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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 03-06-1996 - X-C 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Action Agenda Item No X_C. ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 8, 1996 SUBJECT: Sister Community Project: Local Host for Public Administration Exchange Program -------------------------------- ------------------------------- DEPARTMENT County Commissioners PUBLIC HEARING YES NO x -------------------------------- ------------------------------- BUDGE T AMENDMENT: YES X NO ATTACHMENT(S) : INFORMATION CONTACT Yes Moses Carey TELEPHONE NUMBER Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Mebane 227-2031 Durham 688-7331 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- PURPOSE: To present information to the County Commissioners on a group of South Africans who will be visiting the area in April or May. BACKGROUND: As part of the Sister Communities Project, a group of South Africans will be visiting the US in April or May, 1996. They will be spending time with local government officials in Orange and Durham Counties to learn our systems, programs and history. They have little or no experience in serving in elected positions and want to learn about our extensive array of non-governmental, non-profit organizations and their roles. As coordinator for this visit, I would like for the County Commissioners to consider endorsing the participating of Orange County government officials in assisting the local government officials from South Africa in their quest for information that will help them in serving the public in their country. This is a tremendous opportunity for Orange County to share their wealth of knowledge and also for Orange County officials to learn from the South Africans about what they are trying to do for their people. At this time there is no guarantee that this area will be selected. RECOMMENDATION: Endorse the participation of Orange County officials by hosting the South Africans in their specific areas of interest t Sister Comm' 'unit ?'ro ect� Y. J_ News and Reports pmt= 1994l199S r ` Community Leaders Arrive Soon! The Sister Community Project is delighted to announce the arrival of twelve South African community leaders who will be working in U-S.city governments across the country. This training and exchange pro- gram was developed in response to the ur- gent need in South Africa for public admin- istration skills and builds on the links we've established with communities in South Af- Former St.Paul City Councilman Bill Wilson speaking with Lawaaikamp community rica over the past eight years. The visit represents n leader Pumi Boaysens. St.Paul has helped Lawaaikamp tnise funds for housing,office re pm an exciting new direction for the equipment and was instrumental in identifying funding for a community center, SisterCommunity Project,as we expand our ties of solidarity with South African com Towards a Global Village m>innities- By Michael H.Shuman Ong Experiences The U.S. South Africa sister community nition of development—namely,"Meeting The Public Administration Exchange Pro- network is part of a growing movement of the basic needs of all and extending to all the gram will provide local government training people attempting to solve the planet's eco- opportunity to fulfill their aspirations for a to 12 South Afiicans who will be officials or nomic, environmental and security prob- better life." central figures in the country's new local lems through local action. In literally thou- authorities. The interns all have long histo- sands of cities,towns,and villages,commu- This broad conception of development ries as leaders in their own communities,and nity groups and non-government organza- grows out of the failures of earlier develop- will soon be in positions of authority in the lions (NGOs) are teaming up with local ment efforts, when Northerners imposed first democratic local governments. They authorities to remold international relations, inappropriate economic models throughout will have the opportunity to observe and particularly relations between the wealthy the South. The costs of these earlier Ws- compare the broad stray of city functions countries of the North and the poor countries takes are now well known_ a S 1.4 trillion and day-today activities of municipalities. of the South. debt thatcountries of the South may neverbe This will strengthen their own efforts to able to repay;"structural adjustment"pro- crzatedemocraticlocalgovernmentinSouth These local initiatives,most of which be- gram that increased poverty, unemploy- Africa upon their return. gan in the 1980s,rarely grab national head- ment, and suffering throughout the South; corn on p.6 lines. Indeed,most communities are only and trade-based economies that are destroy- dimly aware of the international wo-k being ing communities,families and the environ- InSides done in their own country, let a e by ment virtually everywhere. Sig Community Development Ex- communities in distant parts of the ortd. periences in SA and the US. p.3 But they may well represent the future of The practitioners of CDls are interested in Milwces in SA an the South Africa North-South relations. • whattheycallpeople-m6Wreddevelopment. Work p•94 p.7 They are less concerned with traditional Berkeley Science and Math Exchange People-centered Development measures of development like income and wealth,and more concerned with the requi- Program p'7 Most of the organizers of community- sites for a good life,such as literacy,techno- based development initiatives, or CDls, logical know how.self-reliance,healthy eco- ]RUS embrace the Brunddand Commission's deft- systems, demilitarization, and—most im- • South-South Exchange Program p.8. cant.on p.4 ►1 Sister Community Project < ; FaWWinter News and Reports 199411995 _ 3 ;. , - Internship Program activities. City officials and staff people terns will have another opportunity to dis- p have also played a critical and enthusiastic cuss and share their experiences with fellow Contfro r p 1 role in organizing the internships. community members and colleagues. This With substantial funding fro®the United workshop will allow them to further assimi- States Information Agency(USIA),the pro- Follow-up Program late their experiences and integrate them gram will consist of 3-month internships in into the realities of South Africa local government offices in all of our U.S. Following the internships,all the partici- sister cities,beginning in January 1995. pants will convene in California for a 1-2 Though the Public Administration Ex- week workshop. This post-internship"In- change Program is designed to respond to The structure of the internships will de- stitute"will provide an opportunity for all of the needs of the South African communities, pend on the particular needs of the interns the interns to meet, discuss, compare, as- we also anticipate their hosts in the U.S.will themselves and will vary from city to city. similate and evaluate their experiences in learn a great deal from the exchange. With Not only will the interns be able to see how a relaxed and social atmosphere. At this the opportunity to entirely restructure local the city government operates,but they will time,the interns will also have a chance to government,South Africans are experiment- also get an intimate look at the daily activi- further compare and discuss questions of ing with a number of-innovative ideas that ties and issues of locally elected officials. local government operations and functions could be very useful in U.S. cities. For Some of the interns may focus in-depth on a in the U.S. and South Africa. Also, in instance,in large urban areas,South Afri- particular area of local government policy, conjunctionwiththe School ofPublic Policy cans are looking at how to create metropoli- for instance local economic development or at the University of California,Berkeley,we tan governments that can help ensure effec- public works. Other interns may prefer to hope to integrate the Institute with an excit- tive allocation of resources and planning get abroad exposure to a number of different ing multinational forum for public adminis- between urban centers and surrounding sub- departments,while trying to understand the tration that will be convening at the same urbs. Such programs could go a long way different ways these departments work to- time. Participants would include the South towards solving the problems of inner cities gem. African interns, individuals from Nicara- in the U.S.,stemming suburban flight and gua, Hong Kong and minority American. making additional resources available for Aside from the formal internships,many communities. The forum will be an ideal inner city development. committees are planning to have the intern conclusion to the internships,allowing the meet with locally elected councilpersons interns to gain an iawmadonal.pemperU`n Regardlm of the specific outcomes, the and county officials,meet with city manag- and bear a cross-section of cultured and po- exchange program itself is an innovative ers of smaller municipalities and visit local litical views. new program that responds to the new con- universities. In addition,we want to ensure ditions in South Africa. It builds on histori- that the intern is exposed to the richness of Approximately three months after the par- cal links between U.S.cities and communi- our community-based organizations and the ticipants return to South Africa,the Sister ties in South Africa,and will help strengthen non-profit sector in the U.S. Depending on Community Project will convene another those ties in important new ways. their interest, interns will be meeting with church groups,educators,affordable hous- ing developers,community organizers and a Thank You .� ;, variety of other groups that focus on issues ��* . A/Wdy5 such as environmentalism,economic devel- pment, homelessness, gay rights, feral- Airlines-is American flag carrier—USAfrica Without this support,it would have been o ism,community radio,AIDS,labor condi- Airlines-is not just the only American air- far more difficult for us to carry our pro- lions and health care. lines flying to Africa,itis also a Supporting gram forward. Thank you! Sponsor of the Sister Community Project's As usual.it is the on going and enthusiastic Public Administration Exchange Service on USAfrica began just last. work of people in the sister communities in Program.USAfnca has a commitment to June,with regularly scheduled passenger the U_S.which has matte this program pos- fostering exchanges of all kinds between and freight service between Washington, Bible. They have been responsible for the the U.S. and Africa.We am grateful that DC and Johannesburg, as well as other development and content of the internships, USAfncaO importance of destinations in southern Africa By all and have spent many hours meeting with supporting the ale-to-people links built accounts,it has been more than successful local officials from the various cities to into our Public Administration Exchange in delivering the superior service it set out design an internship program that will effec- program, and offer us try reduced as one of its main goals-We encourage you tively meet the needs-of the interns. In rate airline tickets to both bring the interns to fly with USAfrica Airlines for all your addition,these committees have spent a lot to U.S.,and to send American trainers South Afrfcatravel!Call 1-800-233-3424 to South Africa for follow-up workshops. for reservations and information. of time planning other components of the program, such as home stays and social Sister Community Project M. Fall/W�nter' �. . News and Reports �,x� - 9"L r, What is the Sister Community Project?� The United States South Africa Sister Commmut7 Community linkage between Berkeley and Oakasie in mg a combioutiea of maudid,political and oeehoiwl Project is a non-profit organization which woks to January of 1988- assistance to var.Bound cotmramitia. sappaI local and community based initiatives for so- cialandeconomicjasticeinSouthAhica Sit=1987. Since that dme,a total of12 other linkages have been Wcoperatessadecentridimad metwod4withmostof we have promoted linkages between local cities in the established.Our initial wale focused on human tights thenidatWeeormn9from6ciocdcummwjdmdwul- United States and disadvantaged communities in South issues.particularly cotnm ...t wed withforeed selves. Our eeaaal office is do United States beips . Africa. removal. We continue to enq*ms ere the struggle ova coordimta activities ofthe vaeieoa US.eider,and oar land rights in South Africa as aCddc&l step in overoom- ..office in Johmarsburg wash with South African The yawn ition was established at the urging of ing the legacies of apartheid. ooh leaders.-P won from Somh leaders of the democratic movement in South Africa Afidca lfyonarrb&redtedmedblishnganawlink. After extensive discussions with community leaders. As the society is South Africa has began to trans- please contact"at otte of the following low: members of the Democratic Front.and otherpmminemt form so has the Sister Community Project. We now leaders in South Africa,we established the fast Sister focus tine an community development issues.'pmvid- Local City Contacts: Sister Community Contact Addresses: Atlanta-Braklaagte U.S.National OtSlce: South Atrlet OQlcat. do Thandi Qc"be 3254 Adel; SL PO Box 5328 American Friends Service Ctte. Berkeley,CA 94703 Johannesburg 2000 92 Piedmont Ammo.NE (510)601-7635 (011)834.1677 AtlsM&OA 30303 Fax: 655-7440 Fax:834-8385 (404)586-0460 Berirdey-Oukade do Rachel Richman Milwaukee-Potsdam SL Pail-Lawaa cramp PO Box 10172 do Tyrone Dumas do Ted be Betty Homdrom Berkeley.CA 94702 Director of Public Works 1544 Fulhani SL (510)601-7635 Milwaukee County SL Paul.MN 55108 907 N.10th St. (612)6424)002 Cbk2g-AkXMDdra Milwaukee,Wl 53209 do Michael Freedburg (414)278-4835 VVIchita-Tbornhill Box 578066 do Barbara James Chicago,IL 60687 San Francisco-Mfmgm 609 N.Broadway 312-327-0545 do Kitstcn Spaulding Wichita.KS'67214 235 Pine St.,Suite 1200 (316)263.6207 Cleveland-luanda San Francisco,CA 94104 do Terri Harris (415)9864060 13528 Terminal Ave. Clevdand.OH 44135 Seattle-Dallwe (216)252-1429 do Marjorie Prins 411 West Republican#301 Deaver-Duncan Village Seattle.WA 98119 i ZIMBABWE do Avon Atuius (206)281-7664 Zj 7884 Elder Circle o 200 Denver,CO 80221 BOTSWANA (303)657-1565 Louisviite-IiIIetaskool QrakIaagto •akasie do Alderman Reginald Mocks NAMfBlA `Brits A l e x a n d r a» ' 601 W.Jefferson SL • ( Loaisviffi—a KY 40202 Johannesburg \ zz t S02 625-3919 / ( ) SWAZILAND a Memphis-Red Location- ' do Rio Harris SOUTH AFRICA t.ESt7rHO Mid-South Peace aid Justice Center PO Box 11428 Thornhill Memphis,TN 38111 (901)452-6997 rw s: �rrnCan Vlilaae. " Chc(w . �h s LawaaikamW otsdam> �w S�xkw Kleinj ,. �� Location . �:� fK Sister.Community Project FAWWWter z �: .News rand Reports 1994/ 5 s From West Oakland to East London; Sharing Community Development Experience AmarCasey,a comprehensiveplannerwith "Presidential Projects-, which will provide renovate several residential hotels. the City of Oakland, CA, spent a month in each chosen community with millions of South Africa in July 1994. These are same of dollars in special funding for community Although there are numerous similarities his reflections on the experience. . development I became one of the principal between West Oakland and South Africa, writers for the proposal to President Mandela there were some sharp differences as well. Ireturn from a month in South Africa full of on behalf of the provincial government. The The extended family is still very strong in enthusiasm and hope,because of the process proposal we worked on for Duncan Village South Africa so the need to have housing that of change I saw there. As a city planner in was one of eight initial projects chosen for can expand to incorporate aging parents is Oakland,'the experience has enriched the funding. The proposal will commit over culturally critical. In South Africa there is a meaning and value of my own work in the R620 million($180 million)over five years. much higher priority on access to the land and U.S. Although the cultures of the two coun- This funding will construct 28 primary and 2 its distribution and ownership.Also in South tries are very different,I found the struggle secondary schools,construct a bridge across Africa the Reconstruction and Development forempowermentauddevelopmentverysimi- the B uffalo River to expand Duncan Village, Program developed by the ANC is the na- Jar,with a great deal to be learned from each and provide skills training to facilitate the tional agenda, while the level of grassroots other's struggle. construction of 2,942 new homes. organizational development is phenomenal. Most people belong to the ANC,civic asso- For the past two years I have been working Another similarity between West Oakland ciations,labor union,and tribal organizations for the City in West Oakland on Community and South Africa is the effort to create com- and participate in more than one at a time. Revitalization. When I was asked to partici- munity development strictures as vehicles pate in a Reconstruction and Development for empowerment into the economic life of There are of course many other cultural and project in the South African city of East the community. 'These non-profit develop- historical differences between South Africa London in a township called Duncan Village meat organizations are seen as a key compo- and WestOakland,buthunger.homelessness I was thrilled.From the moment of my arrival nent of community development work in and dispair reduces us all to the same human in South Africa, I could see the obvious both places. common denominator in our struggle for parallels to the situation in the US.,particu- lakwadw from want and need. I learned by larly in the contrasts of wealth and poverty. Housing construction is as high a priority going to South Africa that there are many for Duncan Village as for West Oakland positive efforts in the United States that are Just before I went to South Africa we had residents. In Duncan Village a "Housing applicable and highly respected by South completed a "Consensus Building and Vi- Trust"organization has been addressing the Africans. In turn I.gained a deeper under- sioning" process in West Oakland around problem directly and will serve as an imple- standing of what itmeans for aommmunity to empowerment and development priorities. mentation structure when fundingisreceived. be organized to fight for its own interests. Slow and contentious though it was,this has It is already erecting eight model houses of Continued cultural exchanges betwcoq our been the most effective effort to date in West varying types in Duncan Village. In West people will not only change South Africa but Oakland at uniting the residents, business Oakland, the City has been able to utilize more than many realize it will change owners and workers inthecommunity.While FEMA money from earthquake damage to America. in South Africa I visited several African communities in both urban and Waal areas. In each instance,the struggle for consensus r and development was at the top of the agenda Trying to unite numerous factions and points of view is as difficult for the Africans as it is in West Oakland. lathe United States we have what are called 'Empowerment Zones", which is a federal program to provide needed support to devas- tated communities. Oakland has submitted a strong application with West Oakland be- >•• ing the largest empowerment zone in the r; " City. This program has apparently been -'w• emulated by the South A-fricans through Living conditions in Duncan Village are extremely crowded 3 MEL Sister Community Project . FaWWinter News and Reports _ 1994/1995 New South-South Exchange Program! The Sister Community Project is develop- institutions and community structures which South,Southern Echo,Federation of South- inganewproject thatwill link SouthAfrican support the on-going training and empower- ern Cooperatives, New South Coalition, community development efforts with rural ment of these rural black communities. The Southerners for Economic Justice,Institute development efforts in the South of the U.S. experience of thirty years of work--how the for Southern Studies and the Highlander The goal is to share the thirty years of accu- organizations evolved and changed, their Center. mulated experience in community develop- successes and failures, their management ment work in the American South, where challenges and the alliances they built--can The centerpiece of the trip is likely to be an people worked under conditions which are provide important lessons for South African international conference inconjunefion with very similar to South Africa. communities and NGOs working on Waal the annual meeting of the Federation of development issues.' Exchanges with rural Southern Cooperatives,in August 1995.This With the end of the apartheid government, Southern development activists from orga- conference will bring together FSC's coop- disadvantaged and rural communities in hizations that are primarily Black led and erativemembers,as well as participants from South Africa must confront basic needs, staffed,can provide the experience and train- other developing countries. This will help such as lousing, economic development, ing currently being requested by South Afri- expose the South African participants not education, health care, provision of basic can communities. Importantly,their expe- only to the American Southern experience, services and the creation of new community rience of empowerment links community but also to that of other`South-South'prac- institutions. Rural communities in the U.S., developmentwith political enfranchisement, titioners. particularly black Southern communities, the conditions now facing so many commu- can provide models for this development miles in South Africa. Building these ties between South Africa process. Thirty years ago these poor com- and the American South can also be an munities faced miserable housing,minimal In September,Sister Community Project important way of contributing to commu- aervices and limited economic opportuni- Field Director Myesha Jenkins held initial nity development in the U.S.,as Americans ties,similar to South Africa.But the passage meetings with a variety of organizations in learn from some of the innovative new pro- ofthe Civil Rights Act andthe Voting Rights the South. This was to begin planning the gmnisbeingdevelopedinSouthAfticzt. This Act set in motion a political process which first stage of the exchange program,which initial delegation is intended to serve as the demanded significant change. Organza- will bring 10-12 SouthAfricans to the South base for on-going collaboration between tions and programs were created that could for four weeks in 1995. Their focus will be American and South African institutions,as address these basic needs. on the delivery of services with a strong well as lead to the creation of a number of emphasis on economic development.Orga- new sistercoamnunity relationships.itmarks Today there is a wealth of housing coop- nizations that have expressed interest in the a significant new expansion of ourthe Sister eratives,community development and eco- project so far include: MACE, Voice of Community Project network in the South nomic development corporations,financial Calvary Ministry,Foundation for the Mid- and we are extremely excited about it. 4 U.S.-South Africa Sister Community Project 3254 Adeline St. Berkeley,CA 94703 (510)601-7635 Fax:655-7440