Sister City Program Takes Wings

Ten North Little Rock high school and college students and two adult chaperones are representing North Little Rock as delegates to our Sister City Homestay Program in Uiwang City, South Korea, July 27-August 7, 2010. This is the 10th year for this highly successful program which alternates homestay exchange programs in the summer. Nine excited delegates left from Little Rock Airport this morning, and the remaining three will fly out in the morning (Wednesday). The delegates were all supposed to leave this morning, but were split up due to flight delays and overbooking of potential overseas flights.

The delegates will stay in family homes arranged by the Uiwang City government officials just as they do when the South Koreans visit North Little Rock. They will experience many unique customs, foods, and social settings completely different from their own.

The Sister City program started back in 1998 when Mayor Patrick Henry Hays began exploring the possibilities of starting a sister city relationship with Uiwang City at the urging of Grand Master H.U. Lee, founder of the American Taekwondo Association and North Little Rock Korean businessman Steve Im. The agreement was finalized in 2000, and includes a youth homestay program along with efforts pledged to build cultural understanding and to further strengthen intercultural and international knowledge and to expand our foreign partnerships. Economic development and investment opportunities are also goals of the program.

The delegates are traveling under a sister city agreement signed July, 1999, between Mayor Kang, of Uiwang City, South Korea, and Mayor Patrick Henry Hays of North Little Rock, Arkansas.

Several of the delegates were NLRMYC members this past school year. Delegates pictured are from left: Ian Kerr, Derick Dailey, Paula Storeygard , Elizabeth Harris, Connor Ratliff (MYC), Allison Storeygard, Tazonio Anderson (MYC), Jessica Soule (MYC), Mitchell Ratliff, Michael Strobel, and Grant Strobel (MYC). Not pictured: Grant DePoyster (MYC).

For more information about the program or information on starting a sister city program, contact Margaret Powell, Director of Community Relations and Sister City Program Director, 340-5305 or email at mpowell@northlittlerock.ar.gov.