Sister Cities Global Cleveland Welcoming Week Cleveland Public Library September 17, 2024
According to Sister City International (SCI), a sister city, county, or state relationship is a broad-based, long-term partnership between two communities in two countries. A relationship is officially recognized after the highest elected or appointed official from both communities sign off on an agreement to become sister cities.
Cleveland has 26 sister cities and most of these cities have good relationship with Cleveland and are tied with business, trade, educational or cultural projects and exchanges.
As part of Welcoming Week 2024, Global Cleveland hosted an event at the Cleveland Public Library that showcased the city's sister city relationships. Here is a list of Cleveland's Sister Cities:
Alexandria, Egypt
Bahir-Dar, Ethiopia
Bangalore, India
Beit She'an, Israel
Brasov, Romania
Bratislava, Slovakia
Cape Town, South Africa
Cleveland, United Kingdom
Conakry, Guinea
Fier, Albania
Gdansk, Poland
Heidenheim, Germany
Holon, Israel
Ibadan, Nigeria
Kigali, Rwanda
Klaipeda, Lithuania
Lima, Peru
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Miskolc, Hungary
Rouen, France
Segundo Montes, El Salvador
Taipei City, Taiwan
Tema, Ghana
Vicenza, Italy
Volgograd, Russia
West Mayo, Ireland
The flags of the countries of Cleveland's sister cities are on display in the library. Here is a quick video look.
The presentation began with welcoming remarks from Global Cleveland President Joe Cimperman.
Global Cleveland President Joe Cimperman
Joe introduced Daniel J. Ricchetti, Deputy Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy
Daniel J. Ricchetti
Other speakers followed.
Felton Thomas, CPL CEO
Austin Davis, Cleveland Senior Policy Advisor
Chris Ronayne, Cuyahoga County Executive
Tobias Engel, Manager, International Affairs at the Ohio Department of Development
Crystal L. Bryant-Agyemang, Executive Director of the Cleveland NAACP
Crystal was asked to speak unexpectedly and she gave heartfelt remarks about her fellow Ghana native Kwame Botchway who tragically passed away recently. Kwame, with Crystal Bryant, forged the relationship between Tema, Ghana and Cleveland Ohio as the newest of Cleveland's Sister Cities. Watch the video.
The final speaker was the new Consul General of Slovenia Suzana Cesarek. Watch a video of her speech.
Consul General of Slovenia Suzana Cesarek
Consul General Cesarek and Joe Cimperman
After the speeches, people gathered to see the flags and mingle with the other attendees.
Sister Cities Speakers
Slovenian group with Felton Thomas
Young men from Ghana at Welcoming Week
Welcoming Week group including Mayor Georgine Welo, County Executive Chris Ronayne and Joe Cimperman
Sister Cities Flags plaque
Sister Cities Flags at the Cleveland Public Library
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