At a town hall meeting in France last month, President Obama urged the audience to find ways to engage in public service, he said: "The world has so many challenges now. There are so many opportunities. Jump in. Get involved. It does mean sometimes you'll get criticized, and sometimes you'll fail and you'll be disappointed. But you'll have a great adventure, and at some point in your life you'll be able to look back and say, 'I made a difference.'" (Washington Post, 4/4/09)
This struck me as I was in the midst of attending a series of local and regional sister city events and meetings. At each one - something strikes me: Why do you do this?
Of course, volunteerism across many sectors is enjoying a tremendous surge. The call to service is not new. Whether it’s “Ask Not” or it’s the National Service Act signed into law a few weeks ago. Serving our country or community is fundamental to the country’s psyche today as it was the fabric of our nation’s communities at our founding. The same inherit motivation is not found in many (most) places abroad. (Note: this is not to say volunteerism or commitment to service does not exist abroad.)
But, we’ve been doing this for 53 years – that’s a lot of people opening up their homes to host a visitor from abroad, spending their own money to fly to Africa to work on a water project, contributing funds to sponsor a student to study in the U.S., or time to coordinate an exchange of business executives.
Volunteer management, or more specifically how we motivate, activate, recruit, retain, and inspire our local volunteers, is a challenge many organizations wrestle with, but I have developed a great deal of respect for the sister cities citizen diplomat volunteer corps. These folks give more than: a little time, a little money, or a little talent – it’s an inspired vigor for engaging people who usually speak another language, may hold political or religious views that counter your own, or may hold a station in life that completely flummoxes you. This isn’t for the faint of heart or for individuals who live in a monotone life.
So I return to my core question, why do you do this? The answer I receive is simple: to make a difference. “The difference” manifests itself personally through their stories, experiences, and relationships around the world.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
LA Party In Style
50 is the new 30? Is that it? In LA, I was part of the Los Angeles Sister Cities 50th Anniversary Kick-Off Fundraiser. It was a rockin’ and rollin’ party that featured Captain Cardiac and the Coronaries (see picture). Hundreds of citizens from all 25 of LA’s sister city committe
e and a few stars were on hand. The event honored the two oldest LA sister cities: Nagoya, Japan and Eliot, Israel – both 50 years old this year. Later this spring 150 member delegation from Japan will visit LA to celebrate.
It was a great event, to honor the 50th Anniversary. As always, I am energized when I speak to local citizen diplomats about their experiences, their passion, their commitment to our work, and their stories.
Los Angles Sister Cities program doesn’t look a day over 30. It’s LA – would you expect anything else?
e and a few stars were on hand. The event honored the two oldest LA sister cities: Nagoya, Japan and Eliot, Israel – both 50 years old this year. Later this spring 150 member delegation from Japan will visit LA to celebrate.It was a great event, to honor the 50th Anniversary. As always, I am energized when I speak to local citizen diplomats about their experiences, their passion, their commitment to our work, and their stories.
Los Angles Sister Cities program doesn’t look a day over 30. It’s LA – would you expect anything else?
Sister Cities = Big Business in LA
Earlier this week I was in LA at the invitation of City Councilman Tom LaBonge, the President and driving force behind the LA sister cities program. As part of my visit, I had the opportunity to speak to the attendees of the Los Angeles Trade Week Kickoff Breakfast. Below you’ll find my remarks on sister cites and economic development:
Good morning. Thank you, Tom for your introduction, energy, and leadership of the LA Sister Cities program. LA is one of our flagship programs.
I also want to acknowledge Stelle Fuers who’s one of this morning’s organizers. She’s been a terrific supporter and voice for the sister cities movement across Southern California. Thank you, Stelle. I’ve seen many of my Sister Cities friends from Bakersfield, Long Beach, and others.
First of all, congratulations Los Angeles! For 50 years your community has been part of this global citizen diplomacy movement. Connecting people across the globe.
In our DC office, we liken sister cities to marriage – two communities are linked forever – In LA, I know anyone married for 50 years is an accomplishment so, we are really recognizing something unique for LA today. Bravo.
Some of you may still be wondering why the World Trade Week is focusing on Sister Cities. I’m not sure how this is possible after Dr. Sample’s terrific remarks. Your perception might be that this is a cultural and educational thing – exchanges between students or music groups. While, yes, this is a big part of our work – over the past 5-10 years, sister cities have not only established successful models in international development and economic development, but U.S. cities have realized that their sister cities program gives them a competitive advantage – making economic development a vital intersection between the business sector, local government, and its citizens.
Whether its promoting tourism, drawing businesses to open up shop LA, expanding your market by taking your goods/services abroad, or building port-to-port relationships – trade and commerce are absolutely a part of sister city network.
In this current economic environment, it’s a time for an outstretched hand and corporations need every leg up. This is where sister cities comes in – we are a connecting point. Don’t try to figure out how to work in India by yourself. Work through LA’s pre-established sister city relationships in Mumbai. You have 25 Sister Cities to draw from in LA and nearly 100 partnerships in the region in every corner of the world.
We are working on 6 continents in 135 countries. Our network is a reflection of where business growth can and will be in the upcoming years – we are seeing more activity and sister cities in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. All areas where U.S. companies are looking for in-roads. All areas of economic potential.
Sister Cities International is a global network connecting the U.S. to the world. I hope you’ll join us in advancing our mission by becoming active in the LA sister cities program with your business. Thank you for the invitation to be a part of your event this morning and, again, congratulations to the LA Sister Cities program on a remarkable 50 years.
Good morning. Thank you, Tom for your introduction, energy, and leadership of the LA Sister Cities program. LA is one of our flagship programs.
I also want to acknowledge Stelle Fuers who’s one of this morning’s organizers. She’s been a terrific supporter and voice for the sister cities movement across Southern California. Thank you, Stelle. I’ve seen many of my Sister Cities friends from Bakersfield, Long Beach, and others.
First of all, congratulations Los Angeles! For 50 years your community has been part of this global citizen diplomacy movement. Connecting people across the globe.
In our DC office, we liken sister cities to marriage – two communities are linked forever – In LA, I know anyone married for 50 years is an accomplishment so, we are really recognizing something unique for LA today. Bravo.
Some of you may still be wondering why the World Trade Week is focusing on Sister Cities. I’m not sure how this is possible after Dr. Sample’s terrific remarks. Your perception might be that this is a cultural and educational thing – exchanges between students or music groups. While, yes, this is a big part of our work – over the past 5-10 years, sister cities have not only established successful models in international development and economic development, but U.S. cities have realized that their sister cities program gives them a competitive advantage – making economic development a vital intersection between the business sector, local government, and its citizens.
Whether its promoting tourism, drawing businesses to open up shop LA, expanding your market by taking your goods/services abroad, or building port-to-port relationships – trade and commerce are absolutely a part of sister city network.
In this current economic environment, it’s a time for an outstretched hand and corporations need every leg up. This is where sister cities comes in – we are a connecting point. Don’t try to figure out how to work in India by yourself. Work through LA’s pre-established sister city relationships in Mumbai. You have 25 Sister Cities to draw from in LA and nearly 100 partnerships in the region in every corner of the world.
We are working on 6 continents in 135 countries. Our network is a reflection of where business growth can and will be in the upcoming years – we are seeing more activity and sister cities in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. All areas where U.S. companies are looking for in-roads. All areas of economic potential.
Sister Cities International is a global network connecting the U.S. to the world. I hope you’ll join us in advancing our mission by becoming active in the LA sister cities program with your business. Thank you for the invitation to be a part of your event this morning and, again, congratulations to the LA Sister Cities program on a remarkable 50 years.
###
Game Changer: $7.5M Grant to Sister Cities International
A few weeks ago we announced what I think is a game changer for Sister Cities International – a $7.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. We will launch a major three-year program working in urban African communities. The Sister Cities network will provide city-to-city technical assistance focusing on water, sanitation, and health.
This Gates grant represents the largest grant in the history of Sister Cities International.
Here’s my cut on why this is our game changer: For over five decades our members have made a name for the organization in the cultural understanding business. Starting with countries then known as our “former enemies” (Japan, Germany, etc), U.S. citizens worked to share their community and American culture in far away cities and in turn opened their minds and homes to visitors from abroad to learn about other cultures and traditions. Now, we are in 135 countries on six continents. People-to-people exchanges – it worked then, it works now, and it will continue to work. But over time the citizens realized there was more about the community that they could share beyond a visiting choir or a student group. What about trade and commerce? What about humanitarian assistance? What about our technical expertise? So…quietly for years, U.S. cities have been going well beyond cultural understanding – wells in Timbuktu, a medical clinic in the Congo, solar panels for rural farmers in Tibet. What is more fundamentally important than water, health, and food?
Enter our new program, funded by the Gates Foundation, where we will draw on this experience and scale up our work in Africa and on these types of international development projects in a way that’s only possible with exceptional funding. You thought we did a pretty good job on the cultural understanding stuff – wait until you see what’s next.
This Gates grant represents the largest grant in the history of Sister Cities International.
Here’s my cut on why this is our game changer: For over five decades our members have made a name for the organization in the cultural understanding business. Starting with countries then known as our “former enemies” (Japan, Germany, etc), U.S. citizens worked to share their community and American culture in far away cities and in turn opened their minds and homes to visitors from abroad to learn about other cultures and traditions. Now, we are in 135 countries on six continents. People-to-people exchanges – it worked then, it works now, and it will continue to work. But over time the citizens realized there was more about the community that they could share beyond a visiting choir or a student group. What about trade and commerce? What about humanitarian assistance? What about our technical expertise? So…quietly for years, U.S. cities have been going well beyond cultural understanding – wells in Timbuktu, a medical clinic in the Congo, solar panels for rural farmers in Tibet. What is more fundamentally important than water, health, and food?
Enter our new program, funded by the Gates Foundation, where we will draw on this experience and scale up our work in Africa and on these types of international development projects in a way that’s only possible with exceptional funding. You thought we did a pretty good job on the cultural understanding stuff – wait until you see what’s next.
Fell Off the Blogwagon
I wish I could say, not much has happened since my last post – quite the opposite. Apologies for the radio silence. Fair warning - I’m re-entering the blogosphere - stay tuned.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
A New Partner...the Arab Towns Organization
This evening, we signed the formal partnership with the Arab Towns Organization in the company of 50+ mayors, NGO leaders, officials from around the region, as well some Kuwait and French government officials.
Below you'll find my remarks that preceded the signing ceremony.
"Thank you. It’s a pleasure to be with you today. It is nice to see some familiar faces from when we last met in Chicago last spring. Sister Cities International is honored that the Arab Towns Organization chose the anniversary of its founding, today, as the moment to formally begin our partnership.
When I arrived at Sister Cities International just two years ago, our organization was seeking a partner to work with us in this part of the world. As we did our research, one organization kept coming to the fore – the Arab Towns Organization. The ATO’s goals to foster cooperation and communication among Arab leaders at the local level mirror the work of Sister Cities International. Much like the tree planting effort today, the ATO is to be commended for its Arab Urban Development Institute, its Environment Centre for Arab Towns, and other such efforts, which are examples of ATO’s 42-year commitment to improve the world we live in. On behalf of Sister Cities International, happy anniversary.
Sister Cities International is a global network of cities. Nearly 700 U.S. cities are partnered with 2,300 cities in 135 countries on 6 continents. We have existed for 53 years with a mission to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, & cooperation — one individual, one community at a time.
The sister city partnerships are long-term, city-to-city relationships, some of you know as twinning. The U.S. partnerships are run by the local citizens as volunteers. Our partnerships are successful if the citizens from the business community, education sector, and NGOs - a cross section of the community - work with the mayor and city officials.
A few years ago, Sister Cities International launched the Muslim World Partnership Initiative. This is an effort to increase the number of sister city partnerships in Muslim countries. Last week, we celebrated the 100th sister city partnership in a Muslim country with Houston, TX and Karachi, Pakistan. I was struck by the words of the Karachi mayor who responded to a question from the U.S. media about what really happens between sister cities. He said, “The time for gift giving ends today.” He was looking to Houston for some very specific results: business/trade opportunities, infrastructure investment, and tourism. These are two-way partnerships – both cities and its citizens learn and benefit.
Sister city programs promote the traditional cultural, youth and education exchanges. But more common in our ever-changing world, we see city technical assistance, economic and sustainable development endeavors, and international development projects. In some cases, we see U.S. cities working trilaterally or multilaterally on projects.
When I arrived at Sister Cities International just two years ago, our organization was seeking a partner to work with us in this part of the world. As we did our research, one organization kept coming to the fore – the Arab Towns Organization. The ATO’s goals to foster cooperation and communication among Arab leaders at the local level mirror the work of Sister Cities International. Much like the tree planting effort today, the ATO is to be commended for its Arab Urban Development Institute, its Environment Centre for Arab Towns, and other such efforts, which are examples of ATO’s 42-year commitment to improve the world we live in. On behalf of Sister Cities International, happy anniversary.Sister Cities International is a global network of cities. Nearly 700 U.S. cities are partnered with 2,300 cities in 135 countries on 6 continents. We have existed for 53 years with a mission to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, & cooperation — one individual, one community at a time.
The sister city partnerships are long-term, city-to-city relationships, some of you know as twinning. The U.S. partnerships are run by the local citizens as volunteers. Our partnerships are successful if the citizens from the business community, education sector, and NGOs - a cross section of the community - work with the mayor and city officials.
A few years ago, Sister Cities International launched the Muslim World Partnership Initiative. This is an effort to increase the number of sister city partnerships in Muslim countries. Last week, we celebrated the 100th sister city partnership in a Muslim country with Houston, TX and Karachi, Pakistan. I was struck by the words of the Karachi mayor who responded to a question from the U.S. media about what really happens between sister cities. He said, “The time for gift giving ends today.” He was looking to Houston for some very specific results: business/trade opportunities, infrastructure investment, and tourism. These are two-way partnerships – both cities and its citizens learn and benefit.
Sister city programs promote the traditional cultural, youth and education exchanges. But more common in our ever-changing world, we see city technical assistance, economic and sustainable development endeavors, and international development projects. In some cases, we see U.S. cities working trilaterally or multilaterally on projects.
I could give you examples from Amman and Abu Dhabi, Baghdad and Beirut, Cairo and Casablanca - all of which have U.S. sister cities. Earlier today, I spoke to the mayor of Dubai who will be signing an agreement with Phoenix, Arizona next month – but there are more opportunities for partnerships.
Allow me to be clear about one message: there is great interest by U.S. citizens and mayors to work with Arab cities.
We are living in a world with unprecedented challenges. The complexity and interconnected nature of these problems will not be solved by one single country. We need each other for our cities to grow, for our education and health systems to improve, and for our technology and business sectors to flourish. In short, we need partnerships among people to be successful.
While our national governments work closely together on some issues, on other policies they will disagree. But the real work can continue happen at the local, municipal level despite any diplomatic differences. I call it, Community Diplomacy. This is where Sister Cities International and the Arab Towns Organization can and will have the most impact. Our organizations will bring people and communities together for common purposes and projects, bridging borders, languages, and oceans.
We are honored to become a partner of the Arab Towns Organization. Time for gift giving is over. I look forward to the real work ahead with each of you to help us make this partnership successful. Thank you.
Sister Cities Goes Green in Kuwait
Reporting from Kuwait City, Kuwait, I am here representing Sister Cities International as part of the founding day anniversary events of the Arab Towns Organization (ATO). Later today, Sister Cities International will formally sign its partnership agreement with the ATO.
Today's events include about 50 people from around the Arab world as well as representatives from the UN and Cites Unies (SCI's counterpart in France). The participants include representatives from the Kuwait government and a wide range of mayors from the ATO's member countries.
After a tour of a refurbished market and community center, we stopped by a local park. The ATO has a deep commitment to environment projects and as part of the day's events (despite a moderate sandysky day) each city and organization in attendance planted a tree in the Peace & Friendship Park. I was pleased to lead the SCI delegation (myself and Noha Georges, our SCI Muslim World Partnership Initiative consultant) to our spot in the park. In addition to my shoveling handiwork, you'll see we were assisted by the local Boy Scout troop. More posts to come from Kuwait.
Today's events include about 50 people from around the Arab world as well as representatives from the UN and Cites Unies (SCI's counterpart in France). The participants include representatives from the Kuwait government and a wide range of mayors from the ATO's member countries.
After a tour of a refurbished market and community center, we stopped by a local park. The ATO has a deep commitment to environment projects and as part of the day's events (despite a moderate sandysky day) each city and organization in attendance planted a tree in the Peace & Friendship Park. I was pleased to lead the SCI delegation (myself and Noha Georges, our SCI Muslim World Partnership Initiative consultant) to our spot in the park. In addition to my shoveling handiwork, you'll see we were assisted by the local Boy Scout troop. More posts to come from Kuwait.
(Videography courtesy of Noha Georges.)
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