Virtual Forums.
A series of monthly sister cities spotlights, in the form of a virtual forum, where we discuss the history of our relationships with the people who forged them. Watch all seven forums and then complete these surveys to become a Sister Cities Scholar (free and open to everyone).
Arequipa, Peru
Charlotte's Sister Cities' first virtual forum was hosted on Wednesday, October 21, 2020, featuring Arequipa, Peru. Former North Carolina Governor and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory opened the event. A panel, moderated by Alexis Gordon (City of Charlotte Chief of Protocol & International Business Manager) included: Maria Elena de la Colina (Member, Sister Cities Committee in Arequipa, Peru), Jerald Melberg (Owner of Jerald Melberg Gallery; Patron of the Charlotte School of Arequipa), Pedro Salazar (Author, "Through the Eyes of Santiago"; Corporate Counsel, Wells Fargo), and Ellie (A student at Charlotte Country Day School who participated in a 2019 exchange in Arequipa).
Krefeld, Germany
This Forum was recorded on Wednesday, November 18, 2020, featuring Krefeld, Germany. Former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt and current Krefeld Mayor, Frank Meyer, opened the event, followed by a video provided by Sophia, a Krefeld student who once studied in Charlotte. Charlotte International Cabinet Chair Reinhard von Hennigs moderated a panel which included Ingeborg Aarnick (Co-Founder of Charlotte's Sister Cities Partnership with Krefeld, Alemannia Society and German School of Charlotte), Al Guarnieri (Partner at Parker Poe LLP, and Director of the Warburg-Charlotte Chapter of the American Council on Germany), and Lucy (2020 Exchange student in Krefeld and Senior at Myers Park High School). Honorary Consul of Germany to Western North Carolina, Klaus Becker, closed the forum with his hopes for the future.
Baoding, China
Charlotte's Sister Cities' third virtual forum was hosted on Wednesday, January 13, 2021, featuring Baoding, China. Former Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts opened the event. A panel, moderated by Ben DeSollar (Sumter Packaging and Charlotte Sister Cities) included: Yun Zhou (Google); Jian Zhang (UNC-Charlotte); Jane Wu (Panorama Holdings’); and Councilman Greg Phipps Charlotte (City Council Member, 2013-2019). Dr. John Chen (Chairman of the Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce) offered closing remarks.
Limoges, France
Charlotte's Sister Cities' fourth virtual forum was hosted on Thursday, February 18, 2021, featuring Limoges, France. Former Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot opened the event, along with a message from the Mayor of Limoges, Émile-Roger Lombertie, and words from Crawford Palmer. A panel, moderated by Joël Gallegos (Assistant Provost for International Programs and Senior International Officer at UNC Charlotte) included: Millie Cox (Honorary Council of France to the Charlotte Region, 1991-2011); Jaiya and Nadia (South Meck High School students and past participants in the Waddell Language Academy Limoges Exchange); and Guillaume Lajoie (financial director of export oriented Limousine cattle breed and athletic exchange leader). Laura Meyer Wellman Charlotte (Former Honorary Council of France to the Charlotte Region, 1991-2011) offered closing remarks.
Voronezh, Russia
Charlotte's Sister Cities' fifth virtual forum was hosted on Wednesday, March 10, 2021, featuring Voronezh, Russia. Former Congresswoman and Charlotte Mayor Sue Myrick opened the event. A panel, moderated by Alexis Gordon (City of Charlotte Chief of Protocol and International Business Manager) included: Bea Coté (Founder and Executive Director of IMPACT Family Violence Services and Step Up); Dasha Tretiu (Chair of the Charlotte Sister Cities Voronezh Committee); and Tanya Miller (UNC-Charlotte International Studies major; Visit Voronezh, Russia for 10 days on a Youth4Health Scholarship). Professor Yuliya Balwin (Assistant Professor of Russian at the Defense Language Institute at Monterey, California; Former Adjunct Lecturer in Russian Studies at UNC-Charlotte) offered closing remarks.
Wrocław, Poland
Charlotte's Sister Cities' sixth virtual forum was hosted on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, featuring Wrocław, Poland. Former Charlotte Mayor and Council Member Patsy Kinsey opened the event. A panel, moderated by Sophie Danish (Davidson College, Class of 2022 and Charlotte Sister Cities Intern) included: Alina MacNichol (Wrocław Committee Chair; Director of Customer Service and Community Engagement for Opera Carolina); Kris Burham (President, Niebieski Wrobel Investments); Ginger Wyrick (Author; Music faculty at UNC Charlotte), and Maura Lachowski (Account Executive, past Charlotte Sister Cities Board Member). Former Charlotte City Council Member Nancy Carter offered closing remarks.
Kumasi, Ghana
Charlotte's Sister Cities' seventh virtual forum was hosted on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, featuring Kumasi, Ghana. Former US Secretary of Transportation and Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx opened the event. A panel, moderated by Professor Jane Zimmerman (Director of the Dean Rusk International Studies Program at Davidson College) included: Denise Hockaday (Financial Collaborator at Freedom Financial Advantage); Reggie Singleton (Executive Director, The Males Place); Justin Jones-Fosu (Founder and CEO at Work. Meaningful), and Emmanuel Atia (Economics Major at Davidson College; Graduate of Kumasi Academy). Former Director of the US Federal Housing Finance Agency, and US Congressman, Mel Watt offered closing remarks. Thank you to Davidson senior, Keelan Bailey, for leading the forum.