August 14, 2015. This July, Aurora Sister Cities International took part in the 59th annual Sister Cities International (SCI) conference. The conference brought together over 400 volunteers, mayors, governors and citizen diplomats from all over the world, offering the chance for networking and socializing. It also provided educational workshops designed to give sister cities programs the tools necessary to enact meaningful change in their local communities.

Aurora being represented in the parade of flags.

“The mission of Sister Cities International since day one […] has been that we could know one another, […] that we could share the best of ourselves and the best of our communities with one another,” Minneapolis Mayor Betsey Hodges said, welcoming attendees during the first day of the conference. This was an effective lead-in to the event, which allowed representatives from programs ranging from Indianapolis to Africa and China to interact, get to know one another and share ideas.

Aurora and Denver sister cities at luncheon.

Aurora Sister Cities International was proud to have three organizational members attend the event: Executive Director Karlyn Shorb, board member and Aurora City Council member Bob Roth and communications intern and Aurora Community College employee Fatema Amin. All three embraced the event as an opportunity to engage with like-minded people. ““It’s a good way to exchange information, and for networking, for people from all over the world,” said Amin. “We have four sister city relationships and our newest one is with Adama, Ethiopia; we have one of the largest Ethiopian-born communities in the country, so that relationship was very important to establish,” said Shorb. “We’re here to learn how to do more.”

Fatema Amin & Karlyn Shorb. Credit: Jim Walsh

Through attending such events, Aurora Sister Cities International staff and volunteers further their goals of building fruitful relationships across different cultures and communities.