Fort Worth Receives National Recognition for Health Center Project in Swaziland

Fort Worth has won the Humanitarian Assistance Award for our Health & Social Center project with Mbabane, Swaziland.  Below is the message from Mary D. Kane, President and CEO of Sister Cities International.  See the list of award winners here:  SCI Annual Awards Press Release
May 29, 2013
 
Mae Ferguson
Fort Worth Sister Cities International
610 Grove Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
 
Dear Ms. Ferguson:
 
Congratulations!  It is our pleasure to inform you that the City of Fort Worth has won the 2012 Sister Cities International Innovation: Humanitarian Assistance Award for a city with population more than 500,001.  This award is in recognition of the outstanding exchange work done by your organization in advancing the goals and mission of the sister cities movement.
 
Please note that award winners will be recognized at the Sister Cities International 57th Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas July 11-13. The Lou Wozar Annual Awards ceremony and dinner will be held on July 13.
 
To register for the Annual Conference, please visit https://www.sister-cities.org/annual-conference.  As an Annual Award winner, we would also like to extend a discount offer for the Annual Conference registration. Use the promotional code “AAW75” and save $75 on your full conference registration.
 
Also, please find attached a copy of a press release announcing your win. We encourage you to distribute it your local media contacts.
 
Again, congratulations and please extend our best wishes to the members of your organization. 
 
Sincerely,
 
Mary D. Kane
President and CEO
Sister Cities International  

2013-05-31 10:07

Fort Worth Receives National Recognition for Health Center Project in Swaziland

Fort Worth has won the Humanitarian Assistance Award for our Health & Social Center project with Mbabane, Swaziland.  Below is the message from Mary D. Kane, President and CEO of Sister Cities International.  See the list of award winners here:  SCI Annual Awards Press Release

May 29, 2013
 
Mae Ferguson
Fort Worth Sister Cities International
610 Grove Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
 
Dear Ms. Ferguson:
 
Congratulations!  It is our pleasure to inform you that the City of Fort Worth has won the 2012 Sister Cities International Innovation: Humanitarian Assistance Award for a city with population more than 500,001.  This award is in recognition of the outstanding exchange work done by your organization in advancing the goals and mission of the sister cities movement.
 
Please note that award winners will be recognized at the Sister Cities International 57th Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas July 11-13. The Lou Wozar Annual Awards ceremony and dinner will be held on July 13.
 
To register for the Annual Conference, please visit https://www.sister-cities.org/annual-conference.  As an Annual Award winner, we would also like to extend a discount offer for the Annual Conference registration. Use the promotional code “AAW75” and save $75 on your full conference registration.
 
Also, please find attached a copy of a press release announcing your win. We encourage you to distribute it your local media contacts.
 
Again, congratulations and please extend our best wishes to the members of your organization. 
 
Sincerely,
 
Mary D. Kane
President and CEO
Sister Cities International  

FORT WORTH CELEBRATES 25 YEARS WITH TRIER, GERMANY

Fort Worth, Texas — Sister Cities Delegation Heading to Germany Sister Cities Director Emeritus Hilde Horchler will lead a Fort Worth delegation to Trier, Germany June 25—30 to celebrate Fort Worth’s 25 year anniversary as sister cities.  Trier Mayor Klaus  Jensen will officially recognize the delegation, along with twelve Fort Worth Youth Ambassadors who will also be in Trier on an educational exchange.  Others in the delegation include Director Emeritus Mike Hyatt, board member Doug Harman and Judy Harman, as well as Jane Bass, former board member. The Fort Worth Gessellschaft, the German group responsible for maintaining the sister city  relationship with Fort Worth, has organized tours and events as part of the celebration including an exhibit of Fort Worth artist Nancy Lamb’s paintings. Lamb was invited to Trier in 2012 for the Pilgrimage of the Holy Robe to paint her interpretation of the exhibit. Mayor Price’s schedule prevents her from joining the group but is quoted below from a letter to be delivered: “Since 1987, Fort Worth has been proud to call Trier its Sister City.  Together we have supported a strong partnership including youth and adult programs.“ The delegation will deliver the letter along with a gift on Mayor Price’s behalf and an invitation to visit Fort Worth in 2014 in hopes of renewed economic relations and educational exchanges. Trier is sending a delegation of 15 business leaders in aviation and logistics to Fort Worth to explore business potential later this year.  The visitors will also take part in a local Octoberfest event hosted by Sister Cities.

2013-05-31 09:56

FORT WORTH CELEBRATES 25 YEARS WITH TRIER, GERMANY

Fort Worth, Texas — Sister Cities Delegation Heading to Germany Sister Cities Director Emeritus Hilde Horchler will lead a Fort Worth delegation to Trier, Germany June 25—30 to celebrate Fort Worth’s 25 year anniversary as sister cities.  Trier Mayor Klaus  Jensen will officially recognize the delegation, along with twelve Fort Worth Youth Ambassadors who will also be in Trier on an educational exchange.  Others in the delegation include Director Emeritus Mike Hyatt, board member Doug Harman and Judy Harman, as well as Jane Bass, former board member. The Fort Worth Gessellschaft, the German group responsible for maintaining the sister city  relationship with Fort Worth, has organized tours and events as part of the celebration including an exhibit of Fort Worth artist Nancy Lamb’s paintings. Lamb was invited to Trier in 2012 for the Pilgrimage of the Holy Robe to paint her interpretation of the exhibit. Mayor Price’s schedule prevents her from joining the group but is quoted below from a letter to be delivered: “Since 1987, Fort Worth has been proud to call Trier its Sister City.  Together we have supported a strong partnership including youth and adult programs.“ The delegation will deliver the letter along with a gift on Mayor Price’s behalf and an invitation to visit Fort Worth in 2014 in hopes of renewed economic relations and educational exchanges. Trier is sending a delegation of 15 business leaders in aviation and logistics to Fort Worth to explore business potential later this year.  The visitors will also take part in a local Octoberfest event hosted by Sister Cities.

Celebrate the 4th of July with Fireworks from Nagaoka, Japan

Join Fort Worth Sister Cities and the Trinity River Vision for the 6th Annual Fort Worth’s Fourth of July Festival and Fireworks show on the Trinity River.  In honor of the 25th anniversary celebration of the Sister Cities’ partnership between Fort Worth and Nagaoka, Japan, Nagaoka is providing one of the largest fireworks shows in the metroplex. Join us for this spectacular show and meet our friends from Nagaoka. Nagaoka Mayor Mori, along with a large delegation from Japan, will be  joining us at that time to re-affirm the 25 year old sister city partnership, as well as view the beautiful display of fireworks set to music and choreographed by our Japanese friends.  This will be an exciting time for all so join us on the river if you can.  It will be a magical evening of fireworks and Japanese performances. Fort Worth’s Fourth is a day of live music and free family activities along the Trinity River at Panther Island Pavilion.  Activities include tubing, jet ski shows, obstacle course, bounce houses and more. Last year over 35,000 people attended the event and attendance is expected to exceed 50,000 people this year.  The event is FREE admission and made possible by the generous support of the business community. For further information on the event, visit www.trinityrivervision.org/fortworthsfourth.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo — Toluca Style

FORT WORTH, TX—Sister Cities Honors the Vaquero Toluca Style Fort Worth Sister Cities is staging a Cinco de Mayo celebration May 2nd in recognition of the city’s fifteen-year relationship with Toluca, Mexico and in honor of the Vaquero. The event will be held at the Rose Marine Theatre from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The celebration will include the gallery exhibit Cantos y Corridos, Vaquero exhibit, live music, Ballet Folklorico de Fort Worth, and a special presentation from Artes Academy’s production of Vaquero Tales. “Fort Worth is proud to have Toluca, Mexico as a sister city and eager to celebrate this important date with our brothers and sisters to the south,” said Doug Harman, Sister Cities Toluca Chair. “I will be visiting Toluca in May and will bring an invitation from Mayor Price to the new mayor of Toluca to visit Fort Worth. It is important to maintain this vital relationship between Toluca and Fort Worth.” Cinco de Mayo is a celebration held on May 5. It is celebrated in the United States and regionally in Mexico, primarily in the state of Puebla, where the holiday is called El Día de la Batalla de Puebla (The Day of the Battle of Puebla). In the U. S. it is a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. In the state of Puebla, the date is observed to commemorate the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín. Toluca, Mexico is Fort Worth’s closest Sister City. Signed in 1998, this partnership has resulted in many programs such as: middle and high school-to-school partnerships including the Model U.N. program; municipal and economic forums; monarch butterfly tourism exchanges; culture, language and mentoring programs; a medical school intern program and Fort Worth Police Dept. training exchanges. Tickets for the event may be obtained by calling 817/632-7106 or via PayPal below: Cinco de Mayo: Member
Name(s) on RSVP
Cinco de Mayo: Non-Member
Name(s) on RSVP

2013-04-22 06:56

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo — Toluca Style

FORT WORTH, TX—Sister Cities Honors the Vaquero Toluca Style Fort Worth Sister Cities is staging a Cinco de Mayo celebration May 2nd in recognition of the city’s fifteen-year relationship with Toluca, Mexico and in honor of the Vaquero. The event will be held at the Rose Marine Theatre from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The celebration will include the gallery exhibit Cantos y Corridos, Vaquero exhibit, live music, Ballet Folklorico de Fort Worth, and a special presentation from Artes Academy’s production of Vaquero Tales. “Fort Worth is proud to have Toluca, Mexico as a sister city and eager to celebrate this important date with our brothers and sisters to the south,” said Doug Harman, Sister Cities Toluca Chair. “I will be visiting Toluca in May and will bring an invitation from Mayor Price to the new mayor of Toluca to visit Fort Worth. It is important to maintain this vital relationship between Toluca and Fort Worth.” Cinco de Mayo is a celebration held on May 5. It is celebrated in the United States and regionally in Mexico, primarily in the state of Puebla, where the holiday is called El Día de la Batalla de Puebla (The Day of the Battle of Puebla). In the U. S. it is a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. In the state of Puebla, the date is observed to commemorate the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín. Toluca, Mexico is Fort Worth’s closest Sister City. Signed in 1998, this partnership has resulted in many programs such as: middle and high school-to-school partnerships including the Model U.N. program; municipal and economic forums; monarch butterfly tourism exchanges; culture, language and mentoring programs; a medical school intern program and Fort Worth Police Dept. training exchanges. Tickets for the event may be obtained by calling 817/632-7106 or via PayPal below: Cinco de Mayo: Member

Name(s) on RSVP
Cinco de Mayo: Non-Member
Name(s) on RSVP

Celebrating Mother Africa: Earth Day Open Mic

Fort Worth, TX—Mike Guinn Heading Up Sister Cities Event Mike Guinn, founder and originator of Fort Worth National Poetry Slams and The DFW Brave New Voices Youth Poetry Slams will be emceeing next week’s poetry open mic event for Fort Worth Sister Cities. Guinn has received international acclaim as one of the South’s hardest working performance  poets, event coordinators-host/emcee and spoken word events promoters. Michael is a professional whose performances are laced with a hint of southern charm and this gentleman poet has garnered a huge fan base selling out almost all events. “You are in for a treat at this poetry slam.  If you want to participate and show off your poetry skills or just want to hear some great poetry relating to Africa, join us,” said Dr. Staussa Erwin, Chair of the Sister Cities Mbabane Committee. The Poetry Open Mic event will be held April 25th, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Trinity River  Campus of Tarrant County College.  Special guest artist Jo Dufo will also be on hand creating live art during the program.  The event is $5.00 and tickets can be reserved online at www.fwsistercities.org or by calling 817/632-7100. Sister Cities is staging monthly educational and cultural events in order to bring the world to Fort Worth.  Last month’s event focused on China with TCU’s Dr. Carrie Currier speaking on economic and political developments.  This month’s event focuses on Africa and is sponsored by the     Mbabane, Swaziland group with the Toluca, Mexico committee hosting a Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 2nd. For more information on these or other programs of Fort Worth Sister Cities visit www.fwsistercities.org or call 817/632-7100. You may obtain tickets to the event here:  Earth Day Open Mic

2013-04-17 04:59

Celebrating Mother Africa: Earth Day Open Mic

Fort Worth, TX—Mike Guinn Heading Up Sister Cities Event Mike Guinn, founder and originator of Fort Worth National Poetry Slams and The DFW Brave New Voices Youth Poetry Slams will be emceeing next week’s poetry open mic event for Fort Worth Sister Cities. Guinn has received international acclaim as one of the South’s hardest working performance  poets, event coordinators-host/emcee and spoken word events promoters. Michael is a professional whose performances are laced with a hint of southern charm and this gentleman poet has garnered a huge fan base selling out almost all events. “You are in for a treat at this poetry slam.  If you want to participate and show off your poetry skills or just want to hear some great poetry relating to Africa, join us,” said Dr. Staussa Erwin, Chair of the Sister Cities Mbabane Committee. The Poetry Open Mic event will be held April 25th, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Trinity River  Campus of Tarrant County College.  Special guest artist Jo Dufo will also be on hand creating live art during the program.  The event is $5.00 and tickets can be reserved online at www.fwsistercities.org or by calling 817/632-7100. Sister Cities is staging monthly educational and cultural events in order to bring the world to Fort Worth.  Last month’s event focused on China with TCU’s Dr. Carrie Currier speaking on economic and political developments.  This month’s event focuses on Africa and is sponsored by the     Mbabane, Swaziland group with the Toluca, Mexico committee hosting a Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 2nd. For more information on these or other programs of Fort Worth Sister Cities visit www.fwsistercities.org or call 817/632-7100. You may obtain tickets to the event here:  Earth Day Open Mic

ARTES DE LA ROSA AND SISTER CITIES TEAM UP

Fort Worth, TX—Sister Cities  Intern from Toluca, Mexico to Visit this Summer Gustavo Pereyra, an international theater arts student from Tec de Monterrey University in Toluca, Mexico,  will be interning  with the Artes de la Rosa staff this summer.  His main focus will be on the stage productions for the Artes de la Rosa summer program. Mr. Pereyra will report to the Director of Education, Yvonne Duque, and is being home hosted by Artes de la Rosa board members.  “Gustavo will be a welcome addition to our team and we look forward to having him on board this summer,” said Duque.  Fort Worth Sister Cities International is pleased to partner with Artes de la Rosa on this annual internship program beginning in May and running through August. Sister Cities internships are centered around international project management and provides students with hands on experience. Sister Cities has positions managing international projects and partners with other organizations such as Arts de la Rosa and the Convention and Visitors Bureau on specialized internships. Interns working on international exchange programs at the Sister Cities office this Spring include Katrina Elmasri, who just graduated from the University of North Texas; Christine He, who is from China and has served as an official interpreter for the Beijing Olympics; Larkin Churchill, Texas Christian University; Diana Muradyan, University of North Texas; and Ashton Myles, Tarrant County College. Toluca, Mexico is Fort Worth’s closest Sister City.   Signed in 1998, this partnership has      resulted in many programs such as: middle and high school-to-school partnerships including the Model U.N. program; municipal and economic forums; monarch butterfly  tourism exchanges; culture, language and mentoring programs; a medical school intern program and Fort Worth Police Department training exchanges.

2013-04-17 08:16

ARTES DE LA ROSA AND SISTER CITIES TEAM UP

Fort Worth, TX—Sister Cities  Intern from Toluca, Mexico to Visit this Summer Gustavo Pereyra, an international theater arts student from Tec de Monterrey University in Toluca, Mexico,  will be interning  with the Artes de la Rosa staff this summer.  His main focus will be on the stage productions for the Artes de la Rosa summer program. Mr. Pereyra will report to the Director of Education, Yvonne Duque, and is being home hosted by Artes de la Rosa board members.  “Gustavo will be a welcome addition to our team and we look forward to having him on board this summer,” said Duque.  Fort Worth Sister Cities International is pleased to partner with Artes de la Rosa on this annual internship program beginning in May and running through August. Sister Cities internships are centered around international project management and provides students with hands on experience. Sister Cities has positions managing international projects and partners with other organizations such as Arts de la Rosa and the Convention and Visitors Bureau on specialized internships. Interns working on international exchange programs at the Sister Cities office this Spring include Katrina Elmasri, who just graduated from the University of North Texas; Christine He, who is from China and has served as an official interpreter for the Beijing Olympics; Larkin Churchill, Texas Christian University; Diana Muradyan, University of North Texas; and Ashton Myles, Tarrant County College. Toluca, Mexico is Fort Worth’s closest Sister City.   Signed in 1998, this partnership has      resulted in many programs such as: middle and high school-to-school partnerships including the Model U.N. program; municipal and economic forums; monarch butterfly  tourism exchanges; culture, language and mentoring programs; a medical school intern program and Fort Worth Police Department training exchanges.

OFFICIAL DELEGATION TRAVELING TO TOLUCA, MEXICO TO MEET NEW MAYOR

Fort Worth, Texas — Sister Cities Delegation Greets Mayor González Fort Worth Sister Cities  is sending an official delegation to Toluca, Mexico to meet the     Honorable Mayor Martha Hilda González Calderón. The delegation will be led by Mike Hyatt, Director Emeritus of Fort Worth Sister Cities and Doug Harman, Chair of the Toluca Committee.  Also traveling with the delegation are Manny Reyes, Toluca Vice Chair and Irene Chase, Vice President of Fort Worth Sister Cities. Mayor Price’s schedule prevented her from joining the group but is quoted below from a letter to be delivered:  “Since 1998, Fort Worth has been proud to call Toluca its Sister City.  Together we have supported a strong partnership including youth and university level programs, ongoing police department exchanges, and an increased emphasis on developing economic relations between our two cities. “  The delegation will deliver the letter along with a gift on Mayor Price’s behalf and an invitation to visit Fort Worth to re-establish  the sister city partnership in hopes of renewed economic relations and educational exchanges. Toluca, Mexico is Fort Worth’s closest Sister City.   Signed in 1998, this partnership has resulted in many exciting programs such as: middle and high school-to-school partnerships including the Model U.N. program; municipal and economic forums; monarch butterfly  tourism exchange; culture, language and mentoring programs; a medical school intern program and City of Fort Worth Police Department training program.

2013-04-17 08:15

OFFICIAL DELEGATION TRAVELING TO TOLUCA, MEXICO TO MEET NEW MAYOR

Fort Worth, Texas — Sister Cities Delegation Greets Mayor González Fort Worth Sister Cities  is sending an official delegation to Toluca, Mexico to meet the     Honorable Mayor Martha Hilda González Calderón. The delegation will be led by Mike Hyatt, Director Emeritus of Fort Worth Sister Cities and Doug Harman, Chair of the Toluca Committee.  Also traveling with the delegation are Manny Reyes, Toluca Vice Chair and Irene Chase, Vice President of Fort Worth Sister Cities. Mayor Price’s schedule prevented her from joining the group but is quoted below from a letter to be delivered:  “Since 1998, Fort Worth has been proud to call Toluca its Sister City.  Together we have supported a strong partnership including youth and university level programs, ongoing police department exchanges, and an increased emphasis on developing economic relations between our two cities. “  The delegation will deliver the letter along with a gift on Mayor Price’s behalf and an invitation to visit Fort Worth to re-establish  the sister city partnership in hopes of renewed economic relations and educational exchanges. Toluca, Mexico is Fort Worth’s closest Sister City.   Signed in 1998, this partnership has resulted in many exciting programs such as: middle and high school-to-school partnerships including the Model U.N. program; municipal and economic forums; monarch butterfly  tourism exchange; culture, language and mentoring programs; a medical school intern program and City of Fort Worth Police Department training program.

Mayor’s International Dinner To Be Held Nov. 21st

Fort Worth, TX Dinner To Feature Dancing with the Sister Cities Stars! Fort Worth Sister Cities International is staging the Mayor’s International Dinner Nov. 21st at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel hosted by Mayor Betsy Price and chaired by David Parker, AT&T Vice President. Guests will be  entertained by popular emcee Gary Cumbie and local celebrity couples vying for the coveted mirrored ball trophy to be presented to the Dance Champions performing either  a disco, swing, tango or waltz routine. Celebrity couples will be announced soon. Special entertainment will be provided by the “African Hipsters” dance group accompanied by the MONDO Drummers.  The Hipsters are a group of local community leaders, including Mayor Price herself, dancing a hip hop routine to authentic African music. Auditions are occurring now to fill the dance company. Guests at the Mayor’s Dinner will be entertained by the dancing couples and Hipsters throughout the evening and dine on cuisine from Fort Worth’s sister cities. All this is being done in an effort to raise funds to support the educational, cultural and economic opportunities provided by Sister Cities to the citizens of Fort Worth. For more information or to sponsor, please click here.

Arlington Heights High School hosting students from Trier, Germany

German Sister City sending students to Fort Worth Fifteen high school students from Trier, Germany will spend two weeks hosted by Arlington Heights High School as part of the Sister Cities Ambassador School Program March 28 — April 13th. The goal of this exchange is to provide an international experience that will further inspire global understanding, provide an opportunity to share cultural heritage and traditions, learn about the U.S. educational system and gain a personal perspective of the United States by living with a host family in Fort Worth. The exchange begins by sharing the Easter weekend tradition with host families. The last two weeks will include the German students sharing their culture in various classes and club activities, as well as learning about Texas culture during local tours and site visits to the Stockyards, Amon Carter Museum and the Sid Richardson Museum. The students will also be hosted for a day by Leonard Middle School and Chisholm Trail High School who will be the Ambassador school for Trier in 2014. Several students from these schools will be traveling to Trier as part of the Sister Cities summer exchange program and will be home hosted while there. The students will conclude their stay in Fort Worth with knowledge of Texas history led by Arlington Heights German teacher Cody Cox who will lead them for a weekend trip to San Antonio. They will tour the Alamo and Institute of Texas Cultures and visit Sea World while there. They will also enjoy a boat ride along the San Antonio River.

2013-03-27 01:36

Arlington Heights High School hosting students from Trier, Germany

German Sister City sending students to Fort Worth Fifteen high school students from Trier, Germany will spend two weeks hosted by Arlington Heights High School as part of the Sister Cities Ambassador School Program March 28 — April 13th. The goal of this exchange is to provide an international experience that will further inspire global understanding, provide an opportunity to share cultural heritage and traditions, learn about the U.S. educational system and gain a personal perspective of the United States by living with a host family in Fort Worth. The exchange begins by sharing the Easter weekend tradition with host families. The last two weeks will include the German students sharing their culture in various classes and club activities, as well as learning about Texas culture during local tours and site visits to the Stockyards, Amon Carter Museum and the Sid Richardson Museum. The students will also be hosted for a day by Leonard Middle School and Chisholm Trail High School who will be the Ambassador school for Trier in 2014. Several students from these schools will be traveling to Trier as part of the Sister Cities summer exchange program and will be home hosted while there. The students will conclude their stay in Fort Worth with knowledge of Texas history led by Arlington Heights German teacher Cody Cox who will lead them for a weekend trip to San Antonio. They will tour the Alamo and Institute of Texas Cultures and visit Sea World while there. They will also enjoy a boat ride along the San Antonio River.

Volunteer at Main Street Arts Festival

Want to join other Sister Cities members and enjoy the festival? Volunteer at our beverage booth at Main Street Arts Festival on Friday, April 19th . Volunteers are needed for the following shifts:
  • 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
  •   3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
  •   6:30 to 10:00 p.m.
Please contact Beth  (or 817.632-7105) if you want to join the fun and volunteer.