Sister Cities of Nashville

Home
About Sister Cities
Nashville's Sister Cities
Sister Cities News
Calendar
Volunteer Opportunities
Photo Gallery
Student Exchanges
Language Groups
Membership
Sponsors
Contact Us
Sister Cities News

First Annual Cherry Blossom Walk Co-Hosted by Sister Cities of Nashville and
The Japan-America Society of Tennessee

Mayor Karl Dean, Consul General of Japan Hiroshi Sato, and Sister Cities of Nashville ("SCN") Board President David Briley will lead the First Annual Cherry Blossom walk, a free community event hosted by SCN and JAST, to kick off Nashville's Second Annual Cherry Blossom Festival, co-sponsored by the Consul General's office and the Japan-America Society of Tennessee. The festival will follow the walk and take place at Riverfront Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.   Walk participants are asked to convene at Riverfront Park for the walk which will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. Participants will proceed for a walk on Nashville’s Cumberland River Greenway for two, three or four miles, with the four-mile round trip route looping at Sister Cities’ Magdeburg Connector to Morgan Park in Germantown. (Map -  http://tinyurl.com/yao35c2).

The purpose of the walk is to raise awareness throughout Nashville about the Second Annual Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival and highlight Nashville's unique relationship with Japan, which includes the cooperation of SCN and the Japanese Consul General's Office in developing a special relationship with a potential sister city in Japan.  The walk is also designed to promote the mission of Sister Cities of Nashville and JAST as well as raise money to support scholarship opportunities for Nashville students to study abroad in one of Nashville's many sister cities.  The event is free and open to all in the community.  Commemorative t-shirts will be available for sale.  If you'd like to make a donation in support of this event, please click the Donate icon below or simply mail your check to SCN, P.O. Box 120555, Nashville, TN 37212 with "Cherry Blossom Walk" on the memo line.

Magdeburg-Nashville Theater Blog

theaterblog.jpg

The local theater company of Magdeburg, Germany has established a blog featuring discussions by Nashville and Magdeburg theater professionals. Published as a part of Theater Magdeburg's production of Sam Shepherd's Fool for Love, the blog builds on a partnership begun in 2005 with the production of Das Treffen – The Other Side, which brought actors from the two cities together in performances of a simultaneous, transatlantic play. Click here for more information or to join the discussion.

Korean Students Explore Nashville's Best

KorParthenonGrp.JPG

During a two-week exchange which brought ten high school students from Gwangjin-Gu, Metropolitan Seoul, South Korea to Nashville, Mayor Karl Dean signed a “friendship city” agreement furthering the partnership between our two cities.  The intent is for Gwangjin-Gu to become an official sister city to Nashville later this year.  The students packed a lot of educational and cultural activities into their stay, as well as official visits to Mayor Dean and a presentation of books on Korea to Donna Nicely, director of the Nashville Public Library.  The students visited the Parthenon, the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Music Row, Metro Courthouse, Farmer’s Market and Opry Mills.  They tried line dancing at the Wildhorse Saloon, took in a Predators game, enjoyed lunch and a tour of Belmont University, and got a taste of the music scene, attending a pre-concert rehearsal for the band, Shinedown, as well as attending a musical showcase presented by Wild Oats Records.   Sister Cities also took the group on a one-day excursion to Memphis to see Graceland and eat at Rendevouz Barbecue.   The students also did varying activities with their host families, attending school sporting and theatre events, and shopping at local malls.  Area public and private schools hosted the students for some of the days during their stay. Students attended six schools in all: Martin Luther King, Hume Fogg, University School of Nashville, Harpeth Hall, Lipscomb and Vanderbilt.  The trip culminated in a farewell dinner hosted by SCN’s Korean Committee Chair Kim Lilly, in which all students and their host families enjoyed a final meal together of Korean and Southern favorites, and shared favorite experiences in Nashville. Click here for more photos.

International Exchange Opportunities in 2010

SeoullandmarkHanRiver.jpg

Sister Cities of Nashville invites Nashville high school students to participate in unique and exciting international student exchanges in 2010:

 

Gwangjin-Gu, Metropolitan Seoul, Korea (which is slated to become an official sister city to Nashville in 2010) sent 10 high school students  to Nashville from January 10 - 24 to attend classes and visit attractions in the city. Gwangjin-Gu has invited 10 students from Nashville to visit and tour the area, June 1 - June 13.  Students will stay with local families.  Korean language skills are not required to participate.  Application deadline is March 1.

 

Mendoza, Argentina - Students who have completed two years of Spanish have the opportunity to participate in an exchange to Mendoza, Argentina from June 22 to July 4.  Students will attend classes with host students at a private K-12 school and go on exploratory tours in the area.  Nashville will be hosting students from Mendoza in the fall 2010 and we are seeking host families.  Application deadline for travel to Mendoza is March 25.

 

Caen, France – Students who have completed two years of high school French have the opportunity to participate in an exchange to Caen, France in Normandy in summer 2010.  We are in need of a French-speaking chaperone for this trip.   We will need 10 or more participants for the exchange to take place.  We are also seeking a host family for a college-age student who will be interning in the Nashville Mayor’s office for one month in summer 2010.  Conversely, there is an opportunity for a young adult from Nashville (age 18-25) to work in city government in Caen for one month.

 

Magdeburg, Germany –– Students who have completed two years of high school German have the opportunity to host students from Magdeburg who will be attending Nashville high schools, March 27 - April 11, 2010.  Host students and any others with the required language skills will then visit Magdeburg, Germany and attend classes at a local school, June 4 - June 19,  2010.  The exchange will include sightseeing in Magdeburg and a field trip to Berlin. Application deadline is February 15.

 

Please email director@scnashville.org or Burkley Allen at burknewt@aol.com if you are interested and would like additional information.

New Sister Cities Committees on Canada and Australia to Convene

EdmontonCityHall.jpg

Sister Cities of Nashville is re-establishing our Edmonton, Canada committee as we prepare for a possible delegation visit to Edmonton during the Canadian Country Music Awards program in Sept. 2010. Additionally, we have engaged in preliminary conversations with the Australian Trade Commission regarding a possible sister city in Australia.  If you are interested in exploring possibilities for either and participating as a committee member, please contact director@scnashville.org. 

Nashville to Taiyuan Student Art Exchange

Artworkpresentedtotaiyuan.jpg

A delegation from Sister Cities of Nashville visited Taiyuan, China in November.  There, they presented artwork created by students in Davidson and Williamson County public schools under the direction of Ms. Joy Xu, who teaches art class in her home for youth in the area.  Sister Cities of Nashville board members Barbara Cobb and Jackie Shrago presented the artwork to the school principal, Ms. Suzhen Yang, when they visited the Affiliated High School of Shanxi University in Taiyuan, which has 3,500 students in the middle and high school grades.  Additionally, the group discussed the opportunity for exchanges with schools in Nashville.  Currently, the Taiyuan committee for Sister Cities of Nashville will pursue an email “penpal” program, focusing primarily on schools in Nashville that teach Chinese before pursuing an actual student exchange between schools.   Schools that are interested in participating in this exciting pilot program with Taiyuan should contact director@scnashville.org.

A Memorable Trip to Caen

CaenWmConquerorChateau.JPG

For the past 25 years, Sister Cities of Nashville and the Nashville Bar Association sponsor annual trips between, Caen, Normandy, France and Nashville.  In October, a group of 20 made the trip to Caen.  The trips aren’t solely for lawyers, but there is a legal topic discussed at a seminar each year.  The topic in 2009 was how the two systems deal with questions about the constitutionality of proposed statues.

 

Our delegation began the official visit with a wonderful dinner in Paris.  The following day, the group traveled to Caen and were greeted by their French hosts, who then took them to the Bar Office for a welcome reception.  The participants had the opportunity to stay with French families or at a local hotel.

 

In addition to countless receptions and exceptional French dining, the delegates enjoyed seeing the sites and meeting the people in the area.  They listened to an informative talk by the mayor of Cabourg where Marcel Proust lived and wrote; met with officials of the City of Deauville, the Paris beach town, and heard about Nashville’s ties with that city.  They also met with a vice mayor of Caen after touring the abbey founded by William the Conqueror which now serves as city hall.   Additionally, they visited the museum that houses the Bayeux Tapestry, which was created 900 years ago and recounts the history of William’s conquest of England. A visit to the splendid Memorial Museum in Caen completed the tour of the museums.  This facility tells the story of the events leading up to World War II and the landings on the beaches of Normandy just north of Caen.

 

The high point of the trip was a visit to the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach where 9,387 American service men and women are buried.  The group toured the new welcome center, which featured many memorable exhibits, and were fortunate to be able to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony before touring the cemetery.

 

In 2010, the French will pay Nashvillians a return visit, and we look forward to reciprocating their hospitality.  If you would like to be on the email list for the French committee and would like to participate in the future, either helping us welcome the French in 2010 or becoming a member of the delegation to France in 2011, please email Steve Cobb at s.a.cobb@comcast.net.

 

Former Vice President Al Gore Travels to Mendoza

GoreandUSArgentinaAmbassador.JPG

Former Vice President Al Gore recently traveled to Mendoza, Argentina to speak on climate change.  There, he met Sister Cities’ local representative David English, who helped forge the Nashville-Mendoza sister city partnership, as well as Mendoza Mayor Victor Fayad and Argentina’s Ambassador to the U.S. Vilma Martinez.  Gore addressed a group of business leaders, politicians, university professors and students at Congreso University on Thursday, October 15th.

"Magdeburg: Autumn 1989" Commemorates the Fall of the Berlin Wall

Magdburgreunification2.JPG

During the month of October 2009, Sister Cities of Nashville hosted a series of events - "Magdeburg: Autumn 1989" - commemorating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and celebrating our sister-city relationship with Magdeburg.
        
"Needless to say, Nashville's very active and successful partnership with Magdeburg, which was in the former East Germany, would not have been possible without these heroic events," said Sister Cities board member, Douglas Berry, who is also Honorary German Consul for Tennessee.  "We were pleased that so many Nashvillians were able to attend and participate in the variety of educational events that Sister Cities hosted this past month.
   
The events included a photographic exhibit of the events in Magdeburg leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall; an exhibit featuring the Magdeburg Puppet Theatre under two political systems as well as performances by the theatre; a film preview, "Redirected Lives" on life in the former East Germany after the fall of the wall; and a symposium, "Nonviolence and Peaceful Social Change: A Sister Cities Dialogue," featuring leaders of Nashville's Civil Rights movement and of the demonstrations in Magdeburg. There are still opportunities for schools to have Honorary German Consul Douglas Berry speak about the events leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the role of the U.S.  He will be available to speak for the remainder of the 2009-2010 school year.
    
Click here for background information about "Magdeburg: Autumn 1989."

SCNCelebrates2.JPG

Sister Cities of Nashville Celebrates a World of Friendship    

Sister Cities' first time fund-raiser attracted more than 200 guests to Belle Meade Plantation to celebrate the cultural diversity in our community and in our world.  Ichiban Japanese Restaurant, Gerst Haus, Rumba, Seoul Garden Korean Cuisine, Swett's, and Bread and Company provided a wide array of local and international foods for the dinner buffet.  Guests were treated to live musical performances from some of Nashville's talented musicians as well as a silent auction featuring a range of trips, "staycation" packages, restaurant and spa gift certificates.  Proceeds from the event will benefit SCN's educational, cultural and economic exchanges as well as provide financial aid for select students participating in our educational exchange programs.  Click here to see more event photos.

Captain Charles M. Peal.jpg

Commemoration Honoring Captain Charles M. Peal 

On August 26, 2009 the city of Nashville joined our International Friendship City Crouy, France in a simultaneous ceremony commemorating the 65th anniversary of the death of decorated WWII fighter pilot and Nashville native Captain Charles M. Peal.  See Channel 4 news coverage of the ceremony.

Nashville
and Crouy are forever linked because of Captain Peal’s bravery and sacrifice.  At the same moment in time--9:00 a.m. in Nashville, 4:00 p.m. in Crouy--our two cities remembered and paid tribute to Captain Peal, as well as all the soldiers who have fought for our freedoms.  Additionally, gratitude was shown to the citizens of Crouy for risking their safety to give our soldier a dignified funeral and for continuing to honor his memory for the sixty-five years since his death.

Sister Cities thanks Woodlawn Memorial Gardens for their generosity and help in putting on this very special ceremony.   
Learn more about the commemoration and the history of the Nashville-Crouy relationship by visiting The Captain Peal Story.  If you would like more information about the Captain Peal story, contact ritarichardson@scnashville.org.    

Sister Cities of Nashville Launches Search for Japanese Sister City

CelesteWilsonandJimAuer.jpg

The Consul General of Japan Hiroshi Sato recently hosted two receptions at his home in support of the launch to identify a sister city in Japan. Celeste Wilson and Dr. James Auer are serving as the co-chairs of this new Sister City initiative.  They announced the initiative at a reception in June, in which the group was also celebrating the success of the first annual Cherry Blossom Festival with Consul General Sato and Mayor Karl Dean.   An honorary and a working committee have been formed to research possible sister city partnerships.  The working committee met at a second reception in July and delved into possible arts, academic and business exchanges.  A delegation is slated to travel to Japan this fall to informally visit prospective sister cities. For more information and/or to participate in the committee, please contact director@scnashville.org.  Click here for additional photos.

 

Belfast Hosts Sister Cities International Conference

NashvilleinBelfast09.JPG

For the first time in its history, Sister Cities International hosted its annual conference outside the United States, and it took place in Nashville’s sister city of Belfast, Northern Ireland.  Sister city leaders, members, and government officials from around the globe attended the conference July 29 – August 1.  “Building Enduring Peace after Conflict” was the conference theme and explored how municipalities and communities can work together in matters of conflict resolution through community and cultural diplomacy.  

A delegation representing Sister Cities of Nashville attended the conference and met with the Belfast Nashville Steering Group to discuss the action plan for 2010.  SCN Board President David Briley participated in a panel discussion at the conference on successful cultural exchanges.  The delegates also attended the Belfast Nashville party to launch the exhibit of photos taken during the Belfast musicians' trip to Nashville in March.  Returning from the whirlwind trip, Briley remarked,"I loved Belfast and Nashvillians would love the city.  I am looking forward to a return trip soon."   Click here to see additional photos.

International Tai Chi Symposium  

YangZhenduoTaiChi.jpg

Sister Cities of Nashville participated in the International Tai Chi Symposium on Health, Education and Cultural Exchange (www.taichisymposium.com) hosted by the Vanderbilt Center for Integrative Health and Vanderbilt University, July 5-10, 2009. The symposium embodied the spirit of Sister Cities of Nashville -- connecting Nashvillians with friends around the world through cultural exchange and community partnership. 
  
Traditional Tai Chi Chuan: A View through the Lens of Science was the first symposium in the U.S. to bring together the five grandmasters of traditional Tai Chi Chuan, academic researchers, and health professionals.  Because of Nashville’s sister city relationship with Taiyuan (capital of China’s Shanxi Province), we were especially pleased that one of the five grandmasters who came to Nashville for the symposium was Master Yang Zhenduo from Taiyuan.  Also in attendance was his grandson, Master Yang Jun, who is the president of the International Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Association, sponsor of this symposium.
      

SCN president David Briley made introductory remarks at the welcome banquet on Monday, July 6, which celebrated the 10th anniversary of the sponsoring association.  Presentations by the grandmasters were a part of the evening.  Sister Cities also co-hosted a Friendship Picnic for its members and friends in conjunction with the Tai Chi Symposium on Friday, July 10. Click here to see pictures from the week.

Mendozamusicianlunch.jpg

Mendoza Musicians Perform with Nashville Symphony

The first cultural exchange to take place between Mendoza, Argentina and Nashville since the two became Sister Cities in March occurred May 20 - 26 when a delegation of musicians from Mendoza visited Nashville.  The three musicians rehearsed and performed with the Nashville Symphony and Curb Youth Symphony durings its "Side by Side" series.   Sister Cities of Nashville Board President David Briley hosted a luncheon in their honor at his law firm.  Mayor Karl Dean, who traveled to Mendoza in March to sign the official sister city documents, also attended to welcome the cultural ambassadors from Mendoza. Other guests included executives from the Nashville Symphony and members of Sister Cities.