Sister Cities International hosted its 60th Anniversary Conference in Washington D.C. in July. SCN Executive Director Heather Cunningham participated in the conference and six Youth Advisory Board members attended the Youth Leadership Summit along with 110 students from across the U.S. and globe. Highlights for the Youth Summit included a tour of the sites in D.C., a diplomacy simulation on nuclear proliferation and sessions on How to Engage the Emerging Generation through International Partnerships among others.  All also attended a welcome reception at the Japanese Embassy and the Mayor's Welcome Reception at the Chinese Embassy.  The caliber of speakers was excellent and included ambassadors, elected officials and members of the Defense, Transportation and State Departments.  Informational sessions included Smart and Resilient Cities; Diplomacy through Unique Platforms; the Economic Impact of Sister City Partnerships; Digital Communications; and a Discussion on International Protocol.  The adult and youth participants all gathered for the final Diplomatic Awards Dinner and Dance. 

forty five students and teachers from 15 area high schools represented Nashville as Student Ambassadors as they traveled this summer on two-week cultural and educational exchanges.  Student groups traveled to Caen and Paris, France; Mendoza, Argentina; Magdeburg and Berlin, Germany and Tamworth and Sydney Australia.  Read their blog  on scnstudentexchanges.wordpress.com.