International

Meghan O'Rourke, CCTV, hosts conversation about the Burlington Sister City program with Mousa Ishaq and Orly Yadin. They discuss the Sister Cities of Bethlehem and Arad. The Sister Cities Organizations are international, long-term partnerships between two communities. As described by the City of Burlington, these partnerships are designed to promote intercultural understanding and interpersonal connections.

A note from Mousa: "One important thing I failed to mention about the founding of the Sister City is that the late Bill Aswad, an Arab American, and Gene Bergman, a Jewish American, were councilors at the time and sponsored the resolution. It has a great symbolism. Gene Bergman is back on the council and still working for equal rights for everyone."

For more information about the Sister City program, visit: www.burlingtonvt.gov/Mayor/Sister-Cities

Host Juan Carlos Vallejo discusses international issues in Ukraine, Palestine/Israel, Africa, and the United States.

From Melinda Moulton:

Peter Halby is a co-founder of Zeno Mountain Farm, as well as a guitarist, father, weather enthusiast, trash collector, bus driver, and surfer. Halby is recipient of the Fenn School 2017 Distinguished Alumnus Award at UVM. Zeno Mountain Farm's mission is "to support lifelong friendships between people of diverse abilities".

For more information visit: http://www.zenomountainfarm.org

From Melinda Moulton:

Mary Means is the retired owner of Mary Means & Associates, a small but mighty community planning firm that earned a strong reputation for "building bridges between plans and people". Mary conceived the Main Street Project which had the bold mission of demonstrating economic development within the context of historic preservation. This pilot project evolved into Main Street America. In 2021 Mary wrote "Main Street's Come Back and How it Can Come Back Again". The National Trust for Historic Preservation gave Mary the 2020 Louise du Pont Crowninshield Award. Mary is presently working on her memoir.