A celebration of Citizenship Month and unveiling of the “Open The Door” at Lone Star College-University Park took place on Tuesday, November 19, 2013.

Several dignitaries such as Commissioner R. Jack Cagle, University of Houston-Downtown President Bill Flores, Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce President Barbara Thomason, HP Comptroller Olivier Delelis, French Cultural Attaché Sylvie Christophe and Deputy Cultural Attaché Lauriane Blandel were present at the event.

The “Open The Door” artists, Saida Fagala, Azerbaijan and Jin Young Oh shared a few words about their artwork and what the door represents.

The event, hosted by LSC-University Park President Shah Ardalan, and the Texan French Alliance for the Arts, is a celebration of the diverse cultures that make up the Houston area as well as the Lone Star College System.

On November 16, 2013, Sister Cities of Houston (SCH) participated in a major urban renewal tree planting event and celebration which took place in Houston’s East Downtown (EaDo) District.

In close collaboration with EaDo, Trees for Houston and Watershed Market this effort kicked-off the development of the Houston International Promenade which is planned to grow into an exciting, new public destination where the city’s international and diverse community can unite and be celebrated.

On November 9, 2013 Azerbaijani Center of Houston, TX held an official reception on the occasion of National Flag Day, a public holiday held in Azerbaijan to honor state flag of Azerbaijan. Among the dignitaries attending the event were the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the United States Elin Suleymanov, U.S. congressmen Al Green, Steve Stockman, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis, State Senator and President of New Mexico Mary K. Papen, Texas state congressmen Sylvester Turner, Jessica Farrar, Alma Allen, Joe Deshotel, acting Consul General of Turkey, consuls of Greece, Croatia and Italy in Houston, delegation of State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic led by its Vice-President Khalik Mammadov and Rauf Mammadov, Director of Representative Office of State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic in the United States of America.

Members of U.S. Congress Sheila Jackson Lee,

Al Green, Steve Stockman and Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis spoke to the audience about the strategic alliance between the United States and Azerbaijanб and congratulated the Azerbaijani community on the occasion of National Flag Day.

Then the Ambassador of Azerbaijan Elin Suleymanov and the head of Azerbaijan Center Irada Akhundova were presented with certificates of recognition and the flags flown over the United States Capitol in memory of Azerbaijani Center and in honor of National Flag of Azerbaijan.

On October 12, 2013 As a part of an annual tradition, members of the Azerbaijani community of Houston and surrounding cities gathered in a state park to mark the 22nd anniversary of the Independence Day of Azerbaijan.

A new generation of young Azerbaijani Americans participated in the event, which plays a special role in upbringing of national spirit. The event was co-organized by the Houston-Baku Sister Cities Association and Azerbaijani Center of Houston.

Azerbaijan proclaimed its independence from Soviet Union on October 18, 1991.