Programs
Sister Cities International has a variety of programs that highlight and support our members in promoting citizen diplomacy and international exchange. They serve a variety of demographics in communities all over the world and build bridges of understanding across borders.
Youth Leadership Summit
Our annual Youth Leadership Summit (YLS), which happens concurrently with our annual conference, engages the next generation of leaders ages 14-18 and introduces them to the world of international affairs while completing simulations and service projects with like-minded peers.
Young Artists & Authors Showcase
Each year, students from member cities all over the world submit art, photography, poetry, literature, and music to our Young Artists and Authors Showcase (YAAS) according to a selected theme for a chance to win $1,000 and to display their work on a virtual exhibit on our website.
Annual Awards
The Annual Awards Program highlights sister city program achievements and brings international recognition to each community’s contributions to the citizen diplomacy movement. Sister Cities International established the Annual Awards Program in 1962 to recognize exceptional sister city programs.
7 for 70
Learn more about our “7 for 70” initiative with the State Department and the White House National Security Council that connects cities between the U.S. and the Pacific Island nations.
500 Cities in 5 Years
Sister Cities International strives to strengthen the sister cities network through strategic institutional partnerships, grants, programs, and support for its members.
The Haijmari Project
Sister Cities International (SCI) is excited to announce the launch of The Haijmari Project: US-Japan Sister Cities Origin Stories. According to Japan’s Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR), over the past 75 years there have been 400+ sister city relationships between the United States and Japan.
J-1 High School Homestay
Member cities have the opportunity to host students from their sister city for a semester or year of high school in the United States. This popular exchange program is at the heart of Sister Cities International’s mission of creating bonds between people around the world.