Title
Resolution Establishing a Sister City Relationship Between the Province of Malanje, Angola, Southwest Africa, and the City of Hampton, Virginia, United States of America
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The City of Hampton currently has sister city relationships with Southampton, England; Vendome, France; Anyang, South Korea; and Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. A delegation from Sister Cities of Hampton, which included Vice Mayor Jimmy Gray and Councilwoman Hope Harper, recently visited Malange. Due to a shared history and a desire to continue international cooperation, mutual understanding, and a unique opportunity for development and growth, the City of Hampton wants to formally establish a sister city relationship with the Province of Malangje, Angola, Southwest Africa.
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve the action by vote.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Hampton, Virginia, began establishing sister city discussions and understandings with the government of Malanje;
WHEREAS, the Tucker Family of Hampton, Virginia, are the descendants of the first Africans, Antony and Isabella, to be brought to Hampton from Malanje, Angola, in 1619 aboard the White Lion;
WHEREAS, both communities will gain insight into the strength and resilience of the Africans from Malanje who helped to build and populate Hampton and the United States of America;
WHEREAS, both communities will incorporate the lessons learned from our partnership into their programs and management approaches;
WHEREAS, the City of Hampton and the Province of Malanje wish to establish a sister city relationship to maintain and strengthen the bonds between the two communities;
WHEREAS, a sister city relationship serves as a creative force for international cooperation, mutual understanding, and a unique opportunity for development and growth within the respective communities;
WHEREAS, numerous such affiliations have been established between cities of the United States and cities of other nations as evidence of goodwill and friendship;
WHEREAS, a sister city relationship will continue to foster communications through numerous cooperative efforts in a wide variety of cultural, educational, economic, youth, sports, municipal, professional and technical projects; and
WHEREAS, the experiences shared between sister cities serve to promote mutually beneficial trade, investment and understanding.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Hampton that it establishes a sister city affiliation with the Province of Malange, Angola, Southwest Africa, and authorizes the City Manager to mutually develop with Malanje a program of appropriate activities consistent with a sister city relationship;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this acceptance be spread upon the minutes of the August 14, 2024, meeting of the Hampton City Council and that an appropriate copy of this Resolution be signed by the Mayor, attested by the Clerk and presented to the Province of Malange, Angola, Southwest Africa.