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City Council proclaims Cultural Diversity Week, welcomes international arts delegations
Summary
The New Orleans City Council read a proclamation recognizing the International Arts Foundation’s Cultural Diversity Week and welcomed delegations from as many as 17 countries, noting cultural and economic ties and highlighting water- and public-health themes for panel discussions.
The New Orleans City Council on a morning session recognized the International Arts Foundation and proclaimed a Cultural Diversity Week in the city, welcoming visiting delegations from the African diaspora and the Caribbean.
Councilmember Oliver Thomas read a proclamation that notes the city’s “global celebration of music, art and people” and singled out Ernest Kelly and the International Arts Foundation for “fostering the richness of diversity.” The reading specified the event dates as occurring around Sept. 28 and acknowledged delegates from multiple countries, including Ivory Coast, Senegal, Benin, the Dominican Republic, Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica, Honduras and Ghana’s Kumasi delegation.
Why it matters: City officials and visiting delegates framed the festival as an opportunity to expand cultural exchange, tourism and practical collaboration across public-health and infrastructure topics. Several speakers emphasized how visits and sister-city relationships create chances for mutual learning on service delivery and economic development.
During remarks, Rosina (representing the mayor’s office and sister-city coordination) said the festival “has been an opportunity to gather our sister cities” and that the event has brought delegations for multiple consecutive years despite recent visa and travel complications. Ernest Kelly, recognized in the proclamation as the International Arts Foundation’s lead, thanked the city and encouraged delegates to network and pursue collaborative projects.
Delegates and corporate partners also described program priorities. A representative for Jim Water Management Solutions — identified in the city presentation as a corporate sponsor — described water and sanitation as a recurring global challenge and said his company participates in international partnerships that bring technology and water-management ideas to communities in Africa and elsewhere. Councilmember Green urged that sister-city agreements be viewed not only as symbolic but as practical avenues for cultural and information exchange.
Council staff, the mayor’s office and the foundation said panels and sessions during the weekend would address water, tourism and service delivery, and that public-facing events aim to provide both economic benefit and opportunities for local residents to engage with visiting delegates.
The council presented a city proclamation to the foundation and its leaders and invited participating delegates to accept the recognition. The session also included applause for the festival’s 4-year run and a plea by organizers to continue building on the city’s ties to diasporic communities.
