5/10/2023 - Meeting Materials DEPARTMENT of
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k PREPARED FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERS
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT v��.
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03
WELCOME LETTER FROM MAYOR
04
OVERVIEW OF SISTER CITIES PROGRAM
05
OUR STORY SO FAR
06
BOARD EXPECTATIONS & PROGRAM METHOD
07
NEW SISTER CITY REQUEST
08
ONLINE PRESENCE
09
THANK YOU
Supporting documents attached at end of this guide
1 � _
Dear Sister Cities
Advisory Board Member,
I would like to extend a warm welcome to you as a new
member of our Sister Cities Advisory Board. We are
excited to have you on board and look forward to
working with you to further our mission of promoting
cultural exchange and strengthening relationships
between our city and our sister cities around the world.
As a member of the board,you will have the
opportunity to contribute your skills and expertise to
our program, and to help us achieve our goals.Your
input and ideas will be valuable in shaping the direction �-
of our initiatives, and we are eager to hear your
perspective.
We believe that your passion and commitment to
fostering positive connections between different
cultures and communities will be an asset to our r
organization, and we look forward to collaborating with
you to make a meaningful impact on our community. y
Thank you for accepting this responsibility, and we are
excited to have you as part of our team.
Sincerely,
Mayor Erin Mendenhall
SISTER CITIES ADVISORY BOARD 03
SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL (SCI)
Founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, SCI is the national,
nonprofit,volunteer membership organization representing the sister
city programs of more than 1,100 U.S. cities and their 2,000 partners in
more than 120 countries worldwide. As the premier organization for
citizen diplomacy in the United States, SCI leads the national movement
for local community development and volunteer action in the global
arena. SCI motivates and empowers municipal officials,volunteers and
youth to conduct long-term programs of mutual benefit and interest with
their sister city counterparts abroad.
The goals of SCI are to:
• Develop municipal partnerships between U.S. towns, cities, counties,
states and similar jurisdictions in other nations
• Create opportunities for the citizens of sister cities to experience and
explore other cultures through long term community partnerships
• Create an atmosphere in which economic development and trade can
be developed, implemented and strengthened
• Stimulate environments through which U.S. and foreign communities
can creatively learn, work and solve problems together
n` • Collaborate with organizations in the United States and other
countries sharing similar goals
A sister city program is one of the most important organizations a
community can have. Sister city programs lead their communities toward
global integration, using new technologies and techniques to support
trade, health care advancement, democratization and the environment.
Sister city programs are at the forefront of community development,
working at the grassroots level to assist their partners abroad. Sister city
programs and their volunteers represent all sectors of the city and all
aspects of its society, diversity, history and ambitions. A sister city
program is a community's international salutation.*
*excerpt from Sister Cities Tool Kit
SISTER CITIES ADVISORY BOARD 04
OUR STORY SO FAR 000
BACKGROUND - Salt Lake City Sister Cities Program
Today, Salt Lake City enjoys six active Sister City relationships with Matsumoto,Japan;
Keelung, Taiwan; Chernivtsi, Ukraine; Izhevsk, Russia; Torino, Italy; and Trujillo, Peru.
Though there is a vast range of diversity in these relationships, all share the common
goal to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation. Each
relationship Salt Lake City established was created for a different reason, under
different circumstances. The measure of success for one relationship may not be the
best measure for another, yet all have the ultimate goal of promoting peace. The
reasons behind the creation of each of our partnerships include cultural exchange
programs, humanitarian aid, dignitary visits, economic development and student,
teacher and employee exchange programs.
Throughout the life of a Sister City relationship the goals may change or evolve, and
the level of connectivity and involvement may vary greatly due to shifting political
priorities, constantly changing city administrations, or even governmental instability.
These constant changes create an ever evolving and fluctuating environment in which
Sister City relationships must survive.
In an effort to protect and strengthen our Sister Cities program, given the continuous
administrative changes, our Staff drafted a city ordinance to govern the sister cities
program and created an official Board to oversee the program. This ordinance was
updated in January 2023, supported by the Mayor and formally adopted by the City
Council. The adoption of the ordinance ensures the future protection of the program
as well as its Board. It also demonstrates the strong commitment and support of the
current Mayor and City Council.Our Sister Cities Board is made up of community
representatives with strong ties and interests in the sister cities program. In addition
to our Board, a group of local representatives work behind the scenes to accomplish
the tasks that make these relationships work. Without the dedication and
commitment of our community volunteers we would not experience the level of
success we have with our program.
"In every community, there is work to be done. In
every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every
heart, there is the power to do it."
MARIANNE WILLIAMSON
SISTER CITIES ADVISORY BOARD 05
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Board Expectations Program Method
• Time commitment, on average less than 5 hours month Methods for cultural programmatic
opportunities include, but are not limited to,
• Reconnect with all current Sister Cities cultural events, such as educational exhibits,
• Support mentorship and recruitment to develop a photographic displays, musical and theater
robust board of advisors performances and language classes; cultural
exchanges with sister city counterparts, and;
• Identify possible board leads for each Sister City promotion of the important role of the Sister
• Elect board leadership team Cities program.
• Respond quickly to inquiries for new sister city Methods for economic programmatic
relationships opportunities include, but are not limited to,
• Propose a mutually-beneficial program for every sister trade and business exchanges, seminars,
city. Programs can take many different forms but roundtables and workshops, exhibitions, and
should each fall under one of three umbrellas: cultural, trade fairs with businesses in the sister city;
educational, or economic liaising with the local chamber of commerce;
promoting industries and exports of the Sister
• Discuss the possibility of creating a strategic plan for Cities to local industries; developing
the program: vision, mission, objectives, strategy,
approach, etc. relationships with businesses that have shared
economic interests in Sister Cities.
• Establish updated bylaws and goals for the program
• Hold board meetings (at a minimum) quarterly Methods for educational programmatic
opportunities include, but are not limited to,
• Work closely with city staff regarding any proposals & pen pal programs, seminars, service
budget requests (must receive approval from city prior opportunities, school programs and
to any expenditures) assemblies, student exchanges (long term,
• Show both economic and cultural benefits of short term, virtual), sports tournaments, youth
relationships through annual report to the Mayor, City leadership training and development.
Council, and the public (due annually January 30th)
SISTER CITIES ADVISORY BOARD 06
PROCESS FOR NEW
SISTER CITY REQUEST
This process may be reviewed and adjusted as determined by the
Advisory Board. As of April 2023 the current process and policy is
as follows:
1.The individual or organization proposing a Sister City
relationship must meet the following criteria:
a.be a resident of or an organization headquartered within
SLC boundaries
b.demonstrate that there is a significant amount of
community interest in and support for the relationship;
c. identify assets and resources within the community that
will foster community building between Salt Lake City and
the proposed sister city; and
I, d. be prepared to provide the support necessary to
establish and maintain the relationship.
2.The requesting entity fills out and submits the attached form
to the Sister Cities Board (end of this document)
F'i e 3.The requesting entity provides an official letter from the
government of the requesting city in support of the Sister
AX> City/Friendship City relationship to the Board, Mayor, and City
Council
n
4.Sister Cities board works with Mayor and City Council to
formalize a Friendship City agreement for an assessment
+' period of three years
5.-- Successful Friendship City relationships are promoted to
Sister City relationships by the Mayor and City Council
following a recommendation from the Board
a.A Friendship City relationship will only be promoted to a
Sister City relationship after a successful assessment
period is completed wherein the goals and objectives
established for that relationship are accomplished and
community support for the relationship is adequately
demonstrated.
SISTER CITIES ADVISORY BOARD 07
ONLINE PRESENCE
Website: https://www.slc.gov/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SLCGovernment
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slcgov/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SLCtvmedia
; l Twitter:https://twitter.com/SLCgov
Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/company/salt-lake-city-
corporation/
T corporation/
Website: https://www.slc.gov/ed/
rIFFI"E1111TMENT of• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slcecondev
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slcecondev/
DEVTwitter: https://twitter.com/slcecondev
Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/company/slcecondev/
Website: https://saltlakearts.org/
SALT LAKE Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SLCartscouncil
CITYInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/slcartscouncil/
I YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@slcartscouncill2l4/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SLArtsCouncil
Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/company/salt-lake-arts-council/
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Website: https://saItlakearts.org/livingtraditionspresents/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SLCLivingTrad
LIVING Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slclivingtrad/
TRADITIONS YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Iivingtraditionsfestival262
SISTER CITIES ADVISORY BOARD 08
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Thank you!
Thank you for lending your time and talents to the Sister
Cities Advisory Board and supporting its important
mission of peace through people.
DEPARTMENT of
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
City&County Building,451 S State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, Room 118 (801) 535-7200 ed@slcgov.com