaki to Piraeus to Baltimore. While we may be culturally diverse and geographically disperse, we are unified and driven in our sense of purpose that, together, we must and we can bring respect to ALL people.

We encourage our Sister Cities volunteers and you to raise our voices, join together, and do all that we can to effect change in response to threats and make the world a more just place for all people.

BALTIMORE SISTER CITIES

Baltimore (USA), Alexandria/Luxor (Egypt), Changwon (Republic of Korea), Gbarnga (Liberia), Kawasaki (Japan), Piraeus (Greece), Rotterdam (the Netherlands), Xiamen (China)

This page was intended for use by our sister city committee members. This page is not for the general public.

1. Promotion from April 26 – May 15, 2020

A. Please share/like these links:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/baltimorerotterdam/posts/2934973793238164
• Twitter: twitter.com/BmoreRdam/status/1255195059630325767
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6660963727325618176
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/p/B_iHQ7lJg46/

From time to time, BRSCC posts new posts on its channels which you can also share/like. Its social media channels are here: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram.

Consider emailing members and friends of your committee to ask them to donate, and posting the food drive on your committee’s web page.

B. Or create your own posts on social media. You can borrow wording from the posts above and use images below. Include a link to our fundraiser page, which is here: https://mdfoodbank.fenly.org/drive/baltimoresistercities-fooddrive/

When you posts these posts on a social media platform, please “at” the Maryland Food Bank” name, in order to link its name to its account on that social media platform. Maryland Food Bank’s social media accounts are:

• www.facebook.com/MDFoodBank
• www.linkedin.com/company/maryland-food-bank
• www.instagram.com/mdfoodbank
• twitter.com/MDFoodBank

Here are some images that you can download and use in social media posts:

1. Rectangular images for Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc:

2. Square images for instagram:

2. Promotion just for May 3-May 6, 2020 — Special campaign for #GivingTuesdayNow

You can share/like the posts on BRSCC’s social media channels, or create your own posts using the text/images below. When you posts these posts on a social media platform, please “at” the Maryland Food Bank” name, in order to link its name to its account on that social media platform.

On Sunday May 3 (could also be done on May 4)

[For Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram]

Tuesday May 5 is #GivingTuesdayNow. This day provides people around the world the opportunity to stand together in unity and to use their individual power of generosity to remain connected with local communities.

Baltimore Sister Cities is participating in GivingTuesdayNow to fundraise for the Maryland Food Bank to fight hunger in our community. The coronavirus outbreak has led to a growing number of Marylanders at risk of losing income and increased food insecurity. Every dollar you give will provide not only the gift of food, but also the gift of hope for food-insecure children and families during this difficult and uncertain time.

Join the movement on May 5, 2020 by donating here: https://mdfoodbank.fenly.org/drive/baltimoresistercities-fooddrive/ and spread the word about this fundraiser.

You can also support the Maryland Food Bank by volunteering to sort and pack food at one of their locations. Sign up to be a volunteer here: https://mdfoodbank.org/ways-to-give/volunteer

#BaltimoreSisterCities #SisterCities #MarylandFoodBank #BaltimoreFoodDrive #Baltimore #MarylandUnites #UntilHungerEnds

[For Twitter]

Baltimore Sister Cities is participating in #GivingTuesdayNow on Tuesday May 5 to fundraise for the Maryland Food Bank and fight hunger in our community. Donate here: https://mdfoodbank.fenly.org/drive/baltimoresistercities-fooddrive/

#BaltimoreSisterCities #Baltimore #MarylandFoodBank #MarylandUnites #UntilHungerEnds

On Tuesday May 5, 2020

Post 1

[For Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram]

Today is #GivingTuesdayNow, a day to stand with our communities and use our individual generosity to support those who are affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

Baltimore Sister Cities is participating in GivingTuesdayNow to fundraise for the Maryland Food Bank to fight hunger in our community. The coronavirus outbreak has led to a growing number of Marylanders at risk of losing income and increased food insecurity.  Every dollar you give will provide not only the gift of food, but also the gift of hope for food-insecure children and families during this difficult and uncertain time. 

Join the movement today by donating here: https://mdfoodbank.fenly.org/drive/baltimoresistercities-fooddrive/ and help spread the word about this fundraiser.

#BaltimoreSisterCities #SisterCities #MarylandFoodBank #BaltimoreFoodDrive #Baltimore #MarylandUnites #UntilHungerEnds

Image for Facebook & LinkedIn:

Image for Instagram:

[For Twitter]

Today is #GivingTuesdayNow. Help fighting hunger in our community by making a donation to BSC’s virtual Food Drive: https://mdfoodbank.fenly.org/drive/baltimoresistercities-fooddrive/

#BaltimoreSisterCities #SisterCities #MarylandFoodBank #BaltimoreFoodDrive #Baltimore #MarylandUnites #UntilHungerEnds

Post 2

[For Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram]

The Maryland Food Bank is now more important than ever. Increasingly, people are losing their jobs and rely on the help of others to be able to feed themselves and their children.

Why does the Maryland Food Bank need our help? The statewide network of community partners is distributing 23% more food despite fewer distribution points being operational as a consequence of the coronavirus outbreak. The number of food requests has more than doubled since late March, and in order to keep food supply going, more food needs to be sourced. This has become increasingly challenging for the organization. The Maryland Food Bank needs to raise $12M to fund its COVID-19 response plan.

People from all walks of life find themselves in need of food assistance from time to time. Food insecurity can have lasting effects on both adults and children. This last group in particular will feel the impact of food insecurity on their ability to succeed in school and other activities. By providing them with “Grab & Go” meals, the Maryland Food Bank tries to diminish the consequences of food insecurity for this vulnerable group.

Join the movement today by donating here: https://mdfoodbank.fenly.org/drive/baltimoresistercities-fooddrive/ and help spread the word about this fundraiser.

#BaltimoreSisterCities #SisterCities #MarylandFoodBank #BaltimoreFoodDrive #Baltimore #MarylandUnites #UntilHungerEnds

On Wednesday May 6, 2020

[For Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram]

Today, on #ThankYouWednesday, we would like to thank everyone who supported our fundraiser for Maryland Food Bank on #GivingTuesdayNow! Our fundraiser continues for a few more weeks. Donate here: https://mdfoodbank.fenly.org/drive/baltimoresistercities-fooddrive/

 [If we raised a considerable amount of money, we could share that in these posts as well and state that the fundraiser will continue for another 1-2 weeks to achieve our goal of $5000].  

#BaltimoreSisterCities #SisterCities #MarylandFoodBank #BaltimoreFoodDrive #Baltimore #MarylandUnites #UntilHungerEnds

[For Twitter]

Today, on #ThankYouWednesday, we would like to thank everyone who supported our fundraiser for Maryland Food Bank on #GivingTuesdayNow! Our fundraiser continues for a few more weeks. Donate here: https://mdfoodbank.fenly.org/drive/baltimoresistercities-fooddrive/

#BaltimoreSisterCities #SisterCities #MarylandFoodBank #BaltimoreFoodDrive #Baltimore #MarylandUnites #UntilHungerEnds

Update 12/31/2020: our food drive is over; the text below is out of date now. But you can still contribute directly to the Maryland Food Bank here: mdfoodbank.org

Help us fight hunger in our community! There is an exploding demand for food assistance from the Maryland Food Bank as people lose their jobs during the coronavirus outbreak. Every dollar you give will provide not only the gift of food, but the gift of hope for food-insecure children and families during this difficult and uncertain time. Baltimore Sister Cities is proud to partner with the Maryland Food Bank to host a Virtual Food Drive to support the hungry. Help us reach our fundraising goal!

Please visit mdfoodbank.fenly.org/drive/baltimoresistercities-fooddrive to make a donation to our food drive today!

 

About Maryland Food Bank

Maryland Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides food to local pantries in Baltimore city and around our state who then distribute it to hungry members in their communities (see their map). Because the food bank has special relationships with wholesalers, they can purchase food at lower costs that we consumers can buy in grocery stores, so your donated dollars go a really long way.
Learn more about Maryland Food Bank

Maryland Food Bank also needs volunteers!

The food bank desperately needs more volunteers to help continue to sort and pack food for the growing number of people who are in need. If you can roll up your sleeves and lend a hand, please sign up to be a volunteer!
mdfoodbank.org/ways-to-give/volunteer

Location: Spark Baltimore, 8 Market Pl #300, Baltimore, MD 21202
Date: Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Time: 5-7pm
Admission: WTCI members – Free; Non-members – $50

Learn key business strategies from the public and private sector about doing business in Japan while sampling Japanese food and drinks at this event hosted by World Trade Center Institute (WTCI).

Speakers include Shinichi Iida, Minister for Economic Affairs, Embassy of Japan and Chiyo Kobayashi, Owner, Washington|CORE

Stop by the Baltimore-Kawasaki Sister City table at this event to learn more about the sister city relationship and the upcoming 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan!

More info: Event page

Supported by Baltimore-Kawasaki Sister City Committee.

From Exclusion to Inclusion:
Rethinking Infrastructure to Bridge Baltimore’s Divides

Location: 1100 Wicomico Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
Symposium: October 10, 8:30am-5:30pm, followed by a networking reception 5:30-7pm
Symposium info & tickets: Event page (Advance registration required)
Companion exhibits: October 7–15, 2019 | Open weekdays 9am-5pm (Free & open to the public)
Exhibits info: Exhibits page

A one-day symposium in Pigtown, that traces the impact of policies and design practices that reinforced segregation and disparity in Baltimore — focusing on infrastructure like roads, streetscape, and transit — and envisions a better way forward for the MLK, Jr. Boulevard corridor.

Several companion exhibits will be on display October 7-15 in the same building:

• Undesign the Redline by Designing the WE
• JUST Baltimore + JUST Rotterdam — Graduate student work from Spring 2019 studio by Rotterdam Academy of Architecture and Urban Design (RAvB) and Morgan State University School of Architecture + Planning (MSU SA+P), centered on the neighborhoods of Hillesluis in Rotterdam and Pigtown in Baltimore.
• International PARK(ing) DAY Designs — MSU SA+P student designs for an installation near MLK Boulevard

This event is part of AIA Baltimore’s Architecture Month.

Sponsor this event! Sponsorship opportunities (PDF)

Organized by Cristina Murphy, Assistant Professor, Morgan State University School of Architecture + Planning (MSU SA+P) & Co-founder XCOOP; with assistance from Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee (BRSCC).