About Us
Baltimore and Rotterdam’s Sister City relationship was established by the mayors of Baltimore, Maryland and Rotterdam, The Netherlands in 1985. The Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee (BRSCC) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run committee based in Baltimore that conducts the sister city affairs. We perpetuate an ongoing relationship between Baltimore and Rotterdam that facilitates mutual exchanges and understanding between the citizens of both cities.
Mission
To sustain and advance an ongoing relationship between the two cities that will contribute to increased cooperation, mutual understanding, and friendship between the citizens of both cities and countries.
The committee will increase global cooperation at the municipal level, promote cultural understanding, and stimulate economic development. The committee will initiate means to involve the local community and volunteer action by motivating and engaging private citizens, municipal officials, educators, and business leaders to conduct short and long-term programs of mutual benefit.
Goals
The committee’s activities support the following goals:
- Develop partnerships between the two cities.
- Provide opportunities for city officials and citizens to experience and explore
aspects of the two cities through community partnerships. - Create an atmosphere in which mutual economic and community development
can be stimulated and strengthened. - Encourage engagement between the two cities to creatively learn, work, and solve problems together through reciprocal cultural, educational, municipal, business, professional, and technical exchanges and projects.
Leadership
Committee Chair:
Annet Couwenberg, Chair of the Fiber Department
Maryland Institute College of Art
Committee Vice Chair:
William Gaskins, Live Architecture
Treasurer:
Symmes Gardner, Director of the Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Secretary:
Rachel Sengers
Member at Large:
Marion Brecht
Our Activities
Some members of the committee at a inaugural party for Reflection in 2006. Party was held by ABN AMRO.
Photo courtesy of MICA and Max Glanville, photographer
About Sister Cities
Sister-city relationships are overseen by the international non-profit organization Sister Cities International. These programs foster cross-cultural understanding and cooperation through the activities of ordinary citizens within the context of long-term, officially-sanctioned, municipal relations.
Baltimore has relationships with eleven sister cities. The sister city committees are affiliated with the Baltimore Mayor’s Office and its Director of International Affairs.
The committees are local residents who share an interest in cultural exchanges and who volunteer their time to bring the benefits of international relations to Baltimore.
Get Involved
The Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee is made up of all volunteers.
Contact us if you are interested in helping out with any our activities, have any suggestions, or want to attend a meeting. Meetings are held once a month at Baltimore’s City Hall.