11 results for tag: Sister Cities International


Wunderbar Together: The Impact and Potential of U.S.-German Sister City Collaboration in Climate Resilience

A common misconception is that international relations are defined only by national policy, overlooking the transformative influence of international collaboration on the city and community levels. Daily lives can be influenced just as, if not more strongly, by local policies and environments. International sister city partnerships, from joint projects to person-to-person exchange, therefore wield significant power in shaping individual perceptions of other countries. Sister city relationships can also fill key gaps in international relations by enabling local collaboration in areas of national policy divergence. This potential in especially ...

Wunderbar Together: St. Louis Welcomes a Delegation from Stuttgart

The following post was written by Susanne Evens, President of St. Louis - Stuttgart Sister Cities. In preparation for the 60th anniversary of the partnership, St. Louis hosted a week-long delegation from Stuttgart, rich with cultural exchange, meaningful collaboration, and new friendships. For more information on the St. Louis - Stuttgart partnership:     It’s been a privilege and honor to be the president of St. Louis’ oldest Sister City of Stuttgart, Germany for the past 13 years. We continuously strive to welcome visitors and delegations and have hosted economic, student, and art exchanges between our cities for ...

Wunderbar Together: Brewing Business Diplomacy between Fort Worth and Trier

Increasingly, business partnerships between sister cities are strengthening international business ties and economic development. US-German sister cities Fort Worth and Trier have partnered on a Wild Acre Kraft Haus beer, combining elements from each culture, and are poised to advise other Fort Worth companies on how to establish global partnerships. Fort Worth Sister Cities' international business collaboration ultimately won the Innovation in Business and Trade Award from Sister Cities International at the 2019 Houston conference. Beyond business ties, Fort Worth and Trier have also organized student exchanges, an intern exchange program, music ...

Wunderbar Together: Stories of the Lasting Impact of US-German Exchange

Sister city partnerships create a lasting impact not only through their scope, but also through the depth of the person-to-person connections they foster. The impact of participating in a sister city partnership, whether as an exchange student or a city official, can last throughout one's lifetime and even across generations. As part of our Wunderbar Together blog series, we are highlighting testimonials of those involved in US-German sister city partnerships. Many testimonials describe how, through their experience traveling to Germany or hosting others, they gained completely new insight into the German culture. Many also expressed surprised at the ...

Wunderbar Together: Building Lasting Bridges with the St. Charles – Ludwigsburg Partnership

From Maifest to 3,000-strong exchanges, St. Charles Sister Cities and Ludwigsburg are building vital bridges between the U.S. and Germany. Sister Cities interviewed Mary Johnson at St. Charles Sister Cities to learn more about the impact of the 25-year partnership. Earlier this year, St. Charles Sister Cities had also partnered with Sister Cities International and Wunderbar Together on the annual Maifest celebration, where Sister Cities President and CEO Roger-Mark de Souza hosted a panel discussion on the history of our program, where we are today, and where we see the trajectory for our future. More information on Maifest is available online ...

Wunderbar Together: Celebrating 20 Years of the West Chicago – Taufkirchen (Vils) Partnership

Originating in both German-American exchange and a love story, the partnership between West Chicago Sister Cities and Taufkirchen (Vils) has just celebrated its 20th anniversary. The robust and innovative partnership includes student exchanges, delegation visits, music exchanges, town halls, and most recently a 20th anniversary program in Taufkirchen (Vils). We had the opportunity to interview West Chicago Sister Cities President Rebecca (Becky) Hall to learn more about the partnership's programs and impact. For the latest updates on West Chicago Sister Cities, visit their Facebook page. SCI: Could you tell me a bit more about the ...

Wunderbar Together: Finding Similarities Across Cultures in the Mooresville – Hockenheim Partnership

Originating in a story submission, we had the opportunity to interview Ms. Rupa Venkatesh of the Town of Mooresville, who facilitates the partnership between Mooresville, NC and Hockenheim, Germany. It is heartening to learn more about the youth and adult exchanges and the outcome that, even when visiting different cultures, Mooresville and Hockenheim residents ultimately found more similarities in each other.  Visit the Town of Mooresville's website here for more information. SCI: Could you tell me a bit more about the exchanges and programs between these two sister cities? How often/how many participants? How can these programs continue to ...

The Millennia-Long History of German Sister Cities

The earliest known city partnership in Europe was established in 836 between Paderborn, Germany and Le Mans, France. This partnership initially took the form of an “eternal brotherhood” between the dioceses of the two Catholic bishops. An official city partnership agreement was finally signed in 1967. Other pioneering German partnerships included Kiel, Germany and Sonderburg, Denmark in 1925 and Wiesbaden, Germany and Klagenfurt, Austria in 1930. However, the modern concept of “sister cities” as we know them was not launched until after WWII. To foster citizen diplomacy and sow the seeds of peaceful post-war coexistence, formal sister ...

Find a German Sister City Partnership Near You!

Germany has the fourth most US sister cities in the world, with approximately 100 partnerships across 31 states (including marked Friendship Cities and Emeritus Cities). Looking to strengthen the transatlantic relationship through person-to-person connections, or know students who may benefit from US-German programs? Use this interactive map to find a US city with a German partner near you and then click on the German flag icon to find a link to the partnership's website. A full list of US-German sister city partnerships can also be found here. An overview of Sister Cities' partnership with Wunderbar Together and further ways to get involved ...

Wunderbar Together: A Waterloo-Porta Westfalica Connection Formed in Heritage and Music, Sustained in Exchange

With its official biennial visits, summer student exchanges, scholarships, and a 5,000-strong “Portafest,” Waterloo’s ever-growing portfolio of programs with its sister city of Porta Westfalica, Germany has netted it “Illinois Sister City of the Year” awards in 2008 and 2017. Given the diversity of its programs now sustaining US-German ties for 38 years, it is surprising to think back to the Sister Cities of Porta Loo’s origins simply in shared heritage and music diplomacy.