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Council recognizes International Arts Foundation and visiting sister‑city delegations
Summary
The council read a proclamation recognizing the International Arts Foundation's Cultural Diversity Week and welcomed delegations from several sister cities and countries participating in an international arts summit in New Orleans.
The New Orleans City Council read a proclamation recognizing the International Arts Foundation's Cultural Diversity Week and welcomed visiting delegations from multiple sister cities and countries. Council Member Oliver Thomas introduced the welcome and invited representatives from the mayor's office and the foundation to speak about the summit and related programming.
Roseanne (representing the mayor's office) described a multi-year effort to host delegations and noted travel complications this year: "It has not been easy this year because we have multiple countries who couldn't get visas, but we are grateful for those that we have here." She identified delegations from Ivory Coast, Senegal, Benin, the Dominican Republic, Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica, Honduras and others, and singled out Kumasi (Ghana) as having attended every year.
Ernest Kelly, founder of the International Arts Foundation, thanked the city and the mayor's office for support and described the event as a growing diaspora-focused cultural exchange: "We have 17 countries represented. Orleans has something to offer the world that we have not been really taken full advantage of."
Martin Paulson (identified in the record as representing a South African-based water and sanitation company) discussed sanitation and water solutions and said his firm is one of the event's corporate sponsors: "This company is leading the way on that." He and other speakers said panels and sponsor presentations will address culture, tourism, service delivery and water solutions as part of the weekend program.
Council members thanked the delegates and organizers for fostering cultural exchange, and the council read a proclamation naming Ernest Kelly and the International Arts Foundation for their work to "foster the richness of diversity." The proclamation was to be signed by the mayor and the council.
Ending Organizers said programming would include panel discussions on water and service delivery, and attendees were encouraged to take part in the scheduled weekend events and networking opportunities.
