Improving Cultural Understanding and the Integration of Minorities through Franco-American Partnerships is a two-year commitment of four U.S. and four French cities paired in an effort to address issues regarding marginalized populations. The partnerships include St. Louis, Missouri and Lyon, Charlotte, North Carolina and Limoges, Louisville, Kentucky and Montpellier and Los Angles, California and Bordeaux. The St. Louis and Lyon delegations are comprised of experts and volunteers dedicated to promoting cultural diversity and interfaith understanding, fostering civic engagement and furthering the integration of disadvantaged populations into the local economy. Phase 1 was completed in March 2007 at a conference in Lyon, France in which all Waging Peace delegations participated in dialogue and information sharing. |
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| Phase 2 took place September 2007. The St. Louis welcomed the Lyon delegation to learn about integration efforts currently in place in our area. Hubert Julien-Laferrière, pictured below with Mayor Francis Slay, is the lead delegate for the Lyon Waging Peace committee. | ||
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| In December 2007, representatives from the St. Louis delegation returned to Lyon to finalize the joint action plan, recommending enhancements for implementation and evaluating change. | ||
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