TACOMA-CIENFUEGOS SISTER CITY
OUR EVENTS
OUR FALL CLASSES
OUR HISTORY
In 2000, the Tacoma - Cienfuegos Sister City relationship was established when founders Marisela Fleites Lear and Ana Sierra attended a Sister City Conference in Havana to choose a sister city in Cuba.
In 2001, an official delegation with Councilman Bill Evans traveled to Cuba to sign papers.
The following year in 2002 an artists’ exchange developed projects with elementary students in both cities.
Some of the humanitarian projects our committee has supported in Cienfuegos are:
Reconstruction of hurricane damaged buildings
Bring a water supply line to an underserved area of the city
Restoration and medical supplies for a home for senior citizens
Technological support for a student project on the history of Cienfuegos
Support for renovation of a School for Children with Disabilities
Support for “My Happy Hoe” and orphanage remodeling project
Renovation of the School for the Deaf
SISTER CITY COMMITTEE
The Tacoma Cienfuegos Sister City committee meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 4:00pm at the Center for Spiritual Living, corner of Division and J streets, Tacoma WA. The meetings are open to all who have an interest in person to person relationships with Cubans in Cienfuegos.
Cienfuegos Sister City Commitee Chair: Marisela Fleites-Lear
SISTER CITIES PROGRAM
The first Sister City Program, Sister Cities International, was created in 1956 at the request of President Eisenhower, giving national focus to affiliations between cities in the United States and in other countries. The goal of the program is to promote deeper cultural understanding, international visitation and hospitality that leads to long lasting relationships. More recently, Sister City links have become an increasingly important conduit for economic development.
The City of Tacoma has 13 Sister Cities, all of which have aspects similar or complementary to Tacoma’s economic character. Tacoma’s Sister City activities are as diverse as its membership. Some examples of activities include Student Exchanges, Sports Exchanges, Performing Arts Festivals, Arts Exchanges and the International Film Festival.
Each Sister City has a citizen based Sister City Committee. The Sister City Committees are all organized under a 501 c (3) called the Sister City Council of Tacoma.
Sister City Program Coordinator: