Newcastle, England
The relationship between Newcastle and Little Rock began in 1997. Mr. John Stokel-Walker of Newcastle was familiar with central Arkansas because his wife had grown up in the area. Mr. Stokel-Walker was the head of youth services for the city of Newcastle at the time and he decided to organize a trip for a group of at-risk youth from Newcastle to visit Little Rock. The group from Newcastle included 17 young people and six adults.
Soon afterwards, discussions began regarding the formation of a formal relationship between the two cities. In 1999 Little Rock hosted the Sister Cities International Convention and a delegation from Newcastle attended. During the convention a Friendship City agreement was signed by the Mayors of Little Rock and Newcastle upon Tyne.
In 2002 Newcastle sent another official delegation to visit Little Rock. A Member of Parliament and the Lord Mayor of Newcastle were among the group who met with federal, state and local officials and visited leading Little Rock businesses and institutions. Also in 2002, Little Rock sent the first official delegation to Newcastle, which was led by then-Secretary of State (and former Little Rock Mayor) Sharon Priest. Then-City Director Barbara Graves and Members of the Sister Cities Commission also participated in the trip. The Little Rock delegation met with national and local leaders in the U.K. and explored various areas of common interest between Little Rock and Newcastle such as health care, tourism, economic development, urban renewal, public transportation and city services for youth and seniors.
In 2004 Newcastle again sent a group of at-risk youth to Little Rock. The young people were able to visit a variety of sites in Little Rock including the Central High School Museum and Visitors Center, P.A.R.K. (Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids) and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock "Cyber College". In addition, the youth met with the Chief of Police, the Fire Chief and attended a meeting of the Little Rock Board of Directors.
In November 2004 dignitaries from Newcastle once again visited Little Rock. A Member of Parliament and two Newcastle City Councillors were among those who came to Little Rock for the opening of the Clinton Presidential Museum and Library. In addition to attending the activities surrounding the opening of the Clinton Library, the delegates met with officials from the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau to discuss ways to increase tourism to Little Rock from the U.K.
The relationship between Little Rock and Newcastle has been among the most active of Little Rock's Sister Cities. Plans are in place to send a group of at-risk youth from Little Rock to Newcastle in the summer of 2007 and the outlook is very good for a continuing dynamic relationship between the two cities.
October 2008 saw the inception of Newcastle as a Little Rock Sister CIty.