FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 17, 2025
Charlottesville Sister City Commission Holds Book Drive for Guatemalan Friendship City’s First Public Library
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission (CSCC) is holding a book drive to gather books in English and Spanish for Huehuetenango, Guatemala, Charlottesville’s Friendship City. Huehuetenango is building its first public library to serve the community of over 110,000 people.
Books that can be donated include books in Spanish or children’s books in English that are new or in very good condition.
Books can be dropped off at The Habitat Store (1221 Harris Street) during business hours Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The book drive will last until the end of February 2025.
Charlottesville – Huehuetenango Relationship
Charlottesville became Friendship Cities with Huehuetenango in 2021 due, in part, to a desire to explore a bond with a Spanish-speaking country, but also to explore a partnership with a town with a strong Charlottesville connection. The GuateMaya Alliance (formerly Ixtatán Foundation), a 501(c) 3 nonprofit, began in Charlottesville and was developed with the goal of creating the first high school in San Mateo Ixtatán, a small town in the province of Huehuetenango. The organization has since grown and has built a connection between the capital Huehuetenango and the city of Charlottesville. A Friendship City is often used as a first stage in forming a relationship between two cities, becoming Sister Cities after the relationship is strengthened and cities are sure they want to pursue a long-term relationship. In 2023, a Huehuetenango delegation visited Charlottesville and the CSCC hosted multiple community events.
Charlottesville’s Sister Cities Commission
The Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission exists to promote understanding of and foster relationships among individuals, communities, and cities of the world through cultural, economic, educational, and humanitarian activities.
Media Contacts
Claire Denton-Spalding
Vice Chair
Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission
SisterCities@charlottesville.gov