Senhor Ronald Hees has been a guiding force for the Rio-Maryland Partnership of Partners of the Americas since its formation in 1964. He helped to organize and attended a reception lunch hosted by Rio Governor Paulo Torres for the first Maryland visitors in November 1964. Here, Mr. Albert Berney, President of Maryland Partners of the Americas, reads a message from Maryland Governor Millard Tawes. Governor Torres is seated third on the right. Standing to the left of Mr. Berney is Mr. Hugolino de Mendonça, President of Rio Partners. Ron Hees is standing to the right of Mr. Berney.
Fifty years later, Ron was instrumental in organizing and attending the 50-year anniversary celebration of Rio-Maryland Partners in Rio and Niteroi in December, 2013. Ron was recognized for his contributions to the Partnership over that 50-year time span by attendees, including Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley.
Ron focused his attention on making people-to-people connections. He was involved in all initiatives of the Partnership, including the long-running university student exchange program. For the latter program, Ron searched for grants, and assisted in obtaining travel documents, housing, and the programing of activities for students. We always had Ronald there to help us. Here he participates in a farewell meeting of American students in Rio in July, 2011.
Thank you, Ron, for everything you have done for the Rio-Maryland Partnership since that November day of 1964. On both sides of the Partnership, we salute you.
Rio-Maryland Partners of the Americas
February 18, 2022
Maryland-Rio Partners Offering a Free English Course
April 12, 2021
Maryland-Rio Partners of the Americas is participating in the Free English Project established by Daianne Castilho Silva, First Secretary of the Comitê de Goiás, Brazil. Daianne graduated from Universidade Federal de Goiás in February 2019, majoring in English Language and Literature. She was awarded the Science Without Borders scholarship in 2014-2015 and spent that time in the United States at St. Michael’s College, Vermont, in its Intensive English Program. She also carried out research at Colorado State University during the summer.
Daianne initiated the Free English Project in January 2020 to teach English at no costs to teenagers 12 to 18 years old of public schools in Brazil. Until March 2020, classes were held in person at a public school in a favela in Goiânia where most of the students lived. After that time, because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, all of the Free English activities were adapted to online learning, which allowed the project to grow. Currently, 300 underprivileged students from all over Brazil have benefited from the Project. The team is composed of 18 teachers, 20 teaching assistants, 5 people in charge of organizing cultural events, and 4 coordinators from the USA, Argentina, London, Portugal, and different states of Brazil.
In coordination with Daianne, Silvia Goi, President of Rio Partners, and Mary Hilton, Vice President of Maryland Partners, are teaching the course to students in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The course is going well and students are enthusiastic. If you are interested in learning more about the Free English Project, please contact Daianne at daiannecastilhos@gmail.com.
Rio Partners President Honored by Firjan
August 13, 2019
Axel Grael, President of Rio Partners of the Americas, was honored as personality of the year recently by the East Fluminense Representation of the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Firjan). Axel serves as Municipal Secretary of Planning, Modernization of Management and Budget for the city of Niteroi, and Niteroi Mayor Rodrigo Neves was present at the ceremony.
“I’ve always guided my work on sustainability,” Axel said. “I thank my family who are on my side in this trajectory, the people who work with me and the confidence of the mayor. Since the beginning of my administration we are working hard to develop the city and leave a legacy for future generations of Niteroienses. We are advancing more and more.”
During the ceremony, Grael highlighted the importance of some current projects in Niteroi, such as the raising of 100 million Brazilian reais for the Pro-Sustainable Project, TransOceanic; the implantation of Sigeo (Georeferenced Information System); and the expansion of the city’s bicycle path. Axel also highlighted the good result of creating public policies for the preservation of green areas – the city today has 65% of its territory protected.
Mayor Neves praised Grael’s role in management and evidenced that the city is moving forward with sustainable planning and investment capacity even in the current political and economic crisis. “Niteroi is a city that stands out in Brazil. We are going through this crisis with planning and serious work. And we started back there at the beginning of this management, with the help of Axel. He is very deserving of this honor because he is helping to build this success story of Niteroi,” praised Neves.
The president of the Fluminense East Representation of the Federation, Luiz Cesio Caetano, remembered the recent agreement signed between City Hall, Firjan, and Senai as part of the Niteroi Jovem EcoSocial project. The initiative aims at the professional training of about 400 young people in situations of social vulnerability, aged between 16 and 24 years.
“Axel’s trajectory demonstrates his deep respect and competence for elaboration of projects. Niteroi Jovem EcoSocial is the latest example of its dedication to future generations.” A fair tribute, he said.
Maryland Partners Visit Rio
June 8, 2019
In January and February of 2019, Mary Hilton (Vice President) and Michael Jones (Treasurer) of Maryland Partners of the Americas met with Rio Partners members in Niteroi and Seropedica. Items discussed included a revised Maryland-Rio Joint Partnership Plan for 2020-2023 and the university student exchange program.
Maryland-Rio Partners Assist the Maryland Partners School in Nilopolis
May 1, 2018
In August 2016, nearly 180 American volunteers arrived in Rio to work at the Olympic Games. Maryland-Rio de Janeiro Partners of the Americas asked the American volunteers to consider bringing school supplies in support of the Escola Municipal Companheiros de Maryland (The Maryland Partners School) in Nilopolis, in the north zone of Rio. On August 5, 2016, Maryland-Rio Partners hosted a party for the volunteers at a restaurant in Rio and dozens of volunteers arrived bringing a mountain of school supplies. J. P. Hurt, an American volunteer who took the lead on the party, was a great help in organizing the event. The event was attended by Mary Hilton, Vice President of Programs for Maryland Partners and a volunteer at the Equestrian Olympic event. Many Rio Partners’ volunteers attended to thank the American volunteers, including Executive Director Ron Hees, President Axel Grael and his wife, Professor Raimundo Damesceno of Universidade Federal Fluminense and his wife, and Jackson Maia.
Later in August, Ron Hees, Jackson Maia, and Mary Hilton took the school supplies to the Maryland School and the faculty and staff were thrilled with the donations. School Director Roberta Capetine and the two teachers who visited Maryland in 2015 as part of the Maryland-Rio Partners Teacher Exchange Program, Angela Colaco and Elizabeth Nunes, greeted the visitors.
Maryland-Rio Partners of the Americas 