At the G.R.O.W Environmental Conference on April 7, 2025, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at the Virginia Wesleyan University in Norfolk, VA, experts, innovators, and community leaders came together to share strategies for restoring and protecting the natural ecosystems. Norfolk has several sister cities, but only one of them is in Africa. We discussed whether being a sister city of Djenné in Mali could stimulate and inform the efforts we make in Norfolk to increase environmental justice and ensure a healthy environment for all. Food security is a growing concern both here in Hampton Roads and in Djenné and Mali. Flooding is a growing problem with Norfolk being exposed to coastal flooding and Djenné to river flooding. There are many common concerns. And there are differences in culture, customs, and economy, which could stimulate an exchange with mutual benefits.
