Press Releases
Tony White Public Information Officer
410-767-6248
Japanese Student Group Returns to Maryland Cultural
Exchange is Objective of Little Adventures Program
Baltimore – A delegation of high school students from Japan will travel to Maryland to participate in a five-day cross-cultural exchange program that will expose them to various aspects of Maryland society. The group of five students that will touchdown at BWI Thurgood Marshall July 26 is the second set of young visitors to Maryland as a part of an exchange through the Maryland Sister States Program.
The Japanese students’ visit is sponsored by JohnsonDiversey, a division of the Johnson family business enterprises which has its Japanese headquarters in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The international visitors are part of JohnsonDiversey’s Little Adventures Program, which seeks to improve international understanding and promote exchange of ideas and techniques. After their stay in Maryland, the Japanese students will travel to Racine, Wisconsin, home of the Johnson Company’s worldwide headquarters.
During their stay in the Baltimore July 26-30, the students will be guests of five host families from Catonsville. Their activity schedule includes taking in a Baltimore Orioles game, visiting the Chesapeake Children’s Museum in Annapolis, a visit to The Children’s Home of Catonsville, breakfast with the Rotary Club of Catonsville - Sunrise and participating in a Japanese language class at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), before wrapping up their schedule at CCBC’s summer camp.
The Maryland Office of Secretary of State, the Governor’s Office on Community Initiatives and Kanagawa Prefectural Government played roles in coordinating the students’ schedule. This second Little Adventures visit to Maryland is the result of the state’s longstanding ties with Kanagawa Prefecture. Kanagawa is Maryland’s second oldest Sister State, a relationship that spans 27 years. The Maryland Sister States Program was created in 1980 to provide a forum for the promotion of international cooperation and understanding and currently maintains nine global relationships on five continents.
The Children’s Home of Catonsville is the only repeat visit from last summer when a similar group of Japanese students came to Baltimore. This year’s student group will demonstrate an array of traditional performances including Japanese dance and calligraphy. Residents from the youth facility will follow their visitors with a performance of their own, featuring dance routines and poetry reading. Established in 1863, The Children’s Home of Catonsville is a residential care facility that provides both long and short term services to youth ages eight to 21, who have experienced abuse neglect, violence, abandonment or are in need of supervised care. Its programs and activities provide opportunities for resident children to attend public schools, develop self-esteem and experience trusting relationships with their peers and adults.
Located in Annapolis, the mission of Chesapeake Children's Museum is to create an environment of discovery about oneself, the peoples, the technologies, and the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay area for all our children and for the children in us all. Since 1994, the museum has been providing workshops and standing exhibits, both indoors and outdoors, that let visitors enjoy hands-on educational experiences, including spaces devoted to such things as animal life, watermen, the solar system, theater, and the Underground Railroad.
Rooted in the community since 1957, CCBC educates nearly 65,000 students each year, including half of all Baltimore County residents attending college in Maryland as undergraduates. Offering more than 50 associate degree and 100 certificate programs, CCBC is ranked among the best in providing undergraduate education, work force development, technology, health care training and life enrichment options to citizens throughout the Baltimore Metropolitan area.
Media is invited to cover any of the events on the itinerary to follow. However there are special restrictions regarding video and still photography at The Children’s Home of Catonsville. For media inquiries please contact Tony White at 410-767-6248 (O), 410-926-8216 (C) or twhite@goci.state.md.us (blackberry). For more information on the Sister States Program or the student activity schedule contact Mendy Nitch, Director of International Affairs, Office of the Secretary of State at 410-260-3865 (O) or 410-271-1576 (C).
Itinerary
Saturday, July 26 – arrive in Maryland: BWI Thurgood Marshall International Airport. Mendy Nitsch will meet the delegation at the airport.
Sunday, July 27 – Orioles baseball game – 1:35p.m. first pitch
Monday, July 28 – 10:00AM Arrive at Chesapeake Children’s Museum 25 Silopanna Road, Annapolis, MD 21403; 410-990-1993; Contact Person: Brian Tucker
10:30AM – 12:00PM Japanese cultural presentations to Annapolis children Afternoon in Annapolis
Tuesday, July 29 - 11:30AM Arrive at The Children’s Home, Catonsville 205 Bloomsbury Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21228; 410-744-7310 Contact person: Gail Lee
12:00PM Lunch with CHC 12:35PM Begin to prepare for program 12:50PM Move outside to pavilion (cafeteria if inclement weather) 1:00PM – 1:45PM CHC presentations Host families are invited to presentations. 1:45PM – 2:30PM Little Adventure presentations 3:00PM Depart Children’s Home
Wednesday, July 30 – 7:30AM Breakfast meeting with Rotary Club of Catonsville - Sunrise Café on the Grove, Catonsville; 6 Hickory St, Bldg 10, Catonsville, MD 21228
9:45 AM Arrive: CCBC – Owings Mills 110 Painters Mill Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117 Contact: Ms. Ang Robinson; 410-918-4249
10:00AM – 12:00PM Japanese/English language exchange with students
12:00PM – 1:00PM Lunch
2:00PM Arrive at CCBC – Essex Campus to visit Summer Camp 7201 Rossville Blvd Baltimore, MD 21237 Contact: Ang Robinson - (410) 682-6000
2:00 PM – 4:00PM Program 4:00PM Depart Essex
Thursday, July 31 – depart for Wisconsin
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Frederick Sister Cities Association
PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July, 2008
SUBJECT: 2008 BRAZIL DAY FESTIVAL in FREDERICK!
The Brazil Division of the Frederick Sister Cities Association (FSCA-Brazil), will again celebrate its Sister-City commitment to Aquiraz, Brazil, this time at Baker Park, on Sunday, September 7th, 2008, from 1:00 to 6:00pm. The event planning committee composed by a group of enthusiastic friends of Brazil is focused on bringing to Frederick the warmth, the charm, the emotions, the passion, the culture and the life vibration of Brazil.
This year the theme is ThinkinGreen! Get ready for the fun and earth-friendly fundraising event of the year! On that day you will taste, hear, feel, touch, experiment, and be involved with life the Brazilian way! From folklore to fashion, soft music to samba dancing, from culinary delights to nature decoration, the day will be filled up with activities for the enjoyment of all ages in any family! Pass the word around! Invite your family and friends. Let us meet at the park and make September 7th 2008 the international friendship day in Frederick!
This is the preparation stage… so… volunteers and contributions are needed! Musicians! Artists! Chefs! Entertainers! Decorators! And, yes, Sponsors! Without them, the Brazil Day Festival in the park would not be possible!
FSCA-Brazil is working to promote citizen diplomacy and friendship between countries, to make ours, a better place for all! Let us, together, make a difference! Call us! Email us! Offer your talents and abilities, and volunteer your time!
Mark your calendars! More than 10,000 people are expected to attend Brazil Day Festival this year. We are counting on you too, to be there, and we thank you in advance for your support!
Dirci Borelli Marquart, Chairperson, FSCA-Brazil Division
Contact: Dirci Borelli Marquart at 240-315-2112 or at dirci@missionserv.org or Dirci@volunterbrazil.org .
For immediate release: June 30, 2008
Contact: Christopher Falkenhagen
Communications: (410) 260-4511
Maryland, Chinese experts participate in higher education forum
ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 30, 2008) – As part of Maryland’s Sister State program sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of State, higher education experts from Maryland and its sister province Anhui, China met last Friday in Baltimore City to discuss their successes and how to work with each other to promote a stronger cross-country relationship.
The Second Maryland-Anhui Presidents’ Forum on Higher Education was kicked off by Secretary of Higher Education James E. Lyons, Sr., his Anhui counterpart, Mr. Zhang Rongguo, First Deputy Director General Anhui Provincial Education Department, and acting-Secretary of State Dennis Schnepfe. Both Secretary Lyons and Secretary Schnepfe brought greetings from Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, saying the administration was strongly supportive of the mission and vision of the forum.
Fifteen Chinese higher education officials joined with Secretary Lyons, USM Chancellor William E. “Brit” Kirwan, Maryland Independent Colleges and University Association President Tina Bjarekull and other two-year and four-year private college and university presidents at the forum.
All discussed the challenges both countries’ higher education systems will be facing over the next few decades. The American and Chinese contingents agreed that economic and workforce development, university and technology transfer, and meeting the needs of the community were all important goals that Maryland and the Anhui province have addressed and can improve upon by working together to share successes in higher education.
Mr Rongguo began by saying that in spite of the difference between the systems of higher education in Anhui Province and Maryland, both groups of presidents and university leaders are facing the same challenges. Their mission is not to pass on knowledge, but to train students to be specialists in their respective professions. Educators also need to increase students' sense of the civic responsibility, particularly local colleges and universities. To help facilitate technology transfer, Mr. Ronggou said he hopes that more business professionals will be able to join the groups' discussions in the future, aspiring for a true collaboration of business, government and universities.
Secretary Lyons acknowledged that Friday's Presidents' Forum was a positive learning experience. He, too, said he was pleasantly surprised with the similarities of opportunities facing Anhui Province's higher education professionals in the areas of economic development, community development and technology transfer. He said he believed that the two groups had identified their agenda for going forward and will consider the strengths of all as they work together.
In particular, Secretary Lyons said the Maryland Higher Education Commission needs an international focus. The Secretary concluded that he would like to involve more Maryland institutions with this initiative.
For immediate Release
Contact: Eva Zhou
Email: zhoulei@mccusa.org
Tel: 86 21 2308 1188
First U.S. Shock Trauma Team Returns Home after China Quake Mission
June 16, 2008 China - The first U.S. shock trauma team, from the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, successfully completed their medical humanitarian work in Chengdu, Sichuan province and returned to Maryland on June 16. The team of trauma physicians and nurses traveled to China on June 6, 2008 to help victims of the devastating earthquake and have been working with Chinese doctors at West China Hospital in Chengdu for the past ten days.
In a letter to John H. Spearman, Vice President of the Shock Trauma Center, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Zhou Wenzhong thanked Maryland for “sending a medical team specialized in shock trauma treatment to help with saving the lives of the survivors of the deadly earthquake in China,” and expressed his “deepest appreciation for coming to the help of the Chinese people at this difficult moment.”
The Wenchuan Earthquake Relief Headquarters presented the Maryland team with a silk banner reading "With Sincere Appreciation for Your Humanitarian Assistance."
Martin O’Malley, Governor of the State of Maryland, also sent his “condolences for the great loss China has suffered as a result of the tragic earthquake that struck Sichuan province.”
“We appreciate the opportunity to support the Chinese people during this very difficult time,” said Thomas M. Scalea, M.D., physician in chief of the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center and professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, who added, “we hope that our consultations are helpful to the Chinese medical professionals who have been working around the clock to save the lives of earthquake victims, including our new friend Duan Zhixiu.”
Duan Zhixiu, a 16-year-old Bei Chuan
Middle School student, was buried in ruins for more than 10 hours before being
rescued. Her left leg was amputated, but when China’s premier Wen Jiabo visited
her in the West China Hospital ICU and told her to “live life bravely,” she
wrote on a piece of paper to tell Premier Wen that she wanted to “go back to
school.”
The Shock Trauma Center is recognized as one of the
world’s leaders in caring for people with brain and spinal cord trauma and crush
injuries. In addition to Dr. Scalea, the team members going to China are Thomas
Grissom, M.D., a specialist in critical care and anesthesiology, Geoffrey
Sheinfeld, M.D., a specialist in critical care and nephrology, Karen Karash, RN,
a neurotrauma critical care nurse and Peter Hu, chief technologist responsible
for telemedicine consultations.
The Shock Trauma Center, located at the University of
Maryland Medical Center, cares for about 7,700 critically injured people each
year and, in partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s
Program in Trauma, serves as the core of the state’s EMS/ trauma system.
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Thursday, May 8, 2008
Contact:
Mendy Nitsch ~ 410-260-3865
| Port of Bar to cooperate with the Port of Baltimore |
 The
Port of Bar could soon be working cooperatively with the Port of Baltimore,
one of the largest ports in the United States, following a visit to America
by Branimir Gvozdenović, Montenegro's Minister of Economy.
On the second day of his visit to the United States, Gvozdenović met with the highest authorities in the state of Maryland, where Baltimore is located. In addition to being a major trade center, Baltimore is also one of America’s busiest scientific research hives. Dennis Schnepfe, Maryland’s Secretary of State, was enthusiastic about the meeting and said, “Closer cooperation between Maryland and Montenegro can be expected during 2008 or 2009 at the latest.” Schnepfe said that Maryland has close, friendly relations with countries around the world. He said those relations are the backbone of trade relations, educational and cultural exchanges. The Montenegrin delegation, headed by Gvozdenović, visited the Baltimore
Energy Fair and discussed projects planned in Montenegro with America’s
largest energy companies. |
# # #
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Contact:
Mendy Nitsch ~ 410-260-3865
On Tuesday, May 6, 2008 Economic Development Minister Branimir Gvozdenovic of Montenegro visited Annapolis and Baltimore to explore the possibility of business opportunities between his country and the State of Maryland. The minister met with Interim Secretary of State Dennis Schnepfe, Deputy Secretary of State Brian Moe, Maryland Port Administration Executive Director James White, and Secretary for Business and Economic Development David Edgerly. Click here for video.