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Milwaukee's Sister City Initiative
Milwaukee is affiliated with Sister Cities International, a program with over fifty years of promoting people-to-people diplomacy. Bomet County, Kenya is our most recent Sister City, and joins the ranks of five other Sister City relationships Milwaukee is fostering. There may be many more to come as residents of the city, local officials and business people come to recognize the benefits of reaching out beyond our own borders as citizens of the world.
Sister City Signing Ceremony with Irpin, Ukraine at City Hall, March 15, 2018. A special ceremony in the City Hall Council Chamber and Anteroom took place to mark the occasion of the beginning of a Sister City relationship with Irpin, Ukraine. Hosted by Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II , event highlights featured a document signing by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Irpin Mayor Volodymyr Karplyuk, as well as speeches, gift exchanges, and a reception afterward. The two cities will collaborate to tackle issues that affect urban residents globally—business, health care, education, and tourism.
In lieu of a single signing ceremony at one location, this ceremony happened jointly in both Milwaukee and Korea. The agreements were signed remotely, first by Mayor Tom Barrett in his office on August 23, 2017 and then at a September 20, 2017 ceremony in Daegu by Mayor Kwon Young-jin, where a delegation from Milwaukee (Amy Jensen of the Water Council) traveled to on behalf of Mayor Barrett.
Sister City Signing Ceremony with Tarime District, Tanzania at City Hall, November 7, 2016. A special ceremony in the City Hall Council Chamber and Anteroom took place to mark the occasion of the beginning of a Sister City relationship with the Tarime District. Hosted by Alderman Russell Stamper, II , event highlights featured a document signing by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Tarime District Mayor Moses Matiko Misiwa, as well as speeches, gift exchanges, and a reception afterward.
Sister City Signing Ceremony with Bomet County, Kenya at City Hall, November 23, 2015. A special ceremony in the City Hall Council Chamber and Anteroom took place to mark the occasion of the beginning of a Sister City relationship with Bomet County. Hosted by Alderman Joe Davis, Sr., event highlights featured a document signing by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and His Excellency Honorable Isaac Ruto, Governor of the County of Bomet, as well as speeches, gift exchanges, and a reception afterward.
Sister City Signing Ceremony with Zadar, Croatia at City Hall, May 11, 2015. Dr. Jelena Grčić Polić, Consul General of the Republic of Croatia, and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett signed the agreement documents, and were joined by members of the Zadar, Croatia delegation, Common Council President Michael J. Murphy, Alderman Joe Davis, Sr., members of the City of Milwaukee's Sister Cities Committee and other Milwaukee officials and special guests.
Sister City Signing Ceremony with Galway, Ireland at City Hall, March 24, 2009. A delegation of Irish visitors, including the Mayor of the City of Galway Pádraig Conneely, Republic of Ireland Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Eamon O Cuiv, Mayor of County Galway Dermot Connolly, Bishop Martin Drennan, and several other Galway officials attended this ceremony. Mayor Tom Barrett, Common Council President Willie L. Hines, Jr. and Ald. Bob Donovan headed up the Milwaukee delegation, with Ald. Michael J. Murphy, the son of Irish immigrants, hosting the event, which was held in cooperation with the Spirit of Galway and Milwaukee Irish Fest. Bagpipe music was enjoyed by all.
Chairman Ald. Khalif J. Rainey Members
Documents and Information
Questions? Contact the Sister Cities Committee Staff Assistant Chris Lee