Program History
Representing more than 2,300 communities in 130 countries, Sister Cities Internation (SCI) is a citizen diplomacy
network creating and strengthening partnerships between the United States and communities abroad.
Sister City parnerships are tailored to local interests and increase global cooperation at the grassroots level.
SCI, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006, traces its origin to shortly after World War II. A
national sister city movement to foster international understanding and world peace
emerged after Presdient Dwight D. Eisenhower convened a White House conference on citizen diplomacy on September 11, 1956.
Originally part of the National League of Cities, Sister Cities International becam a separate non-profit
organization in 1967. The mission of Sister Cities International is: "To promote peace through
mutual respect, understanding and cooperation - one individual, one community at a time."
Sister Cities International is based in Washington, D.C.
The Norfok Sister City Association was founded in 1976 and is a member
of Sister Cities International. The Association is a non-profit,
civic organization which coordinates the activities of Norfolk's sister cities' programs. Its purpose is to foster
internaitonal understanding, friendship and cooperation through people-to-people exchanges and long-term
partnerships between Norfolk and its sister cities. Norfolk sister cities are:
Kitakyushu, Japan (1963); Wilhelmshaven, Germany (1976); Norfolk County, England, UK (1986);
Toulon, France (1989); Kaliningrad, Russia (1992); Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada(2006), and
Cagayan de Oro, Philippines (2008).
The Association aims to involve a broad spectrum of the community in citizen diplomacy and to be a catalyst for
linking counterpart organizations in Norfolk with its sister cities to enable them
to conduct exchanges of mutual interest.
Through Sister Cities Internationl, the Norfolk SIster City Association has won national awards
from the Readers' Digest Foundation for excellence in cultural and youth exchange projects.
