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Gastonia Sister Cities, Inc. is a citizen-based organization established to foster and promote friendships and mutual understandings between the people of the Gastonia area and foreign countries, through partnerships in education, culture, economic development and dialogue. |
In 1956, Sister Cities International was established as a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network creating and strengthening partnerships between US and International communities in an effort to increase global cooperation at the municipal level, to promote cultural understanding, and to stimulate economic development. SCI leads the movement for local community volunteer action by motivating and empowering private citizens, municipal officials, and business leaders to conduct long-term cultural exchange programs between Sister Cities. In 1990, then Mayor, James B. “Jick” Garland was approached by a local businessman, Kurt Scholler, who suggested Gastonia get involved in the International Sister Cities Program. Mayor Garland contacted friend, Bill Lawson, to spearhead a citizens group for the purpose of establishing a local Sister Cities nonprofit organization. The rest is history! Gastonia now has two Sister Cities: Gotha, Germany, and Santiago de Surco, Peru.
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Gastonia Sister Cities Mission Statement
Gastonia Sister Cities, Inc. is a not-for-profit international organization established to foster and promote friendships and mutual understanding between the people of the Gastonia area and foreign countries.
We seek to achieve this mission through:
Partnerships with education
Culture,
Economic development and
Shared dialogue.
For more information on Sister Cities, please see the Quick Links section to the right.
Sister Cities services are located in the Housing and Community Engagement Department office at the Garland Municipal Business Center at 150 S. York Street on the second floor.
Contact Information:
Garland Municipal Business Center
150 S. York Street, Gastonia, NC 28052
(PO Box 1748, Gastonia, NC 28053-1748)
704-869-1938 (office)
704.866.6067 (fax)
