Wunderbar Together: The Impact and Potential of U.S.-German Sister City Collaboration in Climate Resilience
A common misconception is that international relations are defined only by national policy, overlooking the transformative influence of international collaboration on the city and community levels. Daily lives can be influenced just as, if not more strongly, by local policies and environments. International sister city partnerships, from joint projects to person-to-person exchange, therefore wield significant power in shaping individual perceptions of other countries. Sister city relationships can also fill key gaps in international relations by enabling local collab...
Wunderbar Together: Celebrating Columbia and Kaiserslautern’s Common Love for Creativity
The 20-year partnership between Columbia, South Carolina and Kaiserslautern, Germany is filled with flourishing art exchange and ultimately "a common love for creativity." Sister Cities International interviewed Dickson Monk, Executive Director of the Columbia World Affairs Council, on the cities' art exchange, shared historical remembrance, Wunderbar Together events, and lasting citizen diplomacy. A press release for the Columbia World Affairs Council's latest Wunderbar Together event, Heimat/Home: The 2019 Columbia–Kaiserslautern Artists Exchange, is available ...
Wunderbar Together: A Report on the Diverse and Thriving Cincinnati-Munich Relationship
Ute Päpke, President of the Munich Sister City Association of Greater Cincinnati, submitted a report on the strength and diversity of the Munich-Cincinnati relationship, including its numerous forms of exchange, commemorating the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the recent celebration of the partnership's 30th anniversary. The report provides an overview of the partnership and summarizes key events from January to November 2019.
For more information on the Munich-Cincinnati partnership:
Origin of the Munich-Cincinnati Partnership
The ...
A Natural Fit: SCI-Wunderbar Together Partnership Engages Spartanburg Event Attendees
As part of its partnership with Wunderbar Together, Sister Cities International convened regional U.S.-German Sister Cities members and German-American stakeholders at the regional “America and Germany: Friends in Business and Community” event on November 2 at the BMW Zentrum in Spartanburg, SC. At capacity, the event drew in attendees from Virginia and across the Carolinas. The event was a testament to the synergies and impact of Sister Cities’ partnership with Wunderbar Together, as attendees expressed heightened enthusiasm for the Sister Cities mission and for ...
Wunderbar Together: St. Louis Welcomes a Delegation from Stuttgart
The following post was written by Susanne Evens, President of St. Louis - Stuttgart Sister Cities. In preparation for the 60th anniversary of the partnership, St. Louis hosted a week-long delegation from Stuttgart, rich with cultural exchange, meaningful collaboration, and new friendships.
For more information on the St. Louis - Stuttgart partnership:
It’s been a privilege and honor to be the president of St. Louis’ oldest Sister City of Stuttgart, Germany for the past 13 years. We continuously strive to welcome visitors and delegati...
Wunderbar Together: Stories of the Lasting Impact of US-German Exchange
Sister city partnerships create a lasting impact not only through their scope, but also through the depth of the person-to-person connections they foster. The impact of participating in a sister city partnership, whether as an exchange student or a city official, can last throughout one's lifetime and even across generations. As part of our Wunderbar Together blog series, we are highlighting testimonials of those involved in US-German sister city partnerships. Many testimonials describe how, through their experience traveling to Germany or hosting others, they gained ...
Press Release: 11/2 “America and Germany: Friends in Business and Community” SC Event
In partnership with Wunderbar Together, Sister Cities International is organizing an "America and Germany: Friends in Business and Community" event (#SCIBMWSpartanburg) on November 2 at the BMW Zentrum in Spartanburg, SC. The event is open to the public and tickets ($25) are available here. We would appreciate any sharing of the below press release and flyer with your networks, especially those in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
This blog post forms part of Sister Cities’ “Wunderbar Together” series, part of our ...
The Millennia-Long History of German Sister Cities
The earliest known city partnership in Europe was established in 836 between Paderborn, Germany and Le Mans, France. This partnership initially took the form of an “eternal brotherhood” between the dioceses of the two Catholic bishops. An official city partnership agreement was finally signed in 1967. Other pioneering German partnerships included Kiel, Germany and Sonderburg, Denmark in 1925 and Wiesbaden, Germany and Klagenfurt, Austria in 1930.
However, the modern concept of “sister cities” as we know them was not launched until after WWII. To foster ...
Wunderbar Together: A Waterloo-Porta Westfalica Connection Formed in Heritage and Music, Sustained in Exchange
With its official biennial visits, summer student exchanges, scholarships, and a 5,000-strong “Portafest,” Waterloo’s ever-growing portfolio of programs with its sister city of Porta Westfalica, Germany has netted it “Illinois Sister City of the Year” awards in 2008 and 2017. Given the diversity of its programs now sustaining US-German ties for 38 years, it is surprising to think back to the Sister Cities of Porta Loo’s origins simply in shared heritage and music diplomacy.
SCI and Thriving Earth Exchange Help Communities Form Partnerships to Advance Priorities on Climate, Natural Hazards and Natural Resources
Cities all over the world are facing increased impacts from climate-related, natural hazards and natural resources issues. As your community works with Sister Cities International (SCI) in sanitation, water, health and natural disasters-related issues, consider whether partnering with a scientist might augment your community’s resilience and sustainability. SCI and Thriving Earth Exchange have a burgeoning partnership to help both US and international communities find scientists to help communities advance community priorities in climate, natural hazards and ...
