Pictured above with Ms. Williams (l-r): Oscar Gamboa Zuniga, former executive director of AMUNAFRO who was recently appointed by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe as the Director of the Presidential Program for the Development of Afrocolombians; Vice President Garzon; NCBM International Affairs Committee Chair, Mayor James L. Walls of District Heights, Maryland; and Colombia's Second Lady.
January 28, 2011
The National Conference of Black Mayors Executive Director Vanessa R. Williams (pictured second from left) met with Vice President Angelino Garzon of the Republic of Colombia during his first visit to Washington as vice president. They met to discuss advancing the current partnership of NCBM with the Afro-Colombian mayors association, AMUNAFRO.
Held at the Colombian Ambassador Residence in Washington, D.C., the meeting produced several key outcomes. NCBM will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to shift the partnership’s implementation to be headed out of the Vice President’s Office. The scope of technical assistance will be broadened from Afro-Colombian Mayors to include the Afro-Colombian community within the United States.
Vice President Garzon also committed to sending a high-level delegation from Colombia to participate in the 2011 World Summit of Mayors international conference that NCBM is scheduled to convene in Osun State, Nigeria February 23- March 4. Discussion further included plans for the Republic of Colombia to host the World Summit of Mayors conference in 2013.
