Twenty-nine students and fourteen leaders are visiting four of Fort Worth’s eight sister cities this month including Trier, Germany; Budapest, Hungary; Reggio Emilia, Italy; and Toluca, Mexico.
The youth of Fort Worth benefit from a global education. In addition to learning leadership skills and participating in cultural exchange, they also receive training to become citizen diplomats representing the U.S., Texas, and Fort Worth which enhances their college and career opportunities
“Today’s global community and marketplace is increasingly interconnected, making cultural understanding and exchange a pivotal aspect of a student’s education. Our student-centered program ensures students develop the skills necessary for them to pursue their own goals and become globally-minded leaders in their communities,” said Johnny Campbell, Chairman of the Board of Sister Cities.
Educators from the FWISD, private schools, and local universities will lead the delegations including:
Trier, Germany: Tracey Cravens, North Side High School and Nancy Martinez, Sam Houston State University.
Reggio Emilia, Italy: Marvin Vann Griffith, Southwest High School, Heather Kurima, Trimble Tech High School, Jay Kurima, Texas Academy of Biomedical Science and Jose Frayre, Polytechnic High School, as well as Associate Delegation Leader Arian Martinez, Tarrant County College.
Budapest, Hungary: James Gleaton, Tarrant County College and T’Aundra Harlin, Uplift Summit International Prep., as well as Associate Delegation Leader Samuel Whiting, George Washington University.
Toluca, Mexico: Masaki Nakamoto, Paschal High School and Rhonda O’Brien, North Side High School, as well as Associate Delegation Leader Clara Counts, Tarrant County College and Educator Ambassador Jose Romero, Polytechnic High School.
More students will depart for exchanges in the summer.
Fort Worth City Manager, David Cooke, and Fort Worth Sister Cities International Chair, Johnny Campbell of Sundance Square, recently returned from an economic, cultural, and diplomatic mission to Trier, Germany, along with a delegation of eighteen.
“Fort Worth is committed to growing educational, business, and cultural connections with our partners around the world and we know this is needed now more than ever. We must nurture these relationships to grow them,” said Campbell.
Trier was signed as Fort Worth’s second sister city in 1987. This partnership has resulted in many programs including: high school and university exchanges; partnerships with artists participating in Main Street Arts Festival; exchanges with the Fort Worth Fire Dept.; internships in the Sister Cities’ office, as well as local law firms; cultural exchanges; and hunting expeditions into the mountains of Germany and across the plains of Texas.
Twenty-six delegates will depart Fort Worth February 19 on an eight-day educational mission to Cuba to learn more about the country and to promote Fort Worth. The delegation will consist of representatives from the business, education, arts, and tourism sectors.
While in Havana the delegation will meet with Ambassador Carlos Alzugaray Treto on U.S./Cuba Relations. Ambassador Alzugaray visited Fort Worth in 2016 to further educate the community on current issues facing Cuba and the US. Ambassador Alzugaray is the former Cuban Ambassador to the European Union and former Director of the Institute of Foreign Relations in Havana.
“Fort Worth is looking for new opportunities to connect around the world, which is needed now more than ever before,” said Johnny Campbell, Board Chair. “With diplomatic relations established between the U.S. and Cuba and travel restrictions being lifted, a relationship with Cuba could be of benefit to Fort Worth residents.”
Fort Worth City Manager David Cooke and Fort Worth Sister Cities International Chair Johnny Campbell of Sundance Square will lead a delegation of eighteen Fort Worth Ambassadors to Trier, Germany November 30 – December 8 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the partnership as sister cities. The mission’s purpose is to build economic, cultural, and diplomatic ties between Fort Worth and Germany.
“Fort Worth is eager to recommit to this important relationship with Germany and looks forward to many more beneficial exchanges between our two cities. Our commitment to growing our educational, business, and cultural connections must remain a long-term priority for sustainability of our relationship with Trier,” said Johnny Campbell.
While there the delegation will visit local sites of interest including the famed Christkindl markets, as well as a local refugee clinic. The exchange will also include visits to Heidelberg, Cologne, and the neighboring country of Luxembourg.
Trier was signed as Fort Worth’s second sister city. Signed in 1987, this partnership has resulted in many programs including: high school and university exchanges; partnerships with artists to participate in the Main Street Arts Festival; municipal exchanges with the Fort Worth Fire Department; internships in the Fort Worth Sister Cities’ office, as well as local law firms; cultural exchanges featuring regional cuisine and customs; and hunting expeditions into the mountains of Germany and across the plains of Texas.
Nearly 100 Fort Worth students recently completed a vigorous selection process and have been selected to represent the City of Fort Worth as Ambassadors to several of Fort Worth’s international partners.
This year’s Ambassadors represent the Fort Worth ISD, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, Everman ISD, Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, Keller ISD, and several private schools. Scholarship assistance of over $100,000 is awarded annually ensuring a diverse group of students and teachers who will represent Fort Worth.
The Fort Worth community is invited to a presentation sponsored by Fort Worth Sister Cities International and Tarrant County College on Indonesia Today, November 10, 6:00 p.m. at Tarrant County College, Trinity River East Campus. The event is open to the public.