EAST PROVIDENCE, RI – The City of East Providence was joined by an official delegation from its sister city, Vila Franca do Campo, Azores, Portugal on Friday, November 7, to commemorate and honor the two cities relationship with a special plaque unveiling and street dedication ceremony.
Mayor Bob DaSilva and city leaders were joined by Vila Franca do Campo Mayor Dra Graça Melo and Vice Mayor Carlos Pimental to celebrate the enduring bond and cultural ties between the two coastal communities.
“Our sister city relationship with Vila Franca do Campo is a testament to the deep historical, cultural, and familial connections that help make East Providence the best place to live, learn, work and play,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “This dedication honors the generations of Azorean families who helped shape East Providence and serves as a reminder of our shared heritage.”
This visit from the Azorean delegation comes just months after a group of East Providence and Rhode Island leaders traveled to the Azores for the Sister Cities Summit, where Mayor Bob DaSilva attended a series of Fundação Luso-Americana conferences, with the objective of fostering international cooperation and understanding through cultural, education and economic changes.
The partnership between East Providence and Vila Franca do Campo further highlights the notable number of residents in the city who trace their ancestral ties to the Azores, which helps to continue to strengthen cultural exchange, collaboration and international relations.
