Sister Cities International (SCI) is a
non-governmental organization (NGO) with the goal of facilitating partnerships between
communities within the
United States and other countries by establishing
sister cities.[2] Sister cities are agreements of mutual support formally recognized by the civic leaders of those cities.[3] A total of 1,800 cities, states, and
counties have partnered in 138 countries.[4]
As an organization that links
jurisdictions in the U.S. with communities worldwide, Sister Cities International recognizes, registers, and coordinates relationships among cities, counties,
provinces, and other
subnational entities at various levels.
The scope of the relationship between sister cities is broadly defined, with many sectors of public life open for engagement. After elected signatories process the agreement between sister cities, it is submitted to the main branch of SCI and kept on file at the
Washington, DC, office.[7] SCI's CEO has advocated for sustained relations between existing sister cities programs even in times of conflict.[8]
Sister Cities International also recognizes "Friendship City" affiliations. These are less formal arrangements that may be a step towards a full sister city affiliation.[9][10]
Early years
The first U.S. sister city program began in 1956,[11] when President
Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed a people-to-people citizenship diplomacy.[12] Originally part of the
National League of Cities, Sister Cities International became a separate,
nonprofit corporation in 1967.
Notable relationships
On June 4, 2022, Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to the
U.S. Conference of Mayors.[13] Zelenskyy asked that cities in the United States take part in rebuilding Ukraine by developing ties between localities that can leverage resources allocated to the effort to repair damaged social infrastructure. Cities in the US have been delivering humanitarian aid to support their sister cities in Ukraine.[14]Poltava, Ukraine has been a sister city of
Irondequoit, New York, since June 29, 1992, due to an agreement signed by Anatonij Kukoba, the then President of Poltava City Council, and Fredrick W. Lapple, the then
Town Supervisor of Irondequoit. The agreement between Irondequoit and Poltava states that their sister city relationship never expires. Former Irondequoit Supervisor Lapple formed a committee to locate a city willing to partner in the interest of honoring the
Ukrainian community active in his town. The relationship is ongoing with a virtual conference occurring on July 14, 2022, featuring elected officials, organization leaders, and various citizens, all given a venue to speak as the Ukrainians fight in the
Russo-Ukrainian War.
This expression of citizen-to-citizen diplomacy has fostered participation in the
international relations of multiple localities. SCI allows individual citizens to achieve global impact through efforts within their own local US communities. According to the SCI platform, the organization seeks to mobilize a network of
international organizations and expand participation in spheres driving
democratic values,
humanitarian relief,
financial markets, and
good governance organizations. Irondequoit hosted Ukrainian
delegates from Congress'
Open World program.[15] To inform the public for generations to come, the citizens of Irondequoit instituted a special collection of documents at the
University of Rochester to historically preserve the more than one-hundred-year history of the Ukrainian community in the greater
Rochester area.[16]
Programs
September Concert: Sister Cities International partners with
The September Concert to sponsor a series of free musical performances held in sister cities around the world on September 11 of every year.
Africa Urban Poverty Alleviation Program: In 2009, Sister Cities International launched the Africa Urban Poverty Alleviation Program, a three-year project to alleviate poverty in 25 African cities through water,
sanitation, and
health initiatives led by U.S. and African sister city programs. U.S. sister cities collaborate with their African counterparts to identify and address the most critical problems in these sectors, which form barriers to sustained development in
urban areas. In 2021, they estimated that 9.1 million people were working on projects with
drinking water. [citation needed]
Youth Ambassador Program: The
youth ambassador program supports the exchange of high school students between
Mexico,
Canada, and the United States. Students participate in three-week exchanges in both Mexico and the U.S., meeting with NGOs and government officials and exploring issues like
poverty and the
environment from a local and international perspective.
Young Artists and Authors Showcases: The Young Artists and Authors Showcases encourage youth ages 13 to 18 to express their vision of the sister city mission through original works of art and
composition.
Sister Schools: The Sister Schools program links youth to collaborative projects through a classroom, school, or
after-school activity. Students can engage in letter, video, or
webcast exchange,
leadership-building projects,
fundraising campaigns, or projects tailored to their interests.
Student Exchange Partnership: Sister Cities International offers youth exchange opportunities to its members. Through this partnership with the American Cultural Exchange Service (ACES), sister city members can nominate and sponsor high school students from their sister city to study in the U.S. for a semester or a school year. The students live with
host families and participate in local activities.[17]
Energy Award: With funding from the
U.S. Department of Energy, Sister Cities International added an energy category to its Annual Awards program.[18]
Open World Program: Sister Cities International and World Serves of La Crosse, Inc., partnered to administer the Open World Program. Since 2002, U.S. sister city communities have hosted nearly 400 emerging leaders from
Russia, Ukraine,
Lithuania, and
Uzbekistan to learn more about
accountability,
transparency, and
citizen participation in government. The Open World Program is sponsored by the Open World Center, which is affiliated with the
U.S. Library of Congress.[19]
Cyber Sister Cities:Citrix Systems and Sister Cities International partnered in 2006 to pilot the first Cyber Sister City relationship between
Agogo, Ghana and
Fort Lauderdale, FL. Citrix provided technological guidance and support to promote the usage of
technology and the exchange of
business knowledge between Agogo and Fort Lauderdale. Citrix's primary involvement was in opening Agogo Information and Communications Technology, offering Agogo residents access to
computers, the
internet, and
e-learning courses. In addition to the center, the Cyber City partnership has developed economic partnerships between Agogo and Ft. Lauderdale, including
aquaculture and
hydroponics projects.[20][21]