For America: Sign Up for a Sister City-Personal Finance

For America: Sign Up for a Sister City

In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower initiated a program designed to create person-to-person contact between Americans and people from all over the world. That program is now known as Sister Cities International and this year is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Sister Cities International helps to forge bonds between American communities and similar-size locales in other countries. Through these connections, Sister Cities has become a leader in increasing global cooperation, promoting cultural understanding, stimulating economic development, and sparking volunteerism abroad.

At Sister-Cities.org, you can find out if your area already has a sister city and if so, how to get involved. You can also learn how to sign up for an additional one; Sister Cities encourages multiple exchanges. Or you can request a first-time sister city, even if it's for just your neighborhood or enclave. You don't have to be the mayor to sign up for a sister city, although taking the idea to your city council or town meeting is a great way to get the entire community involved.

Having an international sister city is a wonderful way for a community to establish foreign Business connections and unique educational opportunities. Once the match is made, a number of initiatives can begin.

Teachers in your community can pair up with a sister school or classroom in the foreign community for special projects, and students can participate in programs such as attending the International Youth Summit on Global Citizenship or doing an exchange study program.
Joint arts programs in music, dance, and crafts can begin. Your community can also participate in the Sister Cities International Young Artists Competition, in which young people from around the world share their talents.
Direct participation in humanitarian assistance abroad can be a hallmark of your community with amazing Sister Cities partnerships with groups such as Wheelchairs for Peace, the Islamic Peace and Friendship Initiative, emergency response and preparedness programs for natural disasters, and Operation Iraqi Children.

Check out Sister-Cities.org to find out more, and get a toolkit and guide to help you and your community become global partners.

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