BECOMING A SISTER CITY
What is a sister city?
When a community of any size or character joins with a community in another nation to learn more about the other and to develop friendly and meaningful exchanges, the two may propose a formal affiliation leading to official designation as “sister cities.” The ideal affiliation involves a large number of citizens and organizations in both communities engaged in continuing projects of mutual interest.
This interchange helps to further international understanding at all levels of the community on a continuing long-term basis. Within the program cities and their citizens exchange people, ideas and culture in a variety of educational municipal, professional, technical and youth projects.
Why have a sister city?
A sister city program enables the citizens of both communities to become directly involved in international relations in unique and rewarding exchanges that benefit everyone. It enables all who participate to:
- Exchange ideas and develop friendships with their counterparts in another culture on a direct personal basis.
- Establish an identity as members of the global family involved in the constructive process of building world peace.
- Develop a way for the many and diverse elements of each community to come together to enjoy and profit from a cooperative program.
- Open new dialogues with the people of another culture to find unique solutions to improving the quality of life of all citizens.
- Participate in a program with a real partner in another country so all members of the community can feel they are contributing to international understanding in a direct personal way.
- Better understand their own community by interpreting their way of life to the people of another culture.
What to do first?
A group of citizens approaches Sister Cities of Nashville (SCN) about founding a new sister city relationship. All sister city proposals to the Mayor and Metro Council must come through SCN. Parties interested in a new sister city partnership should have membership in SCN, and the SCN Board of Directors needs to recognize the formation of a new sister city committee. Once recognized by the Board, the committee should begin to meet and do its due diligence on a particular city or cities. No formal overture should be sent to any city unless approved by the SCN Board. Once there has been a mutual expression of interest, then the two cities should begin organizing one or more events, exchanges, delegation visits, etc. Like all good programs, the sister city concept must have broad support and understanding if it is to succeed. Partnerships require continuing activity, not just a single effort or program. Sister City programs and projects are developed out of mutual desires and interest. There is no cut-and-dry pattern. Through visits and exchange of correspondence, cities discuss the types of projects they would like to carry out. Following some successful exchanges and an understanding by SCN that there is basis for long-term support of the partnership, formal recognition can follow, with a resolution by the Metro Council and signatures of the treaty by the two city mayors.
When a community of any size or character joins with a community in another nation to learn more about the other and to develop friendly and meaningful exchanges, the two may propose a formal affiliation leading to official designation as “sister cities.” The ideal affiliation involves a large number of citizens and organizations in both communities engaged in continuing projects of mutual interest.
This interchange helps to further international understanding at all levels of the community on a continuing long-term basis. Within the program cities and their citizens exchange people, ideas and culture in a variety of educational municipal, professional, technical and youth projects.
Why have a sister city?
A sister city program enables the citizens of both communities to become directly involved in international relations in unique and rewarding exchanges that benefit everyone. It enables all who participate to:
- Exchange ideas and develop friendships with their counterparts in another culture on a direct personal basis.
- Establish an identity as members of the global family involved in the constructive process of building world peace.
- Develop a way for the many and diverse elements of each community to come together to enjoy and profit from a cooperative program.
- Open new dialogues with the people of another culture to find unique solutions to improving the quality of life of all citizens.
- Participate in a program with a real partner in another country so all members of the community can feel they are contributing to international understanding in a direct personal way.
- Better understand their own community by interpreting their way of life to the people of another culture.
What to do first?
A group of citizens approaches Sister Cities of Nashville (SCN) about founding a new sister city relationship. All sister city proposals to the Mayor and Metro Council must come through SCN. Parties interested in a new sister city partnership should have membership in SCN, and the SCN Board of Directors needs to recognize the formation of a new sister city committee. Once recognized by the Board, the committee should begin to meet and do its due diligence on a particular city or cities. No formal overture should be sent to any city unless approved by the SCN Board. Once there has been a mutual expression of interest, then the two cities should begin organizing one or more events, exchanges, delegation visits, etc. Like all good programs, the sister city concept must have broad support and understanding if it is to succeed. Partnerships require continuing activity, not just a single effort or program. Sister City programs and projects are developed out of mutual desires and interest. There is no cut-and-dry pattern. Through visits and exchange of correspondence, cities discuss the types of projects they would like to carry out. Following some successful exchanges and an understanding by SCN that there is basis for long-term support of the partnership, formal recognition can follow, with a resolution by the Metro Council and signatures of the treaty by the two city mayors.
