The Asheville Sister City Program

Organized in 1988, Asheville Sister Cities Incorporated (ASCI) is an independent 501(c)3, that is people oriented community organization affiliated with the city of Asheville and Sister Cities International.

In conjunction with local governments, it serves to promote international awareness and maintain good relations with the sister cities linked to Asheville.

The Asheville Sister Cities program is open to all individuals and organizations in the Asheville community.

Membership in the Sister Cities program promises to be a rewarding and fun experience! Join us for international film festivals, food tasting from around the world, travel opportunities, and a chance to promote peace through global friendship with our partner sister cities.

We offer many unique and interesting opportunities:
* Cultural Exchanges
* Joint Business Ventures
* Student Exchanges
* Professional Training
* Volunteer Opportunities

Please invite your friends and family to join us in celebrating Asheville Sister Cities and it's accomplishments. Stop by the ASCI offices at 33 Page Avenue for more information!

Sister Cities International

Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between U.S. and international communities. We strive to build global cooperation at the municipal level, promote cultural understanding and stimulate economic development.

Sister Cities International is a leader for local community development and volunteer action. We motivate and empower private citizens, municipal officials and business leaders to conduct long-term sister city programs. We believe that sister city programs involve two-way communication and should mutually benefit partnering communities.

Our goals are to:

• Develop municipal partnerships between U.S. cities, counties, and states and similar jurisdictions in other nations.
  
  
• Provide opportunities for city officials and citizens to experience and explore other cultures through long-term community partnerships.
  
  
• Create an atmosphere in which economic and community development can be implemented and strengthened.
  
  
• Stimulate environments through which communities will creatively learn, work, and solve problems together through reciprocal cultural, educational, municipal, business, professional and technical exchanges and projects.
  
  
• Collaborate with organizations in the United States and other countries which share similar goals.

Sister Cities International (SCI) was created in 1956 by the Eisenhower administration to improve global understanding and cooperation. Since that time, more than 1200 communities in the United States have been linked with more than 2,100 partners in 117 countries and involving hundreds of thousands of volunteers. It is one of the largest volunteer organizations in the world, growing out of the recognition that we all are members of a single global community. It is a unique non-profit organization, nationwide/worldwide in scope, involving governments, businesses, cultural and educational sectors and private volunteers.