Senator Loni Hancock from the State Senate in California and her husband Tom Bates, Mayor of Berkeley, were in Belfastand Derry last week on a fact-finding mission.
During their stay, the visitors met with Jackie McDonald, the commander of the UDA, once Northern Ireland's biggest loyalist paramilitary grouping, and toured his Sandy Row heartland in Belfast.
Said Senator Hancock of the visit: "It was terrific to see for ourselves what's going on in Belfast because amidst all the troubles in the world, this is a place where peace is being made.
"We were thrilled by the warmth of our welcome and the tangible sense of progress and optimism. We saw the dynamism of the Cultúrlann on the Falls, but also walked Sandy Row with Jackie McDonald and learned of his plans to build a similar centre for culture and community there.
"While on the Lisburn Road, we met with retailers and merchants who have a unique and enticing offering which is creating jobs and wealth at the heart of your neighborhoods. We have learned a lot during our brief visit, and hope we can bring forward this relationship in the time ahead."
