Sister Cities International Logo

OUR MISSION

To promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation one individual, one community at a time

Our mission reflects our belief in the power of personal connections. Since our inception in 1956, Sister Cities International has worked to create global relationships based on cultural, educational, information and trade exchanges. The result? Participants developed lifelong friendships that provide prosperity and peace through person-to-person “citizen diplomacy.” Today, we continue to expand our reach and strengthen existing relationships. Our members boast exchanges in arts and culture, business and trade, youth and education, and community development that not only bring them friendship, but help them to tackle the world’s most pressing issues at the local level.

Our mission is as strong as it was decades ago when President Eisenhower first established the People-to-People program. As he said in his legendary speech: “If we are going to take advantage of the assumption that all people want peace, then the problem is for people to get together and to leap governments–if necessary to evade governments–to work out not one method but thousands of methods by which people can gradually learn a little bit more of each other.“

2014 Annual Conference Opening Ceremony

Diversity strengthens our community and is important now more than ever. Some of the great things that have happened as a result of our sister cities relationships include an educational exchange with Le Touquet, an unofficial town crier from Markham, and multiple business and economic idea exchanges.

Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Jr., Cary, North Carolina

Our mission is as strong as it was decades ago when President Eisenhower first established the People-to-People program. As he said in his legendary speech: “If we are going to take advantage of the assumption that all people want peace, then the problem is for people to get together and to leap governments–if necessary to evade governments–to work out not one method but thousands of methods by which people can gradually learn a little bit more of each other. “

To promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation — one individual, one community at a time.

Our mission reflects our belief in the power of personal connections. Since our inception in 1956, Sister Cities International has worked to create global relationships based on cultural, educational, information and trade exchanges. The result? Participants developed lifelong friendships that provide prosperity and peace through person-to-person “citizen diplomacy.” Today, we continue to expand our reach and strengthen existing relationships. Our members boast exchanges in arts and culture, business and trade, youth and education, and community development that not only bring them friendship, but help them to tackle the world’s most pressing issues at the local level.

See our Programs

Performer at the Sister Cities International Annual Conference

See Exchanges

Students at the Essex-Haiti Library - A Sister City Program Exchange
Our mission is as strong as it was decades ago when President Eisenhower first established the People-to-People program. As he said in his legendary speech: “If we are going to take advantage of the assumption that all people want peace, then the problem is for people to get together and to leap governments–if necessary to evade governments–to work out not one method but thousands of methods by which people can gradually learn a little bit more of each other. “
Diversity strengthens our community and is important now more than ever. Some of the great things that have happened as a result of our sister cities relationships include an educational exchange with Le Touquet, an unofficial town crier from Markham, and multiple business and economic idea exchanges.

– Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Jr., Cary, North Carolina