2012-05-15 03:30 Applicants being recruited for Japanese Business Mentorship Program APPLICATION DEADLINE: JUNE 1st

For Immediate Release

May 16, 2012

Fort Worth Sister Cities is now accepting applications for its Young Professionals Japanese Mentorship Program to be conducted this fall.  Applicants are being recruited from area businesses focused on:  global logistics/transportation, arts/culture, or small businesses. Fort Worth Sister Cities was notified by Sister Cities International that Fort Worth had been selected as one of seven U.S. cities to receive Leading Asia: Renewing the U.S. and Japan Sister Cities Network exchange funding.  Through this funding Fort Worth is looking to strengthen its business relationship with Nagaoka, Japan, as well as develop a Young     Professionals Mentorship Program. Young professionals (age 25—40) will work for ten days alongside their counterparts in  Nagaoka, Japan while being home hosted.  In 2013, Japanese young professionals will   participate in similar mentorships in Fort Worth.  Selected participants will gain:

• International work experience
• Expanded business networks
• Japanese protocol training
• Perspectives on global marketplaces

“We believe that businesses  in both cities will see the value of this program and sustain it for many years to come.  We would like to make this an annual exchange expanding into many areas of economic development,” said Renee Snoke, Chair of  Sister Cities’ Emerging Leaders Network. Limited partial scholarships are available and applications must be received by June 1st.  For more information, contact beth@fwsistercities.org or call 817/632-7105 or visit www.fwsistercities.org.