A global citizen diplomacy network Voices for Peace Powering Citizen Diplomacy

The idea… »What if ordinary U.S. citizens traveled abroad and met ordinary citizens in other countries? »What if we created long-term connections at the local level – community to community? What would the impact be?

How far we’ve come in 52 years »Sister Cities International’s Network: Today 700+ U.S. Cities/Towns/Communities 2,300+ Sister city partnerships across the globe 135 Countries on 6 continents 100,000+ active community volunteers Affecting the lives of more than 100 Million U.S. Citizens

Reaching Out… » U.S. Partnerships Across the Globe Europe – 34% Asia & Oceania – 29% Americas – 17% Eurasia – 7% Africa – 6% Middle East – 3% Caribbean – 3%

Exchange & Program Areas »Youth & Education »Economic & Sustainable Development »Humanitarian Assistance »Arts & Culture

Best of the Best: 2007 »Arts & Culture - Omaha, Nebraska Sister Cities: Shizuoka, Japan; Braunschweig, Germany; Siauliai, Lithuania; Naas, Ireland; Xalapa, Mexico Middle School, high school, university levels 5 week WorldFest - A Sister City Celebration at Omaha Children’s Museum Classroom discussions University Concert Choir tour Summer exchange programs

Best of the Best: 2007 »Humanitarian Assistance - Denver, Colorado Sister City: Chennai, India Build health facilities for abandoned infants, orphan and destitute children, disabled persons without family support ·Provided equipment: furniture, lab investigation equipment, sterilizers, surgical equipment, blood pressure apparatus and other needed accessories Build 70 new homes for the victims of the tsunami

»Overall: Fort Worth, Texas Sister Cities Live! - a day of cultural entertainment on an outdoor stage Lone Star International Film Festival- Featured a short, award-winning film produced by a college student from the University of Swaziland. Fort Worth’s Young Professionals Group for business professionals under 40 Junior International Leadership Academy for eighth grade students Best of the Best: 2007

»Annual Conference & Youth Conference 2009: Belfast 2010: Albuquerque »Grant-Funded Programs Open World (Russia/Eurasia) Safe Drinking Water Pilot Initiative (Africa) USAID Program (South Africa / Global) Signature SCI Programs

»Youth & Education Youth Conference Young Artists Showcase Sister Schools J-1/High School Home Stay

Signature SCI Programs »Muslim World Partnership Initiative Annual Conference Session – ‘Regions of Conflict’ Models Report YES Leadership Summit US-Muslim Sister Cities Summit

Signature SCI Programs »Sustainable Development Annual Conference “Sustainable Peace through Livable Communities” Models Report Global Mayors Forum (September 16-18, 2009) in Shenzhen/Hong Kong China ·Partners: –SCI –ICSC (Canaada) –ICLEI-Oceania (Australia) –CITYNET (Japan) –IMCC (China)

Signature SCI Services »Services Partnership & Peace Travel Program ·South Africa (Nov 2008) ·China with Global Mayors Forum (Sept 2009) Visa Toolkit, Staff Support and Assistance Travel Insurance, D&O Insurance

Read, Meet & Discuss »Your Source of Information Publications & Toolkits Website (Relaunch-Fall 2008) ·Online Forums & Discussion Groups ·Tell Your Sister Cities Story Database ·New Membership Database Publicity for the sister cities movement

The Power of Changing Lives Promoting peace through mutual respect, understanding & cooperation – one individual, one community at a time.