Houston-Baku Sister City Association

Established: April 1976, under Mayor Fred Hofheinz
President: Irada Akhoundova
Contact Information: iakhoundova@houstonbaku.com; Tel: (281) 757-5449
Website: http://www.houstonbaku.com 

About the Relationship:
The Houston-Baku Sister City Association (HBSCA) was officially formed during the Cold War, by a group of energetic Houstonians who nurtured the organization through many years.For the past years HBSCA activities included: 

  • Assistance from the Texas Medical Center to Municipality of Baku in emergency preparedness training has been established through a grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to Sister Cities International;
  • A 4-year boy from Baku suffering from a severe kidney ailment was brought for successful treatment at Texas Medical Center (sponsored by Barold Corp);
  • Pen pals were set up in Baku and Houston schools;
  • Photo exchange Faces and Places featuring daily lives of Baku and Houston citizens was exhibited in both cities;
  • Houston fine art photographer Norm Arnold visited Baku photographing and lecturing; his works were shown in Baku and Houston art museums;
  • Radio news and sports director Jerry Hudson visited Baku to interview its citizens; later these interviews were included in his program;
  • Many visits and exchanges of students, scholars, businessmen, artists and officials were sponsored by the Association;
  • Baku/Azerbaijan booth/programs were presented at Houston International Festivals.

For 2006, the list of HBSCA projects includes:  

  • Holiday around the World Tree exhibit for 2006 New Year festivities;
  • The Suitcase Project, initiated to familiarize students of Houston schools with culture and paraphernalia of Azerbaijan;
  •  Connecting Global Villages young artists’ exhibition;
  • Meeting with His Excellency Hafiz M. Pashayev, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the USA, to discuss ways to enhance the Association activity and ties with the municipality of Baku;
  • Setting up the HBSCA website;
  • Participation of the Association’s Senior Vice-President Irada Akhoundova in the 2nd World Congress of Azeris in Baku;
  • Participation in the Houston International Festival, to which 11 children from Baku with the original Azeri dance will be brought to Houston.

To receive more information or to become a member, please visits our website http://www.houstonbaku.com.  

Find out more about Baku, Azerbaijan