1

MINUTES International & Multicultural Advisory Committee (IMAC) Meeting

August 6, 2014 * Board Room * 7:00 pm

PRESENT: Pat Fisher, Jean Salkeld, Priyanka Pandya, Paulomi Desai, Linda Potsiadlo, Debra Paper, Larry Schoen, Steven Di Paula, Susan Di Paula, Zarrin Caldwell, Connie Byler-Sarazin, Laura Smit. TRIBUTE TO ZARRIN CALDWELL: This was Zarrin Caldwell’s last meeting as she will be moving out of state. IMAC colleagues expressed their appreciation for Zarrin’s leadership and positive contribution to IMAC over the past 4 years and for her steady presence and participation in CA-sponsored community activities. IMAC CHAIR’S REPORT – Pat Fisher

• IMAC Annual Report to CA Board: This is a new requirement for all CA advisory committees. This report will cover activities conducted by Laura and supported by IMAC during CA’s FY14 which ran from May 1, 2013 to April 30, 2014. It was noted that the draft that was circulated is missing the French Cuisine Exchange that took place here. Laura will update and send to Communications for posting on the CA website.

• Recruiting new IMAC members - IMAC members were asked to invite friends and acquaintances who are interested in international and multicultural events and issues to join IMAC, and to promote IMAC events in their villages. We still need representation from River Hill and Dorsey Search, as well as from HCPSS. Reaching out to additional ethnic communities was encouraged. Laura will send recruiting ad to local papers, blogs, and other venues.

• Elections for Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary on Sept 3. • Beginning in August 2014, IMAC MEETINGS WILL BE HELD ON THE FIRST

WEDNESDAY of the month. PROGRAM, MANAGER’S REPORT – Laura Smit

• Laura reported briefly on another successful Sister Cities High School Exchange that ended on July 31. Laura’s report on last year’s exchange, which was also very successful, is included in the annual report. Among the highlights of the past year are the Sister Cities High School Exchange in the summer, the closing celebration of the Dia de la Familia in September, participation in the 50+ Expo in October, the Cuisine Exchange with visitors from Columbia’s French sister city Cergy-Pontoise also in October; Ghana Fest in November to celebrate Columbia’s new sister city relationship with Tema, Ghana; the first anniversary celebration of the monthly World Languages Cafés in March, and the monthly gatherings of the International Book Club.

PLANS & ACTIVITIES FOR FY15

1. Creation of “Official” Sister City Committees under IMAC - Acting on a proposal that had been discussed last year, IMAC created permanent subcommittees that will focus on specific activities relating to each or our sister cities. These Sister Cities subcommittees will seek ad-hoc volunteers in the broader IMAC and Columbia communities for planning and carrying out multicultural events. Any IMAC member is welcome to join any of these subcommittees.

2

• Cergy-Pontoise (France) Sister City Committee: This is an expansion of the Cuisine Exchange Subcommittee, which organized the highly successful culinary and cultural exchange that took place last October. Debra Paper will lead the committee, working closely with Sue and Steve DiPaula, Linda Potsiadlo, Jean Salkeld, and Larry Schoen.

• Tres Cantos (Spain) Sister City Committee is a new sub-committee: Pat Fisher and Marcy Gitt will lead, along with Connie Byler Sarazin, Debra Paper, Valerie Montague, and others. This subcommittee will be organizing a Spanish Cuisine Exchange with Tres Cantos volunteers in 2015, modeled on the French adult exchanges.

• Tema (Ghana) Sister City Committee: This is a strong sister city committee, with members who are Ghanaian or have an interest in Ghana. Valerie Montague is currently the Chair. Paulomi Desai is interested in joining that committee. It should be noted that our Columbia-Tema relationship has moved from “Friendship City” status to “Sister City”. A letter announcing the change of policy regarding the “Friendship” vs. “Sister” status will be made available at a future date.

• Haiti Sister City Planning Committee: This Committee is in the beginning stages, working with Build Haiti Foundation’s Jean Robert (Bob) Anantua and Esther Jean-Louis (HS Exchange chaperone born in Haiti) to recruit community members who will help to develop a Sister City in the Americas - Cap Haitien, which is a a United Nations Heritage city on the north side of the island of Haiti.

2. Caribbean Fest - Sunday, Sept 28

• We discussed our next big event, the Caribbean Culture Fest which will take place on Sunday, Sept 28. The flier designed by CA was very well received by our Culture Fest partners (Miller Library staff). Laura invited IMAC members to attend the next planning meeting at the East Columbia Library on Monday, Aug 25 from 1-2:30. Laura and Pat Fisher will attend, along with Bob Anantua from the Build Haiti Foundation, who is helping recruit bands, performers, and other participants. IMAC members were invited to attend.

• IMAC members were urged to invite performers and exhibitors they know and to pass on their information to Laura.

• Suggestions for gifts and activities during the Culture Fest included dance lessons, CDs of performers, restaurant and other gift certificates.

• IMAC’s table will again have the “Where in the World” game. Priyanka Pandya is developing questions and answers about food, music, geography and other aspects of the many Caribbean cultures for the game.

• Volunteers who signed up for the event: Connie, Pat, Paulomi, Larry, Debra, Valerie, and a couple of junior volunteers.

3. Sister Cities Cuisine & Culture Exchanges: Columbia/HC residents to France or Spain

• Cergy-Pontoise, France, “Cuisine & Culture Exchange” - Oct 9 to 19, 2014 - We went over the Application and info for French Cuisine Exchange Oct 9 - 19. We hosted our exchange visitors last October so this year 16 Columbia & HC residents can go to France for a week of cuisine and culture, and staying with host families. A beautiful flier is already being distributed and posted on line and at several local venues. Laura will send the press release and application. If anyone who has participated in the Cuisine Exchange previously wants to submit a testimonial, please send it to Laura and Debra. They will go on the website and in the Application Packet.

3

• A proposed “Spanish Cuisine, Wine & Culture Exchange” with Tres Cantos for Fall 2015 would be a fitting way to celebrate the 25th anniversary of our sister city relationship. YES, we've been sister cities since 1990! This will be the first task of our newly-formed Tres Cantos Sister City Subcommittee.

4. New Program: “World Food Passport” – Proposed launch Jan 2015

• We discussed the new World Food Passport program, which seeks to engage the Columbia and Howard County communities and promote cultural awareness through food. Two possible formats for the “passports” were circulated. Whichever format (or a new one) is chosen, it will have spaces for each participating restaurant to put on its stamp to show that the carrier ate there. People who visit a given number of restaurants will receive a prize. We need to develop the rules of the game, the passport format, stamps, and prizes, and to recruit the ethnic and American restaurants. Any IMAC members interested in helping with this should contact Laura directly. So far, Pat, Debra and Laura are working on this project and will be starting to go to restaurants to invite them and get their input. We hope to kick off the program in January, 2015.

5. Cultural Arts Fair, Oakland Mills Village Center, Sat, Oct 11

• IMAC table volunteer Sign-up 6. IMAC Elections

At our next IMAC meeting on Wed, Sept 3, we will be electing a new Chair and Vice-Chair for IMAC. So far, Suzanne Waller and Valerie Montague are candidates for Chair. If you would like to be considered at the elections on Sept 3, please Laura know.

We also need a secretary, or two people to share the position. ** Again, a warm goodbye to Zarrin Caldwell, who has been a long time IMAC member. Zarrin is moving to Oahu, Hawaii, as her husband got a job in Hawaii! Thanks for all your help over the years, Zarrin! Keep in touch! ** Next Meetings, Reports & Ongoing events • IMAC Meetings: Sept 3, October 1, Nov 5, Dec 3, Feb 4, March 4, April 1.

All meetings run from 7 – 8:30 pm at CA Headquarters. • World Languages Cafe, August 27 @ Wegmans, 7 – 9pm • International Book Club, Sept 10, The Sound of Things Falling, at Columbia Archives, 7:30 pm

1

FY 14 Annual Report International & Multicultural Advisory Committee (IMAC)

Accomplishments: May 1, 2013 to April 30, 2014

1. Dia de la Familia, Sept. 28, 2013 There were 500+ participants at the 11th annual Dia de la Familia, which was held at the Columbia SportsPark. There was a DJ from El Salvador and a salsa and merengue dance competition, Mexican food was provided by Azul 17, and School Age Services and IEMP provided entertainment and games for the children. The SportsPark offered free mini-golf and batting cages. This event has been held annually for 11 years during Hispanic Heritage month, but will not be held in the fall of 2014.

2. 50+ Expo, October 18, 2013

IMAC had a table at the 2013 50+ Expo in the CA room. The “Where in the World” spin the wheel game was very popular with attendees. Thanks to all the volunteers who staffed the IMAC table.

3. Ghana Fest, November 17, 2013

Ghana Fest was held at Slayton House in the Wilde Lake Village Center from 3 – 5:30 pm on Sunday, Nov. 17th. This was the first event in Columbia to introduce Columbia’s new Sister City, Tema to the community. The program included Padraic Kennedy and Liz Bobo who discussed the history of Columbia’s sister cities, and the Chair of the Tema Sister City Committee, Valerie Montague, who gave an overview of our new relationship with Tema (near Accra, the capital of Ghana). A former Ambassador to Ghana and a former head of the Peace Corps in Ghana spoke and gave some background on Ghana and 50 years of good relations between Ghana and the United States. There were drum and dance performances by Kwame Ansah Brew’s Besa Workout/Fritete African drum and Dance Company and the Calvary Cultural Youth Dancers performed a series of Ghanaian dances. Attendees raved about the Ghanaian food and drinks were provided by Okumkom Catering. A DJ played Ghanaian Hip-Life and Azonto music, and there were paintings on display which are in the collection of Jim and Harriet Lancaster, who are members of the Tema Sister City Committee. Attendance was over 400 people, including many long time Columbians and Ghanaians.

4. World Languages Café, 4th Wednesday of the Month - One year Anniversary

The World Languages Café began in March 2012, and has been held every month since then on the 4th Wednesday. The One-Year Anniversary Celebration was held on March 26, with a cake provided by Wegmans, “Happy Birthday” sung in 15 languages, and a presentation of a certificate (plaque) designed by the CA Marketing Department to the Wegmans representative. The plaque is now on display at Wegmans on the wall adjacent to the escalator. Interest in the World

2

Languages Café continues to be strong, with attendance running between 50 – 95 people per month. At least 410 individuals have participated in World Language Cafes in the past year. Featured languages with native or fluent table hosts were: Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, Farsi, French, German, Hewbrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

5. International Book Club, 2nd Wed of the Month The International Book Club met every month from May 2013 to April 2014, and read the following books: The Cellist of Sarajevo (Bosnia), Into the Beautiful North (Mexico), Flower Net (China), Maya’s Notebook (Chile), The Orphan Master’s Son (North Korea), Back to Blood (Cubans in Miami), Solar (England), The Housekeeper & The Professor (Japan), A Constellation of Vital Phenomena (Chechnya) Wife of the Gods (Ghana), The Caliph’s House: A Year in Casablanca (Morocco), and In the Shadow of the Banyan (Cambodia) . There are 60 members of the IBC, with a monthly attendance at the book discussion of 8 – 15 people. Meetings during FY14 were held at the Columbia Archives.

6. Sister Cities High School Exchange 2013 The annual Sister Cities Summer High School Exchange takes place every July with teens from Columbia/Howard County, Cergy-Pontoise, France (Sister City since 1977) and Tres Cantos, Spain (Sister City since 1990). In the last week of June 2013, 15 students traveled to Spain and 11 students went to France to live with Spanish and French host families. After two weeks, the U.S. teens returned, and in mid-July the French and Spanish groups arrived to stay with their American families until July 31. During their two week stay, day trips were taken to Washington, DC, Ocean City, Six Flags, New York and the Frederick Keys (baseball). Recruitment for the 2014 Sister Cities High School Exchange with Columbia’s Sister Cities -Cergy-Pontoise, France and Tres Cantos, Spain - took place in the fall of 2013, with applications received in Feb. 2014. Laura Smit offered three information sessions for parents and teens from October to December 2013, and Valerie Montague offered a session in Jan in Laura Smit’s absence. Laura visited 31 homes to do the home visits for each applicant in Feb and March 2014. All 31 teens were accepted to the program (21 for Spain and 10 for France). Laura provided three orientation sessions for the parents and teens in each group (Spain and France) in April and May 2014 prior to departure for Spain and France in late June.

7. Planning & Recruitment of Artists for “The Art of Ghana – A Contemporary & Traditional

Exhibition”, May 8 – 18; Reception, May 10 The Tema Sister City Committee developed the idea to hold an exhibit of Ghanaian paintings, sculptures, photographs, and textiles in Columbia, in collaboration with the Columbia Art Center. The goal was to introduce the Columbia community to Ghanaian art and Columbia’s new Sister City, Tema. Art work was recruited from local Ghanaian artists, photographers, collectors and art historians, as well as from artists in Ghana (brought by the daughter of Tema Sister City Committee members). The opening reception was planned for May 10.

3

8. Planning for Culture Fest on North Africa & the Middle East, May 18, 1:30 – 4:30pm, Miller Library From Jan to May 2014, IMAC members and Laura Smit worked to recruit performers and exhibitors, as well as food donations and gift certificates, for the Culture Fest on North Africa & the Middle East, a collaboration between CA and the Howard County Library System.

Programs Planned for May 1, 2014 to April 30, 2015

1. “The Art of Ghana – A Contemporary & Traditional Exhibition”, May 8 – 18; Reception, May 10

An exhibit of Ghanaian paintings, sculptures, photographs, and textiles will be held from May 8 - 18, 2014, at the Columbia Art Center in the Long Reach Village Center. The event is a collaborative effort between the Tema Sister City Committee (a subcommittee of IMAC), the Columbia Art Center, and Laura’s IEMP Dept. The goal is to introduce the Columbia community to Ghanaian art and Columbia’s new Sister City, Tema.

Art work will be recruited from local Ghanaian artists, photographers, collectors and art historians, as well as from artists in Ghana (brought by the daughter of Tema Sister City Committee members). An Art Selection Committee will decide on the pieces. Liz Henzey and Trudy Babchak, directors at the Art Center, will hang the works, creating a nice balance of contemporary and traditional works in the two Art Center galleries. There will also be a “Ghana Market Place” with three vendors selling art work, clothing, jewelry and paintings.

The Tema Committee is planning the Reception with Laura’s assistance for Saturday, May 10th. Valerie Montague, Chair of the Tema Sister City Committee, will introduce the program and there will be a presentation by Professor Kwaku Ofori-Ansa, an Assistant Professor at Howard University of African Art and Art Education. Ghanaian snacks and a non-alcoholic ginger beer will be provided by Okumkom Catering.

2. Culture Fest on North Africa & the Middle East The event will be held on May 18th. There will be performances, including Middle Eastern/belly dancers, instrumental music and carpet making. There will be country/cultural tables representing Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Morocco and Palestine, as well as organizational tables by the University of Maryland’s Arabic & Farsi program, the Foreign-Born Information & Referral Network (FIRN) and the CA International & Multicultural Advisory Committee (IMAC). Food from the region will be provided by: Rebecca Dongarra’s Dionysus' Kitchen catering company served couscous and garbanzos; the Algerian table hosts will donate boxes of Algerian dates; the Moroccan table will provide Moroccan green tea; and IMAC will provide a variety of Middle Eastern fruits and snacks and candies to sample, ranging from dried apricots to baked goods and candy such as Turkish delight.

3. Sister Cities High School Exchange 2015 In June – July 2014, 21 students will travel to Spain on June 24 and 10 to France on June 25th to live with Spanish and French host families. After two weeks, the U.S. teens will return, and on July 14 and 15 the French and Spanish groups will arrive to stay with their American families until July 31. In the fall of 2014, recruitment for the summer 2015 Sister Cities High School Exchange

4

will begin via brochures sent to schools and PTAs, email, Facebook, outreach to alumni, outreach to the high schools, and information sessions in the CA Board Room. Applications for Summer 2015 are due in February 2015.

4. Caribbean Fest, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014 – 1:30 – 4:30pm at Miller Library The fall 2014 Culture Fest, held in collaboration with Howard County Library System, will be a Caribbean Fest, featuring the music, dance and food of the Caribbean islands. This free family event will be held on Sunday, Sept. 28, from 1:30 to 4:30 pm at Howard County Library System’s Miller Branch, which is located at 9421 Frederick Road in Ellicott City. The Caribbean Fest will highlight bands, organizations and dance groups representing the English-, French-, Spanish- and Dutch-speaking islands of the Caribbean in an afternoon of music (including bachata, reggae, calypso, steel drum, salsa, merengue and compas/konpa), dance performances, displays and demonstrations. All the countries and territories of the Caribbean are invited to participate with performers and exhibitors — Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Martin, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Virgin Islands. Caribbean food trucks will be selling snacks and refreshments in the Miller Library parking lot. IMAC members will be helping to recruit bands, food vendors and performers.

5. Cultural Arts Festival, Oakland Mills Village Center, October 11, 2014 IMAC will participate in the annual Oakland Mills Village “Cultural Arts Festival.” Laura will be assisting to bring in some Latino and Caribbean music bands and food vendors, and IMAC will have a table there, staffed by IMAC volunteers. This year, IMAC and Laura’s International Exchange & Multicultural Programs Department will not be holding the annual Dia de la Familia day for the Hispanic community. Instead Laura will be participating in events organized by various Columbia Villages, and bringing entertainment for the Hispanic community to these events.

6. Adult “Cuisine & Culture Exchange” with Cergy-Pontoise The next Cuisine Exchange trip to France will run from Oct 9 to Oct 19, 2014. Columbia and Howard County residents will live with host families in Cergy-Pontoise, Columbia’s Sister City since 1977. Up to 16 participants will travel to France for a Cuisine & Culture (including architecture and sightseeing) exchange. Laura is working out the details for this fall’s program with the CAJA, CA’s counterpart in France, in order to create the press release and the flyer. Publicity for the Exchange will start in August.

7. CA World Food Passport – Kick off planned for Jan 2015 This is a new multicultural program that IMAC plans to kick off with Laura Smit in January 2015, during restaurant week in Howard County. As culture and food go hand in hand, the program goal is to encourage residents of all ages to try the wide variety of ethnic foods we have here in our County. CA will create a World Food Passport that County residents can pick up and get “stamped” when they eat at different ethnic restaurants in Columbia and Howard County. Once they have ten stamps in their World Food Passport, they will be able to bring it to CA to get a “prize”, which would be gift certificates or coupons from restaurants that are participating in the

5

World Food Passport program. The program will be promoted to ethnic food restaurants in Columbia/Howard County, and restaurants will sign up to participate and be given instructions for participating in the program. Each restaurant will have a stamp or sticker that certifies that the passport holder ate at their restaurant.

8. Signing Formal Sister City Agreement with Tema in Ghana In July of 2012 Columbia signed a “Friendship City” Agreement with Tema, Ghana. At that time, under Sister Cities International policy, Columbia was not able to achieve full “Sister City” status with Tema, because two American cities who were already Sister Cities with Tema would not give their permission. In April 2014, the Sister Cities International Board voted to remove the requirement that new sister city relationships require a Cooperative Agreement to be signed by the mayor of both cities. This means that Columbia can now sign a formal “Sister City” Agreement with Tema. A delegation of Ghanaians from Tema is planning to visit their other sister city, Norfolk, in the fall. If they do, Tema Sister City Committee members will bring the Ghanaian visitors up to Columbia to be hosted with families. Laura Smit, the Program Manager, hopes to travel to Ghana in FY15 so as to meet with individuals and organizations in Tema and begin to organize exchanges for youth and adults. Various members of the Tema Sister City Committee are planning trips to Ghana for themselves in FY15 and FY16, and will be spending a few days in Tema while they are there.

9. Recruiting New Members for IMAC Some of our members have moved out of the area, and IMAC attendance at meetings has been lower from January to June, but it seems to be more an inability on the part of members to attend meetings than disinterest, as many people participate by email. Laura will place an ad in the Columbia Villages email newsletters, as well as a press release in the Patuxent papers to recruit new members and achieve a greater cultural diversity. The bylaws also stipulate that we should have members from all 10 Columbia Villages. We are currently missing representation from Dorsey Search and River Hill.

10. IMAC Meeting Dates, August 2014 to April 2015: IMAC members present discussed our meeting dates for next year. We had been meeting on the 4th Monday for the past few years, but this year many meetings had to be rescheduled or cancelled. It was agreed that we should try meeting on a different day of the week for the FY15 academic year, as some IMAC members have not been able to attend due to other Monday meetings or classes. We will tentatively start meeting on the 1st Wednesday of the month, and see how this works for our members. Next IMAC Mtg Dates are: Aug 6, Sept 3, October 1, Nov 5, Dec 3, Feb 4, March 4, April 1. All meetings run from 7 – 8:30 pm at CA Headquarters.

11. Ongoing Programs World Languages Café (4th Wed, except for Nov & Dec), 7 – 9 pm at Wegmans: July 23, Aug

27, Sept 24, Oct 22, Nov 19, Dec 17, Jan 28, Feb 25, March 25, April 22 International Book Club: (2nd Wed), 7:30 -9:00 pm at Columbia Archives: July 9, Aug 13, Sept

10, Oct 22, Nov 12, Dec 10, Jan 14, Feb 11, March 11, April 8

1

Minutes International & Multicultural Advisory Committee (IMAC) Meeting

June 9, 2014 * Board Room * 7:00 – 8:30pm

In Attendance: Pat Fisher, Debra Paper, Linda Potsiadlo, Jean Salkeld, Laura Smit

Absent: Camellia Blackwell-Taffel, Zarrin Caldwell, Munrali Das, Paulomi Desai, Susan Di Paula,

Marcy Gitt, Tomi Iluyomade, Xili Luo, Valerie Montague, Alice Pham, Deb & Roshni Ray, Connie

Sarazin, Larry Schoen, Suzanne Waller

International Exchange & Multicultural Program (IEMP) Manager’s Report – Laura Smit

Laura reported that she is gearing up for the 2014 Sister Cities Summer High School Exchange.

This year there are 21 teens from Columbia/Howard County traveling to Tres Cantos, Spain from

June 24 to July 10, and 10 teens going to Cergy-Pontoise, France. From July 14 to July 31, there

will be 64 Spanish, French and American teens here in Columbia, and trips are planned to

Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Hershey Park, Ocean City, and New York. There will also be a

Columbia Villages Scavenger Hunt and the Spanish and French teens will experience a baseball

game. The Sister Cities Welcome Party will be held on Tuesday, July 15th

, from 7 – 9 pm at the

Columbia SportsPark, this year, instead of at the Swim Center (which is closed for renovations.)

Advisory Committee members are welcome to attend any of the events or trips, and should contact

Laura if interested (Sister Cities Exchange schedule is attached with June 9 Minutes).

Laura stated that the rest of her report would be covered in our discussion of accomplishments

during the last fiscal year, and our plans for the next one: May 2014 to April 2015.

IMAC Chair‘s Report – Pat Fisher

Pat reported that the Columbia Association Board of Directors has asked to receive the minutes

from all CA’s Advisory Committee meetings. The Minutes will be posted on the CA website, as is

done with the Board Minutes. Leslie Barnett met with Pat and Laura to discuss changes that the

Board is requesting. A member of the Board will be attending some of the IMAC meetings.

Pat noted that attendance at IMAC Meetings has been down since January, and asked Laura to

check with current IMAC members regarding their absence, and to see if they wished to continue

as members. It was agreed that Laura will send out a request for new members to the Columbia

Village Centers, and ask the Communications Department for a press release to go into the

Patuxent Papers. It was agreed that we would move the IMAC meeting date to the 1st Wed of the

month (instead of the 4th

Monday) starting in August and see if that is better for attendance.

2

Review of Accomplishments from May 1, 2013 to April 30, 2014

IMAC members assisted Laura Smit with the following events and activities:

1. Dia de la Familia, Sept. 28, 2013

There were 500+ participants at the 11th

annual Dia de la Familia, which was held at the Columbia

SportsPark. There was a DJ from El Salvador and a salsa and merengue dance competition,

Mexican food provided by Azul 17, and School Age Services and IEMP provided entertainment

and games for the children. The SportsPark offered free mini-golf and batting cages. This event

has been held annually for 11 years during Hispanic Heritage month, but will not be held in the

fall of 2014.

2. 50+ Expo, October 18, 2013

IMAC had a table at the 2013 50+ Expo in the CA room. The “Where in the World” spin the

wheel game was very popular with attendees. Thanks to all the volunteers who staffed the IMAC

table.

3. Ghana Fest, November 17th

, 2013

Ghana Fest was held at Slayton House in the Wilde Lake Village Center from 3 – 5:30 pm on

Sunday, Nov. 17th

. This was the first event in Columbia to introduce Columbia’s new Sister City,

Tema to the community. The program included Padraic Kennedy and Liz Bobo who discussed the

history of Columbia’s sister cities, and the Chair of the Tema Sister City Committee, Valerie

Montague, who gave an overview of our new relationship with Tema (near Accra, the capital of

Ghana). A former Ambassador to Ghana and a former head of the Peace Corps in Ghana spoke

and gave some background on Ghana and 50 years of good relations between Ghana and the

United States. There were drum and dance performances by Kwame Ansah Brew’s Besa

Workout/Fritete African drum and Dance Company and the Calvary Cultural Youth Dancers

performed a series of Ghanaian dances. Attendees raved about the Ghanaian food and drinks were

provided by Okumkom Catering. A DJ played Ghanaian Hip-Life and Azonto music, and there

were paintings on display which are in the collection of Jim and Harriet Lancaster, who are

members of the Tema Sister City Committee. Attendance was over 400 people, including many

long time Columbians and Ghanaians.

4. World Languages Café, 4th

Wednesday of the Month - One year Anniversary Pat reported on the March, April and May World Languages Cafés, held at Wegmans, our

community partner. The World Languages Café began in March 2012, and has been held every

month since then on the 4th

Wednesday. The One-Year Anniversary Celebration was held on

March 26th

,, with a cake provided by Wegmans, “Happy Birthday” sung in 15 languages, and a

presentation of a certificate (plaque) designed by the CA Marketing Department to the Wegmans

representative. The plaque is now on display at Wegmans on the wall adjacent to the escalator.

Interest in the World Languages Café continues to be strong, with attendance running between 50

– 95 people per month. At least 410 individuals have participated in World Language Cafes in the

past year. Featured languages with native or fluent table hosts were: Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, Farsi,

French, German, Hewbrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

Pat asked for volunteers to set up and coordinate the June 25th

World Languages Café, as both she

3

and Laura have to attend a FIRN Board Meeting. Marcy Gitt and Linda Potsiadlo volunteered to

run the June WLC.

5. International Book Club, 2nd

Wed of the Month

The International Book Club met every month from May 2013 to April 2014, and read the

following books: The Cellist of Sarajevo (Bosnia), Into the Beautiful North (Mexico), Flower Net

(China), Maya’s Notebook (Chile), The Orphan Master’s Son (North Korea), Back to Blood

(Cubans in Miami), Solar (England), The Housekeeper & The Professor (Japan), A Constellation

of Vital Phenomena (Chechnya) Wife of the Gods (Ghana), The Caliph’s House: A Year in

Casablanca (Morocco), and In the Shadow of the Banyan (Cambodia) . There are 60 members of

the IBC, with a monthly attendance at the book discussion of 8 – 15 people.

6. Annual Sister Cities High School Exchange 2014

Recruitment for the 2014 Sister Cities High School Exchange with Columbia’s Sister Cities -

Cergy-Pontoise, France and Tres Cantos, Spain - took place in the fall of 2013, with applications

due in Feb. 2014. Laura Smit offered three information sessions for parents and teens from

October to December and Valerie Montague offered a session in Jan in Laura Smit’s absence.

Laura visited 31 homes to do the home visits for each applicant. All 31 teens were accepted to the

program (21 for Spain and 10 for France). Laura provided three orientation sessions for the parents

and teens in each group (Spain and France) in April and May prior to departure for Spain and

France on June 24 and 25.

Programs Planned and Held from May 1 to April 30, 2015

1. Planning & Recruitment of Artists for “The Art of Ghana – A Contemporary & Traditional

Exhibition”, May 8 – 18; Reception, May 10

An exhibit of Ghanaian paintings, sculptures, photographs, and textiles was held from May 8 -

18, 2014, at the Columbia Art Center in the Long Reach Village Center. The event was a

collaborative effort between the Tema Sister City Committee (a subcommittee of IMAC), the

Columbia Art Center, and Laura’s IEMP Dept. The goal was to introduce the Columbia

community to Ghanaian art and Columbia’s new Sister City, Tema.

Art work was recruited from local Ghanaian artists, photographers, collectors and art

historians, as well as from artists in Ghana (brought by the daughter of Tema Sister City

Committee members). Liz Henzey and Trudy Babchak, directors at the Art Center, created a

nice balance of contemporary and traditional works in the two Art Center galleries. There was

also a “Ghana Market Place” with three vendors selling art work, clothing, jewelry and

paintings.

The Tema Committee planned the Reception with Laura’s assistance for Saturday, May 10th

. It

was a nice opening and was attended by over 100 people, including many Ghanaians, who

heard an introduction by Valerie Montague, Chair of the Tema Sister City Committee and a

presentation by Professor Kwaku Ofori-Ansa, an Assistant Professor at Howard University of

African Art and Art Education. Ghanaian snacks and a non-alcoholic ginger beer were

provided by Okumkom Catering.

The art work was selected by an Art Selection Committee consisting of four volunteers with

experience in the arts: Camellia Blackwell-Taffel (IMAC member & international art curator),

Stephanie Lyon (CA Art Advisory Committee President), Rhoda Toback (Tema Sister City

4

Committee and Wilde Lake Board member) and Dr. Kwaku Ofori-Ansa (Assistant Professor

of African Art at Howard University).

2. Culture Fest on North Africa & the Middle East, May 18, 1:30 – 4:30pm, Miller Library

From Jan to May 2014, IMAC members and Laura Smit worked to recruit performers and

exhibitors for the Culture Fest on North Africa & the Middle East, a collaboration between CA

and the Howard County Library System. The event was held on May 18th

and was a great

success with nine performances, including Middle Eastern/belly dancers, instrumental music

and a carpet making performance. There were country/cultural tables representing Algeria,

Egypt, Iran, Israel, Morocco and Palestine, as well as organizational tables by the University of

Maryland’s Arabic & Farsi program, the Foreign-Born Information & Referral Network

(FIRN) and the CA International & Multicultural Advisory Committee (IMAC.)

Food from the region was provided by: Rebecca Dongarra’s Dionysus' Kitchen catering

company served couscous and garbanzos; the Algerian table hosts donated 10 boxes of

Algerian dates; the Moroccan table provided Moroccan green tea; and IMAC provided a

variety of Middle Eastern fruits and snacks and candies to sample, ranging from dried apricots

to baked goods and candy such as Turkish delight. Attendance was estimated by the Library at

500+ adults and children.

Thanks to all the IMAC and student volunteers: Zarrin Caldwell, Pat Fisher, Paulomi Desai,

Valerie Montague, Susan Di Paula, Alice Pham, and Jean Salkeld, as well as HCPSS GT

Interns Brittany Johnson and Nishant Atal, and Ivy Liang from the Long Reach HS

International Student Organization.

3. Sister Cities Summer High School Exchange

The annual Sister Cities Summer High School Exchange takes place every July with teens from

Columbia/Howard County, Cergy-Pontoise, France (Sister City since 1977) and Tres Cantos,

Spain (Sister City since 1990). This year, 21 students traveled to Spain on June 24 and 10 went to

France on June 25th

to live with Spanish and French host families. After two weeks, the U.S. teens

will return, and on July 14 and 15 the French and Spanish groups will arrive to stay with their

American families until July 31. During their two week stay, many day trips and activities

planned. In the Fall of 2014, recruitment for the summer 2015 Sister Cities High School

Exchange will take place via brochure, email, Facebook, outreach to alumni, outreach to the high

schools, and information sessions in the CA Board Room. Applications for Summer 2015 are due

in February 2015.

4. Cultural Arts Festival, Oakland Mills Village Center, October 11, 2014

IMAC will participate in the annual Oakland Mills Village “Cultural Arts Festival.” Laura will be

assisting to bring in some Latino and Caribbean music bands and food vendors, and IMAC will

have a table there, staffed by IMAC volunteers. This year, IMAC and Laura’s International

Exchange & Multicultural Programs Department will not be holding the annual Dia de la Familia

day for the Hispanic community. Instead Laura will be participating in events organized by

various Columbia Villages, and bringing entertainment for the Hispanic community to these

events.

5

5. Adult “Cuisine & Culture Exchange” with Cergy-Pontoise

The next Cuisine Exchange trip to France will run from Oct 9 to Oct 19, 2014. Columbia and

Howard County residents will live with host families in Cergy-Pontoise, Columbia’s Sister City

since 1977. Up to 16 participants will travel to France for a Cuisine & Culture (including

architecture and sightseeing) exchange. Laura is working out the details for this fall’s program

with the CAJA, CA’s counterpart in France, in order to create the press release and the flyer.

Publicity for the Exchange will start in July.

6. Caribbean Fest, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014 – 1:30 – 4:30pm at Miller Library

The fall 2014 Culture Fest, held in collaboration with Howard County Library System, will be a

Caribbean Fest, featuring the music, dance and food of the Caribbean islands. This free family

event will be held on Sunday, Sept. 28, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Howard County Library

System’s Miller Branch, which is located at 9421 Frederick Road in Ellicott City. The Caribbean

Culture Fest will highlight bands, organizations and dance groups representing the English-,

French-, Spanish- and Dutch-speaking islands of the Caribbean in an afternoon of music

(including bachata, reggae, calypso, steel drum, salsa, merengue and compas/konpa), dance

performances, displays and demonstrations. All the countries and territories of the Caribbean are

invited to participate with performers and exhibitors — Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas,

Bermuda, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica,

Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Martin, St. Vincent, Trinidad and

Tobago, and the Virgin Islands. Caribbean food trucks will be selling snacks and refreshments in

the Miller Library parking lot. IMAC members will be helping to recruit bands, food vendors and

performers.

7. CA World Food Passport – Kick off planned for Jan 2015

This is a new Multicultural Program that IMAC plans to kick off with Laura Smit in January 2015,

during restaurant week in Howard County. As culture and food go hand in hand, the program goal

is to encourage residents of all ages to try the wide variety of ethnic foods we have here in our

County. CA will create a World Food Passport that County residents can pick up and get

“stamped” when they eat at different ethnic restaurants in Columbia and Howard County. Once

they have ten stamps in their World Food Passport, they will be able to bring it to CA to get a

“prize”, which would be gift certificates or coupons from restaurants that are participating in the

World Food Passport program. The program will be promoted to ethnic food restaurants in

Columbia/Howard County, and restaurants will sign up to participate and be given instructions for

participating in the program. Each restaurant will have a stamp or sticker that certifies that the

passport holder ate at their restaurant.

8. Signing Formal Sister City Agreement with Tema in Ghana

In July of 2012 Columbia signed a “Friendship City” Agreement with Tema, Ghana. At that time,

under Sister Cities International policy, Columbia was not able to achieve full “Sister City” status

with Tema, because two American cities who were already Sister Cities with Tema would not give

their permission. In April 2014, the Sister Cities International Board voted to remove the

requirement that new sister city relationships require a Cooperative Agreement to be signed by the

mayor of both cities. This means that Columbia can now sign a formal “Sister City” Agreement

with Tema. A delegation of Ghanaians from Tema is planning to visit their other sister city,

Norfolk, in the fall. If they do, Tema Sister City Committee members will bring the Ghanaian

visitors up to Columbia to be hosted with families. Laura Smit, the Program Manager, hopes to

6

travel to Ghana in FY15 so as to meet with individuals and organizations in Tema and begin to

organize exchanges for youth and adults. Various members of the Tema Sister City Committee

are planning trips to Ghana for themselves in FY15 and FY16, and will be spending a few days in

Tema while they are there.

9. Recruiting New Members for IMAC

Some of our members have moved out of the area, and IMAC attendance at meetings has been

lower from January to June, but it seems to be more an inability on the part of members to attend

meetings than disinterest, as many people participate by email. Laura will place an ad in the

Columbia Villages email newsletters, as well as a press release in the Patuxent papers to recruit

new members and achieve a greater cultural diversity. The bylaws also stipulate that we should

have members from all 10 Columbia Villages. We are currently missing representation from

Dorsey Search and River Hill.

10. IMAC Meeting Date, August 2014 to April 2015: IMAC members present discussed our

meeting dates for next year. We had been meeting on the 4th

Monday for the past few years, but

this year many meetings had to be rescheduled or cancelled. It was agreed that we should try

meeting on a different day of the week for the FY15 academic year, as some IMAC members have

not been able to attend due to other Monday meetings or classes. We will tentatively start meeting

on the 1st Wednesday of the Month, and see how this works for our members.

Next IMAC Mtg Dates are: Aug 6, Sept 3, October 1, Nov 5, Dec 3, Feb 4, March 4, April 1.

All meetings run from 7 – 8:30 pm at CA Headquarters.

11. Ongoing Programs

World Languages Café (4th

Wed, except for Nov & Dec), 7 – 9 pm at Wegmans: July 23, Aug

27, Sept 24, Oct 22, Nov 19, Dec 17, Jan 28, Feb 25, March 25, April 22

International Book Club: (2nd

Wed), 7:30 -9:00 pm at Columbia Archives: July 9, Aug 13,

Sept 10, Oct 22, Nov 12, Dec 10, Jan 14, Feb 11, March 11, April 8