7 Cities Launch Sister Cities Africa Program

Do you get that feeling every now and again that you are experiencing something special? Watching a news or sporting event? (Think Phelps in the Olympics.) Attending a speech or even in a meeting? (Think Reagan: "Tear Down This Wall.") I've got that feeling.

Last week, we formally launched our Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded program, Africa Urban Poverty Alleviation Program, with seven U.S. cities being selected to work in sanitation, health, and water issues with their African Sister City. This is going to be a historic program for Sister Cities International. Congratulations to:

--Boulder, Colorado and Kisumu, Kenya
--Corvallis, Oregon and Gondar, Ethiopia
--Fort Worth, Texas and Mbabane, Swaziland
--Grand Rapids, Michigan and Ga East/West Districts, Ghana
--Lansing, Michigan and Akuapem South Municipality, Ghana
--Louisville, Kentucky and Tamale, Ghana
--State of Maryland and Bong & Maryland Counties, Liberia

The program will bring municipal leaders from these communities together to identify and address issues that will improve conditions on the ground. But, this isn’t a government-to-government program. It includes citizen involvement, citizen support, and citizen leadership from the private sector, NGOs, schools, and community-based organizations to provide sustained technical assistance and community development strategies.

I've got that feeling. This is going to be a program where citizen diplomacy thrives.