2017 Annual Awards Winners

The Annual Awards Program highlights sister city program achievements and brings international recognition to each community’s contributions to the citizen diplomacy movement. Sister Cities International established the Annual Awards Program in 1962 to recognize exceptional sister city programs. This year, our panel of distinguished judges chose 16 programs and individuals to receive awards in various categories according to city population size.

Best Overall Program

Population Less than 25,000: Columbia Heights/Lomianki Poland Sister Cities International

Population Between 25,001 – 50,000: Highland Park, Illinois Sister Cities Foundation

Population Between 50,001 – 100,000: Kettering Sister Cities Association

Population Between 100,001 – 300,000: Tempe Sister Cities

Population Between 300,001 – 500,000: Aurora Sister Cities International

Population Greater than 500,001: Chicago Sister Cities International

Innovation

Arts and Culture

Economic Development

Humanitarian Assistance

Youth and Education

Volunteer of the Year

Barbara Roberts Mason, Lansing Sister Cities Commission

Youth Leadership

Kalkidan Alemu, Fort Worth Sister Cities International