Fort Worth Sister Cities International

Our Harashin Scholars are home! 🎉 These incredible students spent an enriching time in Nagaoka, Japan, learning about Japanese culture and building lasting friendships. We're so grateful for Mr. Kazuhiko Hara and the Harashin Company's support of this amazing program for 30 years!

Check out The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth's Studio Ghibli Film Festival this weekend!

During the month of August, be sure to grab your friends and family and head to Lockwood Distilling Co. Fort Worth! Proceeds from the 'Worldy Affair' cocktail will directly benefit Fort Worth Sister Cities. Cheers!🍹

International splashdown in Fort Worth! 🇮🇹🇺🇸 Last week, Sigma Swimming hosted some friendly competition and cultural exchange with young athletes from Reggio Emilia and their peers in Fort Worth. Training, exploring, and making waves together!

A huge thank you to the families of Sigma Swimming and Coralee Flug for the incredible hospitality shared with our friends from Reggio Emilia! We can't wait to see what the future holds for these young swimmers.

Throughout August, Fort Worth Sister Cities International will be accepting donations to support our recent delegation from Mbabane, Eswatini. After completing the Global Leaders in Action program held in Fort Worth in July, the delegation—comprised of five students, one adult, their driver, and a government official—faced a harrowing ordeal. On the final leg of their return journey to Mbabane, they were hijacked and robbed, losing cherished gifts, souvenirs, electronic devices, and clothing items.

Click here to support our friends in Mbabane: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/mbabanedelegation

Last week, we were so proud to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Harashin Scholar Program that has fostered cultural exchange between Fort Worth, Texas, and Nagaoka, Japan since 1990. The program, funded by the Harashin Company led by Mr. Kazuhiko Hara, has provided educational and cultural enrichment opportunities for a total of 240 Fort Worth students and 60 teachers over the years.

Many treasured alumni came out to celebrate with the 2024 class of Harashin Scholars along with representatives from the Harashin Company. Here's to another 30 years!

Last weekend we wrapped on the first year of Global Leaders in Action, a summer youth program focusing on developing leadership skills and putting them in practice in local community service. This year, students from Guiyang, China; Mbabane, Eswatini; and Fort Worth, Texas worked together to create curriculum on leadership qualities such as cross-cultural communication and teamwork, which they then took to local community centers and youth clubs. We are excited to share more about the impact they made as well as professional pictures soon!

Our delegation is soaking in the sights, savoring the flavors, and building life-long international friendships in our sister city, Budapest, Hungary! 🇭🇺

🇫🇷 "Liberté, égalité, fraternité..." and French art at the Kimbell Art Museum! Thanks to everyone who joined the Nîmes Committee's Bastille Day celebration. Did you find all the hidden treasures in the scavenger hunt?

Please save the date and join Fort Worth Sister Cities International for our 39th Annual Meeting of the Membership!

We will celebrate the many successes of our year and hear an inspirational message from our esteemed speaker, Jane Nelson, Texas Secretary of State.

For more information, please visit: https://www.fwsistercities.org/event/annual-meeting/

Our incredible Youth Ambassadors are back from their life-changing trip to Nagaoka, Japan!

This year's exchange was filled with cultural immersion, delicious food, and unforgettable friendships. From exploring ancient temples to rocking out at karaoke, these young leaders embraced everything Nagaoka had to offer.

We were especially touched to hear about the deep bonds formed between our ambassadors and their host families. These connections are at the heart of the Sister Cities program, fostering understanding and friendship across cultures.

Thank you to the Nagaoka International Exchange Association for their generous hospitality!

Congratulations to this year's graduates of Dual Language Camp! For the past three weeks university students from Toluca, Mexico in partnership with Fort Worth ISD have been providing summer enrichment for elementary students in dual language studies to increase language and literacy. Their hard work and dedication have opened doors to a brighter future for these young learners!

Fort Worth wins again! We are thrilled to announce that we have been recognized by Sister Cities International with the Innovation in Youth & Education Award for outstanding youth programming in 2023. A big thank you to all the volunteers, delegation leaders, home hosts, and our amazing youth who make all this possible!

Read more about it: https://www.fwsistercities.org/fort-worth-wins-best-youth-program-in-the-nation-for-the-fifth-time/

Join the Nîmes Committee July 12 to celebrate Bastille Day, the celebration of the unity of the French people, at the Kimbell Art Museum. Experience the Kimbell after hours, learn about French art from expert docents, and participate in a scavenger hunt throughout the permanent collection. Register here: https://www.fwsistercities.org/event/la-fete-de-la-bastille/

We had an amazing time learning how to make a local favorite dish in Nîmes! This hands-on cooking class was the perfect way to explore the city's traditions and flavors. We even got to learn about the history and music of the region while we cooked.

A big thank you to Nîmes Chair Dr. Marie Schein for creating this immersive experience and to Brent Hyder for allowing the use of his charming home.

Seeking short-term paid position to serve as an overnight hall monitor for our Global Leaders in Action program July 11-13. The pay is $15/hour and the shift is at least 8 hours per night. Applicants must pass a background check.

If interested, please email [email protected].

Our amazing Youth Ambassadors are currently in Trier, Germany, for a cultural exchange program! They're having a blast immersing themselves in the rich history, delicious food, and vibrant atmosphere of this incredible city.

From exploring ancient Roman ruins to making new friends with their German counterparts, this trip is sure to be an unforgettable experience that will foster understanding and global connections.

What an incredible Members Circle of Giving event last week where we kicked off The Mayor's International Dinner & Global Awards season! This year's Dinner is on November 14 at the Fort Worth Zoo where we will proudly celebrate our 20-year partnership with sister city Mbabane, Eswatini. 🇸🇿

The evening will feature a raffle, silent auction, global awards, entertainment, and most of all, an inspirational program highlighting the international endeavors of Fort Worth Sister Cities International.

The event is a benefit to those who belong to the Members Circle of Giving, so join today! http://weblink.donorperfect.com/memberscircle

And they're off! For the next week, Fort Worth Youth Ambassadors will be getting to know our sister city Bandung, Indonesia. They have spent the last couple days meeting their host families and exploring the city.

These exchanges aren’t just about sightseeing; they’re about becoming citizen diplomats, gaining firsthand insights into diverse cultures, and fostering lifelong friendships. Stay tuned to see more of their experience!

Happy Festa della Repubblica!

Celebrate the unity of the Italian people with us this Friday at the Kimbell Art Museum. Learn about Italian art, participate in a scavenger hunt throughout the permanent collection, and enjoy the Allegro Guitar Society.

Find out more: https://www.fwsistercities.org/event/festa-della-repubblica/

This week, we had the wonderful opportunity to welcome a delegation from our sister city Guiyang, China - the first in 12 years! They visited the amazing Mrs. Renfro's Salsa and spoke with FWSCI leadership about future collaborations. We are excited for the continued prosperity of this cherished friendship!

We are welcoming another delegation very soon in July. If you would like to volunteer to help with the incoming group, send us a DM!

We held our Young Artists & Authors Showcase (YAAS) this week at Kinfolk House. YAAS is a local-themed competition for students ages 13 – 18 where contestants submit a piece in classic art, digital art, photography, writing, or poetry. The top three winners in each category were awarded a cash prize and goodies from our friends at Kimbell Art Museum and The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and, they have been entered into an international competition.

This year’s theme was “ClimateScape: Resilient Cities for Tomorrow’s Climate.” The theme encouraged students to unleash their creativity and showcase the transformative power of resilient cities that can adapt and flourish in the face of a changing climate. We were pleased to have a record-breaking 36 entries!

Thank you to the world-renowned artist (and Fort Worth native), Sedrick Huckaby,
for hosting our showcase. Let's hear it for our amazingly talented Fort Worth young artists and authors! 🎨

Calling all Harashin Scholars! This year, we are celebrating 30 years of the cherished Harashin program and we want to hear from you.

Share your photos here: https://app.kululu.com/album/905fjm
Update us here: https://forms.gle/skzJ1zfaJPzmewJH7

Congratulations to our newly elected 2024-2025 Fort Worth Youth International officers! And big thanks to our outgoing officers. Led by President Delia Sanchez Juarez, the board hosted a Global Extravaganza kickoff event, volunteered at the Mid-Autumn Festival, Mayor’s International International Dinner, Lunar New Year Celebration, and Japanese Children’s Day, and organized a service project for World Relief.

For the full list of new officers, click here: https://www.fwsistercities.org/sister-cities-youth-board-elected-for-2024-25-school-year/

NEWS: Fort Worth Sister Cities International announces the upcoming retirement of Mae Ferguson, the organization's dedicated President & CEO, who will be retiring at the end of this year after 25 years of outstanding service.

“Mae Ferguson and Fort Worth Sister Cities International are synonymous,” said Greg Jackson, Chairman of the Board. “Mae is a pillar in our community: our entire city is grateful for her remarkable service that has positioned the organization as Fort Worth’s global leader in international relationships.” Read more: https://www.fwsistercities.org/mae-ferguson-to-retire-after-25-years/

Do you have a favorite memory or story about Mae? Please share with us!

Join us on an unforgettable journey blending the culinary delights of the Emilia Romagna region and the rich gastronomic heritage of Rome. Find out more and register: https://www.fwsistercities.org/event/parmesan-to-pasta-culinary-tour-of-italy/

Congratulations to all the artists and authors who competed locally in Fort Worth and were selected to be entered into the Sister Cities International Young Artists & Authors Showcase where they will compete worldwide. We have some truly talented students representing Fort Worth.

The local winners are listed below in order of appearance. See winners for the Authors & Poets category here: https://www.fwsistercities.org/young-artists-authors-chosen-to-represent-fort-worth-in-international-showcase/

Artists (classic)
1st Place – Reconstructed by Vidhi Jadeja (17), Flower Mound High School
2nd Place – Blended Cities by Lorelei Palmer (14), Young Women’s Leadership Academy
3rd Place – Una tarde en italia by Mariana Gonzalez (15), World Languages Institute
Honorable Mention – Home by Campbell Timmons (14), Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts

Artists (digital)
1st Place – Urban Landscape by Sam Brown (17), Paschal High School
2nd Place – POLAR by Eric Rollins (18), Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts

Photographers
1st Place – Daydream by Natalie Ricke (17), Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts
2nd Place – Green Spaces by Celeste Jenkins-O’Reilly (17), Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts
3rd Place – Natures Embrace by Lucia Payton (18), I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and VPA
Honorable Mention – The Mirror by Sally Al Imari (17), Young Women’s Leadership Academy

Authors
1st Place – “Echoes of Ember” by Harmon Hong (13), Fort Worth Country Day School
2nd Place – “Lux” by Celia Miller Pitt (18), Young Women’s Leadership Academy
3rd Place – “Hope Springs Eternal” by Eva McWaters (15), All Saints Episcopal School
Honorable Mention – “LUNGS” by Magnolia Potemkin (15), I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and VPA

Poets
1st Place – “Perfection” by Eliza Stubblefield (15), I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and VPA
2nd Place – “What’s in a city?” by Ariana Wolf (18), James Martin High School
3rd Place – “Tomorrowland” by Joshua Ideji (17), Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts
Honorable Mention – “Everyday the sun shines” by Marydith Agyemang (14), Young Women’s Leadership Academy

Join us May 5 for the final Fort Worth Youth International meeting of the school year!

Do you want to build your resume all while having fun with peers who love all things international? We are electing officers for the 2024-25 Fort Worth Youth International board and we want enthusiastic people like YOU to run for office, even if you are new to the organization.

Find out how to run and register to attend at our link in bio!