"Charlottesville Meets Winneba" Reception this Friday

from Holly Edwards and Roberta Williamson:

"Charlottesville Meets Winneba" Reception
Friday, March 20, 2009, 7:00-8:30pm
Light House Studio Space, Live Arts Building, 123 E. Water St.

Featuring tasty Ghanaian food and lively Ghanaian music
Honorary Co-Hosts: Roberta Williamson and City Councilor Holly Edwards

Please join us for a very special reception on Friday, March 20, to support the development of cultural, youth and business exchanges between Charlottesville and Winneba, Ghana. From April 26-May 4, 2009, a delegation of Charlottesville residents will be visiting Winneba to explore the possibility for exchange programs between our two university communities. We are very excited about the potential for building strong connections between Charlottesville and Winneba in the years ahead.

Even though the delegation will include officials from City Council and the City Schools (see below), this trip will be funded entirely by private donations. Please come on March 20 and learn more about Winneba and how you can support this effort to build a bridge of friendship between our communities.

We are particularly pleased to note that Quintin Franklyn, a public housing resident and award-winning teen filmmaker from Light House Studio, will be participating in the delegation and recording his journey (including interviews of teens from Winneba) for use in a documentary that he and Light House will produce after our return.

If you cannot attend the reception but are willing to make a tax-deductible financial donation to this cause, please write a check to "Virginia Organizing Project" and mail it to 703 Concord Ave., Charlottesville, VA 22903; be sure to write "Winneba Trip" in the memo line. You can also make a secure on-line donation via http://www.virginia-organizing.org/donation.php#1 -- again, you'll need to designate your contribution to "Winneba Trip."

Thanks much, and we hope to see you on the 20th!

Roberta Williamson
Holly Edwards

**************

Membership of Charlottesville’s exploratory delegation to Winneba:

Holly Edwards, City Councilor
Dave Norris, Mayor
Rosa Atkins, Superintendent of Schools
Wiliam Harvey, Vice President for Diversity and Equity, University of Virginia
Danielle Fitz-Hugh, Vice President, Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce
Nana Ghartey, Winneba Native and Current Charlottesville Resident
Pastor Dale Johnson, Way of the Cross Baptist Church
Quintin Franklyn, Light House Studio
Sam Baker, Light House Studio