Sister Cities Advisory Commission

History of Sister Cities

Sister Cities International was created at President Eisenhower’s 1956 White House summit on citizen diplomacy, where he envisioned a network that would be a champion for peace and prosperity by fostering bonds between people from different communities around the world. President Eisenhower reasoned that people from different cultures could understand, appreciate, and celebrate their differences while building partnerships that would lessen the chance of new conflicts. The Fountain Hills Sister Cities Corp is a community-based 501(c)3 organization providing opportunities for the people of our area to develop relationships through volunteers who reach out to interact with citizens of our Sister Cities. The organization's goal is to achieve international understanding, cultural sensitivities, humanitarian efforts and encourage trade and tourism. This is accomplished through cultural and student exchanges, educational pro-grams and community events. Kasterlee, Belgium agreed to be the first Sister City for Fountain Hills in 2000.

Town of Fountain Hills Sister Cities

  • El Salvador - Concepcion de Ataco
  • Germany – Dierdorf (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
  • Poland – Zamość, Poland

Learn more about Fountain Hills Sister Cities. 

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

Members

NameRoleTerm StartedTerm Ends
Zarrin CaldwellCommissioner11/01/202110/31/2024
Randy CraderCommissioner11/01/202310/31/2026
VacantCommissioner11/01/202210/31/2025
VacantCommissioner11/01/202210/31/2025
Lisa RistucciaCommissioner09/18/201810/31/2024
VacantCommissioner11/01/202310/31/2026
Bev TallChairman06/19/201810/31/2024


Email the Sister Cities Advisory Commission (scac@fountainhillsaz.gov)

If you would like to be considered for the commission, please fill out an application (PDF).

Overview

The role of the Commission is to act in an advisory capacity to the Town Council in developing and promoting municipal partnerships between the Town and other similar jurisdictions in other nations. The Commission will work with members of the Sister Cities Corporation to provide opportunities for Town officials and citizens of Fountain Hills to experience and explore other cultures through long-term community partnerships. The Commission will also work to stimulate environments through which communities will creatively learn, work and solve problems through reciprocal cultural, educational, municipal, business, professional, and technical exchanges and projects. The Commission members will collaborate with organizations in the United States and other countries that share similar goals.